Lake MX331 Cross shoe

The MX331 Cross uses Lake’s top of the line CFC Race Last which is designed to put your foot in the best position to get maximum power through the pedal. It’s the same last used on their top road shoes the CX401 and the new CX402.

Ample rubber surrounded cleat pocket on MX331 Cross shoe

The upper is pretty similar to the MX331 mountain bike shoe and uses a BOA closure system to great effect. It’s a straightforward pull out to release and push in and turn to tension system. Lake claim that it will evenly distribute the tension across the foot, thereby eliminating any pressure points or hot spots.

The fashion in 2014 seems to be for shoes to have two BOA tensioners, such as on Lake’s new CX402 road shoe, whereas the MX331 Cross has just one. This means that though the tension is uniform across the whole foot, you cannot simply tighten one part of the shoe, around the forefoot for example, without tightening everywhere.

This limits the range of foot shapes and widths that can fit into the shoe; our brief examination here has already confirmed that those with a wider forefoot will need one of Lake’s special wide sizes. Just one BOA dial does means there’s less to go wrong, however…

Tip of the MX331 Cross’s carbon sole looks very exposed to us despite featuring 4 studs/spikes for protection

The upper is made from Klite Kangaroo leather, ‘the lightest, strongest & most durable natural leather’, with some mesh in strategic places. Lake use multiple surface protection treatments, such as Duratek, which strengthens the leather and helps protects it from abrasions, and a Microblok antimicrobial treatment, which ‘renders the leather uninhabitable to microbes and germs’. Impressive stuff.

Whilst the MX331 Cross may not have the fully mouldable ‘Custom Fit Carbon’ sole of the CX401 and CX402, there is an ‘internal Thermaform Carbon Fiber heel counter’ which you can heat in your home oven and then shape to fit your foot for added security. This is more than just a heel cup, extending as it does across over the rear third of your foot. We’ll make sure to report back on this process in detail.

Orange colour will get you noticed.

The MX331 Cross shoe uses the Lake Race 100% Carbon Fiber Sole, adapted for off-road use. Like a mountain biking shoe’s sole there’s the usual rubber surrounded cleat pocket, but that’s where the similarity ends. The rest of the tread is sparse, and consists of just six replaceable toe and heel studs, or if you prefer, savage looking metal ‘spikes’. This adds up to a tunable, adaptable and replaceable sole which can be made ready for a variety of conditions.

 
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