This year Crankbrothers launched its freshest kicks, the Stamp Trail Boa which were crafted especially for trail riding to reduce foot fatigue and improve off-bike traction compared to the regular Stamp. With it, the brand has done a stellar job, providing a shoe that performs in a range of conditions whilst being grippy on the bike and during those hike-a-bike scenarios. All is very well with these shoes but if I were to niggle, the unique tread pattern can get a little cumbersome.
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Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Boa shoes - Technical details
With the new addition to the Stamp Trail and Mallet Trail range, Crankbrothers has introduced two (well, technically four) models, the Mallet/Stamp Trail Lace, a more versatile, adventure-seeking option and the shoe we have here – the Stamp Boa. It has a larger focus on protection for trail and enduro riding and a sole for flat pedals whereas the Mallet Boa gets a cleat box for clipless pedals. While we liked the current roster of Crankbrothers shoes, they weren’t perfect and the Stamp Trail Boa aims to set the record straight with a host of new features.
As well as a whole new construction, the biggest change visible from the outside is the Stamp Trail Boa’s outsole. Where the current Stamp was built to gel with Crankbrothers’ pedals and got a very flat tread, it was super slippery to walk in. Here, the brand has addressed that with a new Match outsole that’s much more aggressive. It gets even taller towards the heel and toe to improve grip when walking.
The new tread pattern is complemented by the brand’s MC2 flat rubber compound which aims to combine grip and durability. It’s built with fancy high-friction and low-rebound properties that Crankbrothers says help the shoe stick to the pedal while damping harsh vibrations.
Moving towards the upper, things change further as there’s a Boa Li2 dial paired with a hook and loop strap. The former offers the micro adjustment that Boa is famous for while the latter is said to lock in the heel. There’s a rip-stop material coating the upper to boost durability while keeping weight low. A TPU-reinforced toebox adds a hint of protection and there’s an elastic collar that stops dirt from finding its way into the shoe.
The shoe’s weight isn’t too shabby either, coming in at 678g per pair in size EU44.
Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Boa shoes - Performance
If the aesthetic wasn’t enough, the one real aspect that sets the Stamp Trail Boa apart from the previous crop of kicks is that it’s a much lower-profile shoe. The regular Stamp and Mallet shoes, while praised for their comfort, were heavily padded and provided a seriously snug fit. The Stamp Trail Boa presents something of the opposite, which results in a lighter weight, cooler and more spacious shoe.
That is not to say that fit is bad, however. The Velcro strap and Boa dial duo work brilliantly to cinch the shoe to the foot while keeping a decent amount of space around the toes for a bit of breathing space. It’s kept perfectly secure, too.
Comfort is equally as impressive as the older shoes, too. Although this one doesn’t rely on a mass of padding to provide comfort, the Stamp Trail Boa hugs the foot more like a very grippy sock. The Boa dial and strap combo then work well to apply even pressure over the top of the foot without any hotspots or discomfort.
The most significant luxury I’ve found with this shoe is that it’s incredibly easy to get on and off. Laces can be a bit of a faff – first-world problems, I know, but only having to pull a Boa and tear away a Velcro strap makes the shoe super easy to slip on. Slapping up a hook-and-loop strap and turning the Boa then results in that solid fit, that’s so quick to achieve. This system then works well after putting in the miles, where removing the shoe is as easy as it gets.
I’m a fan of the neoprene cuff, too. It eliminates any hard edges that can come from a traditionally designed cuff and it does a top job of keeping stuff from getting inside.
It’s a cool shoe, too, as it comfortably straddles the line between summer and winter use, making itself a great all-rounder. I’ve ridden in the Stamp Trail Boa through a good chunk of the winter, where a fully waterproof boot is too much and into the spring. And while it's neither a summer shoe nor is it completely waterproof, it provides a good balance between breathability and wet-weather protection.
During heavy deluges or as it is semi-submerged in the deepest puddles, water will work its way through the tongue perforations but while smashing through ‘normal’ puddles, the shoes shrug off water ingress impressively. Then, what perforations are present encourage useful airflow and welcome breathability.
The grip on the pedal is excellent. It’s not phenomenal but I’ve been very happy with the traction the shoe provides. Through most sections, even through fast-repeating hits, my feet have remained firmly in place and that’s while riding with the Deity Deftrap and Race Face Aeffect R pedals. The one niggle that often comes through is how the tread pattern can interfere with the pedal pins. The grip and the shoe is most comfortable when the pins miss the protruding bits of tread and dig into the base of the outsole but I’ve found that the teardrop-shaped knobs can affect the interaction between the sole and the pins. Because of this, I’ve sometimes shimmied my foot in the right position until the pins sit where I want them. When knocked out of place mid-descent, it can become a bit of a pain.
Once in the right place, the shoe provides a solid combination of mechanical and chemical grip.
Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Boa shoes - Verdict
Generally, flat pedal shoes rarely ask for the increased price of their clip counterparts and that’s very much the case here, as the Mallet Trail Boa will cost another £20. However, for a flat pedal shoe, £200 is quite a premium but for that, you are getting top-end kit including that Boa dial.
To compare, Fox recently brought its Union Boa Flat shoe and that’ll cost an extra tenner. I’ve tested and consistently ridden in the non-Boa version and that’s a cracking shoe, and its outsole solves that tread issue I mentioned before as it’s not quite as aggressive. That does come with the compromise of reduced walking grip but it’s an easier shoe to live with when placing the foot on the pedal in the right place, the first time. It also gets double the dials. Though it must be said, the lace-up Union Flat is a belter of a shoe and only £130 but doesn’t get a Boa dial which is where the real saving is made.
Very serious competition comes in Ride Concepts Accomplice Boa. I’ve ridden the clip version, so I can’t comment on the sole’s grip but the comfort on offer in this shoe is awesome. It costs £150, so it’s a considerable saving against the Stamp Trail Boa but it feels like more of a comfort shoe than one that focuses on performance like the Stamp Trail. Plus, Crankbrothers’ offering provides better weather protection for year-round riding.
If you’ve got the cash and want a killer flat-pedal shoe for year-round riding, the Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Boa is well worth the consideration. It's a comfortable shoe that offers protection and breathability to fend off the elements.