Looking at buying a pair of Bont shoes, I currently have a 5-6 year old S-works. I am trying to get first hand info on the Bont models. I have found some A3s on sale at Performance for $99, looks like the step up from there are the Vaypors then the Vaypor +, not interested in the Riots. There is a huge jump in price from the A3s to the Vaypors. Just wondering if anyone tried the different models and which you went with and why? Thanks in advance.

I have the old A3s with the three velcro strap closure; love 'em. Extremely rigid, and the heat molding fitting really got them perfectly fitted for me. I also like the velcro straps because they're fast, secure, and if I'm sitting cross-legged on the ground for a break, I can do so comfortably without a ratcheting buckle biting into the side of my foot (a problem I have with my other shoes). I also like to imagine they're more aero than the models with the buckles hanging out there.

Materials and finish quality is good, and durability has been good (3 years now).

Recommended!

I have a FULL review here

I wore Sworks shoes for 2+ years and thought they were the end all be all of shoes. I am on the fence of having standard or being on the wide side of feet. Wide enough that the Sworks shoe had to be loosened so much that it was not even tight and my feet would sometimes go to sleep. I kind of ignored it and dealt with it for a long time. I bought some Giro factors and sold those a couple weeks after using them because they were awful for my foot. After some research I came along Bont shoes and their design for a wider toe box. I loved the design of the Bont vaypor but the thought of buying shoes without trying them on, ESPECIALLY that kind of money just didn't sit well. I looked on their website and found a couple local dealers. out of the 4 they listed, only 1 of them still considered themselves to be a dealer. After Bont created their sizing wizard (Which sucks a bunch of donkey balls BTW) most locations stopped dealing them because there was no need to be the middle man. Called this guy and after 2 weeks of pure research and thinking over things I decided to proceed with an order.

The sizing wizard placed me at a 43w. Sworks I wore a 44 with about the width of your index finger of room in length. The thought of going down to a 43 was very concerning. this guy who I was dealing with had plenty of experience and after doing the measuring of my feet was confident that a 43 would not only fit, but give me a couple mm of room. So he made the order for my custom yellow vaypor +. Was going to be about a 6 week turn around, which was fine because I still had my sworks at the time. in that time, I found a killer deal on a pair of vaypors in a 43, so I bought those. Was so excited, but after ripping open the box and trying them on, my stomach hit the ground as I realized my foot couldn't even get in all the way because it was too tight! I KNEW IT!!!! called the guy and told him and he suggested a 44w. He emailed Bont and changed the order for me. during that time I sold those vaypors and stumbled on a pair of vaypors in a 44.5w. to my rational thinking, I figured that 43 was SO tight that I was even concerned about a 44. I bought the 44.5w thinking at worse case, they are too big and I sell those also, but at least I would know if they were too big or just right and i would have time to call this guy again to have him change the order again. The 44.5w came and it was indeed too big for me, which sucked but at the same time was comforting in knowing the 44w I had changed the order too should be just right. Sold the 44.5w.

My order came in and the shoe was sexy as hell. Put it on and it was a very comfortable yet VERY STIFF, but great fit. Got them home and realized that they cut the insoles too freaking narrow which left a "gutter" along my small toe! Called the guy and he had Bont send a pair of insoles. Keep in mind that Bont is located out of AUS, so it wasn't exaclty overnight. guy calls me and says my insoles are in, so I go to pick them up. Open the package and they sent me insoles made for a 50!!??!!?? WTF RIGHT!!??? He gets on the horn and they express ship a new set out. Go back to pick them up and they sent a basic set of insoles that had no holes in them where the vents located!! I tell him forget it, I'll take them home and Drill the damn holes myself. Drilled the holes and in the end they were perfect. I called my guy and told him they worked out. He felt really bad and ended up only charging me $300 for them which means he basically broke even on the deal. I shouldn't have had to deal with any of that, but with the discount, it made it not hurt so bad.

Now, I got them baked and molded to my feet. went for ride and the toe was still hitting the side wall a bit which made it a little uncomfortable. Put them back in the oven, put on THICK socks, put my foot in and stood on the toe for a couple minutes. It pushed that edge out just enough where it was no longer an issue. Went for a ride, good fit, but the inside didn't feel perfect. Baked and pushed that side out. Now the yellow set was perfect. Can ride without even tightening them down. They felt so good and I was amazed with the comfort, stiffness, style and extra toe room design that I had my guy order a white set for me as well. Got the white shoes in within a week since they were an in stock color and size and after 1 molding, they are perfect as well. I'm thinking about getting a pink or blue set this coming summer as well, possibly in the regular vaypor though just to change it up.

Now, I went through some BS that should have never happened. I was a 1 off case though and have never heard of anyone else going through that. That just happens to be my luck with things. I recommend everyone i talk to about Bont's to go try on specialized S works shoes and base their sizing off of that. Screw that sizing wizard crap. Its true to the Sworks, so if you dont have Sworks shoes, go to your LBS that carries them and try those on for what size to order. The only thing I would use that wizard for is if you are considering a standard, wide or narrow fit.

