Point of Contact: Bont Vaypor+
If Rouler does not do reviews, we don’t do reviews. Think of this as a commentary on Bont’s Vaypor+ road shoe. Any discussion of points-of-contact will generate a storm of comments ending in why Sidi shoes and Fizik saddles are the best. They may be the best for you but not for me. Everyone’s feet and everyone’s butt has different needs.
I bring up form versus function too often here and being a user of SMP saddles and now Bont shoes I’m obviously way over there on the function-over-form end of the spectrum. Bont shoes are not as weird looking as SMP saddles are but visually both of these immediately tell you that these point-of-contact designs are different.
Frank is a big fan of Bont and he landed me a free pair with no discussion of a quid pro quo of anything for Bont. The timing was good as I had forked over some money for the second generation of Fizik R3 shoes. These were lighter and cooler, as advertised, but also more narrow and with less arch support, not advertised. Luckily, I collect aftermarket insoles like I collect base layers so I could overcome the lack of arch support but long into a ride my toes would remind me why these new Fizik shoes were trouble.
The two things I like the most about Bonts are the roomier forefoot and the well engineered arch support. Toes can roam unfettered in this shoe. This is a revelation for a person who has always erred toward the very snug fitting cycling shoe. The moldable carbon rim surrounds the whole foot, resulting in a well secured fit that does not hassle the toes. My new Bonts fit nicely right out of the box. I did one heating and minor remolding of one shoe rim, but the option of potentially accommodating a person’s bunions, bone spurs or freakishly long toes (Marko) is appealing.
If a foot’s arch collapses under load the tibia rotates and becomes potentially injurious to the knee. Believe me, having spent too much time riding in front of a mirror testing out custom orthodics, shims and wedges; getting the foot, knee and leg aligned can be important, expensive and tedious. If the arch is truly well supported it prevents the rotation and misalignment. I immediately ditched my expensive custom orthodics because they were correcting what the Bonts were already designed to prevent. Sometimes standing in shoes with good arch support feels like too much support, like standing in a well fitting kit feels weird until actually on the bike and in the position the kit was designed to be in.
The Vaypor+ is a redesign of the Vaypor model with a boa lacing system instead of the velcro and buckle. I would say the tongue on the Vaypor+ could use some redesign. It’s padded and pliable so when the boa wires are constricted, the tongue squishes together instead of sliding under the uppers, so getting the perfect tension on these shoes is compromised. That is my only complaint. I’m a big fan of the boa lacing but this set up needs improvement, in my opinion.
These shoes are expensive but to date, with almost a year of riding, they look to be indestructible. True, our dog has not her way with them yet and she had better not but I am very impressed with the materials, design and construction.
The true point-of-contact test is the long day out. The imperfections and incompatibilities will be discovered 100 kms into it. If I don’t think much about my feet in my shoes, my butt on the saddle or my hands on the bars, it’s a good sign. All I’m saying is, if your present shoes are not passing this test, Bonts are a very good shoe to try next. My advice it so find a retailer to make sure you get exactly the shoe size you need. Buying cycling shoes online is rubbish.
I’ve paired my Bonts up with some heat moldable insoles from yoursole. They are thin, firm and have good arch support.
I’ve had my pair for a year also.
I agree. They’re awesome.
That is all.
The battle against foot pain can can be a long one. Once defeated will be your greatest victory. Riding with foot pain sucks the joy out of the ride. Even the anticipation of pain.
I have a few pairs of bonts but I’m now rocking these vapour plus’ s in stealthy black to offset my pink rapha kit. They’re the dogs dangly bits. I have the wide fit which is perfect for my strangely wide feet.
I also ride smp dynamic saddles. Keeps my dangly bits working :)
Rouleur
I’ve got 2 points of contact that I’ve tried to swap out from my norm, but every time I do I go back to my “fredly” norm.
The first is my shoes. I’ve tried (expensive) Sidi’s and not-as-expensive Shimano’s. The Sidi’s were terribly uncomfortable and I sold them almost immediately. The all black Shimano’s look good, but aren’t comfortable on rides over 25 miles. So…my totally awesome comfortable great shoes are 10 year old Nashbar shoes. Crazy as it sounds they are fit me perfectly, they’re soft on the top with stiff soles. I love they fit but not the look of the damn things. I was expecting the Sidi’s to be as comfortable, but nothing has matched my $40.00 Nashbar road shoes. I can wear them for 7+ hours and never think about them and when my feet never hurt.
