O'Neal Announces New Bike/Hike Traverse Shoe

Nov 28, 2019
by Sarah Moore  
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The entire O'Neal shoe range now consists of 4 flat and 5 SPD shoes with the introduction of the all-new Traverse Flat and Traverse SPD. These new Traverse shoes join the Loam SPD waterproof shoe in what O'Neal calls their Adventure Series and target riders who want a versatile shoe that they can both ride and hike in.


bigquotesThe all-new O'Neal Traverse range is equally at home riding or hiking. So whether you are planning to spend full days in the saddle, traversing the mountains and looking for your next adventure or just want a dependable shoe that offers function in a variety of conditions, the Traverse is for you. Available for flat pedals and SPD.—O'Neal


The front and rear of the Traverse shoe are reinforced to provide protection against rock and trail debris, while the Adventure sole aims to provide great traction when hiking with the bike. O'Neal says that the pedal grip is not compromised despite the Traverse’s ability off the bike due to the less aggressive tread pattern around the pedal contact area.

There are a quick-lace system and Velcro strap to secure the foot in place when riding or walking and small mesh areas to provide ventilation and cooling.




Traverse Flat
• Flat Adventure outsole gives great traction off-road when hiking off the bike
• Less aggressive tread on and around the pedal contact point for maximum grip on the bike
• Quick-Lace lacing system for the perfect tailored fit and quick-release
• Velcro strap to give an even more secure fit plus to house the Quick-Lace system
• Side mesh ventilation and perforated front upper for air flow and cooling while riding
• Padded ankle area and tongue for extra comfort
• Externally reinforced toe box and back of shoe for increased durability
• Removable and interchangeable foot-bed
• Comes in black and red/black
• 89.99 €
Traverse SPD
• SPD Adventure outsole gives great traction off-road when hiking off the bike
• Nylon shank in sole for improved stiffness and power transfer
• Quick-Lace lacing system for the perfect tailored fit and quick-release
• Velcro strap to give an even more secure fit plus to house the Quick-Lace system
• Side mesh ventilation and perforated front upper for air flow and cooling while riding
• Padded ankle area and tongue for extra comfort
• Externally reinforced toe box and back of shoe for increased durability
• Removable and interchangeable foot-bed
• Comes in black and blue/black
• 99.99 €

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69 Comments
  • 105 17
 Do most mountain bike product designers, product managers, and sales reps not own mirrors to look at themselves when they try on the first samples after having conceived this stuff, or do they genuinely think it looks good?

If it’s the second thing, is it that they have less than zero taste in anything or just that they have so little regard for their clientele that they think we’ll just buy anything they put up for sale? I’d love to see the places these designers and other industry people live in. Are they as horribly tacky and poorly designed as these shoes? What do these people drive? When they go out to buy clothing do they just close their eyes, pick things at random, then go pay for them without even looking at what it is they’re buying?!?

€100 = roughly $150 CAD. I’m not going to go as far as to claim that this reasonable amount of money will get you an amazingly designed pair of shoes but it can easily get you a pair that isn’t flat-out offensive to anyone with working eyes.

It isn’t actually hard to make stuff that isn’t offensively ugly. It’s sad that the bar for mountain biking product is so low. Aesthetics matter and they aren’t actually subjective.
  • 31 34
 Lets see your design @somebikeguy
  • 8 5
 Mountain bike shoes: the best you can realistically hope for is that they look like an average normal shoe (clearly these, like most, fall short of this).
  • 24 1
 The lacing system and strap are a nice touch. I honestly don't care what I look like when I ride as long as I'm comfortable and my gear lasts
  • 9 1
 What do you consider to be a good looking shoe? I don't mind these. If I couldn't buy black, blue is a close second. But then I buy shoes for how they fit and perform sooo maybe my opinion isn't valid.
  • 9 0
 @IllestT @somebikeguy: that is exactly what we’d hope for. Please. For once. Let it not look like an orthopaedic corrective device, or something for a rapidly growing 2 year old.
  • 12 0
 @UtahBikeMike: but why can’t you have both? I design buildings. If I told my clients that it’ll work great but look like shit I don’t think I’d get very far ????
  • 5 8
 @dominic54:

Buildings and shoes are two different things. Shoes are consumable and follow faster moving trends than architecture.
  • 10 1
 @UtahBikeMike: so they should be carelessly designed because you’re going to throw them away sooner...?
  • 21 1
 Realise my friends that you could be dressed in what you think is the coolest kit but all non bikers think we look like idiots. I could be dripping in the latest Troy Lee Fox POC raddness but my wife and her friends think I look like some kind of try too hard teenage idiot. Moaning about kit not looking good should be placed in that perspective. Thats why lots of people say they really don't care what their kit looks like. .. because... a) aesthetics are subjective and... b) it really doesn't matter as long as it works.

On these shoes - they look ok to me. Good rock strike protection, quick lace system so no boa dials to fail, bit of venting, dark so they wont look like crap after a long week of muddy abuse, and not a stupid price. Lots of other options out there but these seem fine. Certainly doesn't warrant a 4 paragraph moan about the looks.

