Clothing and Accessories

Test: shoes Mavic Tourmalet

Details

Parent Category: Clothing and Accessories

Category: Mavic

Published on Monday, 27 July 2009 08:20

Written by Luca Salvatelli

 An innovative and successful shoes for strength and lightness 

The Company

The range of shoes Mavic is composed of a range of road, mtb and freeride, not missing, then the collections dedicated to women. Four models are the way to 2009, including one dedicated to triathlon, yet four models dedicated to women, two road, one mtb, freeride from a; then various proposals for mtb and freeride. In the range of Tourmalet road model is the top range, with its sole Alutex and the weight record, followed later models Avenir, more traditional, with classic straps, then the peloton model for those approaching the world of racing bike or unwilling to demanding products, and finally, the model Tri Pro, a shoe designed specifically for the triathlon.

The shoes on test: Mavic Tourmalet

The model Tourmalet is a shoe in many innovative, as Mavic has focused its development on points often neglected by other manufacturers. The sole is very special for the material with which it is implemented a fiber aluminium, nylon and fiberglass. This material, made it possible to obtain a very stiff sole, but light and very small thickness, wanted to bring as much as possible to the foot pedal. The rigidity of the sole, then, has been boosted thanks to a careful design that has the choice to make a rib that improves the rigidity. The area of attachment of cleats, then, was provided with a rough coating which improves the anchorage of the cleats to the sole. As always there are points of reference for the positioning of the cleats. To protect the sole, then heels are two front and two rear. Are not present on the sole, ventilation holes. The upper is very unique and equipped with large areas in the network to improve the ventilation of the foot. In this tip is a plastic that is helping the containment of the foot. The heel is reinforced with a new carbon fiber called "Energy Lock". This system to contain the heel allows a weight saving of 30% compared to more traditional solutions. The sole is made of fabric pierced. Are also three straps closing with velcro. The first two are special, very light, while the third, at the neck of the foot, is more traditional and wide to improve the containment of the foot. The shoe is only available in the colour of the model under test (Metallic Silver) in sizes from 4.5 to 12 UK including half sizes. He declared a weight of 285 grams in size 8.5 UK size 42 in us, we noted a weight of grams 276 each.

Road test

The new Mavic shoes are well made and with an aesthetic that is immediately noticed. Right now we understand their lightness, as it appreciates their accurate invoice, free of defects. The reduced thickness of the sole, is impressive for its rigidity and the care with which it was built. Good layer of paint rough cleats at the scene and the reference points for positioning the same. They are well made, accurate, and distant from the center of the shoe, so that with any type of cleats are always clearly visible. Unfortunate that the cleats are not interchangeable, but this would increase the weight of the shoe. The sistem of connection of straps is quick and secure. The intention of the shoe is well-maintained and surprisingly reduced the thickness of the upper, in soft and durable. Well secured the shoes back to impress the stiffness of the sole and their lightness. These are the two major features of these shoes and it is not difficult to perceive. Weight Mavic managed to remove almost 200 grams compared to other top range of products that are cut, if only you believe what you have to spend and how much effort should be done to lift the same weight of a frame, we understand the scope of this advantage. Another important aspect is the stiffness of the sole, very good. Despite the reduced thickness, the rigidity of the sole Alutex marks a new point of reference. Impossible to put into crisis and excellent in transferring the power of the foot to the pedal. Even the strongest athletes and demanding to be completely satisfied with the stiffness of the sole. Another positive aspect is the proper containment of the heel, in this case we are not the current maximum achieved by any competitor, especially at the level of feeling, but the heel is still very strong. Also, as mentioned, can do even better, but the price of a weight of the shoe substantially higher. Moreover, this sensation will only be feel by athletes more powerful and only the most violent. Despite the very slight upper comfort is good, as is the excellent ventilation of the shoe. Here too there are competitors in terms of comfort, they can do better, but the differences are minimal, while the difference in weight for Mavic, is much greater. The sealing system is effective, fast and secure, it's easy to adjust the closure in stroke and there is no need to close strong shoe for a foot well content, and this also improves the comfort. But the strongest, in the final action of a race, when the greater the push and pull on the pedals and the shoe will have to forge strong strip the foot for a truly well-balance and the shoe, so the comfort will come much due to the reduced thickness of the upper that is perceived clearly the pressure of the straps on foot. Fortunately, the discomfort does not appear immediately, but after about an hour plenty of race, that this aspect can be considered marginal, whereas those who forge strong does the shoe in the last kilometers of the race and not left the start. Apart from this with a normal closure gives a comfort that a similar good and proper containment of the foot that still remains well within the shoe.

Particulars

Conclusions

Tourmalet shoes have highlighted a number of unique powers. First the weight really content and then the stiffness of the sole, even in this case a new point of reference. The desire to go to these results has forced a number of techniques that can be shared or not, much depends on your preferences and the kind of pedal you have. The comfort his strong point, not the uncomfortable shoes, or rather the opposite, but also shoes, heavier, have a more comfortable interior. The need to minimize the weight of the upper and lining has forced a choice. The containment of the foot and the heel is more than good, but does not reach the level of other products, more and more heavy, who have opted for other technical choices, and in other products in the range Mavic. In fact even the most demanding athletes stronger and will not have to complain that the stiffness of the sole and for the containment of the foot, instead is the comfort that stays in one step lower than the competition, when you decide to forge strong straps of the shoe. But the lightness is immediately perceptible, and in the long run is a nice advantage to have the shoes are lighter, there is less tiring and you can have better performance. It may seem excessive, but it is. That is, even with the limitations expressed above, the balance of these shoes is positive and higher than the competitors. Is be noted, moreover, that without the need to forge strong strip the comfort is more than good as the containment of the foot, increasing thus the quality gap with competitors. Finally a good pair of shoes even for the perfect lover who will appreciate the care building, the ventilation, the light weight and good comfort, but for the athlete demanding and powerful that can find all the rigidity of the sole which has always desired, a very low weight and comfort enough for even the toughest races and long. The containment of the foot remains good, with excellent care to make good for the straps. Finally, sin that leads only the colour of the model being tested.

Price

The price of shoes Tourmalet is approximately Euro 175,00.

Positive aspects