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Sizes/Widths: 36-50 in whole sizes plus 40.5, 42.5, 44.5 and 46.5. Also available in 4 widths
Colors: Up to 6 color choices depending on which country you are ordering from
Stack Height: 3.6mm
How Obtained: Sample from company
Availability: Online (company site), bike shops RBR Sponsor: No Tested: 500+ miles |
Comfortable, High-Performance Road Shoes from Oz
I only heard of Bont cycling shoes a couple of years ago, so I was surprised to find out that this Australian company has been selling footwear since 1975 (though has only been making cycling shoes for nine years). Once I knew the name, I started looking for the shoes on group rides and races, and it didn’t take long to spot them.
Unique low-profile appearance
Bont shoes have a distinctive low-profile look – as if they’re built more like clogs than shoes. This is actually an illusion created by their unique carbon soles, which act as more than soles. Typically shoe soles cover the bottoms only. Bont’s curve up and around the feet, even more at the back, where the entire heel cups are also built-in and integral to the soles.
I’ve had carbon soles separate from the shoe uppers. I don’t think this could ever happen with the Bonts. Rather than gluing thin carbon soles to their shoes, they’re actually using hand-laid unidirectional carbon-monocoque construction – much like carbon frame, fork and rim construction – to make the lower half of the shoes and then attaching the uppers.
Super stiff for awesome pedal power
This monocoque construction makes these Bonts among the stiffest road shoes I’ve ever worn. Due to their carbon chassis that’s almost bathtub-shaped, they’re not just stiff horizontally – along the soles – like other carbon shoes. Bonts are stiff in all directions, which makes you feel locked into the shoes and more directly connected to the pedals.
Even if your current shoes are top-line carbon models, I bet you’ll feel that the Vaypors are stiffer. And if you’re currently in flexible footwear, you’ll be amazed how connected you feel and how easy it is to lay down more power on climbs or accelerations. The low, 3.6mm, stack height helps.
Customizable comfort
There’s such a thing as too stiff, but not to worry. Bont’s Duralite synthetic leather uppers cradle you in comfort with ample ventilation, plush suede padding around the foot and even memory foam 
innersoles. There are also small vents built in ahead of the toes to draw air into the shoes and help keep you comfortable.
In addition, Bont’s BOA closure system is cleverly designed to eliminate slack in the uppers so that you don’t lose any power transfer due to slop or looseness inthe shoes. As you tighten the lower dial, the BOA wires pull the foot down, while tightening the other dial pulls the foot back into the heel. I own several different super shoes with BOA closures and love them, but this is the first closure system I’ve used where you can fine-tune the snugness to such an amazing level.
With the carbon monocoque construction and the Bont BOA bidirectional closure system, the Vapor S raise the bar in ergonomics and power transfer. Plus, while I didn’t request or test them, Bont also offers heat-moldable innersoles. Once heated and shaped to your feet, the shoes would be even more ergonomic.
Plus, Bont has a Size Wizard on their site that helps ensure you select the correct fit. It instructs how to accurately measure both feet and provides a reference chart for picking the right pair. It was easy to use, and my Vaypors fit perfectly, which was a relief because the last time I ordered shoes I had to return them for another size.
Built for the long haul
Bont does not stop with performance and comfort. They built maximum durability into the Vaypors, too, with fully rubber-wrapped reinforced toes and replaceable thick rubber heel tabs. If you think about it, a couple of the main things that beat up shoes is finding and clicking into your pedals (and pushing off the road at the start of that process) and, of course, walking.
With the Vaypors, there’s no need to worry because the black rubber toe protectors do the work, not the carbon soles or white synthetic leather uppers. At $450, this isn’t an inexpensive pair of shoes, so it’s nice Bont went to such lengths to ensure they last a good long while.
Summing up, with all their impressive features, if you’re in the market for an awesome-fitting and -performing high-end road shoe, I think you’ll love Bont’s Vaypor S.
