Afton Vectal Cycling Shoe - Men's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

Fresh off the press, the Afton Vectal Shoes are hungry for big hitting enduro riders and gravity junkies. These kicks are designed to be tough enough for the harshest trails, but with thorough comfort inside that doesn't leave your feet aching after chunky descents, thanks to tough synthetic leather uppers, plush internals, and top-notch sole design that locks you in to clipless pedals, but offers tacky traction when your shoes hit the trail.

The Vectal is Afton's debut clipless shoe, and jam-packed with so much style and tech, we won't hesitate to assume that its research and development team took their time with these bad boys. The uppers resemble skate shoe style, with an over-all low profile cut, but they are reinforced to stand up to rock deflections and trail debris that we encounter on the bike. They use synthetic leather to wrap up your foot, and hit it with targeted venting to keep you from overheating, plus reinforcement where it's most needed, like the heel and toe boxes, to increase the shoe's longevity. The toe is hit with polyurethane to increase durability and shield you from impacts, and the heel is reinforced to cup you in for a superior fit, plus a large tongue strap allows you to cinch them down to the right spot, minimizing chances of heel slip. Inside, the shoe uses soft cushioning to protect your feet, and an molded foam insole to support your heel and arch, with anti-odor properties, so you don't only look fresh, but feel fresh too.

Underneath the molded foam insole is our favorite part of the shoe —a tapered shank designed to transfer power to the pedal, but flex as needed for walking. This stiffness-flex balance is achieved by tapering the thickness of the shank from 4 to 12-millimeters, creating a stiff and supportive platform where desired, and allowing gentle flex where it's needed. Underneath the shank is an oversized clip box for your cleats to mount, with a 35-milliometer track to allows you to position your cleats wherever you prefer. The outsole of the shoe is made from Afton's proprietary Intact rubber, which rates in at a Shore A of 60, meaning its durable and protective, but still has tacky grip when you need to hit the trail on foot, or hop on flats for a short spin.