Five Ten Freerider - Women's Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Inexpensive, breathable
Cons: Lacks elastic strap for laces, longer break-in period, not the most durable
Manufacturer: Adidas Five Ten
Our Verdict
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 This Product
Five Ten Freerider - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  | |  | ||
| Price | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $120 List Check Price at Backcountry | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $130 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Inexpensive, breathable | Excellent grip, comfortable, lightweight, breathable, reasonable price | Good grip, very good power transfer, stiff, durable | Inexpensive, offers a lot of protection, balanced grip | Lightweight, comfortable, varied tread for different conditions |
| Cons | Lacks elastic strap for laces, longer break-in period, not the most durable | Long laces, minimal foot protection | A bit heavier than other comparable shoes we tested, breathability is lacking in hot and humid conditions | Not the grippiest, moderate weight | Lacking in breathability and protection |
| Bottom Line | These are the least expensive shoe we tried, and we could tell | An excellent performing shoe for all types of flat pedal riders that has outstanding grip, comfort, and value | An ultra stiff and durable shoe with a no-slip grip and an impact absorbing midsole | This is an exceptional flat pedal shoe for someone just starting their mountain bike adventures, especially for the price | These kicks are a great option for someone who knows they like to have lots of freedom to adjust their feet on the pedals |
| Rating Categories | Five Ten Freerider... | Specialized 2FO Roo... | Ride Concepts Hellion | Ride Concepts Livewire | Bontrager Flatline... |
| Grip (30%) | |||||
| Comfort And Protection (25%) | |||||
| Rigidity And Power Transfer (20%) | |||||
| Breathability (10%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Weight (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Five Ten Freerider... | Specialized 2FO Roo... | Ride Concepts Hellion | Ride Concepts Livewire | Bontrager Flatline... |
| Outsole | Stealth S1 | SlipNot™ ST | Rubber Kinetics DST 6.0 HIGH GRIP | Rubber Kinetics DST6.0 High Grip | Vibram MegaGrip |
| Tread Pattern | Full Dot | Full Hexagon Dot | Full Hexagon Dot | Full Haxagon Dot | Squares underfoot, zig-zags toe and heel |
| Measured Weight Grams (pair) | 770 g | 669 g | 736 g | 754 g | 600 g |
| Upper Material | Suede, mesh | Leather, Suede | Synthetic | Synthetic, mesh | Synthetic leather |
| Footbed | EVA | Body Geometry | D3O High Impact Zone | D30 High Impact Zone | Ortholite |
| Sole | EVA | EVA | EVA | EVA | EVA |
| Size Tested | 8.5 | EU 40 | 9 | 9 | 7.5 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
No bells and whistles here! The Freerider is a basic model for folks who need some extra grip for riding and everyday shenanigans (hiking, Parkour!).
Performance Comparison
Grip
Like the other Five Ten shoes, the Freerider features S1 Stealth rubber. The tread is a dot pattern, but the dot pattern stops around the edge of the sole. Though Stealth rubber is sticky, the rubber/lug pattern combos found on other Five Ten models provide better grip. The Freerider's dot pattern is a bit shallow compared to its better-performing cousins. If you are looking for a shoe with a great grip at this price point, we recommend exploring our other reviews for shoes at a comparable price point who scored higher in our testing.
Comfort and Protection
We found the Freerider to be fairly comfy when you size them correctly. Five Ten's sizing seems to be a bit inconsistent, so we recommend you try them on first, if you can. As we mentioned, these shoes aren't loaded with extras like ankle protection or a lace retainer. Other models we tested offer tons of protection and an elastic lace keeper at the same price point.
Rigidity and Power Transfer
The Five Ten Freerider has a great balance of rigidity and flexibility, making the pedal easy to feel underfoot. We also felt like we were able to efficiently transfer power from our foot to the pedal with ease, and our feet never slipped off.
Breathability
The uppers are suede and mesh, making these shoes the most breathable compared to the synthetic material that most shoes tried. To have this kind of breathability, you lose a lot of protection. So if you know you will not need much protection for the style of riding you do, these may be the shoes for you.
Durability
Through testing, Stealth S1 rubber doesn't seem as durable as the harder, less sticky Vibram rubber. We could see visible scars from our pedals in the soles after just a few sessions. A small price to pay for a great grip.
Weight
The Freerider's weight fell right in the middle of all the shoes we compared, weighing 770 grams. We did not notice the heavy feel on our feet, especially because these shoes were so breathable.
Value
These classics are fairly basic, best suited for casual riders. However, other models we tested offer amazing grip and protection at the same price point.
Conclusion
The Five Ten Freerider has a lot of grip with their Stealth S1 rubber, but the shallow tread on the bottom makes the grip pale in comparison to other Five Ten shoes. We found these shoes to be very breathable, but that is where the positive feedback ends. There is nothing special about this shoe and we think there are better options at this price point.
— Bo Outland
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