Anyone rocking the Mavic Tri Helium shoes? I’m in the market for a new pair of tri shoes this year and the Mavic Tri Helium shoes caught my eye. Interested to know if they are narrow/wide/light/stiff/comfy/etc. I am currently riding Shimano TR 70s. Great shoe, stiff sole but on long rides the upper beats up the spot between my ankle and the strap. Hoping to find something nice, light and soft enough in the upper where it is comfortable with damp/sandy feet and easier to transition in/out of.
I have a pair and love them. Raced and trained in them the second half of the season. They do get dirty quick but, they still stand out! Mine ran about a half size big. I have normal feet and they feel fine without socks or with winter socks. The single strap does irritate the top of my foot on long rides but the soles are super stiff. I had trivents prior to these guys and the single strap that opens away from the bike makes a lot more sense. And the shoe horn is pretty big to help you get into your shoes.
Can anyone else provide comments re sizing? I’m an EU 43 in Sidi road shoes which is perfect, I find my EU43 Specialized TriVents are a little large when used without socks.
Is the fit of the Tri Helium a Sidi-esque narrow fit or a wider Specialized-Shimano type fit? Trying to decide between EU42 and EU43.
.
I don’t know from experience but when I asked a similar uestion about Heliums on ST last week the only reply I got was that advice that Mavic shoes are usually a narrow-ish fit. Expensive shoes so I’d be trying them on first if possible.
I don’t know from experience but when I asked a similar uestion about Heliums on ST last week the only reply I got was that advice that Mavic shoes are usually a narrow-ish fit. Expensive shoes so I’d be trying them on first if possible.
I could never wear SIDI shoes. Tried 'em and they are too narrow. I also have a high instep and together with the narrow width they are definitely not the shoes for me. I used to ride Shimano shoes. Great fit, almost a little too stiff but tough to rock convincingly with Look pedals and SRAM Red.
Here is a shoe size chart I found that is pretty accurate: http://www.i18nguy.com/l10n/shoes.html
Don’t know why Mavic chose UK sizing. I wear a 44.5-45 size shoe. The Mavic UK 10 was perfect. 11 would have been too big. I only wear the shoes for triathlons and when I ride my tri bike - never with socks. If you wear the shoes full time and/or wtih socks then go slightly larger. After every race I pull out the insoles and let the shoes dry. Every month or so I will scrub them with Dawn soap and a stiff brush to keep them looking their Mavic “yellowest”.
If you are racing and wearing these shoes - you gotta be fast. You also loose points if you are seen wearing them on your feet in T1/T2 - they gotta be mounted on the bike and stay there. Don’t be that guy hoping to break 1:45 in your local sprint triathlon wearing $350 high performance shoes. Just sayin’.
Thanks for the post, very interesting. I do wear Sidis for my roadies and mtb shoes - even though I have wide feet - but I use the Mega models, not the regular ones. Sounds like your Mavics are wider than Sidi so perhaps they’re ok. Also appreciate your comments about only wearing the Mavics when you’re racing, and fast at that. They’re pretty swanky shoes to go slow in.
Mavic shoes tend to run narrow and fit low-volume feet very well. However the uppers are very soft and supple, and the carbon outsoles don’t “cup” upwards at the perimeter, so they accomodate different fits fairly well. All the same, if you’ve got wide or “square” feet you should try these on first before buying.
I’m from the road/MTB world, but I know that in the Tri world, Tim O’Donnell wears them.
And for what it’s worth, I have wide/square feet so I have a shoe shop stretch my Mavic Huez and Zxellium Ultimate shoes a little across the toes. They fit great and there’s a wide range of strap adjustability.
If you are racing and wearing these shoes - you gotta be fast. You also loose points if you are seen wearing them on your feet in T1/T2 - they gotta be mounted on the bike and stay there. Don’t be that guy hoping to break 1:45 in your local sprint triathlon wearing $350 high performance shoes. Just sayin’.
Agree. But how fast is fast enough? Lets put it in HIM or IM terms what sort of bike time is acceptable to run these babies?? Whats the concensus??? Obviously age and gender get an allowance but whats the ball park
Thanks mate. That is actually really helpful.
Just bought a pair off of ebay and they arrived yesterday. Shoes run very small - like at least a full size small. Both straps were very uncomfortable and I’m not sure a full size bigger would make them more comfortable. Sending them back today and now I know why these shoes are being offered at steep discounts.
Mavic Shoes used to be Adidas cycling shoes, which were heavily marketed in Europe but only got a glance here in the US. If you look at the original Mavic Tri cycling shoes, the shapes of every piece of the shoes were the same. I think the shoe was Euro-Adidas designed (hence the narrow fit), with Mavic’s carbon abilities for the soles. Adidas wasn’t getting enough sales, and gave it over to Mavic. There has since been some redesign. I tried one on, and I’m not sold yet. The old one ran an S-shaped divide up the top of the shoe, with no tongue, and actually felt great, no rubbing, nothing. The current one has a new weird shape to the main strap, and a tongue. I have to try it on again, also looking at the Garneau shoes, maybe some Sidi T1’s if I can find them.