Clothing and Accessories

On test: shoes Mavic Xena

Details

Parent Category: Clothing and Accessories

Category: Mavic

Published on Tuesday, 15 June 2010 08:22

Written by Marcella Crisanti

A shoe designed for women, light, airy and with a rigid sole

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The model Mavic Xena is a pair of shoes made specifically for women, not only in white, the only available, but in developing the plan of the shoe, the insole and internal heel: the points where the female foot is different from that male. The carbon sole is only 5.5 mm thick, with the area of attachment of cleats treated to improve the anchorage of the same cleats to the sole. Given the reduced thickness of the sole of the series is provided a set of short screws for the cleats. These points of reference for the positioning of the cleats, absent, however, the ventilation holes on the sole of the foot. To protect the soil are provided two pairs of heels, front and rear, not interchangeable. The upper is Microfiber and almost entirely made of mesh fabric to improve ventilation of the foot. The heel is thermoformed, reinforced with a carbon fiber insert and built specifically for the female anatomy, as well as the sockliner, anatomical, breathable and double density. The closure is via three straps, two with velcro closure, while the third, at the instep, has closed ratchet. The sealing system has been designed with the objective to have a maximum weight. The tongue is padded. The shoes are available in white, in sizes from 4.5 to 9 UK including half sizes. Has a declared weight of 235 grams in size 5.5 UK (a shoe), we in size 38 (6.5 UK), we noted a weight of 240 grams each.

Road test

Shoes Mavic Xena hit for the beautiful white upper, with its special reflections and discrete graphic motifs. Already in hand to impress their extreme lightness and the high rigidity of the sole. Good care constructive, with a well-finished interior, too bad that the cleats are not interchangeable, but worth noting is their height and grip even on slippery. It is easy to mount the cleats because you have points of reference and correctly positioned on the outside, so as to be visible with any type of cleats, the adoption of best series of screws dedicated specifically for this sole. Comfortable and good inside, though without reaching the level of some competitors (indicated by an upper weight) you can wear these shoes a long time without any problems, good aeration of the shoe. The fit is good and easy to close, even if the particular pawl does not facilitate the opening of the respective strap and is not very easy to use being in the saddle. The other two strap, however, are easy to use, but if you close many, may in the long run, be annoying, because it creates high pressure on a small portion of the foot, but this happens only if strong shaking. In reality it is never necessary to tighten the shoe because the strong containment of the foot is more than good, particularly the stiffness of the sole is excellent and the containment of the heel, the less effective containment side when compared with other models, because of wide area network and the upper thin and lightweight. Only the truly powerful athletes, but will require greater lateral rigidity, rather than good, but the ability to hold the foot in the traction phase of pedalling. The lightness of the shoe, then, is appreciated in ascent, as the bidding continues, especially if you go down by a pair of heavy shoes, with which comparison is better able to understand the benefits, in terms of benefits, from having to walking shoes much lighter competition. A shoe that meets the favour of those athletes who have a powerful pedal, the climbers and all those looking for a hard shoe, light and well ventilated. Comfort is more than good, although in this case there may be better products, while good overall quality of the shoe for the women's attention to ergonomics and the quality of materials used. The price around 221 Euro is very high, but justified justified by the weight, the stiffness of the sole and the overall performance of the shoe.

Posistive aspects

Weight
Stiffness of the outsole
Containment of the foot
Benchmarks for effective positioning of cleats
Aeration

Negative aspects

Non-interchangeable heels

To learn more:

Mavic
Website: www.mavic.com