Drift ARC Mountain Bike Shoes Review

Remember the bike shoe brand DRZ? Well, they’re back to life as Drift, and they’ve just made their foray into the mountain biking world with the ARC. The brand touts small-batch focus using quality materials and keeping things waterproof all the way round. I’ve been riding in the ARCs for a couple months now, and I’ve got some thoughts on them.

Drift ARC Features:

• Waterproof design
• Full-grain leather
• SPD compatible
• Composite shank for optimal power transfer
• Reinforced toe box
• Rubber outsole
• MSRP: $240

A Niche Fit

First things first, the ARCs are pretty burly. They’re almost fully leather (just a few non-leather reflective patches), and they feel like they could withstand the apocalypse. Their stitching and construction in general is high quality too. All in all, they give the impression of being very durable. Over the course of a couple months riding in them, they’ve lived up to that expectation too.

One of the big sells for the ARCs are their waterproofing. Waterproof MTB shoes are divisive up here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s just so wet all the time that you have to wonder why you should bother donning low-cut rain protection when you know water is going to enter in from above after 30 minutes or so. Personally, I think waterproof footwear has a place in shoulder season riding, when it’s not dumping outside, or perhaps year-round for folks that deal more with puddles and stream-crossings than they do the regular opening up of the heavens.

Regardless, if you’re looking for waterproof, you’re looking for waterproof. These shoes are. I rode though my fair share of puddles and rain, and on the days where water wasn’t coming from above, I was well protected. Those big soup pot splashes and creek crossings were no match for the ARCs waterproofing. That said, much of my watery riding was in rain, which followed its typical track of running down my legs, soaking into my socks, and making little squishy foot ponds. That much is unavoidable, and the best waterproof liner can’t do a thing about it. So for me, waterproofing is give or take, but for the person who cares, know that these shoes pull it off well.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “waterproof and leather… that doesn’t sound so breathable”, you’re on the right track. For all their durability and protection, the new Drift ARCs don’t conjure up the word “airy”. I generally try not to ride on the hottest days of summer. It’s just not my jam. I’d rather hike or find some alpine climbing to do where the weather is more reasonable. Still, when I was riding up here in the 70s wearing the ARCs, I could notice the warmth in my shoes.

In my mind, the best setup is airflow as you ride, and an acceptable alternative is reasonable means of escape for hot, humid air. The ARCs are low in the second category. There’s just more material in the way of them breathing openly. I didn’t find it too bothersome, personally, as a fair-weather rider up in the PNW, but they wouldn’t be my first choice if I was regularly riding in Sedona, for instance.

Comfort-wise, there’s more than just breathability to consider of course. I found the ARCs comfortable while I was on the bike. The fit was good, and the padding all around the shoe was ample, giving some nice cushion to the fit. Walking in the ARCs around town wasn’t my favorite though. The heelcup didn’t have the kind of retention that I hope for. Walking around the aisles of Winco before a ride one day, I could feel my heel slipping. Not my favorite. For me, that rules out the casual-crossover potential for the shoe.

There were a couple things going against that though. For one, they’re a particular aesthetic …and it isn’t really mine. Style is subjective, and I won’t bash them. Maybe you love the look, and if so, great! For two, clipless shoes are objectively less comfortable to walk in. I hear the occasional click as my cleat scratches the pavement and my jaw tightens up a little. And while I could theoretically switch back and forth between cleats and the rubber cover, that isn’t terribly practical. For three, I take issue with the leather lace cover. I’m less likely to wear any shoe that has one, riding or casual. It’s an inconvenience while tying the shoe, and it provides zero value after the shoes are tied because the shoes already have an elastic lace strap on the tongue. I can’t understand why it’s there.

Now, my final thought on the ARCs might be side-stepped by a promo code or hookup, but dang, $240 feels like a lot to me. You can pretty regularly find a new pair of last season’s shoes for under $100. Maybe it’s just me being more inclined towards a steal, but that appeals to me more. For $240, I want them to be able to do my taxes. Still, for some folks, that’s an easy price for a very well made pair of shoes, and I can respect that.

Fit: I typically wear size USM 11 shoes for mountain biking, and that’s what I tested here. They fit as expected. No surprises in sizing.

Buy Now: Available from Drift