Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent review: A lightweight summer shoe for the trail, daily life and the commute.
Crankbrothers are best known for their pedals, wheels and MTB components. With the Trail Speed Lace Vent, the Californian brand are expanding their footwear range with a model designed specifically for hot weather. The new summer shoe is available both as the Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent for flat pedals and the Mallet Trail Speed Lace Vent for clipless setups.
At first glance, the sneaker-inspired design immediately stands out. The Trail Speed Lace Vent looks less like a traditional MTB shoe and more like a modern casual trainer. In the new Bone Grey colourway in particular, it remains understated and easy to wear off the bike. According to Crankbrothers, the light colour also absorbs less heat and does a better job of hiding dust, which sounds entirely plausible.
Designed for hot days
The defining feature of the new Trail Speed Lace Vent is the highly breathable mesh upper. zBig ventilation panels provide noticeably better airflow than many traditional flat pedal shoes, helping to keep your feet comfortable even on long rides in hot conditions. During our test period, we also got caught in the rain on two occasions. Here, the shoe impressed with its quick-drying properties. The EVA foam tongue plays its part too, as it absorbs very little water and does not become saturated.
A practical touch for everyday use is the familiar Speed Lace system, which allows for quick and easy adjustment. An integrated lace pocket is designed to keep loose laces away from the chain and crankset. At least in theory. In practice, tucking the laces away is rather fiddly, as the pocket sits beneath the tightly secured laces.
The fit of the Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent.
For those with narrow feet, the shoe is a real delight: the foot sits securely without sliding from side to side. Less convincing, however, is the fit for wider feet. The Trail Speed Lace Vent is cut on the narrower side and offers comparatively little room in the forefoot area. Those with wider feet should therefore make sure to try the shoe on before purchasing – or opt straight for a wider-cut model.
A lightweight among flat pedal shoes
One of the biggest highlights is the low weight. While many flat pedal shoes tip the scales at well over 800 grams per pair, the new Trail Speed Lace Vent ranks among the lighter options in its category.
For comparison (all in size 43):
- Suplest Flatpedal Sport: 774 g
- Shimano GF6: 802 g
- Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent: 652 g 652 g, making it significantly lighter than both.
You notice every gram saved, especially on long rides and during daily use. That is where the Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent really stands out.
More comfort than traditional gravity shoes
For the outsole, Crankbrothers use their own tread pattern combined with the relatively soft MC2 rubber compound. According to Crankbrothers, it’s designed to ensure strong grip on flat pedals without compromising walking comfort. In real-world testing, it strikes that balance impressively well.
While many gravity-focused flat pedal shoes are designed with maximum stiffness in mind, the sole of the Trail Speed Lace Vent is noticeably more flexible. That means it feels a little less direct during aggressive bike park riding, but offers significantly greater comfort when you’re off the bike and walking.
This is exactly where one of the Trail Speed Lace Vent’s biggest strengths comes into its own: it works just as well off the bike as it does on the trail. We put it to the test ourselves. If you commute to the office on an eMTB or head into town after a ride, there is no immediate need to change your shoes. The Trail Speed Lace Vent feels far more like a sporty trainer than a traditional MTB shoe.
Grip and protection on the trail
Despite the focus on comfort, the Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent delivers a convincing performance on the trail. For our test, we rode the shoe not only with Crankbrothers Stamp platform pedals but also with the new Shimano SAINT flat pedals, among others. The aim was to find out whether the sole is specifically tuned to Crankbrothers pedals or performs just as well with other platform pedal designs.
The result: grip is on par with other good modern flat pedal shoes. We noticed no significant difference compared with comparable models, whether on the Crankbrothers or Shimano pedals. There is, however, one exception. The well-known Five Ten models still set the benchmark, with soles that seem to stick to the pedal almost like glue.
Off the bike, the treaded outsole of the Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent also provides plenty of traction when pushing or carrying your bike over loose terrain.
Protection comes from a TPU-reinforced toe box, which does a good job of softening impacts with rocks and roots. At the same time, the shoe remains pleasantly lightweight and never feels bulky.
Conclusions
With the new Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent, Crankbrothers have created a highly capable summer shoe for trail riders, touring enthusiasts and eMTB commuters alike. The breathable mesh upper, low weight and excellent walking comfort make it an appealing alternative to many heavier and stiffer flat pedal shoes.
Its greatest strength is not outright grip or maximum stiffness, but the way it successfully balances trail performance with everyday usability. The Trail Speed Lace Vent is one of the few flat pedal shoes you will happily keep wearing long after the ride has finished.
There are some limitations when it comes to fit, however. The shoe has a relatively narrow profile and offers limited room in the forefoot area in particular. Riders with wider feet should definitely try it on before buying, or consider a model with a more accommodating fit.
If you ride in hot conditions on a regular basis and want a shoe that feels just as comfortable on the bike as it does in everyday life, the Trail Speed Lace Vent deserves a place on your shortlist.
Tops
- Excellent ventilation and a quick-drying upper
- Low weight
- Outstanding walking comfort and everyday usability
- Understated, sneaker-inspired look
- Good pedal control without sacrificing day-to-day comfort
Flops
- Less stiff than traditional gravity or bike park shoes
- Not ideally suited to riders with wide feet
For more Information head over to Crankbrothers
Testers: Jonny Grapentin, Manne Schmitt
Test period: 3 weeks
Intended use: Trail riding, urban riding and commuting
Words: Manne Schmitt Photos: Tim Eckermann
