FLR F-57 MTB Shoe review

The FLR F-57 is a mid-to-low priced shoe aimed at cross-country and gravel riders.

The shoe’s nylon sole has a well thought-out tread, while the upper secures with a trio of Velcro straps.

In testing, I was impressed by the shoe’s performance on the bike, with both efficiency and comfort levels high.

They also coped well with off-bike excursions when my tyres gave up.

FLR F-57 details and specifications

The F-57 shoes are based around a nylon outsole, to which a set of dual-density lugs are attached, to increase grip off the bike.

At the front of the sole are mounts for some toe spikes, while in the middle there’s textured rubber to provide grip if you’re stood on the pedals, but not engaged in the mechanism.

Inside, the insole has arch support to aid comfort, and there are gripper dots in the heel cup.

The synthetic upper is ventilated with dots and a vented panel over the toe.

The tongue is similarly ventilated, while there’s a small padded mesh panel at the top of the tongue, near where your ankle sits.

The shoe is secured with three independent Velcro straps.

FLR F-57 performance

The sole has enough stiffness to ensure the shoes don’t waste your leg power, with no noticeable flex in the mid-shoe.

This gives a positive feel when you’re putting power down, and aids comfort on small-bodied pedals – I encountered no hot spots from cleats when wearing these shoes.

Despite this stiffness, there’s just enough flex in the sole and up-turn at the toes that they don’t feel awkward when you’re walking in them.

The feel off-bike is aided by the tread. The blocks are aggressively shaped, but not so deep that they hinder cleat engagement through interference with the pedal body.

This helps them dig into mud and the broad space around the cleat meant they didn't clog up badly, which can make pedal engagement tricky. The rubber dots in the heel help reduce lift there, too.

On rocks and roots, the dual-compound rubber tread blocks impressed with their grip levels. They’re not going to challenge Five Ten’s Stealth rubber, but compared to the majority of cross-country shoes, these are far better when scrabbling up rocky pushes than most.

The cross-hatched mid-sole pad is also a great addition to a cheaper shoe, that might appeal to less experienced riders. It means the shoes don’t feel too sketchy if you miss the pedal mechanism.

I found engaging pedals easy, with the tread guiding the shoe towards the pedal mechanism. I was also able to get my cleat far enough back, so I didn’t feel as though I was tottering on the pedals when stood up.

Cleat position markers on the soles would be a good addition to these shoes.

Inside, I liked the arch support and EVA foam insole. The support is ample, which I appreciated on long rides because it reduced foot fatigue.

Likewise, the insole itself is just soft enough to add extra comfort without feeling mushy.

The uppers are ventilated well, but with only one small mesh section over the toe, water ingress isn’t too bad on splashy days.

The synthetic upper section and three Velco straps work well together, with enough adjustability and flexibility to wrap comfortably around your foot.

There’s enough stability and stiffness, though, that your foot feels properly supported – another comfort and performance bonus.

The tongue is more ventilated than the upper, and I found the slight padding on offer was comfortable. The tongue didn’t dig into my ankle, which some stiffer tongues can.

By extension, I didn’t feel these shoes needed wearing in and were comfortable from the off.

My only criticism is that Velcro needs to be kept clean in order to perform longer-term. Also, while understandable, the F-57s don’t quite have the same polished aesthetic of pricier shoes.

FLR F-57 bottom line

Though basic in appearance, the F-57 shoes impressed greatly on the bike.

They are comfortable, thanks to decent internal shaping and padding, and the fit is good, thanks to the trio of straps.

The insole means they don’t waste energy either, and the tread lugs are some of the best I’ve experienced from an XC shoe.