If you want impact resistance on the toe and sole and a bit of weather proofing ... you're never going to get a something that looks like a slick trainer. Suck it up people.
  • 3 2
 @dominic54:

They're not poorly designed if they work well and last a long time
  • 3 0
 @Karve: spot on!
  • 7 2
 @UtahBikeMike: we’re going in circles here. So why can’t they look good too...? Aesthetics and function aren’t mutually exclusive!
  • 1 0
 @Karve: yep
  • 2 3
 In my opinion, Afton shoes are the only "normal" and "cool looking" shoes out there, all the rest fall wayy outside that mark, wish more brands looked in the mirror before stepping out
  • 7 8
 @glenno: "Lets see your design" - is quite possibly one of the most useless responses. Just because a person doesn't like a design, does not invalidate their response because he/she is unable to design a better product. They/we aren't the ones being paid as a product designer, they/we are the ones being marketed to. If we don't like a product, we don't buy the product. we don't buy a product, marketing sees it as a failure when money doesn't come in, marketing decides, screw it, it's not worth developing more product, we lose out by having less product to choose from.
Personally, I don't think they're that offensive to look at, but they could be better.
  • 4 4
 @glenno: quit being a dick
  • 2 6
flag glenno FL (Nov 28, 2019 at 18:50) (Below Threshold)
 @muyguapa: hahahaha

Freedom of speech is a beautiful thing
  • 2 0
 So Well said I felt the same They re way too China bold
  • 2 0
 You said everything I’m thinking, haha congrats that’s awesome. Seriously O’Neal, do you just think, “let’s make the ugliest stuff and call it a day”
  • 1 0
 @UtahBikeMike: Honestly? C'mon, look at your bikes and admit that you care how they look like. Like we all do. And the same with other bike stuff.
  • 3 0
 It's the Tesla cyber shoe! Super great spec, questionable execution!
  • 1 0
 I don’t think these are so bad. You guys are carrying on like they’re 5-10s or something.
  • 2 1
 @kizzard-ling: Afton? Really? You think those look normal and cool?
  • 2 1
 Would upvote you 1000 times if I could. The mtb industry has been plagued by this lack of taste for way too long. The « function before form » argument is total bullshit, just look at other alternative sports they can do both.
  • 1 0
 I'll kick names and take ass with those shoes.
  • 1 0
 @kizzard-ling: five tens were there too until Adidas became more involved with them, and now they’ve kinda gone to shit with their colab stuff with them
  • 1 0
 I've seen far worse designs than this. These actually aren't too bad.
  • 1 0
 @UtahBikeMike: you shouldn't have to settl though; functional - durable - stylish*: pick three!

* or at least not aggressively "anti-stylish"
  • 1 0
 @UtahBikeMike: Lots of athletic footwear is ugly but I can always find a pair of nikes that aren't hideous...
  • 1 0
 @dominic54: totally agree! there's lots of good looking outerwear that puts function first. If you can't do actively good aesthetics then do nothing (like older MEC REI gear) before trying to be stylish.
  • 1 0
 @TheR: I used to really love 5-10s primarily because all they got right was the rubber and the style.
  • 1 0
 @dominic54:

If they look good, that's a plus. I genuinely don't care what they look like if they fit well, perform well and have a reasonable cost
  • 1 0
 @Coppermine:

I don't care what my bikes look like. I've stopped caring what people think of me and it's been pretty liberating to be perfectly honest.
  • 1 0
 @plyawn:

I agree. I tend to get Solomon shoes because they last a long time and I like the speed lace setup. Some of them aren't that great lookingTBH
  • 1 0
 @UtahBikeMike: I care what my bikes look like, just like we all do. I do care what (some) people think of me and I'm not perfectly honest, because I'm not perfect. I dislike hypocrisy.
  • 1 0
 I personally wish they went with the red and white scheme on the outside of the shoe instead of the sole.
  • 18 0
 My grandpa thinks they look dope!
  • 7 0
 So does Macklemore
  • 5 0
 Only when they’re 99 cents. Currently they are swindle and pimp shit.
  • 16 0
 looks like those black new balances old guys buy at costco
  • 8 0
 I've wished for a flat mountain bike shoe that has hiking treads at the toes and heel. But good god, these are hideous. I'm no designer but the 'O'Neil' logo is ugly as sin and totally ruins the entire shoe. And it would ruin any good looking shoe if it were just slapped on the side. Don't even get me started about how these look like the shoes I was forced to buy when I worked at a Taco Bell as a teenager. They've totally got the right idea. There's a market for a hiking style flat pedal shoe. But the execution and design is one of the worst I've ever seen.
  • 8 2
 people are complaining about the looks but honestly, bike shoes are nothing more and nothing less than working shoes in my opinion.

What I prefer over looks is: performance, durability, and functionality with that I mean, I want some toe cap protection stiff enough sole and comfort.
the last thing I will look at is the looks of the shoe, but I do look at it as well.

