ProView – Crankbrothers Mallet Speed Lace Vent Biking Shoes Review

The only thing more satisfying than a full day of mountain biking in the desert is the melodious click of a cycling shoe’s cleat finding its pedal. The Mallet Trail Speed Lace Vent from Crank Brothers is an innovative shoe that brings the best of what the brand has to offer. Many hard miles and wildly varying conditions gave the shoe a run for its money, but it came out on the other side with a lot to brag about. 

Crank Brothers has been synonymous with innovation and quality since the late 90s. The Mallet Trail Speed Lace Vent clip-in shoe is no exception. This innovative shoe could not have entered my life at a more convenient time. Cycling, and specifically cross country mountain biking, has become a serious passion of mine. I have always loved cycling in a variety of practices, but the adventurous wayfinding of cross country riding has taken over!

I hopped on a biking trip to Moab with my partner and a few friends at the end of March. We hit a crazy hot weather window the week we were there and every day was between 85 and 95 degrees with full sun. I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to put the Trail Speed Lace Vent through its paces. 

Fit/Comfort

I was skeptical of how the Trail Speed Lace Vent would fit upon the immediate unboxing and try-on. It felt a tad snug and I have never had much luck with the quick lacing systems. However, after many long days in the shoes, I couldn’t be happier with the fit and comfort. I didn’t have any hotspots and I was able to get a consistently snug and comfortable fit with the quick lacing system. It is one of the most breathable cycling shoes I have ever worn, and my feet stayed cool through every hot ride in Moab.

Look/Style

I really like the look of these shoes, especially in a market dominated by primarily black or dark colored shoes. They are sleek and minimalist in their style, which ironically allows them to really pop! The neutral color doesn’t show much dirt or dust, and also keeps the fabric temps cooler compared to darker shoes. 

Features

The Trail Speed Lace Vent’s features are simple, but very well executed. The integrated lace storage in the tongue worked very well to keep lacing out of the way even on fast chattery downhill. The “Match Outsole”, made to complement Crank Brothers’ line of Mallet pedals, worked very well with the Mallet Enduro that I chose for my current setup. They clip in and out cleanly and have a really solid connected feel with the pedals on techy descents. I was excited to see the “stiff fiber-reinforced nylon shank” in this model because I like rigid shoes for control and pedaling efficiency. The nylon shank, combined with the grippy rubber outsole, allowed for maximum control both on and off the bike. 

Function/Performance

I was very impressed with how the Trail Speed Lace Vent performed, especially on the type of terrain I love. I am all about the technical climbs and descents. The power I could put through the pedals on trails like Slickrock, which is known for its crazy steep and punchy sections, was truly inspiring. As mentioned before, the “Match Outsole” paired with the Mallet Enduro is incredibly solid and responsive whenever I need it. 

Durability/Construction/Weight

These Crank Brothers’ shoes feel very well made, and after a couple hundred miles of pedaling, scouting, and clipping in and out, they are showing basically no wear and tear. The upper feels high quality and durable while staying exceptionally light. A lot of care and attention was given while designing these mountain bike shoes. 

Friendliness to the Earth

I searched through Crank Brothers’ website and I was unable to find much of anything on their environmental impact. There are some cool stories in the “Community” section, and they focus on longevity with their products opposed to the “throw away culture” that we often see.

The Final Word

The Mallet Trail Speed Lace Vent comes with all the bells and whistles that Crank Brothers’ has to offer for those seeking an efficient pedaling shoe. It is breathable, stiff, comfortable, durable, and reliable in every sense of the word. The only piece of feedback I can give is to encourage Crank Brothers to offer the shoe in a wide as it is a fairly narrow shoe. Overall, I am stoked to keep using this cycling shoe throughout the summer and see where it takes me. 

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