Five Ten

Maltese Falcon Shoe - Men's

There are different schools of thought on the freeride pedal question. Some folks like to run flats because they can get away from the bike in a hurry if they need to and it's easier to get on the bike and drop in without having to clip in, especially in gnarly terrain. Others like the feel of being connected to the bike and the pedal-power that clipless pedals provide. With this argument in mind, Five Ten may very well have made the perfect freeride/DH shoe. Not only does the Maltese Falcon give you the option of running clipless or flats, but it also has a stiff-but-sensitive shank that provides all the pedaling benefits of a stiff-soled XC shoe and all the pedal-feel benefits of a dedicated DH shoe.

There are four basic ingredients that make the Maltese Falcon so good. The first is Five Ten's sticky Stealth S1 Rubber outsole. Stealth rubber gives you tons of grip so your feet stay firmly planted on the pedals. This soft rubber compound also provides grip when you're off the bike scrambling up a sketchy section. The next ingredient is the stiff-but-sensitive shank that provides a solid pedaling platform without taking away from pedal feel or the natural flex of the shoe. The third is densely padded collar and heel counter that keep your heel firmly locked into the shoe and provide impact protection during the inevitable digger. A hook-and-loop ankle strap beefs up the already-beefy ankle support for a firm-but-natural fit. The final ingredient is the burly, abrasion-resistant leather upper that holds up to season-after-season of ridiculous off-road abuse.

The Five Ten Maltese Falcon is available in half sizes from US 6-12 and then a full-size leap to 13. The color is Raven's Eye Grey with Black and Red accents.