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New Crank Brothers Shoes - Mallet, Mallet E & Stamp First Impressions

Words by: Liam Woods

Crank Brothers Shoes - Match the Pedal With The Shoe

Who doesn’t love new shoes? I know I love getting a brand new pair, especially when they are significantly better than the ones they replace. Well, the day has finally come for the new Crank Brothers Shoe line to release. They are a long time coming but when you design a shoe to work perfectly with your own pedal, you can expect it to take some time. When we first heard about the new Crank Brothers shoes we got pretty excited. The majority of us at Worldwide Cyclery run Crank Brothers pedals, either clipless or flats, and now we have some shoes that are designed to work perfectly with those pedals. With a huge range of models to choose from, you can match or clash with your bike or outfit. Oh, and these shoes don’t just work for Crank Brothers pedals, they are proven and tested with Shimano SPD mountain pedals as well.

"By controlling the shoe to pedal interface, Crank Brothers have designed what they call the “Match System”, taking into account the shoe and pedal as a whole unified system, making shoes specific to their 3 types of gravity style pedals. The Mallet, Mallet E, and Stamp."

Why Crank Brothers Shoes?

I think the reason why is pretty easy to understand. Crank Brothers makes some of the best pedals for mountain bikes, so the next step was to make shoes. Crank Brothers now has multiple models you can choose from that will help improve the body to bike connection. By controlling the shoe to pedal interface, Crank Brothers have designed what they call the “Match System”, taking into account the shoe and pedal as a whole unified system, making shoes specific to their 3 types of gravity style pedals. The Mallet, Mallet E, and Stamp. Not only does the Match System take the pedal/shoe connection as a whole into account, but they have even gone a step further to help you get the correct setup if you are running new shoes and cleats with crank brothers. They have also made sure that the shoe to pedal connection with Shimano SPD is optimized. Both the Mallet and Mallet E work great with SPD pedals, we even tested that.

Models From Left - Right: Mallet, Mallet E, Stamp

3 Shoe Models:

As mentioned, there are 3 different models of shoes in the new Crank Brothers lineup. The first being the Mallet Shoe which is meant for their Mallet DH pedal. This shoe is the most gravity oriented and ready for all-day park or shuttle laps. Next, you have the Mallet E Shoe. This model is meant to work with the Mallet E pedal, perfect for all-day riding, taking into account that you often have to hike on those adventures. Finally, we have the Stamp shoe and you guessed it, meant to work with the Stamp flat pedal. All of these shoes have every feature thought out and integrated into the shoe, ready to compete with the best models on the market.

Models From Left - Right: Mallet, Mallet E, Stamp

Closure Systems From Left - Right: Boa, Speed Lace, Lace

Mallet:

The Crank Brothers Mallet shoe is their full downhill focused shoe, with specific features to help improve downhill performance. The Mallet shoe has three tiers of shoes, the Mallet Boa, the Mallet Speed Lace, and Mallet Lace. You will find the top features included in all of these tiers of shoes. In my opinion, the most important feature is the Match Box. The cleat area has been optimized to work extremely well with Crank Brother pedals, as well as Shimano SPD. When the shoes are new, not only do the shoes come with an installed Crank Brothers cleat, but they have also made the shoe to work well in all weather conditions. When the shoe is brand new, there is a 1mm cleat spacer installed. You will run this spacer until your first set of cleats are worn out. When you go to replace your cleat, you remove the 1mm spacer and your shoe/pedal interface feels like new again. This ultimately allows you to get more life out of your shoes. The Match Box also features a ramped box entry on both sides to help you get back into your pedal faster for unclipping mid run. One of the last features found in each Mallet model is the Race Zone cleat placement. At the bottom of the cleat mounting area, there is a red stripe, this is significantly further back than most shoes on the market. This puts the pedal more towards the middle of the foot, helping you with fatigue and control while riding downhill. This is a little trick many downhill racers have been doing for a long time. They take a dremel or file to the shoes and increase the length of the cleat mounting area. Now the Mallet shoe comes like this, DH racers rejoice!

