Bont Shoes... Is it Hype?

There's been a lot of talk about these shoes as of late. Partly because they've become a sponsor of one of the most popular pro peloton teams, the Cervelo Test Team, but mostly because it's an innovative shoe that seems to have a lot of upside to it.

The most noticeable trait of the shoe is it's non-traditional shape to it, looking down at the shoes, they kind of resemble an apple turnover or a calzone. Furthermore, unlike most shoes out there, especially those that are "custom moldable", the Bont shoe is not designed to be worn without being molded. Now, you may think "duh! it wouldn't be a custom shoe if it was". However, most recently I wore a pair of Shimano R300's that were molded 6 months after first wearing them, and to my surprise, the custom process barely improved the fit and comfort. So needless to say, when I got the opportunity to try a pair of the a-two cycling shoes, I was stoked.

The first thought that came to my head after trying these shoes on was "these are not going to work, they're way uncomfortable". In hindsight it re-enforced the fact that this is not a shoe that you CAN custom mold, it's a shoe that you MUST custom mold.

Being that I am stubborn I decided to give them a try first without molding them, and as uncomfortable as they were off the bike, they were actually not so bad while riding (I set them up with Keo cleats and rode about 40 miles). If you've ever had to break-in hockey skates, wearing these shoes for the first time was a watered-down version of that. After getting the shoes heated (instructions are clear on their website), putting them on was a completely different experience. The shoes had gone from being stiff all the way around to feeling like a slipper with a super stiff sole. I was excited to ride on them again!

The first ride after molding the shoes was a thousand times better. The shoes are so stiff (I'm afraid some might find them too stiff), yet so comfortable, it had essentially allowed the crank, cleat/pedal, and shoe to feel as one. I felt climbing/sprinting out of the saddle was where I noticed the most difference as every little bit of effort translated into power to the rear wheel. I was certainly pleased. In the end, the differences that I noticed from other shoes justified spending that amount of money on a pair of cycling shoes (a-one $399.99 a-two $314.99), plus they come in a range of colors to match most kits.

Finally, nothing is perfect, and my experience with Bont shoes was no exception. Over my handful of test-rides (no more than 300 miles), I did notice the leather upper peeling a bit around the toe. I also figured out a way to lose the rubber heel piece along the way... and though the toe issue has been fixed (rubber insert), and these are by no means huge issues that affect the performance of the shoe, they retail for $300 plus! You'd want them to be somewhat durable.

Check out their website for more detailed technical information on how their shoes are made, and for a list of all the shoes they sell.