Five Ten Freerider Review: Flat Pedal Shoes for My Brompton

Gear · Published 7/28/2023 ·

Brompton’s stock pedals fold on the left side, and they work fine for ordinary riding, but I’ve switched to MKS pedals — they spin very smoothly, they’re quick-release, and the grip is good. I’ll do a separate post on the pedals later. The thing is, once I swapped the pedals, riding for about three hours in Crocs left the soles of my feet feeling gross — sweaty, dusty, smelly, and the sweat just wouldn’t dry. So I figured I’d put on socks and sneakers instead, but then the laces become a problem… After looking into it a bit, I found there are riding shoes made for flat pedals, so I bought a pair.

I don’t really know much about the brand’s philosophy or anything like that — a quick search just told me it’s a brand that Adidas acquired and now runs. The reviews weren’t bad, so I went for it, and the shape kind of reminds me of Nike Dunks…

All the photos in this post were taken by me. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

The rubber on the sole has really good grip. The one thing that could use some improvement is a spot that rubs and makes a squeaking noise… otherwise, no real complaints. Since these aren’t shoes you’d wear for long walks, I think they’ll last me a good long while. Given the nature of a Brompton or an everyday bike, it’s the kind of bike you can fold up and take into a café or a bakery, so I needed shoes that wouldn’t get in the way of all that hopping around in between. The design is understated and kind of cute, too.

I’ve ridden about 30 km in them so far, and apart from that squeak, even a regular setup with cotton socks felt really comfortable. As long as you keep them dry, I’d say they’re solid for riding. If you ride flat pedals and have been wanting a dedicated pair of cycling shoes, I think these are worth considering.