Peter Maniaty
Italian designed and made, the Extreme range has sat at the summit of the Northwave shoe offering for several years now and the Extreme X is its latest addition.
Northwave itself describes it as a ‘high-performance racing shoe dedicated to off-road competition from fast gravel to cross country.’ I tried plenty of both during the review and, by and large, it was a highly enjoyable experience.
Overview
Borrowing heavily on tech innovations first seen in the sublime Veloce Extreme road shoe range, Northwave has created a robust top-shelf gravel/MTB shoe that clearly looks to capitalise on the continued growth in off-road riding.
Entirely unsurprisingly given the construction features obvious reinforcing in multiple places the Extreme X weighs a little more—tipping the scales at around 390 grams per shoe—but in my experience Northwave has never been especially weight obsessed.
Aesthetically, these shoes really look the business and the quality is obvious when you pick them up.
Having said that, it’s best you enjoy the pristine white finish while it lasts because after a few off-road adventures they’re likely to be filthy. They are also available in black.
The tech
The Extreme X wraps your feet in a whole lot of tech to help you perform better while staying more comfortable. The Hyperlight HT sole complements Northwave’s High Tail heel system and has been lifted straight from the Veloce Extreme.
Featuring 100% unidirectional carbon the Hyperlight HT sole has an off-the-charts stiffness rating of 15 (aka v-e-r-y stiff) and is all about maximising power transfer by minimising energy dispersion.
You might think this would also make them uncomfortable, but in my experience they were anything but.
The High Tail system extends along the external heel area to provide additional support, alignment and stability, especially when you’re really putting the power down.
The Extreme X also features a patented ‘PowerShape’ arch support system that Norway says further improves efficiency and comfort over longer distances.
The sole is completed with a series of abrasion resistant TPU studs including one on either side of the cleat mounts to aid traction and stability.
Importantly these studs are fully replaceable, as are the heel pads, which should extend the life of your shoes.
Fit and comfort
When I first put the Extreme X shoes on I was a bit worried about tongue rub, an issue I’ve experienced previously with Northwave road shoes. They’re certainly snug across the top of the foot, but once I’d worn them for the first 5km or so they were fine and I had zero issues with rubbing.
As promised, the soles of these shoes are super stiff, yet they’re still comfortable and offer plenty of width and support in all the right places.
My feet certainly felt stable, but never restricted. I also found them very easy to walk in thanks to the sturdy TPU studs on the soles.
Northwave tells me the upper is a little lighter than their previous generation of off-road shoes, while strategically placed laser-cut ventilation zones deliver better heat regulation.
I can’t comment on summer riding, but I rode mostly on chilly early-autumn mornings without toe-covers and had no issues with numb toes.
The Extreme X also features Northwave’s Anatomical Reticular Support system, ARS, which is an internal upper structure that gently wraps your foot.
The underlap construction guarantees a uniform, pressure-free fit by sliding the upper layers inward through the action of the SLW3 closure system with two dials that can be adjusted independently. The shoes also ship with two sets of anatomical EVA footbeds—5 mm (slim fit) and 3 mm (regular fit)—allowing for an even more customised fit.
The wrap-up
After a very enjoyable month of riding I found the Extreme X was a fantastic addition to my riding footwear.
Stiff, comfortable and robust they’re a little heavier than road shoes, but not by much, and of course infinitely more versatile thanks to their TPU sole studs and recessed two-bolt cleat interface.
Yes. they’re primarily a high-performance gravel shoe, but they’re far from hopeless on the bitumen too which also makes them a brilliant choice for those who enjoy a real variety of riding.
Northwave Extreme X
Sizes: 36-50
Colours: White, Black
Cleat compatibility: two-bolt systems
RRP: $529.95
northwave.com.au/extreme-x
Peter Maniaty
Peter Maniaty - Peter is Bicycling Australia’s senior journalist, and highly respected in the world of cycling. From bike reviews, to destination features and nitty gritty opinion pieces, he’s a gun writer.
