Long-term review: Five Ten Kestrel Boa dives into downcountry

When Five Ten announced a new cross country shoe, it was no surprise that it was distinctly gravity influenced. The Kestrel Boa arrived as a clipless “downcountry” shoe, mixing cross country with a distinct emphasis on descending performance.

We were happy to see a new take on the mostly staid XC shoe market, especially from an brand with a solid reputation. And happy to get the Kestrel Boa in for review. But can these new shoes hang with the established cross country crowd? After six months we’re not so sure. There are some strong features, for sure, but with a few features holding it back.

Five Ten Kestrel Boa: cross country +

The Kestrel’s look a lot like the other cross country shoes, but with a few twists. There’s less emphasis on minimizing weight and more of a focus on being tough enough for more challenging descents.

There’s still a full-length plate on the sole, made with what adidas calls “repurposed materials” and reinforced with glass fiber. This keeps the Kestrel’s efficient enough for cross country riding and stable enough for descents. Two hook-and-loop straps and a Boa dial hold the foot securely in place. A synthetic upper adds support, with more protection from a reinforced toe box.

Five Ten’s Stealth rubber, in a distinctive dot-lug pattern on the sole, lends consistent traction on foot, but with plenty of spacing to clear out mud and debris.

Review: Five Ten Kestrel Boa lands on the trails

My time with the Kestrel Boa’s started at Singletrack 6, with several long days of riding new shoes on a very old bike. While not the lightest, Five Ten definitely makes these “downcountry” shoes efficient enough for cross country riding. There’s clear power transfer and a solid grip in the heel to keep your heel from moving around inside the shoe.

The reinforced toe box is nice, and did help soften some blows from loose rocks. The uppers in general have held up well to months of abuse in dry conditions and through a mucky fall of mud (and a few cyclocross races, too). The upper itself still feels stiff. That adds some nice support but, for more XC than “downcountry” rides, it made the Kestrel Boa feel more like a dull knife than a precision shoe. Support is good, but that needs to be balanced with some suppleness.

Every time I put the Kestrel on, I had to adjust the Boa laces when they snagged on the uppers.

The boa laces were loose enough to get the shoe on that it even grabbed the tongue occasionally.

There…