The pro peloton is awash in white shoes. Occasionally you’ll see riders wearing black and sometimes blue or red. If you really want to stand out in the crowd, check out the new BONT Vaypor Cycology shoes. Have some fun and take a ride on the wild side with either the Velo Tattoo or 8 Days designs.
PEZ readers will know that I have a fondess for Cycology. Their bar tape adorns all of my bikes. My first experience with Cycology was their 8 Days kit that has an urban graffiti vibe (plus I’m old enough to remember the Beatles hit “8 Days a Week”). My take was that what sets Cycology apart from a lot of other kit is the fun quotient, which can often be missing amongst the die hard roadie crowd and that riding (no matter how serious a rider you are) is supposed to be fun. The Cycology 8 Days kit (or any of their other kit) can make it a little more fun (even if just on occasion). So have some fun.
It’s been two years in the making and Cycology has gone next level by collaborating with BONT Cycling (they’re both Australian-based companies) on shoes that feature Cycology’s 8 Days and Velo Tattoo designs. If you’re bold enough to be different, these are the ‘droids you’re looking for. As husband and wife (Michael and Sarina) of Cycology have said: “Our design style ranges from mild to wild so we cater to the many different tastes of riders who want something different to the same old same old.”
The “standard” Vaypor is available in pro peloton approved white or classic black.
The Vaypor series is BONT’s premium collection for those that want the absolute best for the road, dirt or track. According to BONT:
- Construction – 100% carbon fiber construction utilising hand-laid unidirectional carbon from Toray of Japan and Bont Cycling’s proprietary heat molding technology.
- Material – Ultralight and supportive Japanese Durolite upper for improved breathability, comfort and performance.
- Liner – Comfortable honeycomb fabric liner with lightweight padding and anti-stretch mesh for a cool and comfortable fit across the entire day.
- Stack Height – Industry-leading 3.6mm stack height (sole thickness) for a closer connection to the pedal, more rounded pedal strokes, improved stability and injury prevention.
- Air Vents – Front and rear drainage with vented upper for breathability and water clearance across all-weather conditions.
- Innersole – Bont Cycling by Cobra9 innersole with carbon core and dual-density EVA.
- Sole Guards – Replaceable heel guards with 316 marine grade stainless steel fittings.
- Cleat Mounting – Slotted 3-hole road pedal configuration with alignment grid and grip with increase cleat adjustment forward and rearward, when compared to a fixed hole system. Carbon steel cleat t-nut hardware for long-lasting and hassle-free cleat installation and adjustment.
- BOA® Fit System – BOA Li2 Performance Fit System with dual-dial adjustability for a fast, effortless and precision fit.
- Sizing – 19 sizes (36-50) with 5mm increments across the entire range for a more simplified sizing system.
- Width options – Two widths with improved foot suitability across different shapes and types: Standard and wide.
- Weight – 200 grams (weighed, based on size 42 shoe).
My shoes are size 43 so I would expect them to be slightly heavier than spec
BONT sizing
Whatever size cycling shoes you normally wear, don’t assume that will be your correct size in BONT shoes. One way to find your size is to use the BONT Brand Comparison Tool. The more accurate way is to take your foot measurements as shown in the picture below.
I used my foot measurements for sizing my Lake CX403s, as well as the Brand Comparison Tool for different brand shoes I have to determine my BONT sizing for the Vaypor, which turned out to be US 9 / Euro 43 using both methods.
Custom heat molding
One thing that’s different about the BONT Vaypor shoes is that they can be custom heat molded for a more precise fit in the heel cup and around the edges (my Lake CX403s also have this feature). Just know there are limitations. According to BONT: Heat molding is only designed for very small changes to fit, 1-2 mm at most.
BONT touts that the Vaypor wouldn’t be a high-end Bont Cycling shoe if you couldn’t heat mold it but be warned, this shoe might just not need it, thanks to the extraordinary lengths we’ve stretched to make it ‘slide and ride’ ride straight out of the box. I found that my feet fit pretty much perfectly in the Vaypor right out of the box. So at least to start, no need for heat molding.
NOTE: Bont Cycling shoes are not eligible for return once heat molded.
Pictures are worth thousands of words
Of course, what sets the Cycology versions of the BONT Vaypor shoes apart are the 8 Days and Velo Tattoo designs. I’ll let pictures do as much of the talking as possible.
Graffitied artwork came from listening to the Beatles songs and realizing they were singing about cycling
Inspired by Sailor Jerry tattoos
Stiff, full carbon monocoque sole (sourced from Toray of Japan, the world’s number one carbon fiber manufacturer) for pedaling efficiency
Standard 3-hole cleat mounting
I like my cleats (Wahoo Speedplay) as far back as possible so that the ball of my foot is just ever so slightly forward of the pedal axle centerline. The Vaypor has enough fore/aft cleat adjustment and I didn’t have any problems being able set my cleats where I wanted them.
