ION Products Rascal AMP 44 2021
Reviews / Shoes
120,367
About the brand
The ION brand is part of the Boards and More GMBH; a Munich based company with its roots deeply into the watersport industry. With brands like Duotone and Fanatic they are one of the largest players in kitesurfing, windsurfing and wingfoiling. Around 156 people are employed by Boards and More, and they have a total turnover of 87 Million Euros in 2020. Since 2012 ION has been active in the MTB market.
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They have an active sustainability policy (https://www.ion-products.com/bike/save-our-playgrounds) where they focus on shortening the distance between production and marketplace, they invest in creating minimalist, sustainable packaging, made from 100% recycled materials. The packaging is free from gloss varnishes and laminates, which makes it easy to recycle.
The Product
The Rascal shoes have many nice features, like a velcro strap that keeps the laces in place and offers extra support. They have a heavy duty rubberised toe and heel cap, increasing product life and offering protection from those incoming rocks. There are plenty of cleat placement options, and the sole is nice and stiff for a ‘trail’ oriented shoe. The tread pattern is not very aggressive, and the insole is a quality EVA cushion style offering a good fit and comfort.
Out on the trail
These shoes fit fairly wide, so if you have extremely narrow feet you might want to give them a try first before buying. I did find that the big velcro strap really helps wrapping the shoe tightly around your foot.
Razzing down rocky sections the toe box protects well against rocks, debris and small furry animals. Even though the soul is quite stiff, you still have good feedback from the pedals and great control of the bike. Pedal force is transferred efficiently through the sole and the cleat placement options are plenty.
When venturing off the beaten track you often end up hiking instead of riding, and also here the shoes felt solid although I would prefer a more aggressive sole pattern for muddy conditions.
Verdict
In short, a very versatile shoe for the clipless pedal rider. Sturdy, with a stiff sole this is my go to shoe for most of my riding. The manufacturing quality is top notch. I have tried my best to wear them out or fault them in the past few months, but so far they’re still going strong.
Definitely recommend.
This review was in Issue 67 of IMB.
For more information visit ION ProductsRelated
By Jarno Hoogland
Jarno's life has revolved around two wheels ever since he swung a leg over his first BMX at age 4. After a BMX and DH racing career, he moved on to work for bike shops, distributors and brands before ending up in the editors seat at IMB. Based in the ultimate testing ground in the Swiss mountains, he runs his guiding operation and makes sure every IMB issue is filled with top notch content.
