Bontrager Foray - Women's Review

On the trail, the Bontrager Foray's performance is middle of the pack. It absorbs trail chatter fairly well, but it has a roomy fit that not transfer power well for our testers and lags behind shoes at a similar price point for stability and control. During hike-a-bikes the sole flexes and grips surface adequately but had concerns about the shoe's overall durability given how quickly the toe spikes deteriorated. The highly perforated uppers do a great job of allowing air to flow into the shoe, but also allow water to enter into the shoe and should be taken into consideration if you ride in wet conditions. Other shoes in our test have similar breathability and better moisture management.

Bontrager describes the Foray as an “undeniably comfortable” shoe designed for trail riding, cyclocross, or gravel. Built around a “slightly roomier” last the Foray has a lot of volume, which can either be great or not depending on the shape of your foot. Our testers found the shoe to be comfortable, but our feet were swimming in the shoe, especially in the forefoot and toebox. We were unable to find our desired fit because of this. However, for riders who struggle with shoes being too low volume, the Foray could be a good choice.

Performance Comparison

Stability and Control

Bontrager rates the stiffness of the Foray a 6 of 14, with 14 being the stiffest, meaning that the sole of the Foray flexes quite a bit. The power transfer of the Foray is marginal in comparison to other shoes we tested. The power transfer is more in line with entry-level or spin bike shoes, rather than a shoe advertised as having a “stiff sole.” In our testing, we had considerable heel lift which paired with the roominess of the toebox, prevented us from having a solid return on the backside of our pedal stroke.

The Foray absorbs trail chatter fairly well and in some cases better than shoes with similar stiffness ratings, especially on very rocky descents filled with softball to baby head-sized rocks. For riders who enjoy rocky descents, a shoe's ability to absorb impacts is important in helping alleviate sore feet, and we feel these are a poor choice for bumpy descents.

The Foray has some of the smallest fore and aft cleat adjustment in our test for a trail shoe and measures only 1 1/16". For riders who prefer to have their cleat at the extreme ends of the spectrum, the opening is too small. Our testers prefer to have the cleat set back for descending control and stability. We can stand up and push into the pedals but are underwhelmed with the amount of control we are able to put into the pedals. Overall, the control and stability are marginal compared to other shoes at the same price point in our lineup.

Comfort

The Foray is the roomiest shoe we tested and has good out-of-the-box comfort, as other reviewers have stated. Built on Bontrager's inForm Race last, this Foray shoe is designed to have a “slightly roomier, high-performance fit.” Our testers agree with Bontrager's claim and found the fit to be very roomy, especially in the toe box. But, the shoe's overall volume makes it difficult for us to achieve our desired fit. We struggled with our foot moving from side to side in the forefoot of the shoe and we had slight heel lift while pedaling. The Boa lacing tightens well around our mid-foot, but we were unable to tighten the forefoot of the shoe with the velcro strap. For riders with wide feet or whose feet have a lot of volume, the Foray could be an excellent option.

In regards to breathability, the Foray is one of the most breathable shoes we tested. Its large perforations above the fore-foot and mid-foot have excellent airflow. However, breathability comes at a cost in terms of water resistance. The numerous perforations allow for moisture to pour into the shoe, making this a shoe best reserved for days when you are guaranteed dry trails.

Aside from making lacing a breeze, the Boa system evenly distributes pressures, alleviating pressure points on the top of the foot. The Boa is great for quick and small incremental adjustments, something our testers came to appreciate, especially compared to traditional laces.

Walkability

Bontrager provides a stiffness index on their shoes, to help the consumer make a purchase decision in regards to the shoe's flex. The Foray is rated a 6 of 14 (14 being the stiffest) and our testers found the Foray's nylon composite Bronze Series sole to flex easily underfoot while hiking. The Tachyon rubber gripped rocky surfaces adequately but not as well as shoes with a stickier rubber sole. In muddy conditions, the soles easily cake, but kicking them on the ground knocks most of it loose.

One disappointing feature concerning walkability is the integrated front cleats, which began to quickly deteriorate and deform while hiking on our first use. While these cleats are not necessary during hike-a-bikes, they can provide extra grip and traction while hiking uphill on soft dirt surfaces. We expected the cleats to hold up for longer than they did.

Protection

The Foray has a reinforced toe box and heel with Bontrager's GnarGuard, which is designed to add protection from abrasions and debris. This provides adequate protection from trail debris and scuffs for the front of the toebox, however, there is little protection for the top of the forefoot and the sides of the mid-foot. Riders whose home trails are known for kicking up rocks may want to take this into consideration.

The forefoot and mid-foot are covered with large perforated ventilation holes that allow dirt, water, and other debris to easily enter the shoe, making them a poor choice for wet conditions.

Weight

The Bontrager Foray weighs 334-grams for a women's EU 40, earning it high marks in this metric.

Value

The Foray's MSRP is in line with many of the other shoes we tested. Because of the sloppy fit and poor power transfer, we feel that other shoes offer a better value for the money.

Conclusion

For riders prioritizing breathability over performance, or those needing a larger volume shoe, the Foray is worth consideration. However, we found its overall performance on the trail to be marginal, especially when compared to similarly priced shoes, and recommend those considering the Foray also give consideration to other models.