Brands continue to design and bring to market new products for gravel or adventure cycling, a category that continues to grow in popularity. Proof of this are the new Explore Powerweave sneakers from Rapha, one of the high-end brands.
For its part, Trek also presented new shoes, although they were not designed with gravel in mind, but rather with MTB. This does not take away their usefulness and, in fact, some gravel players prefer them for their robustness. Below we review the three new options.
Let's start with these new shoes from Rapha called Explore Powerweave and designed for gravel cycling. Its fabric is a 3D braid that combines black with gray. The threads are reinforced with a TPU material (thermoplastic polyurethanes) which offers great durability and resistance to bad weather, while maintaining a low weight. Remember that MTB shoes are usually heavy due to the conditions they face.
The platform is made of lightweight carbon (you can imagine its price!). Rapha says that its use transfers pedaling power effectively. However, this material is not used in the toe and not in the heel to offer flexibility where it is needed when walking. The platform is integrated into a rubber sole that allows good grip. In the previous image you can see the long studs it has.
The sole has a hole for the cleat and this will make it easy to tread on any terrain in any weather, similar to what other equally recognized brands offer.
The heel cup has been designed to hug the foot, keeping the shoe comfortably in place, whether you're riding or walking. It is worth noting the bra that it has in the back, which makes it easy to put on the shoes.
The midfoot is adjustable thanks to BOA's new Li2 incremental dial platform, which is fully integrated into the upper of the shoe for a secure, foot-hugging fit. This type of adjustable instep support with BOA technology allows to adapt to a wide variety of foot types. The only drawback is that the BOA mechanism does greatly increase the cost of shoes of any kind.
The technical characteristics of these shoes are the following:
Rapha claims to have tested them to the limit by professional and amateur cyclists alike over tens of thousands of kilometers on bikepacking expeditions and ultra-endurance races.
Let's now move on to the new shoes from Trek under its Bontrager brand, the Foray and Evoke models, both designed for MTB cycling. but very usable in gravel cycling. In fact, the majority of gravelists continue to use these shoes.
Starting with the Foray shoes, they use a BOA® L6 dial (the Rapha model uses two BOA dials), offering a good fit on rides of any distance and intensity. BOA cable guides look sturdy so they'll be able to hold up in dirt, mud and more. The other two adjustment dials are of the traditional type.
Its outsole is stiff yet walkable, with a durable upper that includes the added protection of rubber-textured GnarGuard that guards against abrasions and other damage from trail debris. On the stiffness index scale, it is usually 6 out of 14 points, that is, medium stiffness. In addition, the sole has rubber studs that allow good grip and traction on all types of terrain.
The materials of the upper part are perforated but are resistant and synthetic. This protection is good in cold weather, but if you live in a hot place, it may be inconvenient.
These shoes are compatible with 2-bolt SPD-style plates, with ample room for traditional adjustments. Includes location indicators to guide proper plate installation and alignment.
The Foray is offered in unisex sizing for riders of all genders. Available colors are: royal blue, black, olive gray and quicksilver.
Regarding the Evoke shoes, we have that these are also for MTB. They are also equipped with the same Tachyon rubber outsole and reinforced with GnarGuard, a texture that protects against abrasions. To adjust or fasten to the foot they include the BOA® L6 single dial mechanism. They present synthetic materials (mainly polyurethane) in the upper part and are perforated.
Like the Foray, the Evoke has a Bronze Series outsole made of nylon compound suitable for walking and with a Stiffness Index 6 out of 14 points. It is compatible with 2-bolt SPD type plates. The sole is composed of the following materials: 40% nylon, 40% rubber, 12% fiberglass, 5% thermoplastic polyurethane and 3% metal.
The Evokes are designed to be worn by men and women. In short, the Evoke are made with almost the same materials and features as the Foray, but under a different design, for example, these have a bra at the back to facilitate their placement on the foot. Available colors are black, deep blue and grey.
Official website of Trek (Foray and Evoke) and Rapha
