Haix Black Eagle Athletic 2.0 T Low

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by Tyler Hofacker, PCI #1700-B
Dayton (OH) Police Department

When I pulled the shoes out of the box I could feel a weight difference compared to the shoe that I had been wearing for work. This was not a bad thing; the Black Eagle has a very sturdy build and more of a boot sole. It strikes a happy medium between the weight of a running shoe and a boot, but with the complex design of a boot.

I knew immediately I would be very pleased with that just for the everyday use at work. There have been plenty of times I wished the soles of my bike shoes were a little thicker.

It’s a bonus that the Black Eagle Low is one of the best-looking shoes in a bike shoe category.

The Black Eagle features a “smart” lacing system, so you do not actually have to tie them. I like this feature, but it took some time and experimentation to get the right tightness for my comfort. That is the only negative thing I could find about the shoe.

I had laced them too tightly, which began to cause pain on the top of my foot. This was easily corrected, and I have not had any pain since.

The sole of the shoe is made from a special slip-resistant rubber. It certainly feels slip-resistant! I haven’t walked through a puddle of oil, but I have run in them on some wet surfaces and I stayed up on my two feet for once!

After a good week of riding while teaching an IPMBA class, I was very pleased with the comfort of the shoe.

I currently ride with toe clips, and since the shoe has a thicker toe, I had to loosen my straps up a little to get the right fit on my pedal and in my clip. This was by no means a problem!

I tried the shoes out on a flat pedal and they did much better than expected. They are not “best” shoe for a flat pedal, but they certainly worked. Since they do not have a flat, gummy sole, they do not give you the full pedal retention on a flat pedal as a shoe designed for flats (such as Five Ten) would. I rode them on my flats off-road at a local mountain bike trail system and I did not experience a lot of slippage off the pedals as I would with just a normal running shoe. I am sure this has something to do with the slip-resistant feature.

I have worn the shoes consistently for almost four months and they do not show any signs of wear and tear; therefore, I think they will last me a while. The shoe features a non-marking and self-cleaning tread, which keeps them looking new and professional.

Towards the end of my initial trial period, I did run into an issue.

I was starting to experience pain on my right ankle, which I believe it may be caused by a bone rubbing against the inner structure of the shoe. Since the shoe is sturdier than a running shoe, the stiffer material appears to be contributing to the pain. I do not think this is the fault of the shoe, however. I have experienced this before and believe it is the result of a past ankle injury.

So with all of that being said, I would still recommend these shoes.

The Black Eagle Low retails at $139, but with the IPMBA Product Purchase Program, you can get them for $118. They are worth the price and I do not think that you would be disappointed in your investment.

Tyler was certified as an IPMBA Police Cyclist in 2016 and as an IPMBA Instructor in 2017. He attended the Bicycle Response Team Training and BRT Instructor Seminar in 2018. He also attended the Maintenance Officer Course. He is looking forward to being part of the IPMBA 2020 Host Agency Committee. He can be reached at tyler.hofacker@daytonohio.gov.

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