Crank Brothers MTB & Gravel Shoes

Materials, Rubber, and What Keeps You Connected

The uppers across the Crank Brothers range are built from synthetic materials that balance weight, durability, and drying time. Perforated panels let air move during dry summer gravel days - think long fire-road climbs where your feet are working hard - while the overall construction is tight enough to handle the kind of spray you get pushing through a flooded bridleway. They won't keep water out indefinitely, but they shed it quickly, which matters more across a full day out than any waterproofing claim.

The TPU reinforced toe box takes rock strikes without creasing or cracking. It's a small thing until you've scuffed a soft-sided shoe across a gritstone edge mid-clip-out - then it feels essential. Underfoot, the EVA midsole absorbs trail chatter without going so soft that you lose feel through the pedal. Shank stiffness varies across the range: the DH-oriented Mallet is noticeably stiffer for maximum power transfer, while the Mallet Trail sits slightly more compliant for mixed-surface riding where you're walking as much as pedalling.

The rubber split is worth understanding clearly. MC2 high-friction rubber covers the entire sole of the Stamp flat shoes - it's grippy, almost tacky underfoot, and designed to lock onto pedal pins so you and the bike move as one unit. MC1 rubber, used on the Mallet clipless range, is intentionally lower friction around the cleat zone. That sounds counterintuitive, but it means mud releases cleanly during engagement and exit, rather than packing in and fighting you. If you're comparing options, Five Ten MTB shoes take a similar high-friction approach on their flat range with Stealth rubber, while Giro MTB shoes tend to prioritise a stiffer pedalling platform across their clipless line. Both are worth a look if you want to compare the feel.

Heel dots on the outsole add grip during hike-a-bike sections - directional lugs front and back that dig into wet roots and chalky climbs rather than sending you skating. Mud clearance in the cleat track is generous enough for UK winter conditions, which is genuinely worth noting given how quickly a clogged cleat box turns a routine trail ride into a comedy sketch. If you need replacement shoe spares including dials and laces, we stock those separately.

Understanding the Range and Getting the Fit Right

Four main families cover most riders. The Stamp is the flat pedal shoe - full stop. It's built for riders on Crank Brothers flat pedals who want the MC2 rubber working for them rather than fighting gravity. The Mallet is the DH and Enduro clipless option: stiff, protective, and built for riders who are clipped in on serious descents. The Mallet E sits in the trail and Enduro bracket - slightly more versatile underfoot - while the Mallet Trail targets XC and gravel riding where a balance of walkability and pedalling efficiency matters more than pure stiffness.

Closure systems cut across the range. Lace versions are the lightest and most straightforward - nothing to break, easy to replace. Speedlace adds a single pull-tighten system that's quick to deploy with cold or gloved hands, which you'll appreciate on a February morning at the trailhead. BOA Fit System dials give you the most precise micro-adjustment; you can fine-tune pressure across the forefoot without stopping. All three work well - your choice comes down to whether you prioritise simplicity, speed, or precision. The BOA version costs more, but if you find your feet swell slightly on longer rides and want to adjust on the fly, the dial earns its keep.

Fit across the range runs to a medium volume last. That's comfortable for most feet without being roomy. Riders with wider feet may find the toe box slightly snug initially, though synthetic uppers do mould with use. Sizing runs true to size for most riders. If you're planning to wear thicker waterproof socks for winter riding - the kind that genuinely keep the cold out on moorland crossings - consider going half a size up to avoid compressing the forefoot. Do you want to compare closure systems across brands? Lake MTB shoes offer a wider fit and are worth considering if you've historically found medium-last shoes too narrow. If you need fresh Crank Brothers cleats, those are listed separately - the shoes come with shims pre-installed, but replacements are handy to carry.

Keeping Them Working Through a UK Winter

After a muddy ride, the BOA dials are the first thing to clean. Grit gets into the mechanism and stiffens the rotation over time. A soft brush and a rinse under cold water sorts it - don't use a pressure washer directly on the dial housing. The cleat track needs the same attention; packed mud that dries hard makes cleat engagement inconsistent and can accelerate wear on both the shoe and the cleat itself. A small pick or old toothbrush clears it quickly.

Never dry synthetic uppers on a radiator. It warps the structure, hardens the rubber compounds, and can crack the TPU toe reinforcement. Leave them at room temperature, stuff them loosely with newspaper to hold shape, and they'll be ready faster than you'd expect. For back-to-back wet ride days - a common enough situation if you're riding Dartmoor or the Tweed Valley on a multi-day trip - rotating between two pairs of socks is the real answer. Pairing with quality Crank Brothers socks helps manage moisture inside the shoe, which is where comfort actually lives on a long wet day. Merino-blend options are worth the investment if you ride in all conditions year-round.

One practical point on compatibility: the Mallet clipless range uses a standard 2-bolt mount, which means it works with Shimano SPD pedals and most other mountain bike clipless systems as well as Crank Brothers' own. The Match System optimises the connection specifically for Crank Brothers pedals, but you're not locked in if your pedal setup is mixed across bikes.