Verdict from 3 experts and 100+ user reviews
6 reasons to buy
- Comfort: Majority of the reviewers find the Five Ten Sleuth to be comfortable.
- Aesthetic: The pair is good-looking and stylish, according to most of the consumers’ observations.
- Traction: A significant number of cyclists rave about the grip that this shoe provides.
- All-around: Plenty of buyers have expressed delight at how versatile this pair is. They love that it performs well on a bike and yet is flexible enough for various casual settings.
- Long-wearing: Several riders appreciate that this model is more durable than their usual skate or BMX shoes.
- Stiff: A handful of wearers love this shoe’s dynamic rigidity as it helps transfer power to the pedal more effectively.
4 reasons not to buy
- Airflow: Several users claim that it is not as breathable as they expected.
- Protection: Some mountain bikers find this shoe to have less protection than other technical MTB shoes.
- Upper material attracts dirty: A number of wearers have noticed that the suede gets dirty quickly.
- Color options: A few wished there were more colorway schemes available.
Bottom line
The Sleuth by Five Ten is engineered with technical cycling features that are wrapped in an effortless design. The shoe’s versatility and good looks could help bring bike style anywhere you want to go. It offers equal parts function of high-performance bike shoes and comfort of casual sneakers.
However, some have found it to fall short in minor elements such as breathability when compared to other cycling shoes. All in all, the positive feedback combined with an affordable price point overshadowed these small issues.
Tip: see the best mountain cycling shoes.
Good to know
The non-marking and adequately flexible rubber outsole complements a pedal-gripping tread design. This combination aims to provide a walkable comfort for casual use and efficient grip and rigidity for excellent power transfer while pedaling.
The Five Ten brand markets this shoe as the model with the lowest profile in its product line. This helps achieve that casual look and allows maximum ankle movement.
Non-marking and durable rubber outsole. The Sleuth is engineered using the brand’s Stealth S1 rubber outsole technology. This innovation is durable. It is also known for its ability not to leave any mark on indoor floors.
The Sleuth employs a flat outsole design. This shoe type is suitable for any flat bike pedal model. Try it with the following top-rated bike pedal designs: OneUp Composite Pedals, Crank Brothers Stamp 3, Race Face Chester, Shimano XT PD-M8040, Diety TMac, and Race Face Atlas.
Cycling shoes with flat outsoles give riders the freedom to plant their feet any time they need to, especially during urgent times. They eliminate the fear of hitting the ground due to not unclipping out of the pedal in time. Moreover, this allows the cyclist to focus on honing their technical skills on rough trails.
Increased durability. This shoe’s suede and canvas upper offers superb durability to get more extended wear. In addition to this, metal-clad eyelets help improve sturdiness.
Casual good looks. The upper’s simple design exudes a relaxed demeanor. Closely resembling the classic skate shoe’s aesthetic, this pair looks stylish enough for the bar or for just chilling with friends.
Excellent lockdown fit. With a reinforced heel cup along with a lace-up closure system, wearers are treated with a secure lockdown fit. Hence no user would worry about heel slippage.
Lightly padded footbeds and collars offer the wearers enhanced comfort. The Five Ten Sleuth employs a comfortable sneaker-like fit but more robust, heavier and stiffer than common casual pairs. The lace-up closure prevents any pressure point.
The Sleuth model features a slightly cushioned insole. Combined with a die-cut EVA midsole, this shoe aims to provide enhanced in-step comfort and cushioning.
- Lace loop is placed on the tongue to keep it from sliding to either side.
- Branding can be seen on the lateral side of the upper, tongue, and insole.
- The Sleuth is also offered in deluxe and slip-on versions. They are respectively called Five Ten Sleuth DLX and Five Ten Sleuth Slip-On.
- The collars are slightly cushioned for improved comfort.