At a glance Expedition or leisure shoe that clips into your bike pedals, great for more adventurous leisure riders who want shoes that grip when they need to push their bike up the muddier hills, and look the part afterwards in the pub!
Tested by
Nikalas Cook, tester for The Bike List
Performance
Straight out of the box, the Springwaters appeared on the chunky side compared to the XC racing shoes I'm used to and I must admit this put me off them a bit. On closer inspection though it was obvious they were well made and the leather uppers in particular seemed to justify the £100 price tag. This stacks up reasonably against rival expedition style shoes such as the £100 Shimano MT60 and the £120 Northwave Expedition. Fitting my Time cleats was easy and, once on, the three velcro straps made adjustment and getting a comfortable fit a breeze.
Out riding, for what is obviously more of a leisure rather than a performance shoe, the sole stiffness wasn't bad. Power transference, although a tad sloppy if you're used to carbon soled flyers, was acceptable and climbs were no more arduous than normal. They were comfortable enough to ride in and I didn't suffer from any foot numbness or discomfort. Where the Springwaters really shone though was when the going got too tough to ride. That bit of extra flexibility, grippy Vibram sole and ultra recessed cleats made scrambling up rocky hike 'n' bike sections a much easier proposition than with my racers on. Where I normally scrabble around like Bambi on ice, the sure footedness of the Springwaters was a really pleasant surprise. Another big plus when off the bike was the big rubber toe box. Pushing uphill, you're up on your toes and toe stubbing against rocks can be a real pain. The chunky bumpers on the Springwaters offered fantastic protection against malevolent rocks. If most of your riding tends to be on natural trails in the Lakes, Peaks or North Wales, where long stretches of bike carrying are an inevitability, then an expedition style shoe like this could be just what you're looking for. They do lack waterproofing but the wicking fabric did a good job of keeping my feet dry and warm. I've always been skeptical of waterproofing as, once any water gets in over the top, you've just got two mobile puddles attached to your feet so I don't necessarily see the lack of waterproof lining as a negative.
Another area where this style of shoe definitely has the edge over racier models is when you hit civilisation and the pub. They're not quite as civvy street friendly as the Shimano MT60's, which have laces rather than straps, but you wouldn't feel embarrassed wearing them in a rural establishment.
Durability has been excellent and they've coped with numerous dunkings in Peak District peat bogs, not being washed after use and all round abuse without the slightest sign of deterioration. Sole wear has been almost zero and my cleats have been spared the normal death by gritstone.
I'm not going to be swapping the Springwaters for my XC shoes, I'm just too much of a Lycra-clad racing snake, but, for more leisurely riders who like to explore rather than just hammer around at full pelt, they'd certainly tick a lot of the right boxes.
Buy From www.keenfootwear.com
Keen Says:
Clip in and go with the Springwater, the first closed-toe cycling shoe from KEEN. Moisture wicking lining keeps your feet dry. The removable metatomical footbed provides personalized comfort for the long haul.
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Weight: 18.72 oz / 532.958 grams
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Fit Tip: We find this style runs about a 1/2 size small.
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Lining: Moisture Wicking Textile
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Upper: PU coated leather
- Full length SPD-compatible plate
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Non-marking rubber outsole
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Removable metatomical Footbed
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TPU cleat cap plate
Find out more www.keenfootwear.com
