Perfect feet - highlights from Northwave’s 2023 shoe collection

We look at some of the most exciting 2023 mountain biking shoes from respected Italian brand Northwave

off.road.cc staff

May 2 2023

In-copy 6435469

We recently had a look at some of the best products in Northwave’s 2023 off-road clothing line-up, and we mentioned that the brand’s home is literally found among the hills and mountains of northern Italy.

Because of that background, Northwave has a particular connection with two specific outdoor pursuits: cycling is obviously one, but the other is snowboarding. And that dual interest starts to become of special relevance in the case of footwear, because the link between ski or snowboard boot bindings and modern mountain biking shoes goes back to the very earliest days of clipless pedals. French brand Look, after all, was a ski binding manufacturer before it became the first company to create a commercially successful clipless pedal system.

So cycle footwear owes a lot to – and has learned a lot from – snow-bound pursuits. But there’s also no denying that cycling shoes also have their very own specific requirements. Thankfully, these are requirements that Northwave satisfies with a fantastic range of awesome shoes.

Here, we’ll look at some of the highlights of the range. But, first, a quick guide to one of the most important unique ingredients that makes Northwave shoes so successful.

The X-DIAL

Unlike most other cycle shoe manufacturers, who use third-party closure systems, Northwave has developed its own proprietary system called the X-DIAL system.

As with most dial closures, the X-DIAL rotates closed; where this differs from rival products is the way that it opens. There is a little lever on the top of the dial and, if you click this once, it incrementally undoes one notch at a time. This means that riders can really fine-tune the fit of the shoe. It also means that when you are on the move, you can adjust how your footwear fits rather than having to completely stop, undo it and then do it up again: you can actually adjust while you ride and still get a really precise fit.

Then, when all the riding is done, you just lift up the dial, pull your foot out of the shoe, and the whole thing releases.

So, with the help of Northwave’s UK brand manager, Tom Waugh, let’s see some of the most exciting Northwave road and gravel shoes of 2023.

Northwave Overland Plus £16 0

“This is a super-exciting shoe. The Overland Plus has perfect modern styling – it’s designed to be really in-line with the Enduro or Trail market – and it has great universal appeal. It stacks up really well against the big competition,” Tom says.

“The big thing that riders will notice about this is the X-DIAL closure system and the additional Velcro strap across the top for additional security. But another important point is that it comes with a Vibram rubber sole. This is super grippy on its own, although the Overland is also clip-in pedal compatible.

“Across the top of the toe box there is also an additional piece of plastic covering, which gives a bit of splash protection. So this is really high-performance, low-profile footwear that looks great and is bang on the money.”

Product highlights

Colours: Black | Green
Vibram Fort Augustus sole specifically designed for mountain biking and touring
Constructed with multiple thermowelded layers without overlaps for a lower weight
TPU inserts in strategic areas of the sole for good abrasion resistance and traction
Precise X-DIAL SLW3 system dial for accurate adjustments and step-by-step release
Ergonomic heel design for a close fit

Northwave Rockit Plus £150

“The Rockit Plus is the baby brother of the Overland Plus. The fundamental difference between the Overland and this is, this still has a Vibram sole but this has additional tread, more suited for walking. You also don’t get the Velcro strap across the top of it and you don’t get the additional protection on the toe box, so it’s slightly more of a leisure focused shoe,” Tom says.

“Northwave fits plastic inserts inside the sole of some of its footwear, so you get additional protection and it makes the pedalling action nice and solid, stopping the heel from rotating. It’s also super breathable, great for trekking and you could use it on an e-bike really effectively. For people who are potentially getting on and off the bike a little bit more, or people who are engaging in a bit more hike-a-bike, it’s a very suitable option.”

Product highlights

Colours: Black | Blue
Vibram Wolftrax clipless sole designed to empower traction and braking
EVA midsole to reduce weight and improve shock absorption
PU and Ripstop upper with TPU anti-abrasion inserts placed on the forefoot
Precise X-DIAL SLW3 system dial for accurate adjustments and step-by-step release

Northwave Tribe 2 £1 10

“The Tribe 2 uses a Michelin rubber sole, so it is nice and tacky, and it can be used as a regular shoe as well,” Tom says.

“The big thing for me is that it is nice and flexible, so it is really great when you’re riding on a flat pedal, if you need to bend your toes to lift the back of the bike up. You also get a deeper tread pattern – it’s obviously a flat shoe but the tread here offers a bit more protection.

“That Michelin rubber stacks up really well in performance terms against the best rivals in the industry. Northwave works directly with Michelin to develop these soles, so it’s not an off-the-shelf product: it’s the result of working together and developing a solution that is suitable for that specific footwear.

“Finally, there’s no X-DIAL system here but one thing I will say is that a nice feature of Northwave’s lace-up shoes is that they have elasticated loops, so when you tie your lace up, you can tuck it under and it won’t get pulled into the chainset or get in the way.”

Product highlights

Colours: Black | Grey
Sole featuring a co-developed Michelin-Northwave compound ensures excellent grip on the pedals
Suede upper with large breathable mesh inserts
Reinforcements with abrasion-resistant rubber prints on the toe and heel, and a reinforced toecap
Non-stretch laces are easily stowed in the elasticated keeper

Northwave Corsair £11 0

“The Corsair is still part of Northwave’s mountain bike range, but this is a real crossover so you can use it as a leisure shoe; you can use it as a trekking shoe; you can use it as an entry-level mountain bike shoe,” Tom says.

“You still get that same X-DIAL closure system and a Velcro strap, and the sole is compatible with SPD cleats, but this is the softest shoe in terms of flex. The sole is Northwave’s own rubber compound and own rubber design, but this is a much more general-purpose shoe, so the sole is much softer.”

Product highlights