Northwave Hammer CX Review

So what makes a shoe a cyclo-cross specific shoe as opposed to being ‘just’ an off-road shoe? Well the one thing you can guarantee when racing ‘cross in the UK is mud, lots of mud, and mud in all it’s guises from thick and stodgy, to thin and watery. It’s a given that, at the end of an hours ‘cross racing you and all your kit will be covered. It will have gotten into every orifice, your kit and your clothes. So ideally you want a shoe that can keep some of this deluge at bay.

The Northwave Hammer CX are also available in the Italian tricolour, for the more flamboyant of you…

Northwave have dealt with this problem by constructing the Hammer CX’s upper from polyurethane with extra thermo-welded reinforcements in key areas. The one piece upper reduces the amount of stitching, with only a seam on the inside of the foot and either side of the heel. Vents, allowing some cooling, are backed with a material that prevents water absorption. There is no tongue on the shoe; instead a neoprene sock closes off the top of the shoe, again keeping out the mud. A loop is attached to the back of the sock and you will need it; getting into the Hammer CX is a squeeze, not something you want to do in a hurry and has had me thinking about buying a shoe horn…

A one piece upper made from polyurethane is the main defence against mud

Once they’re on, the fit, for me is perfect; no looseness but with room around the toes. The Hammer CX uses 3 asymmetrical velcro straps, with the middle strap moved towards the centre of the shoe “so as to follow the anatomy of the foot and reduce the pressure on the side area”. They have also had the centre of the straps cut out to reduce weight. These can be done up to be ‘just right’, which is an advantage I think, over ratchets.

3 straps secure the Hammer CX, with central portions cut out

Turning to the bottom of the shoe and Northwave have tackled cyclo-cross’ other issue: keeping upright while running through all that slop. The Northwave Hammer CX uses a nylon and fiberglass sole, with natural rubber treads and a dimpled area along the middle of the foot for extra grip. They also include a pair of the most impressive metal spikes for the front that I have seen in a long time.

Those spikes should get you to the front of the grid with no problem!