time to get a new pair of shoes,thinking about picking up a pair of the bont sub 10 triathlon cycling shoes. anyone have a pair? any comments or reviews. thanks
My wife and I had trouble getting what we ordered. The first pair for me was the wrong color and not Ozzie leather. The second time I though it was right, but after a couple rides I realized my pair were Sub10 instead of Sub8 as I ordered. (dumb names) I would think they have the ordering problems worked out by now.
I couldn’t return them as I had already customized the velcro fasteners. The shoes attach inwards toward the pedal and come undone, especially on the chain side. I don’t understand why they have it that way.
I use to have a neuroma. It flared up badly with these but I remolded them wider and it got better. I am going to give them another heat treatment. If It doesn’t go away completely I’ll sell you a size 46, cheap.
My wife likes hers fine. I asked her why. She said stiffness. She meant energy transfer.
I know a few guys in Houston that ride with them, all say there the best shoes they had used. They’re meant to be really comftable due to the fittingg process. My only concern would be there doesnt seem to be enough ventilation holes, so there is the risk of your feet baking, or swimming in sweat (not nice), but again the guys that regulary ride with them, dont seem to say this is an issue, so all positive.
I just got a pair a month ago (a2) and I absolutely love them. I did three rounds of molding before I had it right, but now, they are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned.
Two tips with molding:
- Don’t overdo it with arch support. It is easy to pull the sole up and create an annoying bump that is a little bit of a pain to push back out.
- Tape a small piece of leather on any hotspots (I have one on the outside of each big toe that has bothered me in all of my previous cycling shoes – and some running shoes) and that leaves extra space after molding.
They are ridiculously stiff. It was a little odd at first (the float in my pedals was suddenly very noticeable and annoying), but now I love them.
I have a pair for both my Road and Track Bikes. The best shoes…ever.
Stiffest, lightest, best fitting (after two forms), and lowest stack height of any shoe I’ve had.
If you ride the Bonts and you go back to a normal shoe, it will be like Tevas.
Check out the Excel Sports on line catalog and read the comments. The most recent one is written
by Colby Pearce. He has even modified a pair of Bonts for XC !
I’m busting at the seams to review these. Nytro has them and I believe they have had some success with them. They “seem” valid and interesting. Super thin sole on some models.
Let us know what yu think if you decide to get them. I can’t wait to try them myself.
If you appreciate saving a few bucks, I’ve been really happy with the Specialized Trivent.
I think they are about $150 and I’ve been amazed at the stiffness and comfort. They are widely available
so it should be a simple matter to find a pair to try on.
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I got custom ones, both A1 and Sub 8 and my first ride was 3 hours and they were great. Stiff as hell which seemed to make the bike faster? Of course custom
Helped the fit but well worth it to me. I think the stiff sole is the key. Know others with standard models who after home moulding couldnt shut up about the way they feel pedaling. If you don’t have carbon soles currently you will for sure be sore! Worth a look. I have an extra pair of 44.5 Sub 8’s if they’ re your size…
Know I should post this in the classifieds but with all the comments here . . .
I have a virtually new (ridden once - truly!) pair of sub 10’s. Size 44 (10). Paid $178.95. Decided to stay with Sidi’s. Will email pics on request. No marks on the shoes (other than the sole from sliding into the speedplays). Make an offer!
Check out Dan’s review here http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Cycling_footwear/Bont_Sub-10_1420.html
I have the Sub-8’s. Got them 1 week before Kona, rode 2 x 50 miles with them, then did a oven-heat on the Thursday before race day, and loved the shoes for the 112 mile race.
The shoes do tend to run SMALL, eg I am usually a Sidi size 45, but have size 46 in Bont. One of the neat things with the Bont shoes is that the toe box is wide, and the toe apex of the shoe lines up with your big toe - compared to say Sidi where the apex of the shoe is close tot he centerline of the shoe.
The shoe-horn works real well for easy entry.
it took me some time to get them right … but in the end by taping up the hotspots worked well
one thing to note - try to buy the correct size in those as they can stretch almost up to half a size when you need to mould them … and you can’t stretch too big of a shoe …
now my problem is i want to ride only in those shoes … my shimanos TR51 haven’t seen light of day since i bought those
If you get them molded properly, and dialed in to fit, you wont want to ride any other show. I have A1’s (road) and Sub 9’s (tri). Had the A1’s about 6-8 months, then when it was tri season and put on my old shimano tri shoes w/ carbon sole, it just wasnt the same.
I have three pairs, A1 road, Mtb 2 and the Track A1. Currently waiting for the Sub9 semi customs.
As others have said, a most excellent shoe, function over form. Multiple heat moulding have made these the most comfortable shoe ever. 4 hrs plus in the Aussie summer not an issue for venting.
Has anyone else had trouble with the velcro fasteners. I looked at the sub 10 and was surprised how small the velcro contact patch was relative to other tri shoes. This made me worried that I might not be able to easily fasten them while riding down the road after T1.
I have 3 pairs and can honestly say they are the best cycling shoes I have ever had.
Just curious, are they speedplay specific (4 holes in the sole)?
Styrrell
I tried the A3 and Sub10 and they are very impressive. Nice low profile and super stiff. I also tried the new Scott road shoes and honestly liked them better. They fit better in the upper.
Does anyone know the difference between Sub 8 and Sub 9 's?
Also - how is the fit compared to other cycling shoes. Do they run small?
nice shoes - very light
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I’m on the sub9s for a couple months now. I was a 48 in LG and got the 49 in the bont. Echo on the stiffness. Also love the roomy toe box and arch support, which I’ve not seen mentioned. I did the had weigh test between these and my LG’s and they “seemed” much lighter with the spdplay cleats on both. I think the real keys are the presumed power transfer increase with the ridiculous stiffness, lightweight-ness, and arch support.
as to the velcro, mine did come undone once in augusta 70.3 costing me a couple of secs in reach time. otherwise, no other issues, but my coach who works at a trishop said there was some ventilation complaints in ga heat.