Crankbrothers has been trickling out an updated line of shoes all year, culminating with new weatherproof “Seal” models a few weeks ago. When those launched, we were rather short on moisture, and I wasn’t able to actually test their waterproofing. So I held off until I got a chance to actually get these shoes out in the mud. After a solid number of wet rides though, I’m stoked to weigh in on Crankbrothers’ latest offering, and I think they’ll be a great option for the right rider through the winter.

One note: Crankbrothers’ naming convention is helpful in that it basically lists every attribute of the shoe in the name. “Stamp” means it’s a flat pedal shoe (Mallet means clipless), “Speed Lace” means it’s secured by, you guessed it, a speed lace system, and Seal means it’s weatherproof. So you can tell a lot about the shoe from the name, but it’s also a little ponderous, so from here on out I’ll call these the Stamp Seal.

Stamp Trail Speed Lace Seal Details

• Sizes available: 5-15
• Sole rubber: HYDRO
• Size Tested: 10 US, 43 EU
• Price: $209

Stamp Trail Speed Lace Seal Fit

It’s always worth noting that shoe fit is a pretty personal thing. I have fairly normal ankles, but I have a tall instep and arch, and medium-wide forefoot that’s pretty sensitive thanks to a lot of time in too-narrow ski boots. I typically wear a size 9 or 9.5 in summer shoes, and a 10 (or 43) in winter shoes because that gives me more space for thicker socks and better insulation. 

My first fit impression of the Stamp Seal was that they felt rather narrow and low volume, with a rather pointy toe box. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to comfortably wear them for long, and visually they looked rather small. But then I went out for a full day of riding, hiking, and digging in them, and they very quickly opened up and felt more comfortable. So don’t worry if they’re a little snug out of the box, there’s a decent chance they’ll conform nicely to your foot.

Stamp Trail Speed Lace Seal Features

There are three important systems in play with these shoes. The first, most obvious one is their waterproofing system. It starts with a big stretchy wrap-around gaiter that velcros to itself. This system makes getting into and out of the shoe much easier than, say the Fox Union but it’s not quite as weatherproof and I worry that the hook and loop closure will clog up with mud and organic matter and leave the flap flopping. The shoe’s lower also uses a waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry.

The second system is the speed lace closure. Bike shoe closures are a contentious topic, so here’s my personal subjective ranking: If you just care about ease-of-use I’d rank BOA first, speed lace second, and regular laces third. But, if you factor in durability and overall experience, I’d bump speed laces up to the top. They’re simple, cheap, and they’re much easier to adjust on the fly than regular laces. Big fan.

And I think Crankbrothers’ execution of the speed lace system here is pretty solid. The shoes include an elastic band to hold the laces down, and there’s a hook to attach the slack end to the end of the lace box and keep it from flopping. Yes, I prefer a pocket at the top of the tongue to stuff the lace into, but this is a great solution too.

My one, small beef is that I wish there was a little more padding on top of the foot, so that I could cinch the laces down without hurting my (unduly sensitive) feet. Overall though, I’m a fan.

Finally, the last piece of the puzzle is the sole rubber. Historically, Crankbrothers hasn’t had the grippiest rubber around, and that becomes even more important when it’s wet out and the slip hazard goes up. So the brand came up with a new HYDRO rubber compound that’s meant to be the stickiest, softest rubber the brand has ever specced on a shoe. This rubber is great. I think Specialized’s SlipNot rubber still might be the stickiest around, but HYDRO is playing in a similar ballpark, and I have no complaints.

Entry and Exit

Thanks to that wrap-around gaiter, the Stamp Seal is easier to get into and out of than shoes like the Fox Union All Weather,  but there’s still a tall inner heel portion that requires some finesse to get on. I’ve found that this is the weak point of pretty much every winter shoe. You’ve got to be careful to get your heel down into the shoe without collapsing the upper portion into the shoe because it will mess up the fit, and ultimately break down the heel cup to the point that getting the shoe on correctly becomes impossible. This weakness has killed basically every winter shoe I’ve ever owned, and I’d love to see a brand figure out a way around this. I worry that eventually I’ll have the same issue with the Stamp Seal, but for now they’ve been fine.

Stamp Trail Speed Lace Seal Performance

There are two metrics to judge the Stamp Seal by: how well it performs as a bike shoe, and how weatherproof it is. As a bike shoe, the Stamp Seal is solid, if a bit “European.” By that I mean that it feels sleek and snazzy at the expense of some comfort and padding. Specifically I’d like to see more protection on the inside of the foot, where it contacts the crank, or a shovel when digging. I had a couple situations where my foot got a little more beat up there than I expected.

The Stamp Seal has a medium flex pattern that balances power transmission with hiking comfort nicely. I’ve done a bunch of walking in these shoes, and have no complaints. And when you’re riding, the new rubber compound does a great job of keeping your foot planted.

In terms of weatherproofing, these aren’t the absolute most waterproof winter shoe I’ve used. The Fox Union All Weather still holds that title. The wrap-around gaiter isn’t fully weatherproof, so there’s more space for water ingress than on the Union. But, in contrast, the Stamp Seal is much cooler and better ventilated, and works fine for shoulder-season rides, where I found the Union to be a “cold and dank only” shoe. That means the Stamp Seal is more well-rounded, and less of a one-trick pony, while also costing about $100 less. For most riders, I think that will make the Stamp Seal the obvious choice, but if you’re planning on spending a bunch of time in the worst possible conditions, the Union All Weather is still the way to go.

For Now

The new Crankbrothers Stamp Seal is a solid entry in the winter and wet-weather riding pantheon. It’s a sleek, full-featured shoe that won’t break the bank.

Learn more: Crankbrothers