I dont know much about the A3. I thought it was hideous compared to the vaypor or vaypor + so they weren't even an option. I dont like just velcro for strapping down. I like a ratchet system of some caliber whether it is a boa(like the vaypor + or swork) or traditional ratchet style (like the vaypor)

Will recommend to anyone who ever asks me. Not saying this is THE shoe that everyone should have and that every shoe out there is sub par, but anyone looking for a top quality shoe that is stiff, comfortable, stylish and has more toe box room, this would be something to consider for sure!





Side by side of the Bont VS Sworks toe box

My sworks are 45.5 and my bonts 46.5 and the bonts were tighter.

thats odd that they were that much difference. Do you have the same amount of room in the toe when comparing? Were you able to exhange your vaypors you just got or did you keep them?

Those yellow V+s look great.

I haven't looked at the Bont site in a while, but the sizing instructions used to be very simple length and width measurements; is it different now?

Well, they changed it. Its a little different than it used to be as recently as this summer. The guy helping me even said he was confused by their chart, but going off their chart would put me into the 43, which turned out to be wrong

Some people love 'em, some hate 'em. If you can find the right size and get the molding right, they are comfortable. Plan to spend some time molding them. Also, they have a very low stack height, so you may need to lower your saddle 1 or 2 mm depending on your current shoes.

Shimano makes a wide shoe. Way easier to try-before-buy.

S

It's probably a lot easier to test drive a Toyota Carola than a Lamborghini Mercielago too

Didn't sound like your Lambo test drive went too well.
I guess if you've got a bunch of extra time and money to spend, by all means, go for the Bont.
I wouldn't exactly call these "Carolas" :

Shimano SH-R321 Road Shoes White



S

Lol, yeah I pretty much already said that in my OP, but yeah I agree it didn't go well for me. Still bought because I believed the outcome would be worth it and it was. I had shimano R300s wasn't a bad shoe. It was nice but nothing special about them. Wasn't wide enough in the toe for me so I got rid of them. That shimano R321 doesn't fit my foot either for the same reason and found it to be more narrow than the R300.

Nothing wrong with a Carolla either. It's a nice car that a ton of people drive and feel safe with. Not everybody has a Lamborghini, not everybody has Bonts. Not everybody cares for Bonts and not everybody cares for Lamborghini. It's not a matter of extra time and extra money. The white vaypor + is $20 more than those shimanos you just suggested, so if you're saying the $399 is too much laying around, than I guess even those R321's are out of reach for you as well? I feel the Bonts are a superior shoe to the shimano shoe hands down, no comparison. I will say that it is a huge bonus being able to try on the shimano shoes before a purchase to avoid any headaches. In my situation it was just a speed bump. Not like the issues I had in my order prevented me from riding.

I would definitely go with bonts over shimanos or s-works. I've had the t-ones, a3's and a pairs of a-one's. Much superior to the shimano and specialized shoes which I have also tried. Bonts design is far superior it helps your feet relax and even with my very narrow feet they feel supportive and snug with the right modifications.

Did you get narrow width Bonts? What modifications were required? I have AA width feet, so standard width cycling shoes are almost always miles too wide?

I'm assuming he is referring to the molding process when he says modifications.

Many of the high end shoes have the wide option. Honestly, it is very hard to do an accurate comparison between shoes that fit verse shoes that don't. I have wide feet and spent some time driving around Seattle trying on wide model shoes till I found shoes that fit. I just do not like all problems that sometimes goes with buying shoes without trying them 1st.

This is what I was getting at. I just suggested a brand that is heat-moldable, available in wide-widths, with a much easier availability for a test-fit.

S

Was also tempted by the Performance close-out and pulled the trigger on the A3s last week. Picked them up tonight, molded them, rode 30 minutes on the trainer, and molded them again. Other than the need to make a little room for my second toes, the fit is outstanding and the stiffness is noticeable in a positive way, kind of like a very good ski boot. Time will tell, but on my wide foot, this is looking pretty positive.

My bonts are 44.5 wide A2's, and they're still too narrow for me. I have stupid wide feet, and in a couple years I'm probably going to go full custom. The A2's are still very comfortable, and really stiff so I like them. The heat molding definitely helps.

Thanks for all the replies and info. I looked at several models and ended up buying a pair of Bont Zero + off Ebay. Can't wait for them to come in.

To give a little background when I plugged my measurements into the bont size wizard it said I needed custom ones. I have a pair of standard bonts though and with specialized insoles which are like 4 times the thickness of the bonts ones they fit ok. You could also add an extra pad to the tongue this would make the shoes volume seem less.

Nice!

Remember to TAKE OUT INSOLES AND TAKE OFF CLEATS when you bake them. 160 or 170 deg if your oven doesn't go down to 160. 20 min on a cookie sheet. Pull out, PUT INSOLE BACK IN and then out on foot, tighten down to preferred

I'm happily wearing 42.5 Bont Vaypors and 42.5 Sworks Trail shoes.

The Bont is a hair tighter, but I'm confident both are the "right" size for me.

I kept mine as the carriers were asking for $120 for returns to UK. I put on 3 pairs of socks and baked them. They fit better now but for the love of god I cannot get the heel bump to go down and it hurts. I tried using the screwdriver and nothing...

Heel bump?