Diadora X Vortex Pro II Mountain Biking SPD Shoes Review
Diadora's mountain bike-specific Vortex II shoe
CyclingFitness
When You're on the Bike, Contact Points Are Key
When you're riding your bike, it makes great sense to focus on your contact points for a comfortable and efficient ride. Your bar tape or grips, saddle, and shoe-pedal interface are vital elements in being at one with your bicycle.
For mountain biking and cyclocross racing, a comfortable pair of off-road-specific cycling shoes is essential for high performance or for simply enjoying your days in the saddle.
When searching for the right shoe, you need to establish just what you're looking for in a shoe. If you're looking for a lightweight shoe targeted towards racing, you could well consider this offering from the Italian brand Diadora.
The Diadora X Vortex II Pro is a mountain bike-specific shoe targeted primarily at racers.
The stealth black colour scheme of the Diadora X Vortex Pro II MTB shoes
Diadora
Can You Justify the Cost of Expensive Cycling Shoes?
With a recommended retail price of $299 or £205, it's fair to say the Diadora X Vortex Pro II cycling shoe is priced at a premium level. It's a professional racing quality shoe and therefore you're paying for advanced technology and performance-orientated features that will be missing from lower-priced shoes.
If you compare these shoes to one of the current market leaders, Sidi, you see that they are very good value for the money. Sidi's Eagle 10 shoe offers only a nylon-polycarbonate sole in comparison to the ultra-lightweight carbon fiber of the Diadora shoes.
I'd like to think I found a bargain at half the recommended retail price at online retailer Wiggle.
Stealth Styling, or a Flash of Fluorescent Visibility?
The X Vortex II Pro comes in two different color schemes to allow you to pair it to your bike or kit accordingly. As someone that uses my mountain bike and cyclocross bike on occasion for commutes, I opted for the fluorescent-yellow-accented colorway.
Featuring yellow Boa dials and accents to the front and rear of the foot, they offer the ability to be seen in low light conditions without being excessive.
One negative point is the lack of reflective features on the front and rear of the shoe to catch drivers' attention; however, these are a specific MTB race shoe and you're highly unlikely to see a car on course during an XCO event or Cyclocross World Cup.
The aggressive sole of the Diadora X Vortex II Pro cycling shoe
CyclingFitness
Key Features of the Diadora X Vortex Pro II
Here's what the X Vortex Pro II brings to the fight for cyclocross and mountain bike races:
- Easily adjustable double Boa fastening mechanism with micro-adjustability
- Lightweight racing shoe
- Option to run mud studs
- Stiff carbon sole offers exceptional power transfer
- Low profile yet aggressive tread pattern great for running
- An attractive color scheme with flashes of fluorescent yellow or a stealth black option
- Non-slip textile on heals
- Optimized airflow due to ventilation, as well as the Boa system removing additional fabric that can cause restriction
Running in the Diadora X-Vortex Pro II Shoe
As someone that dabbles in cyclocross during the winter months, it's vital to have a shoe that's relatively comfortable for running in. And there may also be occasions during a mountain bike race when you simply need to dismount and carry the bike.
The X Vortex Pro II shoe has a stiff sole with a small amount of flex which helps when you need to run. The Duratech rubber sole is very grippy and offers sensible lugs to help gain traction as you scramble up an unrideable muddy bank.
The option for toe studs for additional grip is welcome. However, it should be standard across most race-oriented mountain bike shoes.
Personally, the only letdown with the sole is the grippers at the toes being very minimalistic and ultra-soft rubber. I expect these to wear away very quickly. This minimalist feature, however, will help mid-foot strikers when running.
Why Do You Need a Shoe You Can Run in for Cyclocross?
Related Articles
- Shimano PD-M540 Pedals Review for Cyclocross and Mountain Biking
A review of the Shimano PD-M540 SPD Pedals. These mountain bike pedals have excellent capabilities for cyclocross racing. - The Best Cyclocross Clincher Tires for Mud
A selection of the best cyclocross tires for muddy conditions. Muddy races mean specific cx tire needs. Our choices are from Challenge, Clement, and Michelin.
© 2020 Liam Hallam
Comments
Liz Westwood from UK on January 12, 2020:
This is a useful and thorough review of these cycle shoes.
