Bontrager SSR Multisport Bike Shoe: The Best Bike Shoes I’ve Worn on Patrol

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by Clint Sandusky, former PCI #849/EMSCI #159
Riverside (CA) Community College District Police Dept. (ret.)

Perhaps the most important item a public safety cyclist should carefully consider, after PPE, is footwear. What kind of footwear will be of high quality, functional, comfortable, and meet the needs of a public safety cyclist? We all need to keep our feet happy and protected, especially as we get older and when working long shifts.

Throughout my career (23 years on bike), and as I continue teaching and serving as a bike-mounted usher, I have worn many different types and brands of footwear. From cross trainers and multisport shoes to various bike patrol-specific shoes, it seems I have worn them all. It has been a long journey to finding the “Best Bike Shoe I’ve Worn on Patrol.” I am sure at least some of you can relate to this sentiment.

After my last pair of beloved bike patrol-specific shoes finally gave out, I began an intensive search for a suitable replacement. I went to all of my favorite websites, including IPMBA’s Product Purchase Program page.

Nothing quite caught my eye, so I decided to check out Bontrager’s website, as I wear their road, mountain, and flat pedal shoes for recreational cycling and racing. While scrolling down their shoe lineup, I encountered an interesting bike shoe I had never noticed before, the Bontrager SSR Multisport Bike Shoe (now revised and on sale for 2021).

Their website describes the shoe as “a versatile bike-riding shoe that delivers sneaker-like comfort while pedaling, walking, and adventuring.”

As I write this, I have worn the SSR shoes for more than three months in a variety of capacities, including patrolling on my duty bike in my role as an usher at my church. I find them wonderfully comfortable, protective and supportive to the feet, functional both on and off the bike, well-constructed, and fashionable (that is, sporty).

The all-important outsole is described as a “glass-reinforced nylon plate with textured rubber outsole for great grip.”

Although not specifically made for flat pedals, Trek states that “plugs are available for better flat pedal use when installed into cleat box.” The shoe plugs have a retail price of $7.99.

I wear these shoes, with no shoe plugs installed, when I ride my 2018 Trek Police Electric model eMTB, which is equipped with appropriate flat pedals. The shoes, in conjunction with my flat pedals, keep my feet on the pedals fairly well. They also provide good off-bike traction in loose conditions, which is an important consideration.

I find that true flat pedal shoes, including Bontrager’s Flatline Mountain Shoes, flat pedal shoes I have used during eMTB races, do not provide any real off-bike traction, which is necessary when on patrol.

The SSR shoe has a classic lace closure system, with a convenient elastic lace keeper, which makes securing your laces easy. However, the elastic will eventually stretch out.

For those of you who use clipless pedals, these shoes are SPD-style cleat compatible (2-bolt). They also make a women’s model. And, they come in black.

As far as sizing, they start at men’s US 6 and women’s US 7.5. As we all know, sizing differs from brand to brand. In the case of Bontrager, I wear an EU 44 or US 11. That is a ½ size larger than my everyday US 10.5 footwear. Others say the shoes are “true to size.”

Bontrager has a “30-Day Unconditional Guarantee” which states, “If for any reason you’re not satisfied with a Bontrager aftermarket purchase, return the item, along with the original sales receipt, to the original place of purchase within 30 days for an exchange or refund. Think of it as a 30-day test ride.”

They also have a two year, “limited warranty that covers defects in workmanship and materials for Bontrager and Trek branded products.” Nice for peace of mind!

I believe I’ve covered the “Pros” of this shoe pretty well, so here are the “Cons”:

Price: The listed retail price of $99.00 is rather high, but I believe it is worth it! I just hope you have a good relationship with your local bike shop.

Retro-reflective materials: There are no retro-reflective materials on the shoes. However, a Trek Bicycle Corporation representative told me that the Bontrager logos on the heels of the shoes have a lesser reflective material (“refractive-reflective”) within them. Not ideal, but at least it is something.

The Bottom Line

Although not designed as a public safety cyclist shoe, the SSR checks off pretty much all my boxes. I would recommend them to anyone who appreciates a quality and all-around bike shoe, suitable for bike duty use.

In fact, after drafting this review, I learned from Erik Pearce (PCI #1184 & my e-Bike partner in crime) has been using an earlier version of the SSR Bike Shoe for 1.5 years on duty. He told me they are the best duty bike shoes he has worn; he finds them comfortable, durable, and true to size.

For more information on Bontrager and all its wide-ranging products, guarantees, and warranties, go to: https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bontrager/.

Clint joined IPMBA in 1994, completed the Advanced Police Cyclist Course in 2000, and the IPMBA Instructor Course in 2005. He taught at the 2006, 2007, 2018, and 2019 IPMBA Conferences. He is currently a member of IPMBA’s e-Bike Task Force and presents e-Bike workshops at the Conferences and beyond. He can be reached at clint.sandusky@gmail.com.

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