Mallet Boa: $199.99

Colors: Black with Gold highlights

OUTSOLE

Match Box optimized for any MTB pedals
Race Zone for control and stability
Ramp for easy clip-in / out and mud clearance
MC1 mid-friction compound for easy exit
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Stiff shank for power transfer
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

BOA® Fit System & strap for micro-adjustment
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean desig

Mallet Speed Lace: $169.99

Colors: Black with White Highlights

OUTSOLE

Match Box optimized for any MTB pedals
Race Zone for control and stability
Ramp for easy clip-in / out and mud clearance
MC1 mid-friction compound for easy exit
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Stiff shank for power transfer
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

Speed lace & Strap for fast and secure adjustment
Lace pocket for safety and style
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean design

Mallet Lace: $149.99

Colors: Navy with Gum, Black with Red Highlights

OUTSOLE

Match Box optimized for any MTB pedals
Race Zone for control and stability
Ramp for easy clip-in / out and mud clearance
MC1 mid-friction compound for easy exit
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Stiff shank for power transfer
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

Round laces for smooth closure
Lace pocket for safety and style
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean design

Mallet E:

The Mallet E takes many cues from the Mallet shoe but with a bit more focus on all day riding and what possible differences that brings vs. a downhill shoe. With pretty much all the main features of the Mallet, the Mallet E doesn’t get the Race Zone treatment. Instead, there is more design and input to how the shoe might perform in a walking or hiking situation. A more aggressive tread pattern on the toe and heel helps improve walking traction when you are forced into a hike-a-bike section. Along with that, there is also a bit more rubber around the shoe to aid with some protection. Still featuring three tiers of shoes, the Mallet E Boa, Mallet E Speed Lace and the Mallet E Lace.

Mallet E Boa: $199.99

Colors: Black with Gold Highlights

OUTSOLE

Match Box optimized for any MTB pedals
Ramp for easy clip-in / out and mud clearance
MC1 mid-friction compound for easy exit
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Stiff shank for power transfer
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

BOA® Fit System & strap for micro-adjustment
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean design

Mallet E Speed Lace: $169.99

Colors: Green/Gum, Black/Black

OUTSOLE

Match Box optimized for any MTB pedals
Ramp for easy clip-in / out and mud clearance
MC1 mid-friction compound for easy exit
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Stiff shank for power transfer
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

Speed lace & strap for fast and secure adjustment
Lace pocket for safety and style
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean design

Mallet E Lace: $149.99

Colors: Black/Blue Highlights

OUTSOLE

Match Box optimized for any MTB pedals
Ramp for easy clip-in / out and mud clearance
MC1 mid-friction compound for easy exit
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Stiff shank for power transfer
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

Round laces for smooth closure
Lace pocket for safety and style
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean design

Stamp:

The Stamp Shoe is purpose made for the Stamp flat pedals. With a specific tread pattern to help increase traction on the pedal, the MC2 rubber compound has also been developed for the best grip to durability ratio. The middle of the tread compound is designed to grab your pedal pins and provide grip and confidence while riding, whereas the toe and heel tread pattern focus more on off the bike walking and hiking traction. The Stamp also gets the three tiers of retention systems, so you can find the exact shoe you are looking for.

Stamp Boa: $179.99

Colors: Black/Gold Highlights

OUTSOLE

MC2 high-friction compound for grip and durability
Stamp tread pattern optimized for contact surface and compatibility
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

BOA® Fit System & strap for micro-adjustment
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean design

Stamp Speed Lace: $149.99

Colors: Black/Green/Orange, Black/Grey/Red

OUTSOLE

MC2 high-friction compound for grip and durability
Stamp tread pattern optimized for contact surface and compatibility
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

Speed lace & strap for fast and secure adjustment
Lace pocket for safety and style
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean design

Stamp Lace: $129.99

Colors: Black/Gum/Silver, Navy/Gum/Silver, Black/Red, White/Gum (Limited)

OUTSOLE

MC2 high-friction compound for grip and durability
Stamp tread pattern optimized for contact surface and compatibility
Directional angled & spaced toe / heel lugs for traction while hiking
Ramped toe for walkability
Cushioned EVA midsole for shock absorption

