Mavic is well known for their wheels, but they also have a fairly extensive line of mountain bike shoes. One of the newer models to hit the trails is the Scree, which as billed as an “all weather” mountain biking shoe designed for “epic riding adventures”
Let’s make one thing clear up front: at a dry weight of over 900 grams, these are not XC racing shoes.
At first glance, the Screes look like a fairly basic mid-ankle hiking shoe, and that’s how they fit as well. They are Gore-Tex lined, with a one-piece bellows tongue and three main velcro straps, as well as a smaller strap at the top. The outer soles feature stout rubber lugs and, of course, a spot for mounting cleats. For non-cleat use, there is a rubber cover that bolts in place.
Out of the box, the rubber covers are attached, and Mavic also includes two pairs of metal plates, one thin and one thicker, for use under your cleats. For SPD, they help raise the shoe off the pedal a little so that the lugged sole doesn’t interfere with unclipping. For Crank Brothers and Time pedals, it prevents the pedal bindings from digging into the shoe.
When first trying them on, they fit and feel like decent quality hiking shoes. I have a fairly wide foot and a super high arch, and the Screes accommodate both snugly, but comfortably. The three main velcro straps allow for a well-adjusted fit, while the smaller top strap is intended to keep the tongue in place (more on that later).
Out on the trail, these are just plain comfy. I expected them to be a little too hot for summer riding, given the thick construction and Gore-Tex, but in fact they were totally fine even on 90° days. The soles are reasonably stiff, and the mid-ankle construction contributes to the overall stability when riding. Shallow water crossings are easily handled by the Gore-Tex layer, however water that comes above the top of the shoe will not only result in wet feet, but the water won’t be able to get out, with the shoes staying wet for the rest of the ride.
The durability of these shoes has been excellent. I have been riding them in all kinds of conditions, from spring until now, and other than some dust they look great: no tears, no seams coming unstitched, no chunks missing from the lugged soles, and the velcro straps continue to perform as well as they did out of the box.
On the note of the Velcro straps: the top strap has been a bit of an issue for me, however. As I mentioned, I have extremely high arches, and as such, the top strap barely catches on its Velcro mating surface and almost always comes undone while I’m riding. It’s primarily the left that does it, but both sides have released more than once. I finally resolved it permanently by cutting these straps off and going with just the main three. It would be nice to see these made with a ratcheting strap, or maybe one that goes all the way around like a ski boot. In any case, since cutting them off I have had no other issues.
Despite Mavic marketing these as an “all weather” mountain biking shoe, they are NOT warm. They are comfortable down to about 45° but below that, it’s time for wool socks or toe covers.
Given the sturdy construction and substantial weight of these shoes, they are best suited to rides that include some hike-a-bike and bikepacking. On the other hand, I have also worn them on some longer rides with substantial climbing, and they were comfortable. In most cases, the extra support helps make up for the weight penalty.
At $199 they are also not the cheapest mountain bike shoe going, but their versatility and durability definitely make them a solid value.
So if your riding takes you way out into the wilderness or includes some mild to moderate hiking, or if you want the extra ankle support of a mid-height shoe, then check these out. However, if you’re a gram counting weight weenie, these probably aren’t the shoes for you.
Thanks to Mavic for sending over the Scree shoes for review!
