Northwave Corsair 2 shoes review – clipless trail shoes with high-end tech at an attractive price

The clipless Northwave Corsair 2 trail shoe aims to deliver a blend of on-bike stiffness to off-bike flexibility – no mean feat in a market awash with really excellent trail shoes. It’s a spring/summer-specific model featuring its own unique SLW3 closure system – a bit like the Boa system, an upper combining PU and ripstop materials with TPU anti-abrasion inserts for some added protection. Its Damp Evo sole claims excellent grip levels for a bit of hike-a-bike and features a generous 35mm cleat track.

As a fan of Italian brand Nortwave’s Kingrock Plus GTX winter riding boots, I was keen to see how its Corsair 2 model would perform against the best trail shoes.

Design and specifications

From the top down, the main upper body of the shoes is constructed from breathable ripstock mesh fabric with thin PU (polyurethane) sections covering the critical wear and fastening sections. The toe and heel get reinforced TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) sections for added durability and protection from rock strikes. Closure is taken care of by its own SLW3 dial and nylon cord loop system. This unique system offers fast micro-adjustments or a full quick release.

The EVA midsole boasts shock-absorbing properties with the Damp Evo sole promising high levels of pedal grip with the right amount of flexibility to make longer rides or hike-a-bike a less traumatic and comfortable experience – for your feet at least. They have been generous with a 35mm cleat track that should accommodate most cleat preferences. 

My UK size 7.5 (they do half sizes – woohoo), weighed in at 834 grams for the pair with Crankbrothers cleats.

Performance

I’ve had a mainly good experience riding in the Corsair 2 shoes over the spring/summer months. I have boxy feet and suffer from on-off problems with bursitis in the balls of my feet, so a good fit is imperative to avoid finishing a ride in searing pain. The Corsair 2’s fit is good, although I’d have liked a bit more room at the toe. That said, the Ripstop upper offered a degree of spread upfront. I could tune in fit easily using the SLW3 dial, with its micro-adjustments allowing for easy back-off if I over-tightened, which I did on a few occasions resulting in painful feet at the end of a long ride. But on the whole, they are a comfortable shoe to rack up the miles in and I didn’t experience any heel lift, or rubbing anywhere.

Off the bike, the sole, which has a well-spaced aggressive tread pattern was grippy on push-ups over a variety of rock and root sections and fared well on muddy trails. I like the long cleat channel which allowed me to set my cleats far back for a great position on the pedals. The sole provided a comfortable level of support through long clattery rock sections out of the saddle and enough stiffness to feel responsive pedalling hard.

After a few miles of riding, I found the tongues would slip towards the SLW3 dial. Although not particularly uncomfortable, on longer rides It annoyed me having to make regular stops to adjust them. I like the SLW3 dial on this model and have no problems with it at all, having developed a step-forward technique to realise them one-handed. I did find that the fine powder-like mud of Bikepark Wales – once ground into the mechanism played havoc with the SLW3 dial, clogging it up and requiring a serious amount of cleaning to free it back up. 

They are good looking shoes that perform well, but If I’m honest, they can’t match the fit, performance or deep comfort levels of Crankbrothers Mallet BOA or the breathability for summer riding of Five Ten Trailcross clip-in shoes – although the Corsair 2 trumps these easily on durability and sole stiffness. You do get a lot for your money, however, they certainly hit some high notes.

Verdict

The Corsair 2s are well-priced for the performance and tech on offer for a spring/summer shoe. They give good levels of on-off bike comfort and a decent grippy outsole and supportive midsole. I like the SLW3 closure system but it can cause clogging problems in some situations.

Tech specs: Northwave Corsair 2 shoes

• Price: $140 / £103.49 / €114.99
• Season: Spring/summer
• Weight: 834 grams (UK 7.5 tested)