adidas has given its off-road footwear collection a comprehensive makeover, introducing four fresh Freerider models designed to serve everyone from weekend trail riders to elite World Cup competitors.
The Five Ten line has spent roughly twenty years earning a stellar reputation, producing some of the most recognizable shoes in the mountain biking world. Come 2027, a completely redesigned Freerider family will arrive in stores, representing a full refresh across the entire range.
A notable visual shift sees the Five Ten logo moved toward the heel of the shoe—mirroring where it typically appears on the brand’s climbing footwear—while adidas’ iconic three stripes now command attention front and center. The Five Ten name now serves as an umbrella identifier for adidas’ off-road shoe offerings, functioning similarly to how Terrex denotes the company’s mountain sports apparel.
Development spanned two years, with input from adidas staff alongside professional riders such as Greg Minnaar, Danny MacAskill, and Vali Höll. The design team began by identifying essential performance characteristics that simply could not be sacrificed from the existing line, then pursued meaningful enhancements—all while keeping pricing steady.
Shoppers can expect the new models starting March 2027, offered in UK sizes 3-9 for women and UK 5-14 for men.
The base Freerider serves as the gateway to the range. Long regarded as the do-everything option—equally at home on singletrack or at the pub afterward—it carries that familiar action-sports vibe. Inside, adidas trimmed weight and boosted comfort by swapping the original waffle-structured midsole for EVA foam. The change reportedly improves the feel while walking and dampens vibration through the pedals, though the brand claims stiffness remains intact thanks to experimentation with various EVA formulations.
Across all models, a five-layer toe box provides enhanced protection, incorporating a Poron layer—a non-Newtonian material similar to D3O that stays flexible under normal conditions but hardens on impact, dispersing energy over a broader surface area. The standard Freerider features a suede and mesh construction with traditional laces and retails for $120 / €120.
The Freerider Pro builds on the base model with additional on-bike capability. adidas describes it as the benchmark against which all other mountain bike shoes are measured, so preserving performance was critical during the update. Toe protection has been reinforced, along with added side-foot coverage to deflect glancing impacts.
Aimed at dedicated riders, this shoe needed to handle post-ride hose-downs and dry rapidly—hence the closed-cell foam interior and synthetic upper. The trusted Stealth Rubber outsole carries over, but the circular dots at the toe and heel have been swapped for semi-circular shapes, improving traction when hiking back up to session a section. The Freerider Pro costs $180 / €180.
The Freerider Pro BOA shares the Pro’s enhanced toe and side protection plus improved toe construction and off-bike grip. A Boa Li2 dial secures the foot, appealing to flat-pedal riders seeking maximum control from their footwear. The PowerWrap upper design draws both sections together, minimizing material bunching.
The Li2 dial includes a small shield to guard against impacts and prevent ventilation from accidentally releasing it mid-ride. It clicks both tighter and looser, offering more real-time adjustment than laces. This model also runs $180 / €180.
Finally, the Freerider Pro BOA Clip replaces the Hellcat as the race-oriented option, developed with feedback from riders like Greg Minnaar and Dakotah Norton. While visually similar to other Freerider models, its construction addresses race-specific demands. The upper must resist stretching so Boa dials can precisely manage foot tension, while the heel is shaped to minimize lift during sprint finishes.
Twin Boa Li2 dials—both shielded—lock the foot securely and reduce heel movement while pedaling. The forefoot offers less slop, mimicking the connected feel of a clipless system for easy engagement without flex. Designed for platform-based pedals, the sole retains some give for pedal feel. Harder-wearing Stealth Marathon rubber combats pedal pin damage, and the cleat channel has been lengthened, allowing an extra 5mm of rearward cleat positioning for riders who prefer them slammed back. These range-topping shoes retail for $250 / €250.
