THEAll Mountain represents the essence of MTB: adventure, exploration, long climbs and technical descents. This fat tire sector encompasses every type of experience related to mountain biking, excluding the competitive component. Precisely for this reason, each component intended for All Mountain must respond to often conflicting needs: comfort and rigidity, traction and pedalability, protection and lightness.
In this article I want to tell you what, in my opinion, is the best shoe for All Mountain, or better, the one I choose every time I want to go out on my bike for pure pleasure. But before revealing the model, let's see what the fundamental criteria for choosing are.
CLIMB
Going uphill you need a shoe that is capable of effectively transmit power to the pedals, ensuring the foot is in the correct position to maintain a smooth and rounded pedal stroke. The reference remains the XC shoe, with hard soles, minimalist construction and snug fit.
However, these characteristics often lead to limitations in terms of comfort, sensitivity on technical sections and difficulty in walking passages or portage sections.
DESCENT
It may seem unusual, but Even when going downhill, the choice of shoe is fundamental. A good shoe helps you steer your bike and absorb vibrations. A shoe that is too stiff can be uncomfortable on longer descents, especially for the average biker (who doesn't have the same needs as World Cup athletes).
The ideal is therefore a shoe that has a good compromise between stiffness and shock absorbing capacity, with a structure that allows freedom of movement and ease in the hooked/unhooked transition. Enduro race shoes or downhill They are a reference, but often sacrifice climbing efficiency and walking comfort.
PORTAGE AND CYCLE MOUNTAINEERING
This is the most extreme soul of All Mountain: alpine tours, long portages and technical routes where the bike is carried on the shoulder. Here you need sturdy shoes, with soles suitable for walking and, in some cases, similar to trail boots.
Stability, comfort and protection are a priority, even if you inevitably lose something in terms of pedaling efficiency or responsiveness in riding.
THE VERDICT
I am fortunate to spend many hours on my bike and test numerous products. But when I go out just for the pleasure of pedaling, the choice falls on those that best meet my needs.
📍 If I have to face several days of portage in the mountains, I choose the Fizik Terra Clima.
🔝 But the shoe that I use most often and that I consider the best for All Mountain, and the Northwave Hammer Plus.
Find the complete test of this shoe HERE, but I'll leave you with a brief summary of its main features below:
- XC inspired construction, but with a more contained rigidity, suitable for enduro
- Sturdy sole, but with an anterior flexibility that allows walking without difficulty
- Excellent grip, even in the most technical sections
- Large plant which ensures stability when portaging
- SLW3 closure designed by the same company + velcro strap, for precise and comfortable adjustment
Ultimately, this is the shoe I choose whenever I tackle mixed routes, where I alternate between pedaling, walking, technical descents and long stretches in the saddle.
