These riding shoes go so well with casual clothing that you end up picking them naturally over a pair of sneakers when you want to ride your bike
Buying riding shoes is a complicated commitment. There are a lot of styles available for different purposes. But, if you are starting off and buying your first pair, you would want to buy one which would be all-rounders and not cost a pretty penny. This is where the latest from Raida comes in. The UrbanR, like the name suggests, are daily-wear riding shoes which can also be used for weekend rides and small tours. So they do fit the allrounder tag. The question is, are they comfortable enough that you’d want to wear them every day, and do they offer enough protection for you to pay Rs 7,000 for them? I have used these for 2000 km now, and here are my first impressions.
Design
These shoes are good-looking. They look slim, tough and most importantly, sober. The shift pad on top feels grippy, and the mesh on the side breaks the monotony of the all-black construction. The grey reflector on the side also works as a design element, and so does the velcro closure in the top with the Raida logo.
All the materials feel premium, and the shoe feels solid to hold. What makes these feel extra premium is the quick lacing system. The rotary knob and wires replaces the traditional lacing system which is something that is only found in more expensive boots. While this certainly looks more premium, it certainly takes more time to get used to – something we will talk about later in the story.
At the back, the grey reflector once again helps with visibility, and the mesh near the ankle helps with breathability. The overall black color is common across all three colors, and only the stitching and the inner cushioning change in the two different shades.
What I personally like the most about the design of these boots is the fact that they can easily be worn under riding jeans or cargo pants. They do not feel out of place in a casual or office setting and can be worn to almost all occasions.
Fit, Comfort & Ventilation
Rotating the knob anti-clock wise releases the wires. Then, you can easily slide your foot in. The shoe does not feel narrow in the toe box, which is going to be a relief for so many of you. The padding inside is fairly comfortable, and it feels like wearing a regular shoe and not a fortified metal box. The insoles are memory foam and feel adequately soft and supportive.
Then comes the task of tightening it. While you can pull on a simple lace setup to ensure a snug fit, here you can’t. You have to rotate the knob which pulls the wires. To me, this causes two issues. Firstly – after a point the wires don’t pull anymore and it feels like if you keep applying pressure on the knob – it will break. Secondly – you have to carefully tuck the lip under the shoe, press and compress the top part of the shoe to release some tension on the wires and rotate the knob to tighten it further. This process is more time and energy-consuming than simple laces.
However, once this activity is done, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. Just tightly shut the top velcro, and the fit is complete. It doesn’t come loose or untie like traditional laces do, and the fit remains snug even on longer rides.
As for my foot, which is on the narrower side, I feel like the heel box is a tad too wide. There is room for it to move around slightly, and that doesn’t feel very comfortable while walking. However, because the ankle is properly fastened, this is not at all an issue while riding.
On the go – I am impressed with the ventilation. Even at city speeds, the foot remains at a comfortable temperature, and I did not have sweaty socks even after 5 hours of riding in the afternoon. It hasn’t rained yet, so I am not sure how much water will get in, but that can easily be solved with waterproof socks, even if the issue persists.
Overall, I don’t have the slightest hesitation in wearing these over any sneakers while riding to a mall, a friend’s place or even to the office. I have tried other entry-level riding shoes at a similar budget and can happily recommend these over most when it comes to comfort.
Protection
Like any good riding shoe, it has a reinforced heel counter, which shouldn’t let the box collapse in the event of a fall or the bike falling over it protecting the heel. The toe cap is also protected, which won’t let the impact crush the toe. The rubber sole also has a steel shank which won’t let the tarmac touch you, even in the event of a high-speed fall, and even the ankle has highly flexible impact-absorbing high-density soft foam to take impacts. Plus, the double-stitched construction should ensure durability. How these things last over time – I will cover them in my future reports.
Wear and Tear
I have made sure that the shoes are photographed without any artificial attempts to clean them. So what you see in these images is how these shoes are going to look after 2000 kms. Frankly, these have held up very well. Over the very dusty roads of Pune, these shoes have managed to retain their original look quite well. I did use sneaker wipes to clean the layer of dirt off, and just by doing that, they started to look almost new.
Wrinkling is only present over the ankle, which is commonly hidden under the pants, and the toe box has held up very well. Even the mesh is very easy to clean, and dirt does not stick deep enough in it to become a pain to clean.
The rotary knob still feels very tactile and does its job properly. I do take good care of it, but even if it later fails one day, you can always use laces to tie the shoes as it comes with the provision to use them. My next report will be when I have used them for about 5,000 kms, and we will see how they have held up then.
Verdict
If you are looking for riding shoes which you are going to use daily, the Raida UrbanR are certainly frontrunners. They look handsome, feel premium and are fairly comfortable to wear all day, every day. As a bonus, they also go very well with a pair of jeans, so you can use them in social gatherings without looking out of place. At Rs 7,000, they offer very good value and should definitely be on your consideration list.
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