The other point of contact is my UK RIDO R1 saddle. It’s big, plastic, ugly, and Goddamn comfortable. I can ride all day in and out and never even think about the saddle. It’s freakin perfect. Except it’s so ugly and anti-V I don’t even know where to start. Wide. Yellow and black. But again. I can do hours and hours on the thing with no thought about it all. I’ve tried so many other saddles; WTB, selle SMP, Bontrager, Brooks, Bontrager, etc,and nothing even comes close. They’re all ass-hatchets.
I wish there were an exchange where we could swap saddles, shoes, etc and try them out.
Mymost comfortable shoes and saddles are soooo non-V, but damn it – it’s all about the ride and not the look right? Right?!!!
By the way – I’m rocking a PRO handle bar – so at least 1 point of contact is V. Sigh.
Have a pair of the Vapors with velcro and buckle. Love the toe box that is shaped like your foot. Who would have thought! Feels a bit strange at first, all this no squashed toes business.
I chased ITB and medial knee issues for 18 months, orthotics, insoles, fits. In the end bought the Bonts and after one week knew they were right for me. Hardly any heat moulding needed, standard insoles. Plus due to the tub construction, you can do them up tight and not get numb feet.
Previous shoes were carbon Specialized’s and they just gave me grief. Turns out they had a internal cant to the sole that caused my problem.
Only “issue” is that sole is so thin that I have to file down the Look cleat bolts otherwise I can feel them protruding into the shoe.
Highly recommend.
@anotherdownunder
Your experience sounds close to mine. I’ve owned some Specialized shoes and they always made me suffer on long rides. I loved the boas, ended up not liking the shoes. But I put up with them for much too long, like years. Why?
The regular Vaypors sound like a better shoe in most respects. That sole is amazingly thin for how stiff it is. The rim must add a lot of stiffness.
@lokerola
You are a brave man but function over form always. At least with saddles and shoes.
I’m in the market for some new shoes now my bunion has been fixed.
I need widish shoes still. Are Bonts wide in the toe box?
I had heard that latest model Fiziks were wide but @Gianni, you’re saying they aren’t?
Nice write up, makes me feel lucky that I haven’t experienced the pain and suffering of incompatibility, and the constant search for something that works.
My first proper cycling shoes were Sidis – leather soles and screw-in cleats for use with quill pedals – I loved them and have loved every pair I’ve had since, both MTB and road. Sidis are form and function for me, no need to prioritise one over the other.
@Rom
They are so wide that many states require red flags to be attached and some even demand they be accompanied by a safety vehicle warning oncoming traffic.
Which is why I prefer Mavics.
I’m special. In that I’ve tried 3 pairs of Bonts now, 2 road and 1 track, and cant get them to work at all.
I’m part of the great unwashed who uses specialized shoes, I need the cant plus a little more, and the arch support is about right. I’ve really, really wanted to like the bonts, for the extra space in the toe box, but even with multiple heat moldings, I could never get them to go.
It is really only a 2 horse race as far as shoes goes, though. Annoyingly, even though Bont is an Aussie company, I can’t find a Bont dealer in Canberra. Nation’s capital my arse.
@Gianni Nice commentary.
I’ve got wide feet with a freakishly high instep so the Vaypor + looks like a good bet for my next pair. My current Fiziks are great but aren’t quite right beyond 300km. (Massive improvement on my the Shimanos that preceded them which got so painful after 200km that had to take them off to relieve the pain mid ride once). It’s a shame there arn’t any test programmes like Fizik do for their saddles.
They’d have to be black though, that toe protector looks like it’s been deign for sports that involve kicking things or come from a windsurfing boot.
Speaking of football, I’m surprised someone in marketing hasn’t tried to convince all the soccerists that they’d play like Messi if their boots had a Boa system.
@Chris
Or if money was no option there’s the custom programme for a nice subtle orange and black
I read that Chris McDougall has found this group of Pima tribesmen just killing it shoeless with cleats strapped to their feet.