UPPER

Round laces for smooth closure
Lace pocket for safety and style
Ventilated windows with perforated mesh material for breathability
Padded tongue for protection
TPU reinforced areas for protection and abrasion resistance
Heel dots for grip and superior heel hold
Hidden eyelets for durability and clean design

On Trail First Impressions:

We were lucky enough to get a few pairs of shoes prior to launch to get some riding time in them. We received one of each closure system to really see how each shoe performs differently. Our test shoes were the Mallet E Boa, Mallet E Speed Lace, and the Stamp Lace. While we didn’t spend any time on the Mallet shoe with the Race Zone, we can tell from how the Mallet E performs that a further back cleat position will really increase the downhill performance on that shoe. I had time in both the Mallet E Boa and Mallet E Speed Lace and tried them both with Crank Brothers pedals and Shimano SPD pedals. I will say I personally run Shimano SPD and I am way more comfortable with that system, but nonetheless, I tried both.

With both shoes, I was able to ride comfortably without any pain, hot foot, or much break in time.

Top - Bottom: Pulling the drawstring lace, tucking the lace into the pocket, pulling the strap tight

Right away I could notice the fit on both shoes, a bit snug, but very comfortable. The two retention systems made me feel confident that I would not have any issues with my foot slipping out. You can also notice the heel dots when walking, they do a good job at really holding your heel down in the shoe. Once on the trail, the Crank Brothers Mallet E really felt similar to my old FiveTen Kestral shoes, a really good all around trail shoe. With a stiff shank, I could put down the power and feel like nothing was being lost. The Mallet Boa is pretty amazing and when the Boa system does work, there really isn't anything that can beat the simplicity and performance of a Boa system. What is more surprising is how much I liked the Speed Lace closure system which is basically a fancy drawstring. Not only is this a super-efficient way to tighten up your shoes, but it's simple and not much can go wrong. The one issue I have seen with Boa is because they use more technology, there is a higher tendency for them to fail over time. The Speed Lace takes that failure out of the equation allowing for a quick and reliable retention system. With both shoes, I was able to ride comfortably without any pain, hot foot, or much break in time. I would be really curious to try out the Mallet downhill shoe and maybe size up in that shoe to really try my hand at how much those differ from the Mallet E.

Adam is our flat pedal tester, having ridden just about every pedal and most shoes, you can say his ability to nitpick a shoe/pedal interface is high on the scale. Right away he noticed how comfortable the Crank Brothers Stamp shoes were. Running the lace version, it’s a pretty simple way to know your shoes are tight and nothing really can go wrong. A really nice feature CB added was a padded tongue with a pocket for the laces to tuck into. Not only does this keep them safe and out of the way, but helps make sure they will not come un-tied at any point. While climbing there was a bit of a break-in period and a little bit of heel chafing but that went away after a few rides. There was also some mental thought into keeping more pressure on the pedals while climbing and felt like there might not be as much shoe/pedal grip in the pedal stroke compared to my normal FiveTen shoes. Once the trail went downhill, he felt much more confident and didn’t really notice that he was wearing new shoes. Which, I think is the best type of new product, it just naturally feels right. There was no slipping, tons of grip, and lots of confidence. In addition, there was no foot pain that is more common with new shoes especially riding harsh downhill trails.

Final Thoughts:

We are stoked to see a new brand bringing a ton of models and tiers into the mountain bike shoe market. Crank Brothers have really done their research and provided great features that stand out over the other options out there. With 3 models, multiple variants and retention systems, you are sure to find a combination that works for you. Not to mention that Crank Brothers is a huge pedal brand and now their shoes and pedals will work great together and as a whole system. Thinking about the pedal/shoe as a whole unified system is very smart in our opinion and we are stoked to see a brand making small improvements that can translate to a better riding experience.

This article was written / authored by Liam Woods. Liam has been in the bicycle industry for over 10 years as a racer, professional mechanic, service manager and as of late, media and content creator. Liam has ridden thousands of different bikes, ridden countless components, tested endless MTB apparel of all kinds and written reviews on it all. He's a key piece to the Worldwide Cyclery "All Things MTB" content creation puzzle. He also makes consistent appearances on the Worldwide Cyclery YouTube channel and Instagram.