More new shoes from Shimano – here we look at the new ‘Mountain Enduro’ ME7 and ME5 for the clipped in trail and enduro rider
With the growth of enduro racing plenty of riders are looking for improved efficiency on the bike. With this trend we’ve seen plenty of developments in clipless (SPD) style pedals and shoes over the last few seasons. The two bolt Shimano designed system has been an industry standard for over twenty five years with many brands such as HT and Crank Brothers producing pedals to suit this style of cleat. Shimano have always been a benchmark in pedal design and their footwear often hits the spot for UK riders with shoes that work well year round. Many offer good protection from the muck and water that we often see on the trails too.
With recently updated favourites such as the AM9 having a leaning towards DH and gravity riding, Shimano have now revamped their trail and enduro range with an emphasis on improved pedalling efficiency, control and all-day performance. With two new models, the more expensive ME7 takes over from the M200, an established favourite and a pick in our ‘Best trail SPD shoes’ feature.
SHIMANO ME7
If you’re a dedicated clipped-in rider you’ll know that the key is getting a good blend of stiffness in the sole and purposeful traction when of the bike and pushing up hill. Many ‘skate style’ SPD shoes give great comfort and are often stiff enough but lack the traction of a lugged sole and are often bulkier than needed. It’s here that a shoe like the ME7 has a true advantage – so what improvements have Shimano made over the previous M200?
Combining the low weight and pedalling efficiency of an XC shoe with the durability, grip, and armour aggressive trail riders require, the ME7 looks very much fit for action.
