There is no shortage of mountain bike shoes on the market today, with combinations of BOA closures, traditional laces, and ratchet straps, mixed with flat pedal and clipless options.
For a while, it seemed like BOA’s Fit System and the technology around it was reserved for more technical shoes, but slowly it’s crossed over to flat pedal shoes.
What’s the advantage? Some might say the BOA system makes for quicker and more convenient readying. Ride Concepts and BOA argue that the shoe has a “hugged in feel” or a “precision fit,” though BOAs versus lace-ups still largely come down to personal preference. For those who want the system though, there are more options than ever to get it on a flat pedal shoe.
About the Ride Concepts Women’s Accomplice BOA Flat Pedal Shoe
The Accomplice BOA is a flat pedal shoe best for everyday trail rides, though it’ll work for almost any kind of riding to some degree.
The tongue uses a four-way stretch material with a slip design for a tighter fit. The topside of the tongue features an anti-abrasion material to keep the kicks looking newer for longer.
Ride Concepts says the shoes have a Level 3 Flex, out of 5, for an all-around feel that’s not too soft, not too stiff. There are a lot of mid-top shoes in the Ride Concepts lineup, but the Accomplices are a low-top made for a more athletic fit.
The shoes also use a Max Grip rubber outsole, have toe internal TPU toe protection, and a heel pull tab for ease of slipping on.
On the trail
Our tester for these shoes has always preferred flat pedal shoes with traditional laces. BOAs have never been her style, since she’s had problems with the fit and retention in the past, but the Accomplices might have changed her mind.
Ride Concepts makes some very stiff shoes which can take some effort to get into, but the Accomplice BOAs have been much easier to slip into before a ride. They have a more flexible upper, making it a much easier shoe to get along with.
Traction from the Max Grip sole has been good too, giving the rider confidence whether plummeting down a rock garden or hiking up a slab of crumbly granite.
The shoes have broken in and conformed to the tester’s feet well and have been comfortable on long days in weather between the 50s and 90s.
As Ride Concepts indicates, the stiffness, at a level 3/5, is in the “just right” zone. The Accomplice are stiff enough not to make the feet hurt while you’re trying to stay on the pedals over a rock garden, but flexible enough to be comfortable off-the-bike.
The toe protection fends off rock strikes, but ends before the metatarsals flex, so the shoe is absent of any pinching. They also have a fairly wide toe box for a comfortable fit for those who have wider feet.
The Ride Concepts Accomplice have faired well over moderate riding in the late summer and fall months. There is some noticeable wear on the sole and on the inside of the ankles from rubbing against the cranks, but the shoes haven’t torn as a result and are still in great shape.
Pros and cons of the Ride Concepts Accomplice BOA flat pedal shoe
Pros
- Easy to put on and fit with the BOA ratcheting lace system
- Good grip on and off the bike
- Comfortable on and off the bike
- All you want in a trail riding shoe
Cons
- Only one color choice
Bottom line
The Ride Concepts Accomplice BOAs are a great flat pedal MTB shoe for all-around trail riding.
