Dialed, Finally: Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA MTB Shoe Review

Laces are the most common closure on flat pedal mountain bike shoes. BOA lacing is gaining in popularity, however, and it was just a matter of time until we saw it on the Five Ten Freerider Pro. 

That time has finally come, with Five Ten launching the Freerider Pro BOA earlier this year. Arguably the most popular flat pedal shoe of all time, the Freerider Pro is essentially the shoe by which all others are judged. With the BOA update, now it’s a whole lot easier to put on, take off, and adjust while riding.

I’ve been testing the new Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA ($170) for the past month. From regular trail rides to rips around town on the flat bar gravel bike, I’ve assessed its fit, pedal grip, stiffness, and, most importantly, the new BOA lacing system.

In short: The Freerider Pro BOA retains the agreeable fit, balanced stiffness, and tacky soles that made the lace-up version the benchmark flat pedal shoe. The addition of BOA lacing involves a very modest bump in price with a significant increase in user-friendliness. If you’re one of many riders who’ve been waiting for the BOA update, that wait is finally over.

Looking to upgrade your mountain bike footwear? Check out our comprehensive guide to the Best Flat Pedal Mountain Bike Shoes.

BOA lacing is very common among clip-in mountain bike shoes, but it’s been slower to catch on for flat pedal shoes. Not for lack of demand, necessarily, but more due to the lack of options. For whatever reason, flat pedal shoe manufacturers just haven’t really offered it until the past few years. 

Of course, not everyone needs or wants BOA lacing, but it’s great to at least have options. Several brands, including Crankbrothers, Fox, and Ride Concepts, offer BOA-equipped flat pedal shoes. Five Ten finally joins this growing list, giving riders the choice between traditional laces and the convenience of BOA dials.

The Freerider Pro BOA retails for $170, just $10 more than the lace-up version. This is in contrast to the other brands mentioned above, whose BOA-equipped shoes typically cost $30-50 more than their lace-up counterparts.

Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Review

Five Ten’s flat pedal shoe formula has been very successful over the years. The Freerider Pro, in particular, has enjoyed a long run at the top of the flat pedal shoe rankings. It’s a super-versatile shoe with an accommodating fit, classic styling, and class-leading pedal grip. 

Just Add BOA

Fortunately, Five Ten didn’t stray far from its original recipe. The BOA version is essentially the same shoe that so many riders already know and love. But instead of traditional shoe laces, they have a single BOA Li2 dial with a textile lace. The shoe’s opening has also been offset slightly to wrap over the top of the foot and distribute tension more evenly.

The synthetic uppers feature a reinforced toecap and toebox perforations for ventilation. Underfoot, the EVA midsole provides stiffness and shock absorption. Five Ten’s Stealth S1 Phantom rubber with the classic Dotty tread pattern aims to keep your feet glued to the pedals. The shoes have a “regular” fit and feature 8mm of heel-to-toe drop. 

The men’s Freerider Pro BOA comes in whole U.S. sizes between 6 and 15, with half sizes from 6.5 to 12.5. Five Ten also offers a women’s version in whole and half sizes 5 to 11. Both the men’s and women’s shoes currently come in black or white. My size 9.5 U.S. test pair weighed a respectably light 726 g for the pair.

Same as It Ever Was

If you already love the lace-up version of the Freerider Pro, then you’ll be happy to know the BOA version performs nearly identically. The soles are undoubtedly the highlight, with the tacky Stealth S1 rubber providing the consistent, predictable, flat pedal grip that made Five Ten shoes so popular. While some brands have finally cracked the code and offer competitive grip, Five Ten’s Stealth is still the gold standard.

I tested them with OneUp’s Aluminum pedals and the flat pedal side of the dual-function Xpedo Ambix. With both pedals, the soles clung to the pedal pins over rough terrain with a locked-in and confidence-inspiring feel.

Even with ample grip, the shallow Dotty tread allowed for just enough foot mobility to reposition when needed. Off the bike, the rubber gripped well on dry surfaces, but the shallow tread depth was a bit slippery in loose dirt and mud.

