I’ve been loyal to Vans Shoes since 1999. So, when I was looking for a new pair of riding shoes, I bought a pair of Vans. Unfortunately, at the first creek crossing on Butcher’s Ranch-a downhill-specific trail in Downieville, California-not only were my feet soaked, but the canvas upper unglued from the rubberized toe cap. The shoes were about three months old. I’ve worn Specialized, Lakes, Sidi, and Shimano shoes, but the Vans had been my favorite. Until that water crossing.
I was intrigued that Teva–maker of the hippie sandal–started making bike shoes. I decided to give their Links model a try. While aesthetically pleasing, I needed to know if they functioned well. Tying them up, I saw that the ends of the laces were capped with aluminum, which made it easy to thread through the eyelets. They were a snug fit, but comfortable. Riding down to the market, I immediately noticed that the Teva soles are stiffer and not as sticky as the soles on Vans. I hadn’t realized how much I relied on the feedback through my soles to maneuver, and I had to adjust my technique to bunny hop.
Dirt jumping a week later was a dream. Riding a 12 pack of table tops, my feet rarely left the pedals, leaving me to focus on the riding. While the sole isn’t as sticky as Vans, Teva paid attention to another important detail–the tread. Teva designed the tread specifically to complement a pedal. In addition, the heel has a reverse lug pattern that Teva calls the E-brake with a mirror image on the tread’s toe. This enables me to walk through steep and loose terrain when needed.
Riding my favorite trails in Santa Cruz, the shoe performed well. Most trails in Santa Cruz are bermy, loamy singletrack goodness with natural doubles. While Teva says, “a rubberized grid over the toe area is a breathable armor that prevents abrasion or ripping,” I believe that the toe cap may not be strong enough for those rare times when you bash your toes plowing through rocks, ala Northstar-at-Tahoe style.
Lastly, I had a friend hose off my shoes while wearing them after a ride recently. Teva has an “ion-mask” that makes the shoe water resistant which made the shoe came clean, but my feet stayed dry. In summary, Teva has paid attention to every detail on their Links model, with the result being that they are great shoes for the pump track or dirt jumping. But one may need something sturdier for downhill biking, like a steel toe boot, maybe? Overall, a great start from the makers of the eponymous hippie sandal in the realm of bike shoes.
