Northwave Hammer CX Review
The Hammer CX uses Northwave’s BioMap system that “has been designed to keep the foot in the correct position while pedalling, transmitting the force directly on the pedals without loss of energy”. First time out and they are noticeably stiffer than any other off-road shoe I have used, the feel is very much like a quality road shoe. The heel cup looks like it will rub on your heel, especially with the tight fit, but once on it was as comfortable for an hours ‘cross race as it was for a four hour bash around the lanes.
You’ll need that loop on the back of the neoprene sock
Running with the Hammer CX, given the short distances that you encounter in ‘cross, is not a problem at all. Northwave has kept the sole stiff rather than allowing any flex but in practice this is fine. Those long toe spikes will need to be removed on anything other than very soft courses, as they stop you from moving forward onto your toes. However, going up a soft, muddy slope on your toes, those long toe spikes really help. On one course I found the Hammers CX’s allowed me to run up a short off-camber slope thanks to the spikes doing their job, while others were struggling.
So far so good but does all that neoprene and water repelling treatment really work? Well after taking them out on a four hour muddy ride, I can give them a big thumbs up as removing the Hammers CX afterwards revealed clean socks and feet. They were still damp, as water will still run down your legs and creep inside your shoe no matter how waterproof, but my feet were still comfortable and not frozen, so I was a happy man. Racing in the 2013 London Cross League has thrown plenty of mud and challenges at the Hammer CX but they have taken it all in their stride. As well as keeping the course out of my shoes, the smooth PU outer allows few places for mud to collect, which makes cleaning them much less of a chore than with most mtb shoes.
After 4 hours of mud and cack , my feet are clean and happy, well done Northwave Hammer CX
So is the Northwave Hammer CX really worthy of the title of ‘cyclo-cross specific shoe’? It’s light and stiff; does an excellent job of keeping the elements out of your shoe; the sole and those massive toe spikes will keep you ahead of the pack on any running sections; and the smooth outer makes cleaning a breeze. For a cyclo-cross racer the Hammer CX ticks all the right boxes. The only downside I can see is that they could be a sweat box in the summer but that’s not really their raison d’etre; with the rain coming down horizontally and the temperature dropping, that’s not an issue at present in the cyclocross season proper.
As a by product of Northwave’s mud proofing of the Hammer CX, they also make an excellent winter road shoe. If you are stuck with getting one shoe for winter training and cyclocross racing, they make a good choice; as stiff as a road shoe, with a good non-slip sole for cafe stops, and lack of ventilation helps keep your feet warm.
At £149.99 for a top rate cyclo-cross racing shoe that can double-up on as a great winter training shoe, the Northwave Hammer CX represents great value.
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