The original Crankbrothers Stamp Lace flat pedal MTB shoe has been around for a few years now, but along with the rest of its trail/gravity shoe range, it was completely revamped earlier this year and redubbed the Stamp Trail Lace. The original was well regarded by some, while other testers (such as our colleagues at MBR.co.uk) felt the rubber soles weren't grippy enough. I've been testing the new Stamp Trail Lace shoes for several months now, so how have they fared?
Design and specifications
The new Stamp Trail Lace bears only a passing resemblance to the original model. The revised version looks to have taken some design cues from the Stamp Street Fabio (Wibner) shoes released last year and looks less like a skate-style shoe as a result. My test pair of size 43.5 EU (US 10, UK 9) weigh in at a fairly spritely 642g, which is more than 130g less than the previous version and 80g less than our top-rated flat pedal shoe, the Five Ten Freerider Pro.
Crankbrothers seem to have reformulated the rubber compound used for the outsole and it's now been "optimized" to work with the brand's Stamp pedals. MBR and BikePerfect tester, Paul Burwell, measured the hardness of the previous Stamp Trail soles at 68a. While our hardness testing probably isn't what you'd call strict lab conditions (I'm using a testing device bought from Amazon), I've measured the soles of the new shoes at 61a.
In a bizarre twist of fate, it turns out that the ideal shape for outsole lugs is the lozenge outline of the Crankbrothers logo which cover much of the sole. The brand says the lugs' soft, rounded edges are designed to better resist abrasion.
While the fully synthetic uppers look similar to Crankbrothers' Stamp Streets, these Trail Lace versions are chunkier overall and have more substantial toe and heel protection. But they're still relatively narrow compared to the likes of flat pedal shoes from Five Ten and Fox.
The uppers have plenty of ventilation holes running down each flank of the shoe and halfway across the toe section. The toe box and outside edge of the uppers also get PU (polyurethane) anti-abrasion protection. At the end of the tongue is an elasticated pocket designed for stuffing the laces into.
Performance
I've been riding in the Stamp Trail Lace shoes since April in mostly dry but sometimes very muddy trail conditions, and overall, they've proved to be an excellent choice for the (mostly) warmer weather.
The myriad of pin prick ventilation holes and a lower level of padding on the uppers compared to most shoes helped to prevent my feet from overheating in hot weather. Water can enter through the tiny holes covering large areas of the uppers, but it doesn't get through easily, so occasional splashes didn't mean that my feet got wet.
Pedal grip is very good and is a match for top performing rivals – I couldn't distinguish any difference grip-wise between the Stamp Trail Lace and our top rated shoe, the Five Ten Freerider Pro, when riding with one of each on different feet. The Stamp Trail Lace has a more flexible sole than the Freerider Pro, but it feels stiffer around the pedaling section. The result is pedal support that feels pretty similar to the Freeriders, but you get more feel from the Crankbrothers shoes.
Fit is true to size, though I have fairly narrow feet so I had to pull the laces up pretty tight. That meant there was quite a bit of length to stuff into the lace pocket at the end of each tongue. The pockets themselves do a really good job of storing the laces though and the laces are excellent quality.
The toe and heel boxes are solid enough and have taken plenty of knocks in their stride. So where have Crankbrothers shaved off weight to make the Stamp Trail Lace one of the lightest flat shoes around? Basically, the answer is everywhere. A thinner midsole, with less padding on the uppers and tongue looks to be where the grams have been whittled away. Despite its lighter weight the shoe still feels substantial enough for the trails though. That said, if I was mostly riding tough enduro runs, I'd opt for a heftier shoe for increased protection.
Durability-wise, the shoes have worn well. There's the expected scuffing and the odd nick on the soles from pedal pins, and some minor creasing on the uppers, but that's about it.
Verdict
The Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Lace shoes have become my go-to choice for warmer conditions on everyday trails. They run cooler than most flat pedal shoes and they're lighter too. Grip is as good as it gets and there's enough foot protection for all but the most challenging trails. I've not tested them in colder or wetter weather, but they're not impervious to water and there's less insulation to keep the cold away.
Tech specs: Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Lace
- Price: $149.99 / £149.99 / €149.99
- Pedal type: Flat
- Sizes: 3 to 15 (US)
- Colors: Black/Gum, Navy/Gum (tested), Swan/Purple
- Weight: 642g US 10 tested (UK 9 / 43.5 EU)
- Rival products: Five Ten Freerider Pro, Fox Union Flat
