Tack on a reasonably thick midsole and you have a shoe that crosses over well between flowy path days and bike park laps. The biggest disadvantage to the Livewire is its weight, which is stretching into the downhill world at about 2 pounds for the set. It's still manageable and not extremely cumbersome for pedal-heavy days, however we prefer the lighter and nimbler feel of the Freerider and Freerider Pro above.
These concerns move the Livewire a little down our rankings, but we think Trip Ideas is definitely a brand name to have on your radar moving forward. XC/trail Clipless 1 pound. 10 oz. Great all-around performance for numerous biking disciplines. It likewise doesn't master any particular classification. Bontrager has been tweaking its flexible Foray shoe over the past couple of years, and we like where they have actually landed with this latest design.
A reasonably roomy fit and easy-to-adjust Boa dial make it an ideal choice for circulation trails and short laps, however it can still put the power down pretty well with a nylon composite sole (Bontrager offers it a 6 out of 14 ranking for tightness). This Author on dirt is another highlight, and the incorporated nylon cleats under the toes do an especially good task grasping on steep slopes.
It's a bit heavy and does not introduce you forward like a cross-country-oriented or gravel-specific shoe, and its shock absorption and protection fall short for rough trail riding. Even more, the traditional outsole shape and tread pattern lost on rock, where they're lacking grip and are harder to trust. Within the unofficial "do-everything" classification, we believe the Shimano ME5 and Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit are better choices, however the Foray does have the best fit of the lot for those that need a little extra wiggle room.