Experience Ideas Hellion Clip BOA Evaluate: Redesigned and Refined, Nonetheless Burly.

It looks as if simply yesterday that Experience Ideas jumped into the mountain bike shoe market, however the model has truly been round since 2018. The upstart shortly made a reputation for itself and was significantly newsworthy in my space, because it initially began in my hometown of Truckee, CA, earlier than shifting just a bit methods down the highway to Reno, NV, the place I at the moment stay. Through the years, I’ve recognized or met most people who’ve labored for the model and watched because it navigated the ups and downs of the biking trade. 

In 2023, Experience Ideas was acquired by Fox Manufacturing unit — sure, the suspension model — and added to its portfolio alongside manufacturers like Race Face, Easton, and others. Since then, it looks as if new life has been breathed into Experience Ideas, and just about the whole shoe lineup has undergone a significant overhaul, with contemporary designs, new supplies, and extra. Not too long ago, the model even introduced its first foray into protecting gear with the Deploy and Dissent helmets.

This spring, the entire Hellion vary of sneakers acquired main updates, together with Cordura uppers, refreshed aesthetics, and new closure techniques. With variations for residences and clips and choices for laces or BOA closures, Experience Ideas makes a Hellion to swimsuit most individuals’s preferences. Having owned and ridden within the earlier model of the Hellion Clip for a few years, I made a decision to check out the brand new Hellion Clip BOA to see the way it in contrast.

The brand new Hellion Clip BOA resembles its predecessor in title solely. Certain, the sneakers nonetheless share the identical goal consumer, however the brand new model seems to be very totally different from the unique. The outdated Hellion Clip seemed nearly like a flat pedal shoe with easy artificial uppers and skate-shoe-esque styling, and it solely got here in a lace model with a velcro strap. Experience Ideas nonetheless makes the brand new Hellion Clip in a lace model that can prevent $30, however I opted for the BOA setup as a result of I’m fancy like that.

Experience Ideas Hellion Clip BOA Particulars

I’ll dig into my experience impressions of the brand new Hellion Clip BOA sneakers in a second, however first, right here’s a fast rundown of the supplies, options, and specs.

Light-weight bonded higher that includes Cordura mesh w/ TPU mud guard to guard in opposition to filth, particles, and rubbing

PerformFit Wrap from the BOA Match System with Li2 dial, TX4 lace, and dial defend

Built-in D3O pads for top-of-foot safety

Totally gusseted tongue supplies a cosy match and prevents shifting

RC PowerDrive nylon shank for energy and lateral stiffness – rated “stiff” on RC’s scale

EVA midsole for help and shock absorption

ClipGrip rubber outsole w/ 40 mm lengthy cleat field

Hexagon outsole that includes reverse hex reduction sample on toe and heel for hike-a-bike grip

D3O Excessive Impression Zone Know-how insole 

Anti-bacterial mesh lining controls odor

Claimed weight: 489 g per shoe/dimension 9

Hellion Clip BOA Evaluate

My take a look at sneakers arrived in early Could, and I’ve been driving in them on and off ever since. I’ve been switching them out with two pairs of comparable sneakers: the brand new Giro Chamber 3 and the Crankbrothers Mallet Path BOA (my present favourite). By now, I’ve bought at the least 30 days of driving in them, on all the pieces from fast-paced XC rips to battery-burner e-bike rides.

Match and Consolation

The match of the brand new Hellion Clip BOA hasn’t modified an excessive amount of in comparison with its predecessor. I’ve a dimension 10 take a look at pair, and I consider they’re true to dimension for size. Total, I’d say they’re proper about common for quantity and width. I’ve what I think about to be roughly average-width ft, however they’re on the decrease quantity facet of the spectrum, they usually have been working nicely for me. 

That mentioned, I’ve discovered the toe field of each pair of Experience Ideas sneakers that I’ve worn to be a bit tight vertically proper out of the field. The identical was true right here, however they broke in shortly and haven’t triggered any discomfort. The Cordura isn’t stretchy or something, however it’s extra supple than the artificial leather-based of the earlier model, and it conforms to the ft a little bit extra simply. When tightened down correctly (extra on that in a bit), the foot maintain is safe, and these sneakers are tremendous snug. My solely actual grievance is that I want the tongue opened barely additional for shoving my foot in there. It’s a little bit of a squeeze for me.

