Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view

Adidas Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

We do a fair bit of mountainbiking at Unsponsored HQ when there isn’t much water around and we have been using Five Ten shoes from the very start.

The newest addition to the flat pedal mountain bike range is the Five Ten Trail Cross. The version we have here is the Mid version which has much better ankle protection in the form of D30 inserts.

Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro - Review
Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

The shoe is formed from what is essentially a neoprene sock. There is no tongue.

Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro - Review
Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

Size wise I think that these run a little large. I usually wear Five Ten or Salomon in a UK size 10 and did originally order a pair of Trail Cross in that size. However I found that the shoe is super long. I sent them straight back and now have a pair of UK 9.5s which after my first ride out fit great.

Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro - Review
Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

The first pair I ordered where the ones in Feather Grey / Black / Signal Coral. In my opinion they looked better on screen than they do in real life. So when I sent them back the new pair were ordered in black.

Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro - Review
Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

So how do they perform?

Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro - Review
Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

Compared to the other Five Tens I have owned they are significantly lighter. It is very noticeable. They are very stiff but with greater flex in the toe area. Again this noticeable.

Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro - Review
Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

The sole is also much thinner allowing me to feel where my foot is on the pedal. Incidentally I use DMR Vault plate pedals with the standard pins. The shoes are stiff enough to pedal and the revamped tread pattern and the stealth rubber means that they stick to pedals even better than my usual shoes.

Walking in the shoe is also much better with a more trainer like feel.

Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro - Review
Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

As you can see from the images the ride out when the shots were taken was both wet and muddy. The shoe on the whole keeps the elements out well with exception of the very top surface of the neoprene sock where the shoes tongue would normally be located. Now some websites are stating that these are waterproof, and although the fabric of the shoe seems to be waterproof there is a catch. Five Ten have decided that it would be a good idea to improve the shoes ventilation by piecing a series of holes on the neoprene section that sits under the laces. This did allow a little dampness onto the top of my sock. Nothing major but shows that it wouldn’t be a good idea to get into water/mud of any real depth.

Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro - Review
Five Ten Trail Cross Mid Pro – Review

I still like them but they certainly aren’t really a foul weather winter shoe, although they are comfortably warm.

One of the major issues with the older Five Ten MTB shoes is that when they get wet they stay wet for a long time. The Trail Cross are different. They do dry a reasonable amount of time.

To put it simply performance on the bike is better and performance off the bike is better. They are now my go to Mountain Bike shoe.

Five Ten do have a full Goretex version on the cards which looks almost the same as these versions but have the D30 inserts deleted. I am so please with the overall performance of the Five Ten Trail Cross Mids that I will be ordering a Goretex pair when they are released.

UPDATE: We now have a pair of the light weight Trail Cross LT. Check out the first look here.

10 Comments

  1. Frank

    Great Review! I also ordered UK10 and now thinking should i change them to size UK9.5. Can you tell how long your feet is?

  2. Steven Elsbury

    Do these fit in a boat? With the high top and ankle protection they seem perfect for a creeking shoe!

    • Unsponsored

      They will. I have tried them. They are pretty low profile. Not that different to a water tennie in size.

      • Steven Elsbury

        Do you have any thoughts on their viability as a water shoe?

        • Unsponsored

          They don’t drain as well as a dedicated water shoe. But the close fit means that little water gets in. The LT version are designed to get wet and to drain quickly but they are more trainer like without the ankle protection.

  3. unsponsoreduk

    After a few months of use I know that they dry quickly after a good dunking.

    • Ben Mudd

      What would you think about drilling a few holes in the front and back like astral hiyaks have to use as a dedicated creeking shoe?

  4. Andy

    What size do you wear in trainers usually? UK10?
    Adidas say with the XT you need to size up, is that not the case with the Mid Pro? Should I order my true size?

    • Unsponsored

      Usually a 10 UK in Salomon and older Five Ten. Moved to 9.5 UK.

  5. Dumisani

    Couldn’t decide which one to get between the XT and ProMid. Both are great riding shoes and l will live until my wife finds out how much l paid.

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