Another newcomer to the world of flat mountain bike shoes is Afton. The Afton Keegan aims to recapture the old school skate/bmx shoe comfort and feel while providing all of the technical features that modern day mountain bikers demand. And? In many ways, it does just that.

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Grip

Unlike Shimano and other brands who looked toward third-party companies to produce the rubber for their flat mountain bike shoes, Afton uses its own “Intact” rubber. This is backed up by a Vans style tread pattern with triangular indentations that cover the entirety of the sole.

The rubber itself is less grippy than that found on Shimano’s Michelin soles or the Five Ten Stealth rubber compound. However, it offers decent grip and we would take it any day over the Vibram Megagrip compound.

The tread pattern is where the Afton Keegan‘s sole goes right or wrong, depending on your taste. The tiny triangular holes allow traction pins to slot in but are large enough to offer them a bit of wiggle room. They are also shallow enough that you can more easily reposition your foot than you could on the Michelin or Five Ten Stealth full dot soles.

This all makes for a flat mountain bike shoe that has a very middle of the road grip. It is not bad, but we wouldn’t call it great. However, it strikes a good balance between allowing you to easily adjust your foot while still providing better grip than the Vibram soled shoes in our review.

Rigidity and Protection

This is where old school feel meets next-gen tech. The Afton Keegan uses a “mono-directional shank” in its sole. What this means is that it offers an unmatched combination of flexibility while walking and rigidity while pedaling. Off of the bike, you feel like you are in your trusty old skate shoes. On the bike, you don’t quite feel like you are wearing the Freerider Pro or Shimano GR9, but like you are wearing something stiffer than the base Freerider.

This is backed up by a reinforced toe box that helps make the Afton Keegan a very solid shoe for long days on tough trails where you need rigidity and protection, but also a flexible shoe that is great to walk around in on hike a bikes and even around town after the ride.

Comfort and Breathability

The mono-directional shank of the Afton Keegan makes it one of the most comfortable shoes in our review, both on the bike and off.  It is a bit tighter fitting than most, so you might plan to size up.

The Afton Keegan is about average in the breathability department, though neither terribly waterproof nor quick drying. This makes it a solid performer in both hot and cold weather, as long as things are mostly dry.

Durability

After grip, durability is the biggest question mark about a new rubber compound, and the Afton Keegan’s Intact rubber answered this question well. It even seemed to provide durability beyond what the slightly tackier Five Ten Stealth rubber offers.

The shoe’s upper is made of synthetic leather and gives no indication that it is any less durable than its sole.

Additional Features

There are no real external features to the Afton Keegan, but its shank technology makes up for this in spades.

The Bottom Line

The Afton Keegan is a welcome new addition to the world of flat mountain bike shoes. Its mono-directional shank provides a shoe that is extremely capable both on and off of the bike in terms of comfort and pedaling efficiency. Meanwhile, its sole strikes a great balance between grip and allowing riders to easily reposition their feet.

Finally, at $99 the Afton Keegan is an extremely viable alternative to the Five Ten Freerider, particularly for riders who want a longer lasting shoe and an easier time repositioning their feet on the pedals.

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