The newest Five Ten Freerider Pro, with BOA fit system, lives up to the Freerider legacy: insane grip right out of the box. Normally, I expect there to be a little bit of a break in period for flat pedal shoes to “bond” with their spiky counterparts, but from the moment I set these shoes on my pedals, I was quite literally hooked. With the Stealth S1 Phantom rubber soles beneath my feet, I never questioned my grip, even on the chunkiest of trails.
FiveTen Freerider Pro BOA key specs
- Clean, minimalist look featuring BOA Li2 dial
- Legendary Five Ten Stealth S1 grip and Dotty Sole for maximum grip
- Rugged uppers for greater abrasion resistance
- Price: $170
- Available directly from adidas, currently $128 for AdiClub members
This was my first time trying the BOA lace system, and I honestly regret not jumping on it sooner. My previous experiences with Five Ten shoes involved ridiculously long laces and frustrating lace management that got in the way of both performance and style. The Freerider Pro BOAs are a whole different story. Their razor-thin laces crisscross the tongue cleanly, creating a sleek, minimal look. Once you’ve got the fit dialed, getting ride-ready is effortless: step in, push the dial, crank it tight, and go.
While I love how quick and easy it is to tighten the BOA system, fine-tuning the midfoot fit takes a little more work.To adjust the pressure across different parts of my foot, I had to use my opposite hand to either pin or lightly pull the laces while turning the dial. Traditional laces give you more control with multiple eyelets to tweak tightness across the top of your foot, so if you’re picky about fit, give yourself some time to get these just right.
One thing I do worry about is the durability of that plastic dial. If I were to hit a rock or snap a lace mid-ride, it wouldn’t be an easy trailside fix. The good news? BOA has replacement kits for all of their products, however getting off the trail with a broken shoe might be a bit of a challenge. Debris jamming up the dial is also a concern, but I didn’t experience any issues during testing in dry conditions.
When it comes to flex, flat pedal shoes often feel a little too soft, especially compared to clipless options with reinforced midsoles. That isn’t the case here. The Freerider Pro BOAs feel surprisingly stiff and supportive right out of the box. While I haven’t put in months of miles yet, they already feel more durable than earlier Freerider models, which I’ve found quickly break down and become too soft.
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The uppers are made from an abrasion-resistant synthetic material that is primed and ready to shed debris and muck and help keep you clean(er) and dry(er). They’re not waterproof according to Five Ten, but they should be just fine to ride in sloppy conditions without leaving your feet totally soaked.
I ordered my usual size (women’s 8.5), but the fit felt roomy—particularly in the toe box. I’d recommend trying a half size down if you prefer a snugger feel. If you prefer a more dialed-in, snug fit, I’d recommend trying a half size down. I’ve landed between sizes in Five Tens before, so this isn’t a total surprise. The uppers are spacious, and no matter how much I cranked the dial, I never quite felt like I filled the shoe fully or got the lockdown I wanted.
Pros and cons of FiveTen Freerider Pro BOA
Pros
- Clean, sleek shoe profile
- Stiff sole makes for great power transfer
- Amazing grip thanks to Five Ten Stealth S1 rubber and Dotty sole
- Quick adjustments to fit with the BOA Li2 dial
- Abrasion-resistant uppers shed muck and debris, making for a durable shoe
Cons
- Sizing seems to run large
- Midfoot fit was hard to fine-tune, and the roomy upper makes it difficult to achieve a truly snug feel
- Damaging the BOA dial is not an easy trailside fix, so carry zip ties.
Bottom line
The Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA is perfect for riders who want a grippy set-it-and-forget-it pair of shoes they can rock on any kind of ride, from XC miles to bike park laps. Buy these if you are looking for a sleek and easy-to-wrangle pair of shoes that will keep you glued to your pedals.
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