I ride a lot, I train a lot and I maintain and build tracks. I go over shoes really quick as I only have one pair to do all that plus racing.
'
The last thing I care for is looks.

If I can have a pair that lasts me a bit over a year, and I forget I am wearing the shoes when riding and still go through race lines in race-pace. Sign me up, I want some.
  • 7 0
 I always wondered who actually bought the Pontiac Aztec.
  • 7 0
 Gimme the ones with red soles, so when I’m upside down in a ditch people will know I’m there..
  • 10 2
 Crazy, it looks like a Session.
  • 3 0
 MTB shoe's are such a complex, and mysterious vortex of opinion. It's like you don't get what you want, but you do get what you want, even of it's what everybody say's they want, when in fact they really do not know what they want.
  • 4 2
 Seriously. They look like biking shoes to me. If they feel good on the bike, and are more durable than 510, I would give them a go. It's not a fashion show. You should try to ride fast enough people dont notice your shoes. You riding should be what is noticed. Everyone commenting about looks probably care more about whether their shoes match their marsh guard, and what the newest youtube video they think I will make them better than just riding their damn bike to get better.
  • 2 0
 They seem to have identified several points people often claim to want:
- velcro strap on flat pedal shoes
- more/better traction lugs on flat pedal shoes
- walking friendly SPD shoe. If someone came up with a quality SPD shoe with real flat pedals shoe walkability (I mean real walkability, not "hey this shoe is slightly better for hiking than road ballerina shoes" like most) I could maybe even consider in the future to use clipless pedals again

However:
- I highly doubt the SPD ones will really walk well. I've heard people claim Shimano AM7s walk very good, they don't.
- the flat pedal shoe sole seems to be quite convex and the lugs look like they could create lots of contact void zone on the pedal area. I would have something more akin to what Shimano has on the GR7/GR9 shoes, a dedicated central pedal area and then lugs on the toes and heel
  • 2 0
 There are already so many hiking shoes that look and feel good for walking, why not build a shoe good for pedaling with a stiff outsole? Are there really so many customers that buy cycling shoes just to walk?
  • 6 0
 Speaking as a DH rider, my bike won't ride uphill, so hiking is a big part of riding!
  • 1 0
 @Bomadics: but would you trade a stiff outsole to ride DH for a soft and comfortable one to push a heavy bike up a DH track? Makes no sense for me.
  • 1 0
 I like my RC Hellions, durable, stiff sole, sticky, decent hikers, not ugly.

O’Neil is just a brand name, curious who makes these.

Lace closure looks interesting, but all that vinyl and poor bresthability are gonna make em hot.
  • 1 0
 These aren't too bad honestly. I'd consider them along with a few other brands like 510 etc. Then choose the one that best fits my needs. I also find the whole flap about these being ugly to extremely funny. The colorways that most bikes and clothing come in these days are absolutely hideous to me. I love Sants Cruz bikes but some years their color choices were boring gray or black and florescent, obnoxious rainbow puke. Now the whole point of course is that everything is subjective. I'm riding a dark navy matte blue colored bike with red white and black gear. Ted and black would be my race colors if o started s team. So for me the bright flashy purples or nuclear yellows do nothing for me. I'm not a fan of baby blue etc. So to each their own.
  • 5 0
 these look like the heelys i wore in 3rd grade
  • 1 0
 what a useless article and video. not one picture of the sole with an spd cleat installed..! that's what hinders a lot of spd shoes from being hike worthy. very poor journalism... oh wait... its a press release....
  • 1 0
 These might be ok for winter! I 150 CAD is way better than the price of some of the winter bike- stuff. Combine these with some gaiters and gore Tex socks and it might work ok.
  • 1 0
 Any shoe company ever going to make a good looking shoe????? If i want ugly i will keep my 5/10s. At least i know i will never slip a pedal. Get your surf guys in there to design something new!
  • 1 0
 I just want to buy a SPD shoe that has the furthest possible rearward placement of the cleat.. Somebody please make a properly extended cleat slot! Anyone know if this exists??
  • 1 0
 Great design, terrible look. They remind me of the black Velcro shoes I wore as a kid. I forget who made them. Usually had a Ninja turtles or some other cartoon picture on the side.
  • 3 0
 Looks like they worked hard to make these as ugly as possible.
  • 1 0
 I wish we could edit comments. My spelling and grammar are #winning in the most Charlie Sheen tiger blooded warlock sort of way
  • 4 0
 I think they look good.
  • 1 0
 on a flat shoe, i want only good grippy rubber in a durable pattern at the contact patch - no logos or words or lugs or weak shit to fall apart too soon
  • 3 2
 hahaha WHY NOT JUST MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE SKATE SHOES!!!????

Most MTB are f*ckin ugly
  • 1 0
 The single stitching around the outside vents looks tenuous at best.
  • 1 0
 I like o’neal but I can’t find where to buy it in the USA?
  • 1 1
 Why would it not be 3/4 top, why would it not be spd compatible.







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