The Scott MTB AR is a solid trail shoe that gets many things right, but it's not without flaws. It runs warm, has iffy weather protection and some seriously strong competition. However, they're comfortable, grip with confidence and supple.
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Scott MTB AR flat pedal shoe – Technical details
The Scott MTB AR is designed to be the brand's all-rounder flat pedal shoe that doesn't break the bank. Underneath, you get an X Traction outsole and a Sticki Rubber compound, while inside, an Ergologic insole helps create a sport fit that offers a larger shoe volume and relaxed feel.
The Scott MTB AR is designed to be the brand's all-rounder flat pedal shoe that doesn't break the bank. Underneath, you get an X Traction outsole and a Sticki Rubber compound, while inside, an Ergologic insole helps create a sport fit that offers a larger shoe volume and relaxed feel.
The upper area is made of a synthetic polyurethane textile, with 3D mesh panels and a smattering of perforations to encourage airflow. Then to finish, there's a lace closure and a lace tidy to keep things neat.
As for its weight, a single size EU 45 shoe weighs in at 400g, which is 25g lighter than the Crankbrothers Stamp Lace in the same size.
Scott MTB AR flat pedal shoe – On test
As for its weight, a single EU 45 shoe weighs in at 400g, 25g lighter than the Crankbrothers Stamp Lace.
I’ve found the MTR AR’s fit to be really nice. I fit neatly into an EU 45 and I’ve got no complaints. Although, it does fit a little snug so anyone with a wide foot, or someone who’s on the edge of two sizes should definitely try before they buy.
Although I’ve not yet tried the shoe in serious slop, it’s been easy to walk around in, though while it’s not the stiffest sole in the world, the stiffness that is there is noticeable off of the pedals.
Throughout the test period, I've found the MTB AR shoes to be impressively comfortable. I fit neatly into an EU 45, and I've got no comfort complaints. That said, the fit is a little snug, so anyone with a wide foot or someone who's on the edge of two sizes should try before they buy.
The tread doesn't look the grippiest off the bike, with a massive flat patch for pedal engagement and almost serrated portions at either end of the shoe. Though over dry and damp stuff without much of a gradient, the off-bike grip has been confidence-inspiring. I'm sure once it gets properly wet and over steep sections, walking will get seriously slippery.
Suppose you're looking at hike-a-biking long distances. In that case, you may find the smidge of stiffness uncomfortable. You might find yourself asking for more grip, but if you're just hefting your bike up to session a section, these are quirks that you'll easily be able to work with.
Something that was rather standout but unexpected with the MTB AR is that it ran surprisingly warm, especially for a shoe that's littered with so many vents and perforations. Ironically, while those vents and perforations don't let enough heat out, they do let water in, especially if you slam through a puddle too quickly. So be it the height of summer or depth of winter, you'll have damp feet to deal with.
The grip on the pedals is nicely confident, with the flatter area of the sole designed to engage with a pedal's pins – and it works. I like that the sole is not aggressively treaded, letting you move around on the pedal a little; drop into a trail wonky footed, and it's still reasonably easy to get back to that sweet spot.
The MTB AR is a well-damped shoe, too, thanks to its reasonably squishy mid-sole. This is a welcomed feature if you're riding chunky terrain with some bigger hits or riding a hardtail. It acts as another suspension layer. The soft midsole also offers an excellent pedal feel and, in turn, extra grip. Still, it's supple enough that you can feel the pedal pins, especially if yours are tall, which won't be to everyone's taste.
Durability is the name of the game with the Scott MTB AR. With two months of regular riding on some proper spikey pedals, the soles show absolutely no sign of damage or repeated piercing of the outsole. There is a bit of deformation where the toe bends, but that's to be expected from any shoe.
Scott MTB AR flat pedal shoe – Value and verdict
At £90, the Scott MTB AR comes against some stiff competition. For £10 less, the Leatt DBX 2.0 Flat Pedal shoe is a solid performer for the money. They grip like Velcro, they're comfortable and look good. Though, it is a much bigger shoe.
Keeping with the theme of Leatt, for £5 more, there's the DBX 3.0 Flat Pedal shoe which comes with a lot of the same tech you'll find on the DBX 2.0, but with a raised inner ankle cuff, a more rigid insole, and synthetic leather build that's designed to keep water out.
If you spend most of your time with your feet on the pedals and you get cold feet, or your ride in cool, dry locations, the Scott MTB AR will suit you well. They're comfortable, provide a good grip level, and are reasonably easy to move on the pedal. On the flip side, they're not the best at regulating the heat or keeping your feet dry.
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