Five Ten is historically a climbing-shoe brand. But as of late the company has branched into making footwear for niche activities ranging from slacklining to BASE jumping to “Action Running,” meaning parkour and other acro-influenced foot games.
Talk about a niche, a shoe new this summer, the Diddie Schneider, is sold as “the first and only shoe designed for biking and trail building.”
A boot-like design with a lightweight internal Kevlar-type barrier ostensibly will keep shovel-wielding trail builders safer. The upper is a tough leather and there’s a cut-resistant lace cover. A composite toe guard is touted as “chainsaw resistant.”
The unique shoe, which costs $165, is named after the man himself, Diddie Schneider, a top bike terrain park builder and rider.
The company touts protection from shovels, chainsaws, nails and other hazards of a freeride construction site. A special sole pattern and stout heel are designed for stomping, packing and “working with the surface of the trail.”
The bonus is that this workingman’s shoe can also ride. Shovel a jump, nail together a ladder bridge, and then throw a foot over your frame to pedal in and try out your gravity-defying creations.
The shoe has a cage-compatible toecap. The outsole is made of the company’s sticky Stealth rubber. It’s designed for platform pedals with no SPD style clip-in cleat.
Trail building can be an art for dedicated riders. For the first time, Five Ten has a shoe for people who like to get their hands dirty before gripping handlebars and dropping in for the ride.
—Stephen Regenold
