Review by Beka

Key Takeaways: 

• True to size
• Sturdy & protects from elements
• Midrise ankle support
• Reinforced toe box
• Water-resistant material

I bought these shoes on Amazon in December 2021 for around $70 (MSRP $140), intending to use them for the 2022 downhill park season. I was previously wearing 5.10 Freeriders, and I was initially searching for a shoe with better outdoor elements protection – specifically for cold, wet, muddy rides. My 5.10s were made of a canvas fabric that offered very little water resistance or warmth, and I experienced an unfortunate number of rides that left my feet cold and soggy. What initially drew me to the Wildcat shoe was the reinforced toe box and water-resistant material that appeared to be far sturdier than the canvas Freeriders. I was also attracted to the idea of having a midrise shoe with more ankle support, and having a sole reinforced with D30 (a reinforced material designed for substantial impact protection). D30 material is heavily utilized by mountain bike brands for body protection products such as knee and elbow pads, and having more protection on the downhill trails is always a positive.

The Ride Concepts women’s Wildcat shoes have met, if not exceeded, my expectations. My feet remained warm and dry throughout every ride – even in the cold, muddy, damp, wet East Coast spring and fall. The material proved to be adequately water resistant, while also being easy to clean – much easier than the canvas Freeriders. The D30 sole provided a stiff and supportive base for all-day-standing-on-platform-pedals riding, and my feet never felt fatigued or sore, which was a huge improvement from my Freeriders. The sole provided minimal flex or bowing while riding but were still comfortable to walk in. The bottom of the sole also provided a considerably grippy surface that stayed connected to my alloy platform pedals (of note, however; is that the pedals have substantial pins). Another great bonus was that once they were on, the laces and Velcro strap never loosened up, and never required to be adjusted or tightened. The midrise height and Velcro strap provided ankle support as well as protection from an inadvertent rock or pedal kickback. These shoes were worn, on average, around 8-12 hours a day, 1-3 times a week. They were comfortable enough to socialize in post-ride, and were perfectly fine to drive in on the days I was too lazy to change.

The only notable disadvantage I observed is that they took longer to get on compared to my 5.10 Freeriders. These were not “slip on and go” shoes; instead requiring loosening the laces to get the shoe on and then required more time re-tightening the laces. It’s a firm shoe without much flex, so it is definitely a snug fit – but not uncomfortable.

I felt that the Wildcats were true to size, where the Freeriders were notably wider and required me to size down. I did notice that the Wildcats were somewhat narrow and longer compared to the Freeriders, so that may be a consideration for riders with wide feet.

At the end of the bike park season, I haven’t noticed any rips, tears, cracks or damage to the shoes – just the obvious signs of wear and use (as seen in the pictures). The sole remains impressively intact, considering the long hours spent on alloy pedals with metal pins. There’s lots of life left in them, and I plan to continue to wear them into next season. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a sturdy, supportive, protective downhill park shoe!

Note that this season (2023) Ride Concepts have released a new version of the Wildcat’s which have the same features and more protection than the 2022’s that I reviewed. Check them out below! 

-Beka

Ride Concepts Links:
Women’s: https://rideconcepts.com/collections/womens-shoes/products/womens-wildcat-2022?variant=39619195568201

Men’s: ttps://rideconcepts.com/collections/mens-shoes/products/mens-wildcat