Love my Vaypors; incredibly stiff and yet all-day comfy. Took a few goes to get the moulding spot on, but I do have freak feet with half a size difference. The bathtub shaped sole adds a huge amount of stiffness; it feels like you’re pushing on a foot-sized pedal and they definitely make you go moar fasterer. And that’s what this is about, right?
My question. How do you figure out tje best shoe without throwing money at the problem and buying shoes. My feet tend to start hurting after 2 hours. At that point I can stave it off by doing a lot of toe wiggling.
@Gianni
Easy there cowboy. There are limits.
@anotherdownunder
I have a nagging knee issue; years and years of light problem (never too serious) caused from a knee injury which saw me sitting in a wheelchair for 12 weeks (more serious).
The problem is gone after changing to Bonts.
@Rom
Don’t ask anyone if shoes are wide not; can of worms and really no one knows is their feet are wide or not, just whether wide or narrow shoes feel more comfortable.
Bont has three widths – narrow, medium, and wide. I have the mediums and they feel much wider to my feet than do my old Sidis. The foot spreads out and the goodness is everywhere.
I have to say I like the Vaypor over the Vaypor+; something about the placement and orientation of the velcro strap that makes me very happy.
My first round with the shoes took about 3 molding before I understood what to do with my feet, and then the way my foot was held was so different from being crushed in a Sidi that it took me about two weeks before I learned who to pedal comfortably with them again. These days, I can’t even imagine riding anything but a Bont. Shoes for life, right there.
Also, my Vaypors are from the summer of 2012 and I have even crashed them a few times (both my road and CX models) and they are just bulletproof.
Also, the white ones are not pure white and the parts that get dirty (tongue and ankle bits) are black so they don’t get looking nasty.
@minion
You’d like to think so wouldn’t you?
I wonder what specific problem you were having? I’ve heard lots of folks like the Spesh shoes. @Marko is similar to you; he’s had a hard time getting his to work and couldn’t get along with the Vaypors at all but likes the Vaypor+ (slightly different last, it seems).
Possible note of dissent here.
Set my first pair of Bonts (A3’s) on fire but they lasted a year after that – comfy but wore out fairly quickly as the heel buffer isn’t much and I wore through the fibreglass on the left shoe because that’s the foot I put down when I stop.
Spent ages trying to get a second pair as LBS stopped supplying as the local dealer gae a shop I don’t like an exclusive deal.
However we found a pair of A3’s in the stock room – put them on and they lasted a month. Awaiting a warranty decision – heel stopper fell off – didn’t notice and one ride wore the fibreglass through at the heel.
Now wear Giros as a temporary measure and they’re fine – would like Bonts again but only if they make them slightly less delicate.
@the Engine
I’ve heard various people make the same complaint about the A3’s; the Vaypors seem to be much more durable as I’ve not heard of anyone having a similar problem with those.
Your Scottish cheapness is biting you in the ass here, I’m afraid.
My Vaypors are works of art. Works of art that don’t quite fit unfortunately. The left shoe rubs my outside toes just enough to be uncomfortable on any ride over down to the shops. I tried heat molding a few times, but it seems I should’ve measured BOTH feet for the fitting specs. Beware of that. Waiting to try a pair a size up.
The lightness, stiffness and width are impressive though, and the Boa system is hella easy to use compared to the laces of my Giro Empires, which I love. The laces are super secure and look the tits, but you ain’t just slipping those bad boys on and off quickly.
OK I am sold! I tried a pair on a shop early last year and they felt so weird I went off an purchased another set of Sidis. I have ridden 46 regular (too short and narrow) and 47 mega (right length and touch too much upper) I have a wide front foot, narrow heel and high arch.
Something has got to save me, I was going to go for a 47 regular Sidi (why?) but I think the time has come for a change…
Good to be reminded of these once more and maybe this time I will ignore the weird feel in the shop and go with it!
@Deakus
Ignore the weird feel in the shop ? ohhh man… I’m a big believer of having the shoe feel awfully good right out of the box or I’m not interested.
46.5 wide Specialized. I’ve ’em in a couple of models and they work great for me. Alas, if ya like white shoes then outa luck with the wide variation I like. I peg the cleat position almost all the way back in order to prevent the hot foot and have just a little bias to toe out. I found the s-works model to be more snug in the toe box than the expert model. So I duct taped the vents on the expert and wear them in winter with heavier socks.