BOA Closure

The closure performs a big function within the match, consolation, and snugness of any shoe, and that’s completely true for the Hellion Clip BOA. Experience Ideas went with the PerformFit Wrap, a BOA design that goals to wrap across the foot versus merely pulling two sides collectively. On this case, it’s a single dial system utilizing the adjustable-both-ways Li2 dial with the TX4 low-friction textile lace. That lace loops via a sequence of material eyelets, connecting the 4 flaps of the PerformFit Wrap and pulling them over the gussetted tongue to the lateral facet of the higher.

The concept behind the PerformFit Wrap is strong. It avoids having BOA wires urgent down on the foot bones and spreads pressure extra evenly over the foot whereas concurrently securing it within the shoe with a hug-like squeeze. A cosy and safe maintain of the foot helps preserve it locked in place for pedaling effectivity and lateral stability, which can assist to boost your management and efficiency on the bike.

In observe, I discovered the closure system on the Hellion Clip BOA to work very nicely for the primary week or so. The TX4 lace slid simply via the eyelets, and I used to be capable of tighten the sneakers shortly and simply. Over time, I started to note the lace getting hung up on itself whereas tightening, leading to uneven pressure excessive of the foot. The highest of the wrap would tighten, but it surely was pinching down on the lace and stopping it from tightening down the road. I’ve skilled related points a variety of instances earlier than with BOA laces that criss-cross.

It’s not a deal-breaker problem for me by any means. If I arise and flex via the toes of the sneakers a variety of instances, it evens out the laces a bit. I’ve additionally discovered that it’s fairly simple to drag up on the totally different flaps of the PerformFit Wrap to even them out as nicely. So, I’ve bought a system, and it isn’t a giant downside, however I’d desire to not want to do this in any respect. Twin BOAs will surely assist to alleviate this problem, and I suppose that’s why Experience Ideas makes the Hellion Elite Clip BOA ($250) with two BOA dials.

Effectivity and Stability

Experience Ideas payments the Hellion Clip BOA as a path and all-mountain shoe. As such, it has an EVA midsole that’s stiffened up with the “RC Powerdrive nylon shank”, and it charges on the high of the model’s scale for its sole stiffness. In my expertise, it feels lots environment friendly on the pedals, with ample sole stiffness and safe maintain of my foot. It’s clearly not an XC race shoe, but it surely performs nicely for a shoe of its kind. The 40 mm lengthy cleat field affords ample room to place your cleats the place you need them.

I’ve completed every kind of rides with these sneakers, together with a number of gonna-get-a-new-PR sufferfests on lengthy climbs and XC bikes. At no level have I been upset by the pedaling effectivity, nor have I seen any sole flex, or felt the pedal via the only. They aren’t gentle sneakers, after all, however they aren’t throwing away your watts via sole flex if that’s one thing you care about. On the similar time, the EVA midsole helps mute path suggestions, and I’ve discovered them to be cozy for tremendous lengthy and tough descents. At no level have my ft felt beat up. 

When it comes to lateral stability, I’ve zero complaints. When the PerformFit Wrap is tensioned correctly, the sneakers have a glove-like match with nearly zero undesirable foot motion. The uppers aren’t stiff, per se, however they really feel fairly supportive. On high of that, the only is fairly dang stiff laterally, and the sneakers have a responsive really feel control-wise. My Shimano and OneUp cleats sit nearly precisely flush with the outsole, so the pedal interface is nice with out being overbearing.

RC would possibly invoice these as path and all-mountain sneakers, however they’ve what I think about to be a gravity stage of foot safety. The toe is protected with a thick, welded rubber toe bumper, and the heel can also be wrapped in rubber and strengthened across the heel pocket. By the ankle bones, the medial facet is raised barely to supply a contact of additional safety from crank strikes and the like. Excessive of the foot, the flaps of the PerformFit Wrap even have skinny D30 pads inside them. Even the insole has affect absorbing D30 panels underneath the ball of the foot and heel. My ft actually don’t really feel uncovered in these sneakers.

Breathability, Climate Resistance

With an higher that consists largely of Cordura cloth, it looks as if the Hellion Clip BOA sneakers could be comparatively breathable. And, they do a commendable job of not overheating the ft, however I wouldn’t name them ethereal, by any means. Above the toes and on the lateral facet of the foot, the place the uppers are the thinnest, a little bit airflow occurs. Elsewhere on the sneakers — high of the foot, medial midfoot, and heel — there’s fairly a bit of fabric, and air just isn’t freely passing via to the ft. I wouldn’t precisely name them well-ventilated, however they’re a bit extra breathable than their predecessor and equally burly sneakers.

