Throughout a good chunk of Summer and all of Fall, I’ve been riding Ride Concepts latest flat pedal shoe for many of my more casual excursions such as on the e-bike and the downhill bike: the Vice Mid. In short, it’s been my go to when fun is the priority. Available in simple grey or black colorways, the Vice Mid is Andreu Lacondeguy’s signature shoe. In its low top version it’s been a favorite of Kyle Strait – another Ride Concepts athlete. The Vice takes a page from the Vans style playbook but adds some necessary “business” aspects to the design side with features like toe protection and a sturdy outsole. Read on to see how they’ve been working out…
Details Ride Concepts Vice Mid
- TPU toe protection
- D3O insole
- Fully gusseted tongue
- Suede upper
- US sizes: 7-13 in half sizes
- Weight: 498g – our scale, men’s 10.5
- $120 USD
This sole should look familiar as it resembles the iconic Vans waffle pattern. However, RC puts a little more tech into it. The pedal contact area features smaller 7mm openings and the toe and heel areas have larger 9mm openings. This helps pedal traction and on the ground traction respectively.
Perhaps my favorite aspect to these shoes is the toe bumper. I love riding in casual looking, unstructured shoes like a Vans Half Cab – but I’m terrified of pinging my toe on a rock. The Vice Mids provide loads of confidence in that arena without looking overly “techy”.
Another reinforcement aspect that increases confidence and support is the heel cup. The Vice Mids have a sturdy feel at their rear, which helps provide stability both on and off the bike. The taller, padded ankle cuff is a nice touch as well.
Another smart aspect is that the tongue is fully gusseted, so you won’t get a bunch of debris inside of your shoes while riding.
The D3O insoles feature a contour that’s supportive, but not overly pronounced, and padding at the heel and forefoot.
Ride Concepts Vice Mid on the trail
Starting with fit, I found the 10.5 US size to be dead on accurate. The heel area provides a snug feel that assists with support while the toe area is roomy enough to be agreeable with wide feet while still leaving room for good circulation as well. Knowing that Ride Concepts approached this shoe going for a less techy feel, I was very curious about where they’d land in terms of structure. Starting out, it’s worth knowing that the Vice Mid doesn’t have a rigid shank, so this shoe is more aimed at feel and control than it is all out power transfer. If your feet tire in casual shoes, you can expect to pick up some additional support and protection from the Vice Mid, but they aren’t exactly geared toward massive pedal powered days in the saddle. Think of them as more of a casual freeride shoe.
With that in mind, I did find that many of the features made for a shoe that makes a whole lot more sense on the bike than a pair of Vans. Starting with the toe bumper – it gave me peace of mind knowing that if I did clobber a rock or slip a pedal I wouldn’t necessarily be in a world of pain. I did find that the outsole was more rigid and supportive than the average skate shoe as well, but just know that it isn’t quite as stiff as the more “tech” flat pedal shoes out there. The traction and feel at the pedals was 10/10 good and the wear has been better than the average skate shoe and on par with the average flat pedal MTB shoes. Little things like the comfy D3O insole and the tongue gusset also make the Vice a practical choice for MTB as well.
Overall
If you’re looking for a shoe that doesn’t look like a miniature snowboard boot and scream tech(!), but you still want decent protection and traction, the Vice Mid is absolutely worthy of consideration. While it may not be the best choice for massive climbs, that’s not what it’s aimed it. However, it is the hot ticket for dirt jump sessions, freeride, digging and park laps. I’m very stoked to see a simple looking MTB shoe with a clean design that doesn’t come up short on features.
