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.
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@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!