Today, crankbrothers is introducing Fabio Wibmer’s new signature shoe, dubbed the Stamp Street Fabio. While these are a casual looking flat pedal shoe, they still subtly manage to sneak a fair bit of tech into them. A few weeks ago, crankbrothers sent out a sample set for testing and I’ve had enough rides on them to pass on some first impressions. Read on for a deeper dive…
The first thing that pops out is the bootie style upper, which forgoes a tongue altogether. There is a pull tab at the heel and vamp to make it a bit easier to get on. Also notice the perforation, which helps keep them cool.
The toe box feature a surprisingly ample amount of protection wrapping completely around without looking too bulky. This is nice because when you typically opt for a lighter duty skate style shoe, you definitely run the risk of banging up your toes.
The outsole uses crankbrothers’ “Match” rubber, which is meant to mesh perfectly with their flat pedals.
The outer’s grooves aren’t super deep, which allows you to shift your feet around as needed, while enjoying a fair amount of traction.
Minimalist flat laces and a lace lock on the tongue keep things nice and tidy.
There is a full wrap section of padding in the ankle, which helps your heel feel locked in and keeps things comfy.
Fabio’s signature in the well contoured insole…
I’ve only had roughly 4-5 rides on these shoes as I’ve only had them for a few weeks and I typically run clipless pedals. However, in the colder months I do enjoy switching over to flats as my feet seem to stay a little warmer and I don’t really have to worry about snow and mud in my cleats. Starting with fit, these – and most crankbrothers shoes – run ever so slightly small. I’m typically a 10.5 US, which they list as a 44 EU. Given that I typically run a 44.5 EU (which they list as 11 US), that’s what they sent and they fit perfectly. So, if you’re in between sizes, just err toward going up slightly. The toe box felt plenty roomy and they heel cups are snug and supportive for a shoe like this, which leans toward being a little more casual and unstructured. I didn’t find any weird quirks with the lacing or laces and all in all they’re very comfortable and easy to cruise around in off bike.
On trail I found the Stamp Street’s to offer plenty of traction for shorter rides on mellower terrain. They’re equally happy at the pump track and on the daily flow trail loop. With that said, as you’d likely imagine, I wouldn’t sign off on this shoe for huge days in the saddle or on really rowdy terrain as you’d likely want a bit more support and protection. Think of these as addressing some of the short comings of riding in something like a pair of Vans. Largely because they have a stiffer shank and more toe protection. However, they aren’t as aggressive or sturdy as something like the standard Stamp Flat – nor were they ever intended to be.
I’ll have to spend a bit more time in the Stamp Streets over the coming months to see how they fare in terms of durability and wear, but so far they seem to have found a niche that lands right between riding in skate shoes and a more technical, dedicated trail shoe. This surely will be the perfect solution to a solid group of riders out there. So far, so good…
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