Ride Concepts Tallac Boa Clip 44 2022
Reviews / Shoes
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At a glance
The Ride Concepts Tallac Clip Boa is a high end MTB shoe designed for use with clipless pedals and made to withstand the biggest epics.
Price: 210 USD / 219 EUR
About the brand
Ride Concepts launched in the fall of 2018. Based out of Reno, Nevada they started designing bike specific shoes for men, women and kids. As riders themselves, they knew the demands of a high end bike shoe and gained popularity quickly amongst customers and pro riders. They are 100% focused on shoes and shoe technology, ever expanding their range to suit any type of terrain, rider and riding style.
They sponsor a wide range of pro riders like Andreu Lacondeguy, Caroline Buchanan, Isabeau Cordurier, Sam Pilgrim to name a few. But interestingly enough they also support a bunch of adaptive riders and groms.
On the sustainability side, all their packaging is made from craft cardboard to eliminate harmful dyes. A 30% PET recycled upper is used on the 2022 Hellion Elite making it the lightest shoe in the range while creating a more comfortable upper, all while using old milk bottles. Furthermore, the majority of RC’s products are effectively vegan.
The product
The all new Tallac BOA® combines advanced off-road footwear and trail running technology with bike-specific performance to offer a shoe that’s designed to outlast the biggest epics. It uses a BOA lacing system that allows on the fly adjustments and makes it super quick to tie and untie the shoes. It has a Cordura upper, which allows it to breathe and dry easily while the toes are protected with a high impact resistant rubber toe box.
It’s refreshing to see Ride Concepts does not save on the insoles, and provides the Tallacs with a high quality insole that uses D3O strategically placed in the heel and pedal areas to minimize impacts and reduce foot-fatigue. Currently it’s available in one colorway (although more colors are rumored to be launched in 2023), 13 different sizes and if you prefer riding flats you can opt for the regular Tallacs Boa shoe with their sticky Max Grip rubber outsoles. Measured shoe weight including Shimano cleat 534 grams per shoe for the Clip/Boa version.
Out on the trail
I’m a big fan of the Boa system on the Tallac. As the day progresses, your feet slightly expand and with the movements you do on and off the bike, it is great to be able to tighten or loosen the fit of the shoe. I found myself on numerous occasions reaching down to add a click or two before dropping in. The Boa system also makes taking them off a breeze, which is great to put on your knee pads when you reach the summit.
Another good point in their design is the one piece outer sole of the shoe. This is usually where the shoes start to fall apart, and by making it out of one piece it will improve product life massively. It’s made from a highly gripping Max Grip rubber, providing amazing traction on any surface.
The sole stiffness is fairly stiff, I’d say about 8/10. Still hike a bike sections are not a problem and the sole offers plenty of grip when hiking steeps. I wouldn’t wear them on a day of hiking, but they are one of the most comfortable shoes I had the pleasure of testing when it comes to hiking.
The cleat area has a whopping 40mm adjustment channel offering plenty of adjustment for either running it mid sole or more traditionally around the ball of the foot area. Compared to other brands there is definitely more adjustment. The ‘runway’ towards the cleats is clear from any parts of the sole, making it easy to clip in.
When it comes to the fit, the choice in 13 different sizes makes it easy to find one that matches your foot shape. If you have wide feet give these a try, as I found them a little wider than most of my other shoes.
The summer has been very hot here this year, but the RC’s are breathable enough to stay comfy, even when spending a long time in the saddle. When using them in the wet, there are better water resistant shoes out there, but on the plus side the Tallacs dry out super quick. I’m sure this is part due to the Cordura materials used in the upper.
Verdict
RC’s new Tallac Boa Clip is a very high end shoe that not only uses all technology available to have a comfortable fit, grip and range of adjustment. It also uses high tech materials to make a stronger, longer lasting product. It’s a decent amount of money to pay for a shoe, but as with many products out there, buy cheap, buy twice. The Tallac Clip Boa will offer a lot of comfort, adjustability and a long product life, so worth every penny.
Buy Shoes onThis review was in Issue 71 of IMB.
For more information visit Ride ConceptsRelated
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.