@Rom
The Fiziks were great until they changed they the last! Italians, fuggetaboitit. Now they are too snug. And the cleat holes are too far forward.
@ChrisO
Heheheeee. That’s good.
@RedRanger
That is a tough one. I can mail you a pair of 45.5 Fizik R3s to test, slightly dog chewed. But really, the only thing to do is go to the very best cycling store in Portland and spend hours trying on shoes. Everyone makes light and stiff shoes so it’s a gamble what you walk out the door with. Again, a good sales person might be useful but everybody’s needs are so different. Even the new Bontrager shoes look cool. Who knows. See who stocks Bonts in Oregon.
I laugh and think *idot* every time I see a set of shoes for sale on FB Bicycle Market. Just about every time they are new, “ridden once and don’t fit”. Good work… in your attempt to save a little dosh by buying on line you bought the wrong size and now it will cost you double the money you saved. It’s a no-brainer. Go to the LBS and trying them on! Heck, even my local LBS will exchange a pair of shoes if they are still “as new”.
As to points of contact… I’ve been lucky. I’m on my second saddle, and second pair of shoes and comfortable for day long rides. I’ve done a few 10hr rides (3 peaks was the last) and points of contact never bothered me. Still I cannot help but think the grass might be greener on another saddle/pair of shoes. Not worth finding out though is it? I occasionally get some tingles in my foot but I usually blame the shoes for being too tight. Spech Romin Evo and S-works shoes with the highest arch support for me. Still, I like the look of the Vapour+, believe their marketing (go to their website, excellent detail on how they differ) and would like to try them but it’s an expensive gample.
@frank
My problem is similar to Brett, one foot is fantastic, my left foot there just isn’t enough space for my little toe and it’s really uncomfortable from the first pedal stroke. Heat molding and going up a size didn’t fix anything, the material just didn’t have enough space there. After using Speccy shoes for yonks in lower models (Comp MTB shoes, mid range carbon road shoes) I’ve gone for some previous gen Sworks shoes and they’re fine. It’s really weird that they irritate my left foot where they do, given the shape of the toe box, and that part of the shoe was bliss on my other foot.
It’s settling for the known and comfortable, unfortunately, but no-one can tell me the sworks shoes are for slouches.
@Gianni
I wish I lived in Portland.
@minion
I agree they are not for slouches.
Bonts have always intrigued me. Anyone got the good oil on their Riot base level shoe?
We need to set up a saddle and shoe swap. Oh wait, Frank would (will for even suggesting) come and find me and kill me dead.
Always up for new shoes. Still waiting to try some fiziks or Bonts, but my Sidis just keep on rolling.
As for futbol boots, finally found a pair I LOVE that haven’t fallen apart within a few months and now…the damn models change so fast I can find a 2nd pair to keep in stock. Damn you pro players and your shoe contracts! They’re not even that fancy, just some second-tier adidas, but I cannot find the fuckers in stock anywhere. Life is hard.
@Gianni
Have you tried the fi’zi:k 3D Flex insole? Kinda not cheap for an insole… but came highly recommended. I’m inclined to agree with the recommendation after using them for a little over a month now
@Gianni
I’m with you. I have a pair of the white/black R3s and they are without a doubt the most comfortable cycling shoes I’ve ever worn. I love the wider forefoot and the high arch. I haven’t tried the new ones but by all reports I don’t think I’d get on with them. I also have a pair of the Bont CTT Ones which are the Cervelo Test Team version of what essentially became the Vaypor. I like them as well though despite them fitting the way Bont recommends, I wish I would have gone with a half size larger than was recommended to me. Still, I’m plenty happy wearing them (like you with arch supports) for shorter rides, but I definitely go back to my R3s when its going to be an all day affair.
@Chris
300km? Holy moly. Is your saddle made of fluffy clouds? After that length of time I’d be looking for a shotgun to end the butt-hurt.. What do you ride for a saddle at that distance?
@Beers The were periods where all the contact points hurt but not consistently. It was only the shoes that were a cause for concern.
The saddle is a carbon braided fizik Antares and amazingly it was fine all the way to the end at 350km, a little bit chaffed but(t) so much better than expected.
