Are you sick of clipless shoes that look like roadie hand-me-downs?
The new Teva Pivot might well be the answer …
The Pivot was seemingly announced at the start of 2013 but oddly hasn’t had much attention since. That’s a shame because it looks like a great alternative to the very small list of good quality and stylish MTB clip-in kicks. There’s the Five Ten Hellcat, Shimano AM45, Vans Warner, SixSixOne Filter … Is that it? The list is pretty short!
The Pivot was designed with the help of freerider Jeff Lenosky and clipless pedal experts Crank Brothers which in itself carries a mountain of credibility. “We’ve been able to look not only at the shoe but also how it integrates with the bike as a whole. This partnership has helped us develop a product that looks and performs great straight out of the box.” says Teva.
First things first – the styling. Whilst style is a very personal thing the Pivot does – we reckon – look pretty good and is definitely one of the most low-key clipless shoes we’ve seen. The bright ‘Teva blue’ colours add a bit of style and the skate shoe shape would mean no disco slippers in the pub or the office.
Features? There has obviously been plenty of thought and rider feedback put into the design. A very clever feature is the fact that the cleats bolt into the shoe from the inside, with an access hole in the tongue for your allen key – unlike most where the bolt heads are exposed on the sole of the shoe. This means no damage to bolt heads as your shoes get a hammering and no hassle getting them out. Smart work Teva.
The sole features a large, grippy ‘Spider 365’ platform around the cleat. Our experience has found that performs somewhere between Five Ten’s Stealth Rubber and a ‘normal’ skate shoe. That means decent grip … but not the limpet like security of a Five Ten. It also features a ‘midsole plate’ which Teva claim offers the added stiffness that you want for clipless pedals whilst still being ok to walk in.
The Price clocks in at £110 which is on the steeper side in its class but isn’t too wild. It’s similar to the Five Ten Hellcat, slightly more than the Vans Warner and a lot more than the Shimano AM and SixSixOne Filter.
And the ride? The Pivots just landed this week … so we’re looking forward to getting them on the bike and hammered. We’ll give you the full run-down once we’ve got some miles through them. Stay tuned!
The Teva Pivot is available from www.jejamescycles.co.uk
For more – check out Teva’s homepage here.
What do you think of the Teva Pivot?
Is this the shoe that would answer your clipless prayers?
Features:
- PedalLink clipless outsole featuring Spider 365 rubber compound with inverted lugs for grip in loose terrain.
- Composite midsole plate allows for pedaling efficiency with excellent walkability.
- EVA midsole provides cushioning and comfort.
- Aluminum cleat shield for durability.
- Teva K.A.S.S. Cleat Attachment System (works only with Shimano and Crankbrothers cleats).
- Type 314 Stainless Steel hardware for corrosion resistance.
- Tongue Port for cleat adjustment while connected to the pedal (works only with Shimano and Crankbrothers cleats).
- Lightweight Synthetic and Mesh upper for breathability and quick drying.
- Closed Cell EVA collar and tongue foam do not absorb water.
- Instep Strap for added foot retention.
- TPU toe and heel protection for stability and protection.