(Incidentally, if like me, you like the visibility and look of white cycling shoes but worry that they’ll get filthy fast, RBR contributor Sheri Rosenbaum has a couple of great Quick Tips for keeping them clean.)
I’ve heard of Bont’s legendary fit and integral sole/heel cup model for years. Even looked into the mountain versions (I’m a tourer) which are more reasonably priced. But Jim’s review did not look at the user reviews, which are almost uniformly disappointing on longevity and durability: these shoes fall apart. The rubber parts fall off, sometimes the BOA fails. Owners who like the shoe tend to be DIYers who don’t mind fixing the shoes!
I recently bought a pair of Bont Riot shoes. I have wide feet and heard they have a large toe box (which they kind of do). Years ago I bought a pair of Bont speed skates so thought I would give them a try. I heat molded them which seemed to help marginally. I find they are hard on my feet. While the carbon monocoque is great in that it transfers power to the pedals very well, it doesn’t allow movement of the foot. Not very comfortable. Plus the heel pads broke off of both shoes within a month. The most expensive pair of shoes I’ve bought so far and not impressed.
I’m a little confused by this review. Bont’s online store shows the Vaypor S at $379 USD. My understanding has always been that the shoe itself is heat-mouldable, not the innersole. That is definitely the case for the older model Vaypor that I wear. I have been using the older Bont Vaypor (prior to the BOA closures) since May of 2015 and have ridden nearly 31,500 miles in the same pair. After heat-moulding them as instructed they have been the most comfortable and efficient shoes I’ve ever had. I use the Specialized inner soles in them rather than the stock Bont inner soles.
Love this shoe brand for stiffness and fit. A bit longer of a breakin period with some minor shoe surgery on a few hot spots. The durability has been an issue particulary in the ladder connection to the tongue of the shoe. I have swapped in sidi parts: plastic tongue, ladder and rachtet which has worked nicely. Overall pleased after 30 years in Sidi’s. I wish I had tried these during my racing days.
Thanks for the feeback, David. I’ll keep riding the shoes and see what issues I run into. So far they’re holding up great. BOA closures are BOA closures – i.e. a BOA design. I have them on 3 pair of shoes now. They hold up very well but the laces can fray with enough miles, years and you have to replace them. BOA will send replacement kits out for that. I haven’t seen any signs yet of the rubber parts falling off these shoes. The heel pieces are held on with a screw I can see that. Maybe the screw will loosen. I will check that. I don’t see how the rubber toes could come off. They seem bonded to the shoes all around. But, I’ll keep using them and see if I find anything to report.
Perhaps they’ve improved since I tried a pair a few years ago, but I wasn’t impressed the the quality of construction then. They had a very “homemade” fit and finish. Also, you absolutely must get the width of the shoe correct, as the bathtub sole does not allow any expansion. I tried multiple times to mold the soles and it had essentially no effect. Ultimately, I had to sell them to someone with narrower feet.
Thanks for the question. I contacted Bont to clear up the confusion. You are correct, Randall: it’s the entire shoe itself that is heat moldable rather than only the innersoles (in fact, you remove the innersoles to heat mold the shoes). Bont provided this link where you can read more: http://bontcycling.com/items/support/heat-molding.html
i wear the previous model. Got them because of the wide toe box. Can’t believe how much better they feel than the restrictive Specialized shoes I previously wore. If you’ve got bunions and/or need more room in the toe box, try these. I love mine.
My Bont’s circa 2013 just aren’t comfortable in any ride greater than a few hours long despite numerous heat moulding treatments. Finally, I quit using them and went back to my old Sidi after finding replacement parts on the ‘net. No issues w/ Sidi other than normal W&T.
In January of 2018, I wrote this review of the Bont Vaypor S shoes. I said I would keep using them and report back on how they’re holding up. Today is June 11, 2019. The Bont Vaypor S shoes are still like new in condition and I have had only great performance from them over the approximately 8,000 miles I’ve pedaled in them, which includes one minor crash and at least a dozen rainy rides.
Enjoy your rides!
Jim Langley