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PRODUCT REVIEWS: FOOTWEAR FRIDAY - BONTRAGER RACE XXX LITE LIMITED EDITION
Road Bike Action
August 18, 2011
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Bontrager Race XXX Lite Limited Edition
Proving that less can indeed be more
We first ogled Bontrager’s latest flagship footwear way back in August of 2010 at the Trek World dealer show in Madison, Wisconsin, where prototype versions of both the Standard and Limited Edition Race XXX Lite shoes were bathed in fluorescent light inside museum quality display cases. We’ve since been able to get our grubby little toes into a pair of the Limited Edition model for a long-term road test, and reactions have been strong, if a bit mixed.
THE TECH
Two versions (Standard and Limited Edition) are available and share the same price. But where the Standard version is only available in white and features two Velcro straps and a buckle, the Limited Edition can only be had in red and with three Velcro straps.
Utilizing only the bare essential amount of material in a design process dubbed “Zero XS,” the upper wraps cleanly over your instep. The upper is then broken up on top of your foot by the three straps, a bit of mesh and a thin layer of padding before continuing its seamless run toward the outside of your foot.
A thin, perforated plastic heel cup sits at the back, and there are plenty of holes for ventilation. The toe area is capped by an extra layer of vinyl for added durability, and simple treads are positioned fore and aft along the outsole for a bit of off-bike mobility.
Bontrager developed a new outsole for this shoe. Crafted in their “platinum series” carbon fiber, they feature three ventilation ports and four ridges positioned at mid-foot
for added stiffness. A grippy texture and graphics around the cleat holes make cleat installation and adjustment a cinch.
THE RIDE
Wearing the Limited Edition shoes feels like you’ve dunked your hooves into a bucket of thick paint. Their incredibly light weight is even more fully appreciated on your feet than when held in your hands, but it comes in a narrow package that’s not suited for the wide-footed. The Velcro straps provide a secure fit; and the shoes are well ventilated, particularly in the heel, which allows for little to no slippage. Bonti’s supplied insole has a supportive shape manufacturers’ stock insoles, but there’s still a bit to be desired.
On the bike, the carbon outsole provides confidence-inspiring stiffness thanks to the ridges under mid-foot, but the forefoot still has a bit of flex for comfort. After a suitable break-in period, we hardly noticed the shoes on our feet at all—the mark of a good piece of gear, surely, is its ability not to distract.
Despite their impressive performance characteristics, it’s difficult to imagine the Race XXX Lites serving as your everyday riding shoes. The treads and outsole stood up to plenty of abuse, but the minimalist upper lacks ample material to score top marks in the durability department. The thin, perforated plastic heel cup in particular seems under-built and possibly prone to easy damage.
THE VERDICT
On the one foot, you’ll be amazed at the level of performance you get; it’s a pro-level shoe that’s light, comfortable, visually striking, and designed and suited perfectly for race day. But on the other foot, for $70 less, you can get Bonti’s RXL Road shoe, which has more material for added durability, a custom footbed from eSoles and a more secure ratcheting-buckle closure. But, in the vein of some Italian super-cars, customers are asked to pay the manufacturer more money to remove creature comforts in order to produce a lighter end product. And at $300, Bontrager’s Race XXX Lite shoes are by no means inexpensive, but they’re still cheaper than some Italian-made race-day alternatives.
PUNCH LINES
• Among the lightest around
• Do you like the look?
• Minimalist design; best to save for race days
STATS
Price: $299.99
Weight: 407 grams (Euro 42)
Sizes: 40-47 (half sizes 41.5-45.5)
For more information: Bontrager
Reprinted from the July 2011 issue of Road Bike Action Magazine
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