The Lake MX160Ws are really adaptable shoes that work equally well on the trails or the daily commute and wouldn’t be out of place in a spin class or turbo session.
At first glance the Lake MX160Ws look to be quite simple. Don’t be fooled, these are performance mountain bike shoes at a great price. Put them on and they feel durable rather than ‘racey lightweights’ and so they give good protection from rock or tree branch contact.
On the bike, the Lake MX160Ws feel great. They are stiff enough for good power transfer during the pedal stroke and the shoe rotates closely with the foot for an easy clip in/clip out movement. We found they offered a generous amount of space around the toes – there’s plenty of wiggle room.
This worked well with the three sturdy Velcro straps which secure the foot to prevent it sliding forward, so despite the space around the toes, they still feel protected and the foot is held firmly. There were no issues with heel lift when climbing either.
Pushing the bike uphill in the back country is where the roomy toe box pays off. These are comfortable shoes to walk in and, let’s face it, we all end up pushing our bikes at some point. The rubber grip on the soles works well and the foot felt snug and secure without squashing the forefoot or the heel sliding up and down with each step. The shoes also felt safe walking on the slippery pavement between the bike rack and the office, so the grip is good on hard surfaces as well as mud.
We liked that during a light shower our feet stayed mostly dry. However with a more prolonged downpour, not surprisingly, water did soak through and since these are not highly ventilated shoes, lightweight shoes, they tended to stay wet for the rest of the ride.
After a hard few weeks’ use, with plenty of rocky off road riding and some long pushes, we found the soles coped well with the punishment and there were no signs of any problems with stitching or tearing in the upper sole. On any shoe, the Velcro straps clog up with mud eventually and these were no exception, but after a good scrub with a wire brush they seemed to be nice and sticking again, just as good as new.
There is a good sized reflective strip on the back heel and along the sides of the shoes, so these would work well for commuting or mixed use as well.
Verdict
These are great all-round shoes, and excellent value for money. They feel like they will last the distance and they certainly put up with plenty of hard use during testing. Perhaps they’re not the thing for a serious racer or weight weenie, but they would be lucky to find anything in this price range anyway.
Pros
Great fit
Stiff sole
Walkable
Cons
Slow to dry
Price: £79.99
More information: Lake Cycling
UK supplier: Today’s Cyclist
What Lake say about their MX160W mountain bike shoes
UPPER: Action Leather Upper: Breathable, Durable and Form fitting. Air-mesh: Breathable & Abrasion resistant.
OUTSOLE: Real Rubber Outsole with SPD® compatible slots.
LINING: Air-mesh: Breathable & Wicking.
MIDSOLE: Fiberglass-injected Hi-Impact Nylon outsole.
CLOSURE: Triple hook and loop closure system for three point adjustability.
SIZES: Woman’s specific 36-43
Competition Last: The Competition last is specifically shaped for optimal power transfer and comfort. Like the CFC race last, the Competition last puts the foot in a position that allows the energy to be focused to the spindle but also offers more room for the forefoot to expand allowing for a comfortable fit for extreme long distance riding.
