Northwave Revolution Shoes Review

New shoes! Not much can beat that. The Northwave Revolution shoes are the second pair from Northwave that I have tested. In April I reviewed the Northwave Veloce Extreme in a PEZ ‘Gear Break’, they are a top-end pair of cycling shoes, with a $€400 price tag. The Northwave Revolution are cheaper, around the €/$225 mark.

Classy

Instep support

Alastair Hamilton PEZ sez: The Revolution shoes may be more affordable, but no corners have been cut to save money, the Northwave quality is still there. Starting with the colour: I have said many times that there is only one colour of cycling shoes, white. The Northwave Revolution’s I have are not quite white, they call them ‘Light grey Sage’, but they look white to me. You can buy ‘White’ Revolution shoes, but they have black dials, a black stripe down the heel, black toe and heel and a white tongue, where as the ‘Light grey Sage’ Revolutions have fluro yellow dials and rear stripe and contrasting heel, toe and tongue in a ‘Bianchi blue’ colour. Much more interesting.

Cleat choice

Not bad

The carbon sole feels as stiff as any top race shoe at twice the price, it has a replaceable heel and added toe protection. There is an air inlet at the front and an outlet in the middle. I use LOOK shoe-plates, but there is a Northwave Speedplay/Wahoo adaptor available. The set-up of the plates was as easy or as hard as any other shoe. They come with the usual thin, but well shaped insole, depending on your feet, and if you have a problem/preference, you might want to change them, although there is some arch support built into the sole and a raised section along the middle. No complaints about the sole.

Nice bit of Bianchi green

Nice contrast

As I said, the upper isn’t white, but not far off and with the contrasting details, this is a good looking pair of shoes. The upper is made of PU, it had me fooled as I thought it was leather and it is stitched around the dials and other parts. There is sufficient ventilation, although it would take a summer’s day to find out how they perform in the heat. The tongue is also ventilated and thick enough so that you don’t feel the strings on the top of your foot. The toe and heel areas have been strengthened and are solid. The toe area is quite ‘boxy’, so no squashing and there is wiggle-room. There is also sufficient padding around the ankle for comfort. On the inside of the heel there is rubberised section that holds the foot in place. I’ve seen this in other shoes, it is normally just at the top, but in the Revolution, it starts at the insole and goes all the way to the top. The dials are different to the more common BOA, but once you get used to them, they are as good, just different.

Heel grip

Not BOA, but they work well

The Northwave Revolution shoes are very well made, well shaped (for me) and at a reasonable price. I’ve ridden them on Zwift and in the real world and they are, for sure, comfortable. The stiffness is also there and you feel part of the bike. There is no cramping or pinching, no pressure points and all good so far. They are not bling white, but they are classy and look the part, I honestly can’t find fault in them. I like them a lot.

The insole does give support, but you might change it depending on your feet

Replaceable heel insert

And lets not forget the socks.
The Northwave Extreme Pro socks are maybe a little high for my ‘old school’ sensibilities, but they are comfortable. There is added padding on the sole and you can feel the different compressions in different areas of your foot, ankle and lower leg. The cuff isn’t too tight, but does hold the top of the sock in place. The soft toe and heel sections have been designed and stitched to give room for your toes and fit the heel shape of your foot. They are marked ‘L’ and ‘R’ and they are different, so don’t put them on the wrong feet. I have a pair of yellow, which goes with the details on the shoes, but other more subtle colours are available. A great addition to your NW foot ensemble.

• Variable compression sock with highly breathable mesh structure
• Meryl skinlife bacteriostatic and fresh touch yarn
• Sole of the foot structured to offer greater support and compression
• Height: 17cm

Soft on your feet, if not your eyes! (other colours available)

Northwave sez: Style and performance come together in Northwave’s Revolution.
Don’t call it ‘mid-range’: completely revamped, Northwave’s new road shoe is aimed at ambitious cyclists who pay attention to detail and aim high with a ‘Pro’ look: a responsive and comfortable shoe, also available in a wide last version.

