Archive for June 6th, 2007
Another Cycling Sandal – Nashbar Ragster
Follow on 4/16/08 – Best Cleated Sandal Yet
Update: 7/28/08
The more I wear these sandals the less I like them. They are serviceable with socks but that is about it. It is too bad that the well made sandals from Shimano and Lake hurt my feet.
Update 4/24/08 -It has been unseasonably warm this week and I have been wearing the Ragsters without socks. Not so good without socks, as expected the foot bed is pretty rough on bare feet. It is too bad that they couldn’t have made these sandals just a little better, but that seems to be typical of Nashbar clothing. These are still the only cleated sandal I can wear but I wouldn’t recommend riding with out socks.
I don’t wear anything but sandals even in the Winter in NH and have tried all kinds of sandals. So far I haven’t found a comfortable cycling sandal that accepts cycling cleats. The big disappointments have been the Shamino and Lake sandals. The both share the same problem, they do not allow the wearer to adjust the position of the foot front to back in the sandal. The result is that the toe ridge presses on a nerve in my foot making them unwearable for me. Both are nicely make, the Shimano looking particularity good.
I am now checking other brands’ last winter I bought a pair of Nashbar cycling sandals with provisions for cleats. These sandals are lowest priced scandals I have tried and like most Nashbar brand goods pretty shoddy looking, But surprisingly they do allow adjustment of the forward to aft foot position. They feel OK and offer some hope of finding a cleated cycling sandal I can wear.
I will do a follow up after some road testing. I am hopeful but suspect I will have to replace the foot pad to make them really usable.
The Nahbar Ragster Sandals are currently on sale at Nashbar for $49.99. N.B., these shoes run small and narrow, expect to order a size larger that your Birkenstock’s.
