OWN FR-01 Flat Pedal Shoe – Review
Only What's Necessary (OWN) was founded by Dan Hutchinson and Warren Bosomworth, two shoe designers who decided that there was a need for a high-end shoe created specifically for flat pedals. The FR-01 is the result of that collaboration, a high-top, Vibram-soled model that looks, and fits, differently than any other mountain bike shoe currently in existence.
The FR-01 has what OWN call a 'modular liner system', which means the shoes come with two different liners that can be swapped out depending on the day's conditions. There's a water-resistant, lightly insulated liner for cool and wet days, and a more ventilated, uninsulated option for warmer conditions. Both liners have a 4mm thick section of D30 foam on the bottom that's intended to provide protection from hard impacts and trail vibrations.
The FR-01 has what OWN call a 'modular liner system', which means the shoes come with two different liners that can be swapped out depending on the day's conditions. There's a water-resistant, lightly insulated liner for cool and wet days, and a more ventilated, uninsulated option for warmer conditions. Both liners have a 4mm thick section of D30 foam on the bottom that's intended to provide protection from hard impacts and trail vibrations.
FR-01 Shoe Details
• Kevlar reinforced upper
• Dual compound Vibram sole
• Modular liner system, includes breathable Air Mesh liner and fleece lined soft shell liner
• D3O foam panel on the bottom of each liner
• Designed to be quick-drying and easy to clean
• Sizes: 260, 270, 280, 290, 300mm
• Price: €220, free worldwide shipping
• www.onlywhatsnecessary.com
• Kevlar reinforced upper
• Dual compound Vibram sole
• Modular liner system, includes breathable Air Mesh liner and fleece lined soft shell liner
• D3O foam panel on the bottom of each liner
• Designed to be quick-drying and easy to clean
• Sizes: 260, 270, 280, 290, 300mm
• Price: €220, free worldwide shipping
• www.onlywhatsnecessary.com
The exterior of the shoe is constructed from a Kevlar-reinforced fabric that's then thermo bonded to the Vibram sole, a method that's similar to the construction technique used for high-end outerwear. Two different durometers of rubber are used on the FR-01's sole, with the grippier portion underfoot to grab onto the pedals and a harder rubber with a taller tread pattern at the front and rear of the shoe for improved hiking traction.
The company's name may be Only What's Necessary, but it turns out that constructing a shoe from all those top tier materials does come at a price, and the FR01 will set you back €220 ( approximately $240 USD), although that price does include free worldwide shipping. In addition to the white colored heel shown, there are also red and black options that aren't quite as flashy. There are five sizes available: 260, 270, 280, 290, and 300. For best results, you'll need to measure your foot from heel to toe and then consult OWN's sizing chart in order to determine the optimum size.
Two liners are included with the FR-01 for different weather conditions. The orange portion on the bottom of the liner is D30, the viscoelastic material that hardens on impact.
There's a perforated liner for warmer days, and a lightly insulated softshell liner for the rest.
Performance
The first challenge the FR-01 presented was actually getting them on. The tall liner and relatively narrow ankle opening make it tricky to slide into them, but if you've ever pulled on a wakeboard binding or a snowboard boot you know the drill. Thankfully, the liner does have a pull tab at the front and the back — without these I might have needed to go steal a shoe horn from a wizened old relative.
Once they're on, though, the fit of the FR-01 shoes is excellent, especially compared to some of the boxier, skate-style shoes out there. They hug every contour of your feet, with a snug fit that feels more like a neoprene booty rather than a bike shoe. That close fit makes it easier to tell exactly where your feet are in relation to the pedals, especially compared to a thicker-soled shoe like Five Ten's Sam Hill 3.
When it comes to grip, the FR-01's don't quite match the flypaper-like stickiness of Five Ten's Stealth rubber, but the Vibram soles were grippy enough for all but the roughest trails, as long as they were paired with pedals with a more concave design and taller pins — I had good results with Race Face's Atlas and Specialized's Boomslang pedals. Off the bike, I did find myself wishing for a more aggressive tread pattern a few times, typically in frozen or muddy conditions where the smooth part of the sole struggled to find purchase.
At first, I was worried that I'd feel every pin when I stepped down onto the pedals, but there's actually plenty of material to prevent that from happening — it was the fit rather than the construction that put that idea into my head. I don't have any complaints about the overall stiffness either — there's enough support to keep them from curling over the pedals too much, and I didn't have any discomfort even on 3+ hour rides.
The high cuff helps protect those vulnerable ankle bones and keeps trail debris from making its way in.
Two different Vibram compounds are used on the sole, with the softer, stickier compound used for the portion that contacts the pedals.
One of the downsides to that snug fit is that there's not really enough room for a pair of thicker socks, especially with the water resistant liner installed, since that liner already takes up a little extra room. For that reason, I wouldn't recommend these for full-on winter riding in below zero temperatures — a roomier shoe with thicker insulation would be a better choice.