Front toe bumper and pad for walking (non-replaceable)
The rear heel pad is replaceable
Comfortably padded heel counter
You can custom heat mold the heel cup and edges, if needed for better fit
If you’re new to BOA dials, you lift up to release, press down to engage, twist forward (blue arrow) to tighten (both left and right shoes), and twist backwards (green arrow) to loosen (again, both left and right shoes)
The toe box on the Vaypor is not “pointy” — more “squared off”
If other cycling shoes squish or pinch your toes together, the toe box on the Vaypor might be a little more to your liking. I don’t have any deal breaking issues with any of my other cycling shoes, but found the Vaypor to be #marginalgains comfortable.
The BONT Vaypor upper has a multitude of perforations for ventilation/air flow
Innersoles – $99.95
The OEM innersoles (made by COBRA9) are fairly “standard,” i.e., much like the innersoles you’d find in other cycling shoes
If you want/need something more than “stock,” there are Vaypor innersoles offered in three different arch heights (low, medium, and high) and three different widths (standard, wide/Asian, and double wide).
Per BONT:
Built with a contoured carbon fiber core, for the ultimate in efficiency and support, Vaypor Series innersoles are wrapped in a dual-density EVA foam cover for a comfortable ride with fantastic durability.
Left to right: low, medium, and high arch
According to BONT, the Vaypor innersoles deliver more evenly distributed peak forefoot pressure for greater support and reduction of hot spots and discomfort. I have flat-ish/low arch feet and found the Vaypor low arch innersoles provided a little firmer support that was a touch more comfortable. More #marginalgains
What socks to wear?
These are shoes that you don’t want to draw attention away from so the best sock choices IMHO are either white or black. It just so happens that BONT supplied PEZ with a pair in each color of their Pro Socks – $19.95.
Not the right height for the PEZ curmudgeons
I’ll let y’all decide which you like best.
Classic white
Goes with everything black
And if you truly want to be different with the Vaypor Velo Tattoo:
Wear the white sock on the left to avoid possibly getting chain grease on it … Ask me how I know about this phenomena
These are the real deal
From the moment I first tried on the BONT Vaypor Cycology shoes just to see how they fit, they were immediately comfortable. Even with the BOA Li2 dials cranked down tight enough to keep my feet in place, the upper encapsulated my feet in slipper-like fashion. The footbed cradled my feet from the heel cup to the toe box (the latter being roomy enough for my toes to spread out — even wiggle — but not to the point were they were moving around). And all this was without doing any custom heat molding.
My first ride in the BONT Vaypor Cycology shoes was 40-something miles and a little over 2,000 feet of elevation gain. When I clicked into the pedals, I immediately noticed the low stack height and felt just that bit more connected to the pedals. And the way they felt on my feet was a “barely there” feel. Almost like my bare feet were directly connected to the pedals. It’s hard to describe, but two words that come to mind are: surreal and sublime. It’s a whole different level of comfort.
Ride-wise, the BONT Vaypor Cycology shoes were more than stiff enough for me to put power down — whether pacing on the flats, steady tempo uphill, or out of the saddle on steeper stuff. But not so stiff that the sole “pushed back” creating what I call “carbon sole fatigue.” And they were more than comfortable enough — especially considering it was a 90(F)-something heat advisory day (heat index approaching 100F). No hot spots or pressure points. My dogs weren’t barking.
No, the bar tape is not matchy-matchy with my shoes
In other words, the BONT Vaypor Cycology shoes are more than just for flash and style points. Yes, they’re pricey, but not out of the ordinary pricey for high end, pro level shoes. BONT doesn’t sponsor any pro teams but their shoes are worn by a number of World Tour riders who have the ability to chose the shoes they ride. In other words, they’re the real deal. And the Cycology versions don’t cost that much more (at least when you consider the going in price point) than stock BONT Vaypors if you’re bold enough (and your wallet is deep enough) to dare to be different.
Oh yeah … they draw a lot attention/compliments. Definitely not shoes if you’re more modest/an introvert. But if you want to make a statement …
Note: If you have other experiences with gear or something to add, drop us a line. We don’t claim to know everything (we just imply it at times). Give us a pat on the back if you like the reviews or a slap in the head if you feel the need!
PezCycling News and the author ask that you contact the manufacturers before using any products you see here. Only the manufacturer can provide accurate and complete information on proper/safe use, handling, maintenance, and or installation of products as well as any conditional information or product limitations.