I stay within the excessive desert, and after I’m not driving from the home, I’m sometimes touring a brief distance to Tahoe, the place it hardly ever rains in the summertime. If it does, I’m doing my finest to not get caught in it. We actually don’t expertise a lot in the best way of climate. However I did trudge via some late Could snow drifts whereas carrying these sneakers, and it appeared just like the Cordura was vulnerable to getting moist and finally permitting moisture to move via. Probably not a shock on condition that it’s a knit cloth with none form of membrane behind it. That mentioned, I feel there are higher decisions for tremendous moist climate.

Walkability

I’ve pushed some bikes via the aforementioned snow drifts and up some too-steep-to-pedal sections of path whereas carrying the Hellion Clip BOA sneakers. Whereas the only is on the stiffer facet, there’s a tiny little bit of rocker and simply sufficient flex via the toe to keep up a comparatively pure gait, and to adapt to rock slabs and steep trails. The complete protection Clip Grip rubber outsole has been lots grippy for my wants, with taller hexagonal treads on the toe and heel to dig into the free soils typical in my space. I’d say that given their meant goal of aggressive mountain biking, they carry out nicely sufficient off the bike, too.

Weight

Experience Ideas sneakers have by no means been recognized for being gentle, and that development continues right here. At 524 grams per shoe in a dimension 10, these puppies are undoubtedly on the heavier facet of the size. Thankfully, they haven’t felt like anchors on my ft, however it could clearly be good in the event that they weighed a bit much less. Different manufacturers are making equally performing sneakers that weigh ~100 grams much less per shoe. For comparability, the Crankbrothers Mallet Path BOA weighs in at 422 grams per shoe in a dimension 43.5. 

Nonetheless, with hefty full protection rubber soles, aggressive tread, and toe, heel, and tongue safety, it provides up. I’m not about to cease driving in them due to their weight, however I’d use it as an excuse if I get dropped on any climbs.

Sturdiness

To date, so good on the sturdiness entrance. I acknowledge that three months of on/off driving in them isn’t a real take a look at of something’s longevity, however weak factors can usually be revealed in a brief time frame. As of proper now, I’ve bought completely nothing to report, and I haven’t gone simple on them. The soles are well-bonded, and there aren’t any chunks of rubber lacking, and the entire stitching on the uppers is unbroken. The lower edges of the material panels on the PerformFit Wrap had some minor frays, however I’ve since trimmed these off and it doesn’t seem like a difficulty. There aren’t any rips or main abrasions to the Cordura uppers, and the fabric feels comparatively bomb-proof. The entire high-wear and scuff-prone areas are coated with protecting rubber overlays that take the brunt of the abuse. 

My largest concern with these sneakers isn’t actually even durability-related, however the texture of the Cordura materials actually hangs onto mud and filth. These sneakers look soiled just about the entire time. Cleansing them isn’t that tough, but it surely isn’t fairly as simple as simply wiping off a easy artificial higher. The Cordura does come clear, however I discovered it requires a correct spray down with a hose or within the sink, adopted by a wipe down. I do know, bike sneakers get soiled, however these get a little bit dirtier than most.

Hellion Clip BOA: My Takeaway

For the reason that model debuted seven years in the past, Experience Ideas’ sneakers have gotten progressively higher. The newest crop of sneakers, together with the brand new Hellion Clip BOA, seems to be nice and has been well-received by testers and customers alike. I’ve actually been impressed by these new sneakers, and I feel they’re an awesome possibility for the precise rider.

Who’s that rider? Nicely, actually not the rider who prioritizes low weight or shoe cleanliness. But when mixture of pedaling effectivity, stability, help, and foot safety is what you’re after, the Hellion Clip BOA delivers. I feel they’re a strong possibility for the aggressive path and all-mountain riders they’re geared toward, however they might simply deal with enduro racing or bike park obligation, too. At $210, they aren’t low-cost, however they undoubtedly appear to be they’re sturdy sufficient to face as much as a few seasons of heavy use and abuse. Should you’re not into BOA, the lace-up model goes for $180 and is available in white, too.

You possibly can be taught extra in regards to the Hellion Clip BOA and the remainder of the Experience Ideas shoe lineup on the model’s web site.

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