I put some good miles into the fizik test programme a couple of years ago, narrowed it down to the Antares and the took the test saddle on holiday to France and took it on a 250km round trip that took in the Hautacam and Tourmalet. I had some very uncomfortable rides on the other saddles that year but it was an investment that was worth so much more than the £30 refundable fee for the test programme.
The other thing that made 350km bearable was a very generous reapplication of chamois creme at 250km. At that point there was little evidence down there of the original application.
Rapha’s Grand Tour gloves and fizik dual bar tape took care of the third contact point. Again, no issues. Sadly, they seem to have discontinued the tape.
@Chris Thanks for letting me know! I have borrowed the Arione and Antares, no luck yet over 150km. I will continue in the hope of finding the happy medium you have… And Chapeau, 350km! Eghad!
Hello, intersting to read about these Bont shoes. Couple of guys I ride with got Vaypor models recently and swear by them. The Vaypor+ look good as well, if pricey. The red and white ones look like Specialized no (as per Niballi pic)?
Got my first pair of Sidi genius recently, first 2 or 3 rides I thought they were a bit narrow but they’re now super comfortable (and so light). Bit of a lightweight though, before that I only had some old Shimanos since 2008 :)
@Beers
I’ve just ordered a pair which should be here by the end of the week, so I’ll let you know how I get on.
The local Bont importer has given up on his business, so I’m stuck mail-ordering. Has any of the Velominati ordered a Bont using their sizing instructions? The results I’ve got seem plausible, but there’s a +/- 5mm measurement error which is about half a shoe-size.
I’m quite certain Bonts will have all the width I need, but I’m trying to figure out the crucial longitudinal dimension. I’m a size 45 in Shimano and 44 in Mavics, if that’s any help. Loved the Mavics, but I’m slowly realizing their narrowness is a bit more than I’d like when approaching the 150km mark.
@tessar
I have. I ordered according to the Bont sizing/measuring instructions and erred on the side of the next half size up because I was within a few mm in length from the upper limit of the recommendation. They fit, however its still a close one and if I were to do it again I probably would even go one half size up from what I ordered. That said, due to the way the forefoot of the shoe is designed, you can get away with your toes being closer to the front of the Bont than with shoes built on a traditional last with a more pointed toe box.
@tessar
If it helps, my Fizik R3s which I find fit perfectly are a size 44 and the Bont’s I ordered were a 44.5. My Mavic Pulse MTB shoes are a size 10.5 (I’m not sure what that translates into in Euros according to Mavic). I too find the Mavics quite narrow.
@VeloVita
I went a full size up from Fizik and that worked out OK. They might be larger then optimum but there is no penalty to them being slightly too long, so if in doubt, I’d round up. And I’d get the regular Vaypor over the Vaypor +.
I was so bully on Bont that I ordered a pair for my wife, a yellow Mavic shoe owner. So first you pay a lot in shipping from China, then they were too short so we paid another $15 to return them to the US supplier. At that point we were looking at more shipping for the next size up which might not have been perfect which would be two more shipping fees…so we stopped. Hence my warning about buying online. Maybe buying from a bike shop online is better if they will help on the shipping. It’s very frustrating as I would like to give them more business but can’t.
Sorry to resurrect oldness but can anyone compare bont to sidi or specialized? I was a 45 in sidi and a 44.5 in the pre-2013 specialized last (the current specialized 45 seems too tight). I ordered a 46.5 based on their mm chart but it has been stuck at a post office in Richmond ca for 3 weeks… So maybe it’s not an issue at all anyway.
So my 46.5 showed up today. Wayyyyy too big. With my foot in the shoe I can stick a finger in the back easily. So I guess I’m a 45 in bont too. Great to know. Anyone want a 46.5?
Has anyone worn the original Vaypors and the Vaypor+? Is the latter any better ventilated? I have the Vaypors and love them, but now that it’s July here in the lower Midwest, they get really hot. I’m wondering if the Vaypor+ breath any better. Anyone have experience with both shoes? Or maybe the new Vaypor S?
Article from CyclingTips on updated Vaypor+
http://cyclingtips.com/2016/05/bont-cycling-the-story-of-a-small-aussie-brand-taking-on-the-cycling-shoe-industry/