The Northwave Corsair 2 is the Italian shoe giant's latest trail shoe. The brand has brought a mega-versatile clipless shoe to the market ripe for year-round riding. Upping its usability is a blend of flex and stiffness that makes it solid on the bike and easy to walk in. However, it’s not without flaws as the shoe feels harsh around the cuff and its closure doesn’t apply even pressure over the top of the foot. And for a shoe that’s directed for spring and summer riding, airflow could be improved.
- Best mountain bike shoes 2024 - top-rated flat and clipless kicks
- Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Boa shoe review
- Cycling shoes: everything you need to know
Northwave Corsair 2 - Technical details
Northwave’s Corsair 2 is designed to be ridden all day while being more than ready for the odd session of hike-a-bike. The upper is constructed of a ripstop mesh to bring breathability and durability. The upper also benefits from TPU inserts at the toe and heel to add protection. On top of that, there are Polyurethane panels also.
As almost standard on a Northwave shoe, this one is kitted with the brand’s SLW3 dial which in practice, works similarly to the dial that shall not be named but shares a similar title to a certain constricting snake species. However, Northwave has built on it, adding a tab that provides micrometric loosening when pressed or a complete release when pulled. Of course, the dial also tightens the shoe - micrometrically.
Northwave has also added a new pad on top of the tongue to improve overall comfort.
At the sole, Northwave has equipped the Corsair 2 with an EVA midsole that claims to shed weight while bolstering shock absorption. Then with 35mm cleat tracks, there’s plenty of adjustment for cleat position. That’s surrounded by a Damp Evo sole that the brand claims to be grippy on the pedals for control through the rough stuff. Northwave has also worked on the flexibility of the sole, making it a bit bendier than the outgoing Corsair for more comfort over long rides and better performance when walking.
As for weight, the Corsair 2 comes in at 465g per shoe.
Northwave Corsair 2 - Performance
When riding, the Corsair 2 has been a real mixed bag. There’s a lot to like but a bunch of areas could do with improvement. One of those is the fit. Generally, the fit isn’t bad but the shoe is fairly voluminous. With my size 9.5s, I’ve had to wind that non-snake-named dial right down to achieve the most secure fit. I would say that I must have flat feet but this isn’t something I’ve ever had to do with any other shoe.
There’s a good amount of breathing room in the toe box. Although, where I’ve had to wind down the dial, I’ve noticed that the pressure that’s applied by its string isn’t the most even. It makes a real argument for those dial and velcro strap combos (which the Corsair 2 has done away with from its predecessor) and I found myself wanting a second dial, like that of Quoc’s Gran Tourer XC just to even out pressure over the foot.
Tightening the shoes highlights another qualm – the new padded tongue doesn’t do too much to aid the cause of comfort. For me, the tongue can dig into the front of my ankle. This has reduced as the shoe’s worn in but it’s still not ideal.
That SLW3 dial isn't quite as straightforward as others on the market. Yes, the ability to relieve pressure in micro-increments is great but when removing the shoe, you need to pull on a tab continuously to free your foot. With others, you pull the dial and from there it's hands-free. In the grand scheme of things, this is a super minor gripe, and getting the luxury of a dial at the price is nothing less than a string to the Corsair 2's bow.
Comfort elsewhere is rather good as the shoe does a solid job of lessening impacts and chatter when riding. It’s not quite the level of cushioning that’s present on something like the Ride Concepts Accomplice Boa Clip, but that’s to be expected as the shoe exhibits a welcome level of stiffness. On the pedals, the Corsair 2 adds urgency and efficiency that I’ve come to appreciate.
That’s blended with a very useful flex that occurs around the ball of the foot. This bend makes hike-a-bike more than tolerable. Grip off the bike is impressive, too. The Corsair 2’s tread pattern is fairly aggressive but that helps the shoe bite into uneven and soft ground. Because of that, I’m yet to slip when pulling myself and my bike up a hill.
When it comes to clipless shoes, the placement of the cleat box and the length of the cleat tracks always make me a little nervous, and having ridden in Northwave’s Overland which has a very forward-orientated cleat box, I was sceptical coming into this test. However, Northwave has both placed the cleat box in perhaps a more modern location but the cleat tracks are also of a decent length. This has enabled me to pull my shoe’s cleats further back in the shoe, in my favoured position.
Northwave touts the Corsair 2 as a spring/summer shoe and that’s exactly how I’ve ridden in, with testing starting in the spring and through some of the UK’s hottest days so far. With that brief, the shoe needs to fend off some level of external moisture while providing breathability, which the Corsair 2 confidently meets. Through the damper days spray via smashing puddles has been kept outside of the shoe and there is some airflow. However, some sock management would be required in the warmer months as there are no perforations on the shoe’s upper so things can get toasty.
Northwave Corsair 2 - Verdict
At £104, the Corsair 2 offers quite a lot for the money. Few options at this price come with some kind of dial closure, save for the Rockrider Mountain Bike/Gravel Shoes Race 900 which will set you back £80, but that gets more of a cross-country focus.
In terms of performance and style, it’s a very similar shoe to Leatt’s 6.0 Clip. Both shoes share a single dial closure and similar riding intentions, however, at £160, Leatt’s offering is much more refined, better suited towards summer riding and it’s much more comfortable.
£140 will get you Five Ten’s Trailcross Clip-In shoes. We found that it was great for hike-a-bike but it didn’t pack much in the way of stiffness and it wasn’t as capable when it came to weather protection.
Despite my problems with its comfort, the Northwave Corsair 2 shoe provides some good bang for buck, coming sorted with a rather handy dial closure and a good blend of stiffness and flex that makes for efficient pedalling and easy walking. It confidently copes with all but the worst and hottest of weather while providing decent grip off the bike. But with that said, it’s best if you have deep feet.
Add comment