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X-Trail Evo
Carbon Shoes
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Vitals
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Manufacturer:
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Model:
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Item:
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Cycling shoes
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Website:
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Diadora X-Trail Evo Page
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Weight:
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Varies with size
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Materials:
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The upper is made from microfiber with D-Skin technology.
Additional support is offered by a stretch resistant medial and
lateral Morpho Cage in Tpu. Outer MTB Nylon sole is reinforced
with fiberglass and combined with Rubber Duratech tread.
Diadora also provides additional screw on toe spikes for added
traction. EVA removable insole, perforated for ventilation.
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Size/Dimension:
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Available in sizes 38-48.
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Colors:
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Silver gray with black and red accents. Also available in white
with red and black accents and black with silver accents.
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Serviceability:
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Toe spikes and buckle are replaceable.
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Installation:
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N/A
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Design:
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The X-Trail Evo is an all-synthetic leather shoe with rachet-style
buckle. It has a moderate toe box that is reinforced with a rubber
outsole for added protection. There is an extra layer of padding
sewn into tongue to prevent hotspots and ensure a snug fit.
The buckle is a tear drop design with a central red release
button. It is large enough to give the rider excellent leverage
when cinching down. The buckle base plate has it's own
compartment and is encased in the upper material.
The heel of the shoe has a lot of shaped padding for the achilles
tendon. This structure will adequately hold your heel down and
keep your foot in the shoe. The heel cup is reinforced with
carbon fiber, giving protection and support.
One of my favorite things about the Evo is the rubber Duratech
sole, which is very wear-resistant, while offering flexibility and
excellent traction in all but the worst conditions.
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We liked
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Since 1948, Diadora has crafted fine Italian shoes for many
sports, but they are not often mentioned in the world of
cyclocross. They have a big following in Europe, and are well
known for their soccer and road cycling shoes.
Trialtir is the current US distributer for Diadora. We met with
both of their representatives at Interbike to discuss some the
features in the current line of shoes. When I was handed the
X-Trail Evo, I was very impressed with the design of the shoe
sole. Most soles are usually made of hard rubber, but I generally
prefer a softer rubber that offers more grip.
The gripping capabilities of the sole are especially important
when a promoter has the racers run on concrete stairs as part of
the course. There is nothing like dismounting and heading for
muddy concrete stairs to get your heart rate up. Diadora's field
testers must have met the same concrete stair challenge as the
X-Trail's rubber is soft and sticky but wears like iron.
Designers at Diadora have packed this shoe with loads of cool
features that can help achieve the perfect fit. The main buckle is
adjustable, with 2 screw holes each in the buckle and shoe
respectively. With multiple options for placement, the buckle can
be placed in 4 different positions. Nice! This feature is especially
important if you need to vary sock weights (thick, thin,
neoprene, etc.).
The next feature is the middle strap, which has 2 metal loops
instead of the standard single loop. This adjustability allows for
variances in foot anatomy (ie. tall, small) and enables the rider to
put the right tension on the strap. The X-Trails also have an
additional tab below the loops which prevents pressure spots
from developing and offers some extra padding when tightened
down. Combine this with the full rubber outer toe for plenty of
protection in the off road world and you are set.
The outer leather upper is soft as butter and has an embossed
bicycle chain pattern and punched holes for breathability. Quite
frankly, I'm really digging that. Surprisingly, the holes did a really
good job of keeping water out.
After evaluating the X-Trails on the trainer, road, and trail, I have
noticed that they run a little large. While I usually wear a 45 in a
SIDI, the Diadora X-Trails were a bit big for me at 44.5. The shoes
were tested at the Cross Crusade Series race in Astoria, OR and
I was happy with them for the most part. Even though the shoes
are very comfortable,, they are just a little too stiff, falling just
short of the mark for a the perfect cyclocross shoe.
We have scheduled an evaluation of the 2010 X-Trail which
features a nylon sole. If the 2009 carbon model is anything like
the 2010 nylon version, I am especially excited to try them.
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We didn't like
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The X-Trail is a bit too stiff. We would like to see this addressed
and are looking forward to testing the 2010 X-Trail.
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The final say
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If you want to stand out from the pack and need a fine
Italian-made shoe with tons of features, these are an excellent
choice. With the added buckle adjustability, you can tweak the fit
to accommodate winter or neoprene socks and the shoe will still
fit. That flexibility will allow you to ride in just about any weather.
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