• Morph Carbon composite sole Compatible with Northwave Speedplay/Wahoo adaptor
• Double air vent on the sole Two-layer construction composed by innovative PU and breathable, yet resistant Airnet mesh Breathable tongue featuring an open mesh
• Double X-Dial SLW3 for micrometric adjustments
• New lining characterised by differentiated areas
• Replaceable heel pad

There are two options for developing a new product. One is based on a simple update of an existing one. The other involves combining experience and daring to create something completely new, a product that aims to test new ideas towards an innovative path in terms of components and solutions. With the Revolution, its new road shoe model, Northwave has chosen the second option.

Northwave has integrated materials, solutions and technologies from decades of experience at the top of competitive cycling into the Revolution, working with some of the sport’s greatest champions, as well as for a growing number of cycling enthusiasts. The result is a shoe with a “Pro Fit” , remarkable aesthetics and technical solutions inspired by the needs of the Pros, but without the extreme stiffness and price of a World Tour shoe.

The Revolution is a brand new shoe for demanding and ambitious road cyclists , those who know which details can make the difference in performance, but for whom comfort and durability never take a backseat. The Revolution is designed to respond perfectly to every pedal stroke, whether in a sprint for a KOM or during the longest rides.

The Revolution integrates innovative elements, including the new Morph Carbon sole , and incorporates Northwave’s distinctive star technologies, such as the double SLW3 rotor with micrometric adjustment and the patented Powershape system for optimal arch support.

On the Morph Carbon Sole, Stiffness and Comfort Pedal Together
The Morph Carbon is the essence of Northwave’s Revolution, the solid foundation of the shoe’s innovative solutions. It is a carbon composite sole with a stiffness index of 13 out of 15 , developed to find the ideal balance between comfort and performance, thanks to the surprising mix of light but rigid and durable materials that make it highly effective . The stiffness of the sole with injected carbon fibre guarantees optimal power transmission in every peddling phase, and its geometry perfectly reflects the anatomical shape of the foot.

Thanks to the Powershape design, the sole follows the anatomical shape of the arch of the foot to provide support and comfort: in the Morph Carbon, stiffness and comfort pedal together. The two vents on the sole optimise the incoming and outgoing airflow, ensuring both ventilation and breathability, helping to keep feet dry.

On the Morph Carbon, the cleat adjustment possibilities, essential for correct positioning and optimal power transmission, are even greater than before. Speedplay/Wahoo compatibility is guaranteed by the specific Northwave adapter. The external rubber heel studs can be replaced, which will greatly extend the useful and practical life of the shoes.

A Lightweight Upper With an Unmistakable Style
The upper of the Northwave Revolution is made of PU synthetic leather with breathable mesh and laser holes. Textile eyelets allow for a wraparound fit and the tongue is made of open Airnet mesh, providing an even more comfortable and lightweight fit, without pressure points.

In addition to contributing to an overall feeling of comfort and lightness, the external materials of the upper are specially designed to be easy to clean and wash, even in cold temperatures.

The heel liner features silicone inserts that prevent the foot from lifting while peddling, keeping it always in the correct position. The X-Dial SLW3 dual-rotor system, the same as that used in top-level World Tour shoes, allows for a high-precision dual-zone closure that is fully customisable and adjustable even while peddling, with micrometric adjustment.

Price, Fitments and Colours
The Revolution is available in four colourways: black, white, light grey/sage and a bolder one with fluorescent red inserts. Since feet vary not only in length but also in shape, the Revolution is also available in a Wide Fit version. To accommodate those who need more volume in the fit, without sacrificing performance, the toe, metatarsal and instep sizes have been completely revised and reshaped.

• Northwave’s Revolution is also available in a Wide Fit version, from size 36 to size 50 , at a recommended price of €224.99 .
• More info at: www.northwave.com

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