Canyon is already a mega-large bike company, but unlike its competitors Trek and Specialized, the brand doesn’t make shoes or helmets. Well, we can scratch that first product category off the list today with the launch of the Canyon Tempr CFR road and off-road shoes. I’ve been testing the off-road version on my mountain bike since Sea Otter in April, and I’ve found the Canyon Tempr CFR shoes perform well despite a little discomfort.
Canyon Tempr CFR Offroad key specs
- Weight: 335g per shoe (size 45)
- SPD-compatible
- Price: $329.95
- Buy from Canyon
Right off the bat, I have to point out that at launch, the Canyon Tempr CFR shoes are only being offered in solid black, white, and gray colorways. The black and white pattern seen on my test pair is inspired by the wraps car companies use to mask the shape of their prototype vehicles, and is not available for purchase. At least, not yet. The ironic thing is that pretty much everyone immediately noticed the shoes, and most said they liked the look. So I wouldn’t be surprised if this ended up being offered as an official option.
The press materials announcing the product launch, and even the shoes themselves, are marked with countless TMs and Rs with circles around them: BOA. Performfit. Solestar. Vibram. Canyon is leaving nothing to chance with this shoe launch, relying on some of the biggest and most experienced names in the cycling footwear space to ensure the shoes are dialed. For the most part, they are, and the Tempr CFRs even boast a couple of features we haven’t seen in mountain biking shoes before, like pressure relief zones and cross-wrapped laces. More on both later.
Canyon Tempr CFR construction and materials
Starting at the sole, Canyon is using Vibram Megagrip rubber as opposed to the hard plastic material similar cross-country-style shoes employ. The toes are not spike-compatible, opting for four angular tread blocks instead. The cleat channel is fairly wide, which makes entry and exit feel intuitive out of the box. On pavement, SPD cleats are surprisingly loud and clacky despite not seeming to stick out from the tread much, if at all. The heel has a round shape and doesn’t offer a lot of surface area.
Inside the sole, the Canyon Tempr CFR features a full-length carbon shank for maximum stiffness without adding too much weight. I certainly can’t get the shoe to flex front-to-back using my hands, though I can get the sole to bend torsionally ever so slightly. Compared to a pair of carbon-soled Shimano S-Phyre shoes I own that Shimano rates an 11 out of 10 on their stiffness scale, I’d give the Tempr CFRs a 10 all day long.
Solestar insoles are designed for both power transfer and comfort, and I can’t argue with either based on my testing. On longer rides I have noticed a hot spot or two on my forefoot, though based on my experience, it’s nothing out of the ordinary for this style of mountain bike shoe.
The Canyon Tempr CFR shoes utilize synthetic uppers that I’ve found to be protective while holding up well against trail abrasion. Canyon says they’ve built a pressure relief zone into the forefoot — basically at the pinky toe knuckle — to ensure a comfortable fit for a wide variety of foot shapes and sizes. My forefoot is on the wide side, though I’m not quite EE, and I found even with the pressure relief zone, the shoes feel tight around the toes. I’ve tried compensating by keeping the lower BOA system loose but after a couple of hours of riding, the outsides of my forefoot are feeling the pinch.
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A stretchy mesh tongue is sewn on all sides which eliminates the chance of any weird overlaps or the need to tuck things just so. The shoes appear to be quite narrow from the top, but I’ve found the tongue offers plenty of stretch to slip my wide forefoot inside. The tongue is breathable, though the rest of the shoe is not, with laser-cut holes providing minimal ventilation.
Canyon worked with BOA to come up with a new implementation of the now-familiar ratcheting lace system used by countless brands. Rather than pulling across the shoe perpendicularly, the BOA dial and lace attachment points are situated more diagonally. In practice, this means tightening the dial doesn’t just press down on your foot; it actually distributes the pressure side to side and front to back. Canyon and BOA call this setup the BOA Peformfit wrap. And since this is a premium shoe, Canyon is using not one but two high-end BOA Li2 dials.
As a cross-country shoe, the Canyon Tempr CFR compares favorably to the more expensive Shimano S-Phyre and Specialized S-Works Recon shoes, with similar performance at a lower cost but with a slightly heavier weight.
Following the launch of the Tempr CFR shoes, Canyon plans to add to the off-road/MTB line with sneaker-like, clipless pedal adventure shoes and also enduro and flat pedal shoes.
Pros and cons of Canyon Tempr CFR Offroad shoe
Pros
- Stiff sole and lightweight materials for efficient power transfer
- Grippy sole and tread pattern for off-bike traction
- Seems true to size, but if you have wide feet, consider sizing up
Cons
- Even with the flex zone, the toe box feels tight
- Not much ventilation
Bottom line
The Canyon Tempr CFR shoes are thoughtfully designed with high quality materials, making them competitive with some of the best XC mountain bike shoes on the market.
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