Shimano ME5 mountain bike shoes review

Shimano’s ME5 shoes are aimed at trail and enduro riding, but during testing, I’ve found them to be far more versatile than advertised.

That’s because their impressive all-round credentials work for just about every type of mountain biking going.

I’ve used these shoes for everything from everyday trail and enduro riding through to cross-country racing. Thanks to their comfortable fit, decent balance of sole stiffness and flexibility, along with their ample cleat adjustment, they’ve always delivered.

The level of versatility and attention to detail is impressive at this price but, understandably, their all-rounder performance might not tick all the boxes for everyone. They certainly will tick most, though.

Shimano ME5 shoes specifications and details

The ME5 shoes use a Boa ratchet dial and Velcro strap to lock them solidly onto your feet.

Thanks to the dial pulling two co-joined flaps across the top of the foot, pressure is spread equally, even when really cinching them up tight.

The additional dial guard is a great little touch. This sits to the underside of the Boa dial, wrapping around the lower front three-quarters, and is designed to prevent any accidental knocks from popping the dial up and loosening the shoe while riding.

There’s a substantial amount of padding around the inner ankle cuff to help protect from crank knocks and bumps, as well as adding a little more in terms of comfort.

Up front, a sturdy toe bumper does a good job of protecting your toes if you slip and end up punting the ground.

Underneath, Shimano uses its own rubber compound for the blocky treads that feature throughout. They're most prominent at the toe and heel areas of the outsole to boost traction off the bike.

A glass-fibre reinforced nylon midsole helps to ensure the ME5s won’t wrap around the pedals when you put the power down, while Shimano’s TORBAL (Torsional Balance) technology is designed to improve rider feel.

In short, the idea here is to allow for some sideways flex through the rear section of the sole, in a bid to enhance the control and connection between the shoe and pedal.

There’s plenty of cleat adjustment if you like to slam them as far back towards the mid-foot as possible, too. It’s nice to see Shimano increase the length of the cleat slots on all trail and enduro-style shoes as they increase in size.

Considering the robust build, the 760g weight (size EU42 with Crankbrothers cleats fitted) is impressive.

Shimano ME5 shoes performance

I felt instantly at home in the ME5 shoes. They’re incredibly comfortable, largely down to that supple upper and easy-to-tension closure, which gives an almost perfect fit with no pinch points or hot spots.

Even with the Boa dial cranked right up, there were no comfort niggles, even on longer rides.

The very natural footbed felt easy to adapt to quickly and added to the comfort.

Thanks to the amount of cleat adjustment, I had no issues getting my cleats shunted right back towards the middle of my feet. That positioning, paired with the well-balanced sole stiffness, really helped give me the connected feel I was after when tackling more technical terrain.

There’s just enough flex and muted feedback from the outsole to ensure you know what’s going on beneath your feet without beating you up in the process. However, get on the gas and the ME5s do a solid job of transferring power into the pedals.

High-torque efforts will get them flexing slightly around smaller clipless pedals, but not enough to create any kind of discomfort, even on lengthy stints in the saddle.

This well-rounded performance means I’ve ridden in the ME5s a lot, simply because they do so many things so well.

I didn’t regret wearing them to race a regional cross-country event, yet I’ll happily stick them on to ride more technical terrain on a longer-travel trail or enduro bike thanks to the very natural feel underfoot.

It helps that despite how light and sprightly they feel, they’re also fairly protective. Add to that the fact you won't be scrabbling around on the pedal should you struggle to clip into a pedal, and it’s clear the ME5s are very capable shoes, no matter what you’re up to.

They feel very natural to walk in, too.

How do the Shimano ME5 shoes compare?

I spent a lot of time riding the ME5s back-to-back with Northwave’s Rockit Plus shoes.

Although the Rockit Plus is somewhat plusher in terms of padding, both feel almost equally comfortable.

The ME5s edge ahead when it comes to fit, though, and feel more secure on your feet when powering along the trail.

Stiffness is fairly evenly matched, too, but the ME5s feel a little more sprightly when you get on the gas.

I also prefer the way the Boa dial can be popped up to release tension across the upper, compared to the small, hooked lever that needs to be held while releasing tension on the Rockit Plus shoes.

Overall, the ME5s feel a little sleeker, offering a better fit and even more versatility than the Rockit Plus shoes.

Shimano ME5 shoes bottom line

The ME5 shoes offer masses of versatility on the trail. Whether you’re looking to quickly and efficiently cover a lot miles or you’re want a shoe to ride in on more technical terrain, the fit and feel of the ME5s have you covered.

They may not be quite as stiff and efficient as some more cross-country focused mountain bike shoes, but those shoes don’t offer the same level of feel or feedback as the ME5s, making their use far more specific.

Shimano has done a solid job with the ME5s. They offer a broad appeal at a very decent price.