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Ride Concepts Hellion - Women's Review

An ultra-stiff and durable shoe with a no-slip grip and an impact-absorbing midsole
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Ride Concepts Hellion - Women's Review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $150 List
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Manufacturer:   Ride Concepts
By Tara Reddinger-Adams ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 23, 2023
69
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 11
  • Grip - 30% 6.0
  • Comfort and Protection - 25% 7.0
  • Rigidity and Power Transfer - 20% 8.0
  • Breathability - 10% 6.0
  • Durability - 10% 8.0
  • Weight - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Ride Concepts Hellion impressed our testers with its exceptional power transfer and rigidity. However, making micro-adjustments on our pedals was a bit harder due to the stickiness of the DST 6.0 High Grip rubber. We are fans of the lower volume, the less bulky fit of the Hellion, which, paired with an incredibly rigid sole, helps to transfer power to the pedals. The synthetic upper is durable and protective, making it an excellent choice for various trails. As with many protective shoes, the breathability is good but less ideal in hot and humid conditions. Overall, the Hellion performs well on the bike and competes with the top-performing shoes in our review.
REASONS TO BUY
Good grip
Very good power transfer
Stiff
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Not breathable
Editor's Note: We've taken the time to update the Ride Concepts Hellion review on May 10, 2023. We continue to compare it to other products in their review to determine to how it stacks up with the competition.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Women's Mountain Bike Flat Shoes
Top Pick Award
Top Pick Trail Shoe with Protection
Top Pick Award
Best for Gravity Riding
Best Buy Award
Best Bang For Your Buck
Price $150 List
$120.00 at Backcountry
$149.95 at Backcountry
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$119.95 at Amazon
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$119.95 at Backcountry
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A no-slip, confidence-inspiring grip, impact-absorbing midsole, and durable materials make this one of our favoritesThis shoe quickly rises to the top thanks to its grip, trail absorption, comfort, and weightA great choice for beginner through advanced riders looking for a protective shoe that balances grip, power transfer, flex, comfort, and durabilityA grippy, durable shoe that provides lots of protection for your feet and is well suited for the gravity crowdAn affordable do-it-all shoe that balances grip, power transfer, comfort, and durability
Rating Categories Ride Concepts Helli... Giro Latch - Women's Five Ten Freerider... Ride Concepts Wildc... Specialized 2FO Roo...
Grip (30%)
6.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Comfort and Protection (25%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
Rigidity and Power Transfer (20%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
Breathability (10%)
6.0
7.0
7.0
4.0
8.0
Durability (10%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
6.0
Weight (5%)
6.0
10.0
9.0
6.0
7.0
Specs Ride Concepts Helli... Giro Latch - Women's Five Ten Freerider... Ride Concepts Wildc... Specialized 2FO Roo...
Outsole Rubber Kinetics DST 6.0 HIGH GRIP Tack Rubber Stealth S1 Max Grip SlipNot™ ST
Tread Pattern Full Hexagon Dot Gamma tread design Full Hexagon Dot Full Hexagon Dot Full Hexagon Dot
Measured Weight (per pair) 736 g 593 g 616 g 715 g 669 g
Upper Material Synthetic Microfiber synthetic Synthetic Microfiber synthetic Leather, Suede
Footbed D3O High Impact Zone 3D molded Ortholite Dual-density EVA Body Geometry
Midsole EVA Mute Foam 3D EVA EVA EVA
Sizes Offered US 5-10 EU 36-43 US 5-11 US 5-10 EU 36-49

Our Analysis and Test Results

Ride Concepts released Hellion Elite flat pedal shoe in 2021. It has the same looks and fit as the Hellion but has a tackier DST4.0 Max Grip rubber outsole. The current Hellion features new colors but has the same construction and performance. May 2023

The Ride Concepts Hellion is a very light shoe and is made to “excel in wet and gnarly” conditions. Protective features such as a two-panel, anti-peel synthetic upper and gusseted tongue that resist dirt and moisture make it a good choice for riding in less-than-ideal conditions. The DST6.0 outsole has a great grip, inspiring confidence but makes foot adjustments on the pedals more difficult. Above the DST6.0 outsole is a midsole and footbed, which features D30 impact zones that work well to dissipate vibrations from the trail and reduce foot fatigue. The fit of the Hellion is a bit less bulky and has a lower volume than traditional mountain bike shoes, which we feel helps with power transfer to the pedals.

Performance Comparison


ride concepts hellion for women - there is a lot to like about this shoe, we just wish it was a little...
There is a lot to like about this shoe, we just wish it was a little lighter weight and more breathable.
Credit: Byron Adams

Grip


The Ride Concepts Hellion features Rubber Kinetics DST 6.0 High Grip Rubber outsole. It is fairly grippy and features a hexagon pattern, providing ample space for pedal pins to embed themselves in the rubber.

We found that your shoe can get stuck once you plant your foot on the pedal. This is confidence-inspiring on steep climbs, jumps, and drops. However, it is harder to adjust your foot position on the pedal without lifting your foot. Our testers prefer not to do this and favor a compound that better allows for micro-adjustments. We also noticed that the Hellion did not grip broken or worn pins well.

ride concepts hellion for women - the outsole is made of dst 6.0 high grip rubber which grips the...
The outsole is made of DST 6.0 High Grip rubber which grips the pedals exceptionally well.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Comfort and Protection


We discovered the sizing of the Hellions differs from other brands. We noted that an EU 40 translates to a US 9 instead of a US 8.5. Because the shoe is low volume, some people prefer to size up; we recommend trying them on for size when possible.

