Five Ten Trailcross CL Shoes Review: The Benefits of Hiking

I went on a quick overnighter with my good friend Skyler last weekend. We followed a mix of gravel roads, old logging spurs, and rough ATV tracks. It was a mix of new and old tracks. There was great riding, an early season swim, and some inevitable hike-a-bike. Despite pushing our loaded bikes for several hours up a sadistically steep ATV trail to access our final (and equally harrowing) descent back toward town, we both agreed that we didn’t mind getting off our bikes to push now and again. In fact, I even look forward to hike-a-bike on bikepacking trips. It’s an excuse to give my bum a break from my saddle, use different muscles, grab a quick snack, and switch things up. Will I continue to curse the bikepacking gods the next time I’m faced with a back-breaking hike up a slippery slope? Absolutely. But I believe the benefits of hiking with your bike outweigh the cons.

There are a few brands that cater to the unique needs of those who go hiking with their bikes, prioritizing both on- and off-bike performance. This is a challenging balancing act. Too stiff throughout the sole, and your feet won’t flex while walking or hiking. Too much flex restricts pedaling performance and feel. Then there’s the matter of fit, material choice, breathability, and coverage, which all play a part in deciding what shoe might work for you.

Since 2019, when Five Ten first introduced their Trailcross footwear collection, they’ve offered clipless and flat cycling shoes designed with a mix of pedaling and walking in mind. They launched with four models: a low-cut shoe, a mid-height shoe, a low-cut with a small ankle gaiter, and a GORE-TEX-equipped mid-height shoe for foul weather. In 2022, Five Ten released the Trailcross CL, or clip-in mountain bike shoe, designed around the same lightweight construction but with a recessed two-bolt cleat area for SPD-style pedals. I remember seeing them and thinking they’d likely make an excellent bikepacking shoe for riders who often find themselves pushing their bikes but still prefer the feel of riding clipless.

Fast-forward a few years, and I was on the hunt for a new pair of clipless riding shoes for bikepacking and general trail riding duties. I wanted a two-bolt cleat design, a lace-up closure, something quick-drying, and good ventilation for warm-weather riding. The Five Ten Trailcross CL Shoes checked all the boxes.

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Five Ten Trailcross CL At a Glance

Five Ten describes the Trailcross CL as “an all-terrain clipless mountain bike shoe.” They are constructed around a simple lace-up closure, an additional velcro strap on the tongue, a molded toe cap and reinforced toe box, and a breathable mesh upper. They have an EVA midsole, the upper is made from at least 50% recycled materials, and the outsole features Five Ten’s Stealth Marathon rubber with their trademark dot-shaped tread with slightly more aggressive lugs toward the front and on the heel of the shoe.

There are men’s and women’s specific models, and they come in a wide range of sizes from 6-15 (US men’s). I’m generally a size 11.5, and the 11 fits me perfectly, with just enough room in the toe box to not feel cramped. I also wear a size 11 in the Trailcross GTX but an 11.5 in the Freerider Pro shoes, which appear to run slightly smaller than the Trailcross models. Sizing down might not be out of the question, but your best bet is to try them on before purchasing.

My Trailcross CLs weigh 466 grams (per shoe) with a standard Shimano cleat installed, which is reasonably light and comparable to the Pearl Izumi Canyon SPD shoes Neil tested, heavier than the Kestrel Boas that Logan tested, and right around the same weight as the waterproof Fizik Terra Ergolace GTX shoes I tested last winter. The lightweight exterior and lace-up closure make for an overall comfortable shoe, but the toe box is a little narrow, and I sometimes find my toes sore on long descents. Folks with wide feet who or prefer roomy toe boxes might consider looking elsewhere.

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Riding and Hiking

I’ve logged around 20 days of bikepacking mileage and another 50+ day rides in the Trailcross CL shoes. I can confidently say they excel in dry/warm conditions when ventilation and breathability are crucial for all-day comfort. My feet are generally sweaty, so breathability is essential to reduce the chance of hot spots and discomfort on long rides. Thankfully, the mesh panels and overall lightweight construction of the Trailcross CL’s upper lend themselves to an airy design that is both breathable and quick to dry out after a long day.

While this also means they don’t generally hold up well in foul weather and rain and are quick to soak through with a misplaced step during awkward creek crossings, they at least dry out quickly at camp. I’m okay with them being better suited for warm/dry weather, but they wouldn’t be my first choice as a shoulder-season/cold-weather shoe.

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On the bike, the Trailcross CLs don’t feel overly stiff but, at the same time, they also aren’t too flexible to miss out on the advantages of riding clipless. Most of the walkability comes from a flexible area in the front/forefoot of the shoe, which has minimal impact on how power is transferred into the pedals. The outsole does a good job of gripping onto the pedals in the case of a missed clip-in, and my feet had enough movement inside the shoes without feeling loose or sloppy. While it’s not a burly enduro or dedicated XC racing shoe, the Trailcross CL hits a sweet spot of walkability and pedalability.

Whenever I use a lace-up shoe, I fall increasingly in love with them. I had great luck with the much more flexible Fizik Terra Ergolace X2 shoes after a two-month bikepacking trip in Australia, but I found them not quite stiff enough for proper bikepacking. Next up were the Specialized Recon ADV shoes, which were stiff and not ideal for hike-a-bike but still surprisingly comfortable on long rides. I’ve also been having great success using the uniquely shaped Stomp Lox Slacks, with their roomy toe-box and Vibram sole, although they aren’t my first choice when heading out on technical trails.

Like the others above, the Trailcross CL’s lace-up closure provides a more customized fit than shoes with BOA dials and other closure styles. It’s nice to adjust the lacing for your feet, and I love how wide you can open the shoes up by loosening the laces and pulling the tongue way back. While it’s a welcome relief to bring some lightweight sandals or camp shoes for bikepacking, having the ability to open the shoes to air out overnight is essential in my eyes.

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The Trailcross CL shoes are among some of the most comfortable clipless—yet still hikeable—riding shoes I’ve used. I liked having the additional security of the large velcro strap paired with the comfort and simplicity of a lace-up closure; they breathe well in mild conditions and dry out quickly. They are showing some signs of use, which is to be expected after the miles I’ve logged in them. Still, they aren’t delaminating or falling apart, which is impressive, considering I wore them exclusively in Southern Arizona and on the Arizona Trail this winter, which is full of sharp and pointy things that destroy gear. For those who prefer riding flats, it’s worth checking out the Trailcross XT or other models in Five Ten’s Trailcross lineup.

When writing this review, I had a difficult time coming up with any meaningful cons based on my experience, but I suppose the low-profile design of the Trailcross CL won’t be suitable for everyone or the rowdiest of enduro rides. For my flavor of riding and bikepacking, I liked the shallow cut and had no issues bashing my ankles with rocks or stumps. They remind me of a lightweight trail runner, a context I thoroughly tested them in after losing track of a friend on a recent ride. Check out the Trailcross Pro Clip-In or Trailcross Pro Mid Flats for more ankle protection. I’m slightly stretching to find things to critique here, but the tongue is also quite minimal and lightly padded, so you have to be careful not to tug on the laces too hard, or they tend to “bite” into the top of your foot.

• Size Tested: 11 US
• Material: Mesh, Nylon, EVA Midsole
• Weight: 466 grams (per shoe with cleat)
• Price: $165 USD
• Available From: REI Jenson USA
• Manufacturer’s Details: Adidas.com

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