Diadora

X-Vortex Pro Shoes - Men's

Diadora's X-Vortex Pro Mountain Bike Shoes are very straightforward about their purpose: to raise hell on the trail. Its ultra-stiff carbon fiber sole is only out-performed by the Pro Vortex road shoe, registering a 10/12 on the stiffness index. That much power transfer means that a lot of the trail would normally come through the pedals and into your feet, but the carbon fiber helps to dissipate vibrations while focusing power into the pedals. The X-Vortex Pro is for cyclists who put down a lot of power very quickly.

The shoes feature Diadora's Suprell-Tech Morpho AM Cage technology, which are the same uppers found on the company's top-end road shoe models. They stay tight against your feet without restricting circulation. Inside the upper, the EVA insert is perforated to further promote breathability and removable, so you can optimize your level of arch support to your own foot shape. In the Pro model, the molded, abrasion-resistant Duratech heel cup is upgraded with a gripping texture to keep your foot from slipping, but it's also removable if your feet demand it.

The closure system omits yesterday's hook-and-loop straps in favor of two Boa wires, which are almost mandatory for quality cycling shoes today. The Boa wires let you micro-tune the fit across the top of your foot, where the most pressure is applied to the upper, and over your metatarsal area for different amounts of pressure in each spot. Anyone who's experienced crippling hot spots in the toe box will appreciate this variable approach, as it lets you customize the shoe's fit for firm support and spacious comfort at the same time.