The Hellion has a break-in period, and early on, we had some issues with the shoe rubbing the widest part of our right foot, but after wearing the shoes four times or so, they stretched out, and the rubbing went away.

ride concepts hellion for women - we found the upper crease right behind our toes on longer...
We found the upper crease right behind our toes on longer hike-a-bikes.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

The Hellion does not have a lot of volume or width, meaning it wraps your foot more than older and bulkier mountain bike shoes. This decreased volume and width makes the shoe feel like more of an extension of the foot and aids in power transfer. At the ankle, there is additional padding that helps to secure the ankle in place as well as protect it. During hike-a-bikes, we did not experience heel lift while wearing the Hellions.

ride concepts hellion for women - here we're giving our shoes a little hike-a-bike test on a limestone...
Here we're giving our shoes a little hike-a-bike test on a limestone outcropping. Overall, the DST 6.0 rubber grips very on rocky hike-a-bikes.
Credit: Byron Adams

The uppers of the Hellion are a two-panel, anti-peel synthetic material and have a gusseted tongue that is stiff and resists impacts from trail debris while helping repel dirt and moisture. Rounding out the Hellion's protection is an insole with D30 impact protection at the heel and forefoot. The D30 helps mitigate trail impacts reasonably well, but other contenders performed slightly better in this area.

ride concepts hellion for women - here you can see the orange d30 impact protection embedded into the...
Here you can see the orange D30 impact protection embedded into the shoes footbed. These areas help to dissipate impacts before the reach your foot.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Rigidity and Power Transfer


The Hellion is one of the stiffest shoes we tested and has excellent power transfer. An ultra-stiff midsole and outsole paired with a low-volume fit provide good power transfer and pedaling efficiency. However, the Hellion weighs a bit more than other shoes we tested (of similar stiffness), and we notice the extra weight makes the Hellion's harder to spin the cranks with, especially on fast cross-country laps.

It is difficult to feel the pedal underfoot with such a stiff and rigid sole, which can be positive or negative, depending on your preference. In a side-by-side comparison, we found Hellion to have the best power transfer of the shoes we tested, earning it high marks.

ride concepts hellion for women - frequently, we wore two different shoes to really be able to judge...
Frequently, we wore two different shoes to really be able to judge the small differences between them. Here we're testing the shoes power transfer as we prepare for a rooty climb.
Credit: Byron Adams

Breathability


ride concepts hellion for women - on hot, humid days it seemed none of our shoes breathed very well...
On hot, humid days it seemed none of our shoes breathed very well, which is a trade off for protection.
Credit: Byron Adams

A common thread we found throughout our testing is that the more protection a shoe has, the less breathable it is. This holds for the Hellion and similarly constructed shoes we tested. The two-panel, anti-peel upper has a lot of perforations and decent airflow but is less than ideal in hot and humid conditions. The perforations at the shoe's mid-foot help with ventilation, but overall, we want to see more breathability. On 90-degree days our feet were sweating while riding, even with lightweight wicking socks.

ride concepts hellion for women - here you can really see the differences in the midsole and forefoot...
Here you can really see the differences in the midsole and forefoot, the Five Ten (upper) has no mid-foot ventilation, yet has a reinforced midsole. The Ride Concepts (bottom) in contrast, has a thinner midsole and perforations along the mid-foot for ventilation.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Durability


After a few months of testing, the Ride Concepts Hellion still looks new. The uppers and outsole are free from scratches, knicks, or cuts. As advertised, they are built with durability in mind. However, we will say we are not particularly “hard” on our gear, tend not to crash, and only wear our shoes while riding, not to and from the trailhead or out for post-ride beverages.

Unlike most round laces, the laces on the Hellion stay laced, something we appreciate. However, they are a tad long, extend to the toe box even when secured by the lace retainer, and could be shorter.

ride concepts hellion for women - the laces are a tad long as shown here, even with a double knot they...
The laces are a tad long as shown here, even with a double knot they still extended down past the first lace. Thankfully, the tongue has a lace retainer to keep them out of the chainring.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

The anti-abrasion texture on the toe and heel does a good job at resisting scratches, as does the shoes' two-panel synthetic upper. The tongue of the Hellion is gusseted, helping prevent debris from entering the shoe. Overall, the Hellion is designed with durability and should last the rider a few seasons.

Weight


The Hellion comes in at 736 grams per pair for an EU 40 or US 9 women's. While not the heaviest shoe we reviewed, you can feel the extra weight on the bike.

ride concepts hellion for women - the hellion weighs in at 736 grams per pair for a eu40, or us9 womens.
The Hellion weighs in at 736 grams per pair for a EU40, or US9 womens.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Value


The Hellion performs very well compared to other shoes available at its price point and should be on the shortlist for those wanting a stiffer-soled flat pedal shoe.

Conclusion


The Hellion is easily one of the best-performing and most comfortable shoes we reviewed. It offers excellent power transfer, comfort, and durability, making for great trail performance.

ride concepts hellion for women - we were impressed with the shoes overall performance on the bike and...
We were impressed with the shoes overall performance on the bike and it outperformed many shoes at a similar or more expensive price point.
Credit: Byron Adams

Tara Reddinger-Adams