Bontrager Foray Shoes: Getting Rolling – Grannygear
A Mountain Bike Shoe- Is It For Gravel Too? There seems to be a run on green shoes of late as these are the second set I have seen in green….and I like it. Great color, in my opinion. But is it a great shoe? We shall see as I get out into the hills with the Bontrager Foray MTB shoe.
Priced at $159.99, looking at the Foray, I have to say that it looks like a lot of shoe for the money. In fact I was quite surprised to find it was under 200 bucks, it seems that well made and full featured. At 840g a pair (no cleats) and with a slightly more aggressive insole (Bontrager #2 arch index), they are not a heavyweight either, although I have never thought about how much my shoes weigh, only how well they work. Your mileage may vary.
From the Bontrager website:
An undeniably durable and versatile cycling shoe perfect for trail riding, cyclocross, or gravel. Climb to new heights, roam farther, and ride harder in the Foray Mountain Shoe. This undeniably comfortable off-road cycling shoe features a BOA® L6 dial for a superior fit on rides of any length and intensity. No matter where or how you ride, this shoe delivers thanks to a stiff sole with a durable upper featuring the added protection of GnarGuard.
- inForm Race last offers a slightly roomier, high-performance fit
- A single BOA® L6 dial for precision fit and easy micro-adjustments
- Strong, synthetic perforated upper materials hold up to off-road rider demands
- Durable GnarGuard rubberized coating protects against abrasions and other damage from trail debris
- Nylon composite Bronze Series sole provides stiff yet walkable performance
- Stiffness index: 6 of 14
- Tachyon rubber outsole allows great grip on any surface
- Compatible with 2-bolt SPD-style cleats
First Impressions: I am not sure what Bronze level stiffness means, but they seem like a shoe you can walk in and that is a good thing. But time will tell on that as well. The Boa dial is a nice touch. That spoils you, that little dial. The sole is well lugged and you can sink a fingernail into it so that speaks well for rock garden hikes and coffee shop floors.
It looks like it was put into a heat chamber and melted into one piece…very little stitching shows. There is some of course, and there are good toe and heel guards. If you are not into green and orange like I am, there are four color schemes, one of them a blue that melts my heart. Elvis specials.
The weather is fine, the far roads are calling, and the bike is ready. I will get into these and report back.
Note: Bontrager sent over the Bontrager Foray cycling shoes for test and review to Riding Gravel at no charge. We are not being paid, nor bribed for this review. We will always strive to give our honest thoughts and reviews throughout.
i have a pair (could be a bit older, they have tan soles and blaze orange Bontrager logos on the back), and i love them for gravel riding! super comfy, stiff enough, but not too stiff, and the Boa enclosure is a big bonus. the color doesn’t match with all my other clothing, but i already look like a mess when riding. i’m far more interested in whether this will get me through 100 miles without my toes going numb! so far i’m up to 60 mile rides and they are just as comfortable at 60 as mile 1.