The EVA midsole is relatively thin, with a low stack height to keep your feet close to the pedals. As with the lace-up version, I found the sole’s stiffness to be nicely balanced. It was adequately stiff to feel efficient while pedaling, yet just flexible enough to transmit good trail and pedal feedback.

It absorbed some vibration and impact, but it wasn’t soft underfoot. Still, it deftly avoided feeling overly harsh while hitting the Goldilocks stiffness, which worked well for all of my riding.

Fit-wise, the shoe seems built around the same last as the lace-up version. If those fit you, the BOA version should, too. I think most people with average to slightly wider-than-average feet will get along well with them. 

My size 9.5 test pair was perfectly true to size in length. The heel and midfoot volume worked very well for my low-volume but average-width feet. The well-shaped heel pocket felt secure, and I didn’t experience any heel lift, even when pushing my bike up steep trails.

The forefoot was a bit roomier, but it wasn’t an issue for me. That said, I’d recommend that those with notably narrow feet try these on before buying.

The synthetic uppers were just supple enough to be comfortable straight out of the box yet sturdy enough to provide ample support. Like other do-it-all flat pedal shoes, foot protection was somewhat limited. Still, the stiff heel cup and reinforced top cap provided ample protection for trail riding needs. 

With BOA Convenience

While individual preferences vary, I’m a huge fan of BOA dials because they are user-friendly and allow you to adjust tension on the fly. Laces work well, of course, but it is more time-consuming. 

I was initially skeptical that the single BOA dial would provide adequate tension for the whole shoe. That skepticism quickly faded once I got them on my feet. The textile lace and the webbing loops it passes through had very little friction and adjusted super easily. Once tightened, this lacing system allowed tension to equalize and even itself out over the top of the foot.   

This is in contrast to the wire laces often used in BOA closures. The wires tend to be a bit more stubborn, which can result in uneven tension and sometimes cause pressure points. This is especially true of BOA wires that crisscross like they do on this shoe. The textile laces used here didn’t suffer from this issue at all.

The BOA Li2 dial micro-adjusts both ways or pulls out for full release. I was able to add and remove tension over the foot a few clicks at a time, which made it super easy to fine-tune the fit during my rides. When finished, a quick pull on the dial and the low-friction lace allowed the tongue to open super wide. Putting these shoes on or taking them off couldn’t have been any quicker or easier. 

When cranked down, the offset design and padded tongue kept the BOA laces from digging into my bones and tendons. The asymmetric, wrap-like opening hugged my feet and comfortably locked them down in the shoe. I was thoroughly impressed by both the security and comfort of this design and lacing system.

Room for Improvement

I’ve ridden in the lace-up version of the Freerider Pro, and the complaints I had about that shoe carry over here. The synthetic uppers were stuffy, and the ventilation features were limited. Sure, I felt a little airflow through the perforations, but these shoes were not the most breathable. Even on test rides in the low 60s F, my feet got hot and eventually quite sweaty.

The stock footbed was satisfactory but very basic. I realize that people’s feet and arch support needs vary quite dramatically, and it’s impossible to please everyone. Still, I’m inclined to spring for an aftermarket footbed to replace what came in these shoes.

Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA: Who’s It For?

Lots of flat pedal riders are perfectly content with traditional laces on their shoes. But there are plenty of others who’ve wanted the convenience and user-friendliness of BOA lacing for years. If you’re among them, you’ll be happy to know the Freerider Pro BOA is finally here. 

Until now, fans of Five Ten have had to either stick with laces or try other brands. Not anymore. Now, you can have BOA lacing with the same fit, balanced sole stiffness, and pedal grip that made the Freerider Pro the benchmark flat pedal shoe. 

The best part? The Freerider Pro BOA will only set you back $10 more than the lace-up version. These are some of the most affordable BOA-equipped flat pedal shoes on the market. They’re also some of the best, and now even better with the option to choose the closure system that works best for you.