Northwave Hammer Plus Shoes

The number of different styles of cycling shoes on offer from Italian brand Northwave is dizzying. Their current website has over 100 different options, between different styles and colours, for mountain biking alone. Whatever you are looking for, chances are, Northwave has it.

The paralysis of choice is real in these situations, and it can be easy to get lost in a sea of options not knowing what is important to look for. How stiff a shoe do you like? Do you prefer clips or flats? What kind of closure? Do you want to be able to walk in your shoe down sketchy terrain or hike up and over obstacles if you like to take your bike on hiking adventures? Is it for summer, winter, in between? And of course.. price! It's easy to see how so many variables can lead to so much choice. Then there are aesthetics to consider, so multiply it again.

The Hammer Plus from Northwave fits squarely in the middle of most of those variables, and in my mind, is a great value-oriented XC shoe that will fit the needs of most mountain bikers who want a relatively affordable three-season clipless shoe suitable for XC, trail riding or gravel adventures.

The Hammer Plus isn’t waterproof, it isn’t overly stiff for the racers, and its definitely a bit more XC than one might want if riding big features and having higher foot sensitivity is your preference, but the Hammer Plus does a great job of sitting in the middle of all that, where most of us ride.

The sole of the Hammer Plus is moderately stiff for pedaling efficiency, with enough sensitivity that the rider can still feel connected to the trail. I prefer a bit more sole feel for more active and technical riding that has a bit more pucker factor and so I would reach for another pair of shoes for that riding. Where that line is, is personal.

The sole is also very grippy and secure for an XC shoe, making it suitable for riders who want the option to hike around, down or up features with their bike in tow. There is enough flexibility in the sole that your achilles won’t threaten to snap the entire time... or maybe you stretch sometimes and this isn't an issue for you...good for you.

For me, these shoes excelled on pedaly rides, moderately technical terrain and longer gravel rides.

The body of the Hammer Plus is smooth and seamless with perforation on the sides and over the toes for breathability. The outer body is made from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), a type of polyuerathane plastic that is meltable and has characteristics of both plastic and rubber. TPU is used for products that a manufacture wants to be durable, flexible and have good tensile strength (i.e. resistance to tearing).

The interior is fabric with light padding for comfort, but not so much padding that the shoe will retain more heat that necessary. I found the Hammer Plus pretty good in the heat and it breathed reasonably well. The venting is subtle enough that the shoes would fare well in light rain, but would likely get waterlogged in our coastal winters.

Northwave uses this “unibody” construction with a wrapping fit to avoid pressure points. Personally, I feel like avoiding pressure points is more about finding a shoe that fits your foot and is well constructed. Poorly constructed interior seams can undoubtedly be a culprit. I did not have any issues with pressure points or abrasion with the Hammer Plus; however, I felt like I struggled to get the tension I wanted over my foot. I typically wear a size 42 street shoe, and often a size 43 bike shoe. The Hammer Plus I tested came in size 43. This is the second Northwave shoe in size 43 I have tested and I feel confident saying their sizing runs large. I would suggest a true street shoe size and I think a 42 would give me the snugness I was looking for.

The Hammer Plus have a Velcro toe strap and a SLW2 ratchet closure. The Velcro strap is pretty far up the toe box, and would be mainly for riders who want a tighter fit in that area. My feet are very wide, so that strap was mostly decorative.

The rest of the shoe closes using the SLW2 dial (Speed Lace Winch), a ratchet style cinching closure system that is used throughout the Northwave line. The SLW2 system uses a little dial and a lever, much like a BOA system, to tighten the shoe you turn the dial forward. Where this differs from BOA is that the SLW2 uses a dual-release mechanism, activated by using the little lever that sticks out at the top of the dial. Push on it to release the system one notch, and pull on the lever to release the system completely. This is intended to allow for more precise adjustments. If you haven’t used the Northwave system before and are used to a BOA system, this can take a few tries to get used to. I find the system works quite well, although on the shoes I had the right dial was a bit sticky sometimes.

Northwave sells replacement parts including cleats, dials and closure systems. If you do eventually break the SLW2 dial or lace that make up the closure system, Northwave offers a “rotor replacement service”. For $80, they will send you a DHL prepaid label, repair the closure system on your shoes and ship them back. If you prefer to avoid the SLW2 system but still like the sound of the Hammer Plus shoe, Northwave offers the “Hammer”, which has a closure system using three Velcro straps instead of the ratcheting closure.

If I could change two things on this shoe it would be to attach the tongue to the body of the shoe on the sides and improve the cleat markings on the bottom of the shoe.

The dyneema string that is part of the ratchet system loops through the front of the tongue, but otherwise the tongue is only affixed at the toe. I would like to see at least some elastic keeping the tongue in place. I found the tongue often shifted to the outside of my foot and sat crooked in the shoe.

The cleat placement has great range of adjustment on the Hammer Plus and includes markings alongside the cleat sliders, but the markings are all the same length. The markings are so close together and tiny that I found them almost impossible to use. Making each 5th marker longer, ruler style, would really help make those useful.

All in, I think this is good shoe for many riders at a moderate price. The Hammer Plus would work well for someone looking for a clipless shoe for XC and trail riding and who rides less aggressive mountain bike terrain, but who still wants to be able to walk around comfortably when needed. The Hammer Plus also doubles as a great gravel shoe that is ready to tackle some adventure rides or gravel hike-a-bikes.

Northwave Hammer Plus - $197 CAD