On the topic of foul weather, I had plenty of opportunities to drench the FR-01's due to an extra-wet winter. They'll keep a moderate rain at bay, but when the heavens really open up and the puddles get deep the FR-01's can't really keep up. Water will make its way past the non-gusseted tongue, and once water gets over the cuff there's not really anywhere for it to go, which means you'll have soggy feet until you pry the shoes off at the end of the ride. However, pulling the liner out after a ride does help them dry quickly, and they're very easy to rinse off with a hose, both pluses for riders who live in wetter climates.
Regarding the overall durability, after months of use, the FR-01 shoes are still going strong, without any indications that that will change anytime soon. The fabric is free of any rips or scuffs, and the sole is still firmly attached along the entire perimeter of the shoe.
Pinkbike's Take
 | I'm a little conflicted when it comes to issuing a definitive verdict on the FR-01 shoe. I'm a big fan of the fit, durability, and quick-drying properties, but the actual performance out on the trail isn't vastly superior to other options that cost a good deal less, which makes them a tougher sell (plus they're also slightly annoying to get on and off). That being said, it's nice to have another choice on the market — competition spurs innovation, and there's certainly room to improve nearly every flat pedal shoe out there. |
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I scoff at the children and their tender PC bullshit
I can get these Js dirrttyyyyyyyy!
On a different topic, I with Five Ten would make velcro Freeriders...
Second, esthetics are purely subjective and no matter how well something performs if you do not like the way it looks you are going to be less inclined to use it. Both Crocs and Birkenstocks (Keens too) are very comfortable shoes, but I cannot bring myself to wear them. Not even ironically. #nevertrustamaninsandals, #nobarneyorbettyrubblefeet.
I cringe to think of spending well over $200 for a pair of biking shoes, but the 5.10s are already flawed for a $130 pair.
These do look good to me, just not $250 good.
I own the Adidas terrex with stealth soles and they are a close runner up. The rubber compound is a bit more firm so not as grippy. Also, for some reason they are hotter than my VXi's with no vents at all? Go figure. Surely someone will figure this thing out...
Went with Terrex Solo's (full stealth outsole) and they fit much better and seem to be cooler. Absolutely no problem with grip.
The mtb shoe offering is sad. I'm looking for something that breathes a little while having decent toe protection and there aren't many options.
dont wear put so yur just replacing the shoes. works well for me.
The price argument is not really an issue, i think 5.10s quality is a lot worse per € and you´ll spend an equal amount of money for any approach shoe, which can be similar construction wise.
Which is normally met with "How can your feet be several sizes?"
My feet aren't the issue here. It's the varying sizes that shoes are manufactured to. In one shoe, I am a size 7. In another a size 10. But most often I fit a 9.
So yeah... Always buy shoes in store. Unless you're replacing like-for-like.
Five Ten is now part of the Adidas empire, and they seem to keep growing. The latter would make you think they'd start doing their shoes in different widths, New Balance style. But the former seems to suggest against that - Adidas generally hasn't done different widths for most of their shoes (and much of their stuff is on the narrow side, it turns out). The problem is that their business model seems to thrive on a steady stream of "new" styles - basically, same shoe, same last, but slightly different materials and optics. So if they did the New Balance thing and made them in different widths, they'd end up with a lot more SKUs - and then a lot more inventory to close out at the end of the product cycle.
That sort of model makes sense for brands like Adidas or Nike and such, where there's a big fashion component to it all. But damn - flat pedal shoes tend to wear out, they have to or they won't be any good (only soft rubber sticks well to pedals - but soft rubber and aggressive pedal platforms and pins, not to mention rocks and grime, make for heavy wear). So it's not like we don't all replace our Five Tens pretty frequently anyway.
With you on your disdain for the inconsistency in sizing - it's maddening.
Ever since adidas bought 5-10 there quality has dropped and the prices have gone up $40 ever year since. I really like the vxi but after two weeks of riding the sole was ripped though.
Shimano men's shoes typically come in euro sizes 38-48 (11 sizes) and some models even more. I just looked up the M089 ('cause they are the most recent pair I bought), and they come in _16_ sizes in regular width, with 11 of those sizes also available in wide fit!
These look like they might suit the shape of my feet/flippers, but topping out at 300mm they would probably be too small (48W shimano, 30.5 in a Head ski boot)
Marginal grip (RF Atlas and Diety) was a let down compared to his 5.10s, but bigger issue was fit and feel.
The fit, entry theatrics aside, was great but he could feel movement between the liner and shoe, which drove him crazy.
The varying stiffness of the D30 footbed was also weird.
He wanted to love them but they just fell short of his expectations ultimately.
2) design
Not the other way around please
I like the idea of putting d30 in shoes mind, seems like a neat idea
They look like wetsuit boots????