Bont Cycling
Riot+
I’ve been riding in these Bont Riot 2 shoes for just over 2 months and I’ve covered over 250 mixed terrain miles in them.
I’ve ridden XC, trail centre and road in conditions from dry dusty trail, hot tarmac through to sodden wet filthy dirty mucky trails. I’ve worn them for up to 8 hours at a stretch so I think I’ve given them a decent test.
This is what the manufacturer says about these shoes…
Bont Riot+ , the worlds first carbon composite heat moldable entry level cycling shoe now available with BOA retention system.
The Riot+ combines Bont’s pro series technical features, our power transfer platform, anatomical shaping with competition grade materials and BOA retention system to create the most technically advanced entry level road cycling shoe.
Now I’m not fully up to speed on composite soles and the other materials used to make these very fine XC shoes but they are light 280kg compared to my XC Pearl Izumi…which weigh in at 380kg.
My review is based on these being XC / Trail Centre / Race shoes as calling them simply MTB shoes is a bit misleading as we have so many sub disciplines that it’s easier to give you my opinion of where I feel they fit in.
The outer material is very comfy and can take a good scuff or 2 in its stride, though repeated bashes on rocks or falls will have the finish looking battle scared before it’s time.
The composite sole is very firm and really does give excellent and instant power transfer to the cranks, there’s no flex just like riding a carbon XC race bike, and that power transfer is pretty addictive. I usually ride in Pearl Izumi or Shimano XC clipless shoes and the the difference is simply chalk n cheese. The sole wraps up a little to help mould to your feet which feels quite natural and I’ve not experienced and rubbing.
The fit is good, according to the site I’m an 11, so I went for 11.5 as I always put inner soles in my shoes and to allow for my feet swelling plus I wear thicker socks most of the time. The Boa system works very well allowing for a very secure fit indeed. I found that each time I wore them that I needed to tighten them a couple of times within the first few minutes of them being on as they seemed to mould to my feet. After a day of wearing them I put my trainers on and had to look down to see if they’d come undone, the Riots just fitted so firm and comfy my trainers felt 4 sizes too big!
Walking in them took a bit of getting used to as my other shoes have a much broader flatter walking shoe type of sole that’s better suited to walking across, on and over rocks, roots, loose stone etc. This is where the problem of using just the word MTB to define a products usage as I wouldn’t wear these when out riding places like the Dark Peak or using them at Enduro style events, there is just not enough stability or grip on the soles for me. For Trail Centre, XC and XC race riding then they are pretty much spot on and fit for purpose.
Styling, well that’s up to the individual, I went for stealth black as it matches most of my kit.
Overall I really like these shoe’s as the feel of power and how they mould / fit my feet is spot on, looking forward to actually competing in these shoes at the forthcoming Thetford Racing ONIT 12 hour solo night race in October.
Click here for more info one the shoes.
Follow them on social media here:
Instagram: @BontCycling
Facebook: /BontCycling
Review written by: Andy Hampshire (Hampy) – #TotalMTB
Instagram: @hampy4pmtbuk
Twitter: @hampy4PMTBUK
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280kg???!
Hard pass!!!