Endura MT500 Burner Flat Pedal Shoe

Founded in Scotland in 1993, Endura has gone from making prototypes on a kitchen table in Edinburgh to becoming a leading, global supplier of MTB rider equipment. Known for hard-wearing, no-nonsense gear that can deal with the rigors of Scottish weather, Endura sponsors a number of high-profile athletes like Danny MacAskill and the Athertons, and the brand now produces everything from helmets to riding apparel and protection. Footwear is always a particular challenge however, which perhaps explains why it has taken some time for Endura to consider it. Be that as it may, the day has come: Endura has some fresh new shoes and we’re here to tell you all about what we think of them.

Initial Impressions

If you’re familiar with Endura apparel, the new Burner shoes will seem like a logical extension of the company’s design ethos. Sturdy and straight to the point with a splash of color if you opt for one of the non-black versions. Neither skate shoe nor sneaker, the Burner has an identity of its own that really just says “mountain biking” more than anything else.

The uppers (which are shared between the flat and the clipless model) are made out of heavy duty materials, and they are perforated on top of the toe area for ventilation. The shoe is not waterproof but care was taken in the material selection to make sure it doesn’t take on too much water. There is an extra strap over the laces to help really cinch the shoe down, and a patch of so-called “sharkskin” fabric in the heel cup should also help retain the shoe on the foot. The inner collar is raised to help ward off impacts from the crank arms or the frame.

Turning to the sole, there’s a lot to talk about. An EVO midsole provides cushioning, while the “Ergonomistry” footbed features some rather unique features: A “metatarsal button” helps splay out your toes in the shoe, and small raised dimples on the insole is claimed to improve your foot’s “proprioception” – the ability to soften and stiffen through muscular contractions. Think of it as a foot massage while you ride? There’s also a “power arch” to help support the arch of your foot. The inside collar is raised to provide a little extra protection in this area.

OK then, what about the sole? Endura has developed its own “StickyFoot” rubber which is used in the pedal contact area of both the flat pedal and the clipless version. The toe and heel areas feature the “Dura” version of the same rubber, to provide good traction but also durability when hiking with the shoe.

On The Trail

Let’s start by answering the Burning question (pun fully intended): how’s the grip? After a handful of rides with the flat pedal version, we can confidently say that Endura has delivered when it comes to this crucial aspect. The StickyFoot rubber is indeed very sticky, not quite to the level of Five Ten Stealth or the latest generation of Specialized’s SlipNot compound, but still right up there in the top echelons. As long as you exert some level of pressure on your pedals, the Burner will grab on and hold on (tested with the new Race Face Atlas, DMR Vault, and Chromag Dagga pedals so far).

The shoe itself is quite “boxy”, with a stiff sole and stiff uppers. There is plenty of room in the toe area, possibly to the point of having you reach for thicker socks or even considering sizing down if your foot is on the narrow side. The laces and the strap do a good job of cinching down the shoe for a solid fit, and the internal fabrics are comfortable on the foot.

On the trail, we were won over by the new flat pedal shoe pretty quickly. The power transfer is excellent, and the grip and fit conspire to produce a confidence-inspiring connection with your bike. There are no hot spots or other comfort issues to report, and our feet stayed comfortable on longer rides as well. Compared to some of our current favorites, the Burner is stiffer and bulkier than most, which may or may not be something you like (definitely not the most comfortable shoe when it comes to hiking). In terms of protection, our non-verified opinion at this point is that you can definitely entrust the Burner with the safety of your toes – bullet-proof might be an overstatement but not by much. We’ve not been able to test in inclement weather so far though, so we’ll have to come back to this aspect in the future. We’ve also not been able to ride in the clipless version yet, so stay tuned for that review too.

What’s The Bottom Line?

It seems like pretty much every brand out there is going to get into the MTB footwear game at some point now, if they haven’t already. If they all put as much effort and attention to detail into it as Endura has done with their new Burner shoes, we’ll be better off for it though. Quality construction, very good grip and great performance on the pedals is a more than impressive verdict for a first attempt, and you could certainly do a lot worse than considering the Burners for your next shoe experiment. They are stiffer than most but not in an uncomfortable way, and they’ll be a good choice for anybody looking for a positive connection with the pedals and high levels of protection.

More information at: US Site: us.endurasport.com / EU Site: endurasport.net.

About The Reviewer

Johan Hjord - Age: 48 // Years Riding MTB: 16 // Weight: 190-pounds (87-kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Photos by Johan Hjord