If you are going to use the word "Ultimate" in the name of your top-level mountain bike shoe, the product better live up to it. Mavic has used ultimate to categorize their premier products and the Crossmax SL Ultimate Mountain Shoe is impressive on the page, and on the XC race course or trail. Start with the 340 gram weight (size 8.5)- light, no? But light weight means nothing without power transfer and overall performance. The full carbon sole insert provides a stiff platform and an array of technologies wed the foot the sole for optimal efficiency and delivery of power despite the super light materials. Highly breathable and incredibly supportive, the Crossmax SL Ultimate Mountain Shoe was built to lead the pack and prevent you from slipping as you climb the podium.

Mavic's shoe upper design and technology is as evolved as it comes. The Ergo Bonded Upper eliminates stitched seams to ensure zero friction or points where you chafe, and delivers a surround support system that cradles and holds the top of the foot comfortably. The system bonds the lightweight technical materials and mesh for the lightest possible creation. Mavic employs what amounts to a flexible exoskeleton to hold the mid-foot in place. Anatomically designed to create an effective hold without pressure points or pinching, this Energy Frame concept melds nicely with the Ergo Bonded Upper. A similar concept locks in the heel cup. Called Energy Lock Carbon, it consists of a supportive heel cup with a Y-shaped external carbon reinforcement. When the shoe is tightened down, the directional tension connects and shares its distribution through the Energy Frame and carbon heel lock.

The fastening and fit system consists of three primary technologies. First is the Ergo 3D Tongue, which is wide and integrated into the upper. The tongue is padded and breathes well, adding fresh air into the upper for comfort. The tongue rides under the dual Ergo Dial cable tension systems. Simply dial in the fit with the cables that anchor over widespread areas and lock in the Energy Frame, drawing and integrating all of the shoe's technology. The final aspect of the fit picture lies within the shoe, with the advanced Ergo Fit 3D+ Ortholite® insole. Ortholite® foam is light and thin, but offer excellent support and energy return. In the arch zone, EVA foam is added for extra support and add stability under pedaling load. A metatarsal button helps to add lift to this crucial zone, providing a more natural curvature to the bone structure, which increases blood flow, prevents nerve compression, and reduces fatigue where you deliver the most pedaling pressure. The heel zone also gets extra density from an EVA zone which serves to keep the entire foot cradled and cared for under the stresses of the nearly constant pedaling of a typical XC race. The entire lightweight insole is antimicrobial, breathable, washable and environmentally friendly.

With the foot integrated with the stiff carbon sole for truly effective power transfer, the focus turns to the other necessity of XC race and trail use- potential hike a bike sections. Not as common as they once were as rider and equipment advances made some such obstacles obsolete, there are still times when shouldering the bike is necessary and your super stiff pedaling platform must perform like an approach shoe. Mavic uses two technologies to deliver the grip and feel required. First is the use of Contagrip rubber, which uses multiple, complementary rubber durometers to grip, even in wet or dusty conditions. The rubber is then placed and formed into the Energy Grip Terra Carbon SL Outsole, an aggressive lub design that also places grip zones under the arch to prevent slipping on rocky sections. As opposed to many XC race shoe designs, Mavic's outsole appears, and is, aggressive, but when you factor in effectiveness and the incredible light weight of the Crossmax SL Ultimate, there is no need for compromises.