5 Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Evaluation

Backside Line

The youngsters’ model of the 5 Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Footwear is a wonderful selection for younger riders who break up their time between pedals and playgrounds. They provide the identical high quality design, supplies, and steeze because the time-tested grownup Freerider.

We discovered them particularly spectacular on combined terrain rides the place our kiddo incessantly hopped off the bike to hike or discover—the grippy Stealth rubber sole sticks to flat pedals like glue but additionally dealt with rocky trails and slick surfaces surprisingly effectively. The match is safe and supportive with out feeling cumbersome, and the strengthened toe space gave us peace of thoughts, particularly when our baby repeatedly kicked a large boulder as exhausting as he may for no obvious cause in any respect.

These aren’t essentially the most breathable footwear we examined, and so they take some time to dry out after getting moist, however their sturdiness and all-around efficiency greater than make up for it. For those who’re in search of one shoe that may deal with biking, climbing, and on a regular basis child put on and tear, this one’s a terrific selection.

Try our information to the perfect climbing footwear for teenagers to see the way it stacks up towards the competitors.

How We Examined

Our mini gear analyst wore the 5 Ten Freeriders nearly in every single place—on hikes, bike rides, on the bike park, and climbing round playgrounds throughout the U.S. and Canada. We noticed how they carried out on the whole lot from dry, dusty Colorado trails to moist, root-covered paths within the White Mountains. These footwear acquired an actual exercise.

Consolation

These footwear do job of balancing stiffness for biking and adaptability for climbing and taking part in. Our child by no means as soon as complained about sore ft—even after lengthy path rides or full afternoons operating across the playground. As dad and mom, we’d prefer to see slightly extra flexibility in a shoe after we’re climbing, however our take a look at topic doesn’t appear to thoughts in any respect. The padded tongue and collar add a pleasant degree of cushion with out making the shoe really feel overly cumbersome.. Break-in time was nearly nonexistent, which is all the time a win with child gear—our tester put them on straight out of the field and was off using inside minutes.

All the additional padding within the Freerider provides to the consolation, however it could possibly make the shoe really feel a bit heat in comparison with extra breathable choices. The match is safe with sufficient room within the toe field for pure motion. It runs barely slim general, so children with particularly slim ft would possibly discover the match a bit unfastened. That mentioned, the shoe softens and molds to the foot over time with out ever feeling sloppy.

Traction

The grip on the 5 Ten Freerider Youngsters is what actually units it aside for biking. The Stealth rubber sole is extremely sticky. Our tester’s ft felt locked onto flat pedals, even on bumpy descents and root-filled trails. At one level, whereas barreling downhill, he shouted, “My ft are glued to the pedals!” That type of grip could be a actual confidence booster for younger riders nonetheless getting used to technical terrain.

Off the bike, the Freerider is much less spectacular. The Stealth S1 rubber isn’t designed for traction on slick rocks or moist roots, and we seen a number of extra slips in comparison with devoted climbing footwear. They’re not unhealthy by any means, simply not high performers in terms of hiking-specific grip. However for households who prioritize biking and desire a shoe that may deal with occasional path time and transition seamlessly to post-ride playground classes, the Freerider nonetheless will get the job finished.

Sturdiness

The Freerider Youngsters are constructed like tanks, and that’s precisely what you need in a shoe designed for rough-and-tumble using, climbing, and on a regular basis chaos. Our pair has survived months of exhausting use, together with bike park wipeouts, playground abuse, creek crossings, and loads of toe-dragging, with out exhibiting main indicators of damage. The suede and artificial higher holds up effectively to scuffs, and the strengthened toe field does a strong job defending towards bumps and rock kicks (which, let’s be trustworthy, are each day occurrences with children).

The only real has stayed grippy even in spite of everything that use, and we haven’t seen any early indicators of delamination or breakdown. Stitching and glue traces are nonetheless intact, and nothing is peeling or coming aside.

Lacing

The Freerider Youngsters hold issues easy with a three-strap velcro closure, and we’re massive followers of how straightforward that makes getting out the door. No laces to tie, no toggles to regulate—simply strap, stick, and go. Even our youngest tester may get them on and off with out assist, which is nice for constructing independence (and saving dad and mom a couple of minutes of morning chaos).

