RIDE CONCEPTS TALLAC CLIP BOA SHOES REVIEW

Words by Robert Johnston  |  Photos by Sam Howard

The Ride Concepts Tallac BOA flat pedal shoes were an instant favorite when I reviewed them last year. With my increasing tendency towards clip pedal riding – especially on eMTBs – I was intrigued to see whether the clipless version could also hit the highest heights of my shoe rankings. I went in with an open and cautious mind, expecting to be slightly disappointed about the clipless version of my favorite shoes. But thankfully, the Ride Concepts Tallac BOA clipless shoes provided the same enjoyment as the flat version, if not more.

About The Ride Concepts Tallac Clip BOA

The Ride Concepts Tallac Clip BOA shoes are targeted at the same Trail to Enduro mountain biking as the excellent flat pedal Tallac BOA shoes, but with a cleat track added for clip-in pedal cleat fitment. As the top-end shoe in the Tallac Clip range, they are given a BOA fit system with textile TX4 laces. This is complimented by a hook-and-loop strap to further tune the fit over the forefoot. The recommended retail price is $210.00 /£199.95 as a result, affirming their premium position in the market.

The Upper

A Cordura upper makes the Tallac BOA shoes breathable and lightweight, with good abrasion resistance to fend off abuse from the trail. This upper is stitch free with a full welded construction to boost the toughness further. Protection is added to the toe and heel areas with TPU bumpers, which are given anti-abrasion films on the outside. Running around the perimeter of the shoe is a TPU belt to protect against mud and water ingress and resist abrasion in the most vulnerable spots. Inside there’s an anti-bacterial mesh lining, helping to keep these Ride Concepts shoes smelling fresher for longer. The lightly padded mesh tongue is fully gusseted to prevent dirt and debris from entering the shoe.

With a medium volume overall, the Tallac BOA shoes are not as voluminous as typical gravity shoes. As a result, riders with wider than average feet may be best served by going up half a size. Ride Concepts offers the shoe in sizes US 7-13 (EU 39.5-47), with half sizes throughout the range. They also offer the Flume shoe range for women, which is based on the Tallac.

Below The Foot

The Ride Concepts TALLAC Clip BOA sole uses a hexagon pattern, with extra traction on heel and toe to aid walking grip. CLIP GRIP rubber is fitted to this sole instead of the grippier MAX GRIP rubber found on the flat pedal version. This aids in entering and releasing the cleats. Speaking of cleats, there’s a generous 42mm wide cleat box. On this a scale is printed to make obtaining a consistent and equal setup easier. The cleat track is very long and extends far rearwards to allow the rider to obtain a gravity-style cleat position which mimics the foot position of a flat pedal rider.

Ride Concepts fits their PowerDrive Nylon shank to the Tallac Clip BOA for power transfer and lateral stiffness. This ranks 5 out of 5 on their stiffness scale for maximum transfer of energy when pedaling. Adding comfort to the foot is an EVA midsole and D3O High Impact Zone Technology insole. These combine to produce a thin but well-cushioned barrier between the feet and shank, and improve comfort considerably.

THE DIRT

Setup And Fit | Following my enjoyment of the Ride Concepts Tallac BOA flat shoes, I knew I was going to enjoy the fit and character of the clipless variety. The volume sits in the middle of the range, with enough room in the toe box to keep most happy. All the clip-in version had to do was position the cleats in a good spot, and offer the right balance of stiffness to provide comfort and control underfoot. Ride Concepts got it very right in these aspects thankfully, so these Tallac BOA Clips quickly became a firm favorite.

A rider’s cleat position is strongly influenced by personal preference. However, many companies are still failing to offer a truly gravity-oriented rearward position as an option. This often leaves me feeling like I’m riding on my toes, limiting my control and confidence. The Tallac BOA clipless cleat track is quite long, but crucially ends far back in the shoe. This means I can get a comfortable rearward cleat setup, similar to Leatt’s gravity shoes. For riders who aren’t interested in adopting this cleat positioning, the cleat track will still let you place your cleat in a more conventional XC-style spot.

Performance | A rider’s preferred stiffness underfoot again leads to some divisive personal preferences. The XC and Trail crowd typically favor high levels of stiffness to obtain maximum power transfer from the foot to the pedal. Less aggressive riders often favor the cushion and comfort of a slightly more flexible shank. The Tallac BOA shoes strike a very sweet spot for me, where my foot is supported enough to charge hard without any serious pressure spots, but not so stiff to remove the feeling and control below the foot. Add into the mix the D3O inserts and a sensibly cushioned EVA midsole, and my feet couldn’t be happier.

Carried on from my favorite flat shoes are the great combination of slight weather resistance with good breathability and fast drying. The protection on offer is solid for all but the gnarliest of riding, but is delivered without adding notable bulk to the shoe. Ride Concepts rates them for XC through to Enduro, and depending on your preferences this seems about right. You would likely want a more protective shoe for purely gravity riding, but I still run these happily in the bikepark. Likewise, a true XC rider will prefer a lighter and slimmer offering.

The tread and rubber on the Tallac BOA works well with an aggressive gravity pedal, still allowing for easy entry and exit on my Hope Union GC pedals. They also give enough traction on the pins to keep the foot in place well enough to stay safe if there’s a failed clip-in attempt on a descent. With a less aggressive pedal, the stiff shank means there’s no pressure hotspot, so they remain comfortable. Walking traction is stellar thanks to the purposeful tread on toe and heel. There’s enough flex in the shoe to conform to the terrain below and avoid the disco slipper sensations, too. They’re certainly hike-a-bike friendly.

Durability | The BOA fit system became a touch sticky after a significant amount of wet and muddy riding. I think this is due to the fabric string, which allows mud to stick more than the typical nylon coated cable. Still, it continues to function well aside from a slightly increased force to release it. Otherwise, the Ride Concepts Tallac BOA Clip have been holding up amicably to the abuse through a few months of riding. I’m happy about that, as it means I’ve still got plenty of enjoyment to come in these stellar clipless shoes.

The Wolf’s Last Word

The Ride Concepts Tallac BOA shoe now sits at the top of my list in both the flat pedal and clipless variants. They hit a beautiful sweet spot of weight and protection, with great pedal feel and comfort and looks that are different without being garish. They get two very solid thumbs up from me.

Price: $210.00 /£199.95
Website: Rideconcepts.com

WHERE TO BUY
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