Five Ten Freerider Review

Analysis and Test Results

The Freerider was an easy choice for our Best Buy award. After about five minutes riding with the Freeriders, our testers knew we had an award winner. The outstanding level of pure grip stood out as particularly impressive. This insane level of on-pedal traction really blew our collective minds for a shoe that is among the least expensive in our test class. While this shoe does have some quirks, it is very easy to recommend to anyone looking for an awesome shoe without breaking the bank.

Grip

Rubber compound is the critical element to crafting a shoe with awesome grip. The Freerider uses the same Stealth S1 rubber compound found on our Editor's Choice Freerider Pro shoe. As you might expect, this leads to the Freerider having tremendous levels of grip. The rubber is supple and slightly softer than much of the competition. This soft rubber compound allows the pins to fully engage the rubber. You can very subtly feel the pins sinking into the rubber under your foot.

The sole of the shoe is covered in raised circular blocks, or dots, that protrude a couple of millimeters off the sole. There is a small gap between each of these traction blocks. Some pins miss the circular dots and sit in the grooves between the dots. This provides a very secure, locked-in feel.

On the trail, the copious amounts of grip helps deliver a controlled and confident ride. Whether charging chunk or cruising flow trails, our feet remained about as planted as you can ask for from a flat pedal setup. When you misplace your foot on the pedal, it requires a bit of effort and attention to reposition your foot, as the excellent grip can work against you in this situation.

Fit and Comfort

These shoes fit well enough, and they should accommodate a range of foot types. That said, riders with narrower-than-average feet might find these shoes to be a little too wide. The fit felt a little sloppier than some of the more refined options in our test class. We found just a hair of extra lateral space throughout the mid-foot. It wasn't necessarily detrimental on the trail; it was just a clear attribute when riding these back-to-back with other shoes in this test class.

The Freeriders are comfortable. The fit trends towards the spacious side of the spectrum. Throughout testing, we did not identify any hotspots or pinchpoints. They have a skate-inspired look, and the comfort follows that trend. These shoes feel heavily padded, and that cushioned feel is pleasant.

Rigidity and Power Transfer

The Freerider shoes offer decent levels of power transfer. The soles of these shoes aren't particularly stiff, and they are notably softer than some of the other options in this test group. When you stand up to smash the pedals or work over a technical trail obstacle, you can feel the sole slightly bend or flex over the body of your pedal. In other words, the portion of your shoe not on the pedal can feel a little more flimsy than some of the competition. This can reduce power transfer and overall efficiency. The power transfer is still decent and shouldn't disqualify this shoe for the budget-minded rider, but if stiffness is a top priority, there are better options

On a positive note, the slightly less rigid sole provides a more natural walking motion. As you are taking steps, the sole flexes more naturally compared to an ultra-stiff stiff shoe that feels like you are walking on a piece of wood.

Breathability

The Freeriders breathe reasonably well given the heavily padded, skate-inspired design. The synthetic upper portion of the shoe is designed to allow heat and moisture to escape. It is always difficult to gauge how well these ventilation features work. What we can say is that these shoes do breathe better than a portion of the test class.

If you are regularly riding in scorching temperatures, a lower-profile shoe with a bit less padding will be better suited for extreme temperatures.

Durability and Weight

The Freerider shoes hit the scales at 446 grams or 15.78 ounces per shoe. That puts these shoes on the heavier end of our test class. The numbers on the scale don't lie. Weight is weight. That being said, we rarely find that an extra 50 grams on a shoe makes much of a difference in the real world. Still, riders who put value in evaluating weight might consider looking elsewhere.

Throughout testing, our shoes showed no signs of premature wear or breakdown. All seams are still intact, and the shoe materials are all in decent shape despite being coated in mud. The sole shows some signs of use where the pins engage the shoe, but that isn't out of the ordinary. The instep that can rub against the crank arm is still looking great.

Should You Buy The Five Ten Freerider?

If you are a mountain biker on a tight budget, you should definitely buy the Five Ten Freerider. These shoes deliver exceptional grip for a very impressive price. Sure, there are some quirks and the design may be a little less refined, but they were an easy choice for our Best Buy award.

Mountain biking is an expensive sport. If you are looking to stretch your dollar when shopping for mountain bike shoes and apparel, these should absolutely be on your short list. Sure, some of the more expensive shoes have more bells and whistles, but the Freerider just works well.

What Other Mountain Bike Shoes Should You Consider?

If you like the sound of unparalleled grip, but prefer a stiffer, sleeker package, the Five Ten Freerider Pro has the same rubber compound but offers better power transfer. When smashing the pedals, the rider input feels a bit more direct. The fit is also a little different as the Freerider Pro works better for riders with average to low-volume feet.