The velcro system retains the footwear comfortable and safe, even throughout high-energy actions like biking and scrambling round playgrounds. We by no means had points with the straps coming unfastened or carrying out prematurely throughout testing. In comparison with conventional laces or bungees, this setup is far more kid-friendly and low-fuss, particularly for riders who cease and begin lots all through the day.

That mentioned, older children would possibly ultimately need one thing with a extra grown-up look or finer adjustment, however for the youthful crowd, this closure system hits the candy spot of simplicity and safety.

Model

Model in all probability isn’t the highest precedence if you’re selecting footwear on your child, but it surely doesn’t harm once they really need to put on them. The Freerider nails the cool issue with a skate-inspired design that appears simply pretty much as good on the playground because it does on the path. Our tester was pumped to put on them day by day, even after we weren’t biking or climbing, which is an efficient signal they move the kid-style take a look at.

Not like some technical footwear that scream “gear,” the Freerider blends in effectively in on a regular basis settings. They’re practical sufficient for outside adventures however trendy sufficient for each day put on, which implies fewer arguments about what footwear to placed on within the morning. For those who’re in search of a flexible shoe your child gained’t struggle you on, this one’s a win.

Breathability

Breathability isn’t the Freerider’s robust go well with, but it surely’s not a complete dealbreaker both. In truth, our little analyst is normally too busy having fun with life to be involved about his ft being scorching.  The higher is made with a mixture of leather-based and artificial supplies that prioritize sturdiness and safety over airflow. On cooler days or throughout shoulder seasons, our child by no means talked about their ft feeling scorching or sweaty. However on heat summer season hikes and lengthy days on the bike park, we undoubtedly seen their socks getting damp and the footwear holding in warmth.

That additional padding across the collar and tongue provides to the consolation, but it surely additionally traps heat. These aren’t the footwear we’d seize for scorching desert hikes or prolonged path days in full solar, however for many informal rides and on a regular basis use, the breathability is okay, simply not standout. For those who reside someplace scorching or your child tends to run heat, you would possibly wish to go for a extra ventilated shoe. In any other case, the Freerider’s breathability is a suitable tradeoff for its burly building.

Ought to You Purchase the Youngsters 5 Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoe?

In case your child spends a number of time on a motorbike—whether or not they’re cruising native trails, hitting the pump observe, or simply studying the ropes—the Freerider is a strong selection. The standout pedal grip, sturdy construct, and on a regular basis consolation make it among the finest bike-specific footwear we’ve examined for teenagers. It additionally transitions effectively to climbing, playgrounds, and informal put on, which provides to its all-around worth.

That mentioned, it’s not essentially the most breathable or light-weight choice on the market, and it doesn’t provide the identical path grip you’d get from a devoted climbing shoe. But when biking is the principle focus and also you need one pair of footwear to cowl most adventures, the Freerider delivers. It’s particularly price it for households who wish to spend money on a shoe that may take a beating and nonetheless get handed down. For the fitting consumer, that is cash effectively spent.

What Different Mountain climbing Footwear for Youngsters Ought to You Take into account?

For extra nice choices, take a look at our full information to the perfect climbing footwear for teenagers. If the Freerider isn’t fairly the fitting match, listed below are a number of different standout picks that may fit your kiddo higher:

Saucony Cohesion 14 Evaluation: For those who’re in search of a real climbing shoe reasonably than a bike-focused mannequin, the Cohesion 14 is our high general decide. It’s light-weight, versatile, and is available in tons of enjoyable colours. We love how breathable and inexpensive it’s, particularly for rising ft.

Merrell Moab Pace Mid Waterproof Evaluation: Want extra ankle help or higher wet-weather safety? The Moab Pace Mid is a good hybrid boot. It’s extra structured and waterproof, making it ultimate for longer hikes or variable situations.

KEEN Chandler 2 CNX Evaluation: For youthful children or those that want one thing tremendous straightforward to get on and off, the Chandler 2 CNX is a versatile, light-weight path shoe with massive pull loops and a easy closure system. Nice for day hikes and all-day play.