Endura’s MT500 Burner Clipless shoes fit neatly into the trail category, something an everyday rider who occasionally needs to hop off the bike to hike needs for versatile riding situations. Lots of ankle coverage and a wide variety of sizes means the Burner Clipless shoe will feel like home for a wide swath of riders. If you’re after a stiff-soled shoe, this probably isn’t your best choice. But for long-ride comfort, excellent heel retention, and flex for walking and wrapping your feet around the pedals, the MT500 Burner Clipless shoe nails the trail rider’s needs.
Price: $160
Weight: 964 grams/pair
Rating: ★★★★☆
Specs:
Size tested: 44
Lace-up and Velcro strap retention system
Ergonomistry Insoles
Sharkskin fabric in heel cup
Stickyfoot Grip pedal contact area
Stickyfoot Grip Dura toe and heel sections for grip while walking
Perforated synthetic upper
What I like: Excellent heel cup; low tread for pedal clearance
What I’d change: Wish there was a lace garage; sole could be stiffer
My Call: Best for trail riders looking for a sole that flexes for hike-a-bikes and wrapping their feet around the pedals, the Burner Clipless shoes are comfortable and functional for all-day riding. But the sole may be too soft for enduro and DH riders who want a more stable platform.
Endura MT500 Burner Clipless shoe construction
Check out our “Lemme See That!” video and article to get the full rundown on the tech crammed into the MT500 Burner Clipless Shoes. In the meantime, here’s the basics.
The Burner Clipless shoes feature a burly construction that doesn’t feel overly clunky or heavy. The heel and toe are both reinforced for added protection, and the ankles are raised on the crankside of the shoe to keep your feet and ankles protected from impacts.
The toe box is wide, at least gauged by my fairly narrow feet. I had plenty of room to spare, which means wide-footed folks might find comfort here too. That said, my foot did not wander inside the toe box, which may be more a testament to the insole than anything else.
The Burner Clipless shoes feature Sharkskin fabric in the heel cup, which allows you to slide your foot into the shoe easily. But when you pull up in the other direction, the fabric grabs your heel and keeps it planted.
That works in conjunction with the lace and velcro strap system to keep your foot stable. The laces allow you to tailor the tightness over your forefoot, while the velcro strap is more of a bulk action: yank on it for tightness, loosen it a bit for more freedom.
The sole is low-profile under your forefoot where you’ll connect with the pedals. This is a nice touch that makes pedal entries and exits easier. The toe and the heel feature a grippier tread to aid walking.
Inside the Burner Clipless Shoes you’ll find Endura’s Ergonomistry insole, which features a metatarsal button and other texturing that Endura says will help your muscles move more effectively and help prevent foot fatigue.
Riding the MT500 Burner Clipless shoes
On any given day, my mountain biking needs will vary drastically. Here on the front range of Colorado, we have access to XC, trail, and enduro riding. A short drive to the mountains and we’ve got excellent lift-service downhill. I ride all of it, and it’s in all those conditions that I tested the Burner Clipless shoes.
It’s clear the Burners shine most vibrantly for trail riders. It offers ample coverage and support, and the heel cup shines while climbing. The different treads on the sole work well for those hike-a-bike sections, and it’s easy to get in and out of the pedals thanks to the flatter tread near the cleat interface.
XC riders will probably find the Burner Clipless shoes too bulky for their tastes. That said, these shoes actually feel rather light and svelte compared to some of their stiffer and heavier competition.
But the Burners probably won’t be the best choice for lift-service and enduro riders looking for a stiff sole that can handle bigger impacts. The Burner Clipless shoes actually have a rather flexy sole that’s ideal for walking, and if you’re the type of rider who likes to wrap your feet around the pedals when you’re climbing or pulling up to jump, you’ll like what the Burners have to offer.
I gave the Burner Clipless shoes a lot of good thrashings at Trestle Bike Park and they stood up to moderate crashes and a lot of inartful riding from yours truly. The toe isn’t as reinforced as the shoes I would normally ride for lift service, which made be a bit nervous at high speeds.
The strap and lace system works well to tailor the snugness of the shoes. But there’s one key component missing: a lace garage or retention system. Once you tie the shoes, there’s nowhere obvious to tuck in the loose ends.
The Ergonomistry insoles offer a comfortable platform for pedaling. It was difficult to tell whether the metatarsal button and other features on the insole really made a difference. Largely I didn’t notice any difference, so at the very least, they’re inoffensive insoles that did what they need to do for basic comfort.
Final Word
While I’ll probably leave these at home for lift service days, I enjoyed riding the MT500 Burner Clipless Shoes on most trail rides. They excel especially on long rides intermixed with hike-a-bike sections. And if you really want a lot of foot mobility for a closer connection to the pedals, the Burner Clipless shoes allow exactly that. The heel cup is a particularly standout feature that allows for lots of leveraging for climbing.
While I wish there was somewhere to tuck the laces once tied, and I could use a bit more toe reinforcement, I don’t hesitate to reach for the MT500 Burner Shoes for everyday trail riding and long days on the bike.