Looking for reviews or feedback on Bont Vaypor (road or track)
#1
Elitist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times
in
77 Posts
Looking for reviews or feedback on Bont Vaypor (road or track)
I had some Bonts back in 2010 based on the strong recommendation of a track-racing friend who used to be a competitive roller blade racer (or whatever it's called). Bont used to be a small brand with a big reputation. That was around the same time that I think their production expanded and quality changed.
I bought a pair of A2s they felt great but both carbon heels cracked in the corners within weeks. I thought it was an isolated incident but the same thing happened to both of my buddy's shoes.
I returned them for warranty replacement and all Bont did was slap some paper mache on it and called them "repaired". They failed during the very next ride (actually the next walk through the infield). So I asked for my money back from the shop and moved on.
(This guy's Bonts were damaged in a crash, but my cracks looked just like this)
I later realized that the cracks happened because when I stop the bike in the infield, I place the heel of my free leg down first (on the heel pad, not the exposed carbon). That being said, I've never had an issue with any other shoes (Fizik, Shimano, Sidi, Giro, etc...)
So, I'm asking for recent reviews/feedback of the new "Vaypor" or "Vaypor Track" models. Thoughts?
I bought a pair of A2s they felt great but both carbon heels cracked in the corners within weeks. I thought it was an isolated incident but the same thing happened to both of my buddy's shoes.
I returned them for warranty replacement and all Bont did was slap some paper mache on it and called them "repaired". They failed during the very next ride (actually the next walk through the infield). So I asked for my money back from the shop and moved on.
(This guy's Bonts were damaged in a crash, but my cracks looked just like this)
I later realized that the cracks happened because when I stop the bike in the infield, I place the heel of my free leg down first (on the heel pad, not the exposed carbon). That being said, I've never had an issue with any other shoes (Fizik, Shimano, Sidi, Giro, etc...)
So, I'm asking for recent reviews/feedback of the new "Vaypor" or "Vaypor Track" models. Thoughts?
#2
A little North of Hell
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,892
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Bont
sounds like Bont needs to make a custom rubber bumper?
have you tried Lake?
https://www.lakecycling.com/
have you tried Lake?
https://www.lakecycling.com/
Last edited by Soil_Sampler; 02-25-14 at 07:04 PM.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,029
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have the T-One for about a year and I've got to say that I love it. I used to use a Sidi Genius 5, it was fine but it doesn't come near the bont in terms of stiffness, comfort and tightness around the whole foot.
As for the sole, it seems very odd what happened to yours, I'm not a lightweight and I train 3x on weekdays on a path that I need to walk like 150 meters to get to, so these shoes do see a lot of pavement and the sole is intact, I'll upload some pics of them when I get home.
Did you heat them to mold it? Maybe it cooked more than it should and damaged the structure?
As for the sole, it seems very odd what happened to yours, I'm not a lightweight and I train 3x on weekdays on a path that I need to walk like 150 meters to get to, so these shoes do see a lot of pavement and the sole is intact, I'll upload some pics of them when I get home.
Did you heat them to mold it? Maybe it cooked more than it should and damaged the structure?
#4
Elitist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times
in
77 Posts
sounds like Bont needs to make a custom rubber bumper?
have you tried Lake?
https://www.lakecycling.com/
have you tried Lake?
https://www.lakecycling.com/
I haven't tried Lake road shoes. Just MTB.
I like my Fizik and Giro shoes now. But, I really miss the Bont "Bathtub". It really does feel good on the up stroke.
I have the T-One for about a year and I've got to say that I love it. I used to use a Sidi Genius 5, it was fine but it doesn't come near the bont in terms of stiffness, comfort and tightness around the whole foot.
As for the sole, it seems very odd what happened to yours, I'm not a lightweight and I train 3x on weekdays on a path that I need to walk like 150 meters to get to, so these shoes do see a lot of pavement and the sole is intact, I'll upload some pics of them when I get home.
Did you heat them to mold it? Maybe it cooked more than it should and damaged the structure?
As for the sole, it seems very odd what happened to yours, I'm not a lightweight and I train 3x on weekdays on a path that I need to walk like 150 meters to get to, so these shoes do see a lot of pavement and the sole is intact, I'll upload some pics of them when I get home.
Did you heat them to mold it? Maybe it cooked more than it should and damaged the structure?
I kept them for a while after retiring them from being my main shoes. I'd put them on every now and then for casual rides where it was nice to have comfy shoes. But, the uppers stretched soooo much on up strokes that my foot rose off of the foot bed.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 261
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have Bont Zero's which I love... they are lace up and have a flap that then goes over the laces, so they are perfect for use with straps.
Unfortunately, I snapped the carbon sole on one (right inline with the pedal axle) from doing standing starts. Bont are going to replace them, but I can't send them back till after nationals in 3 weeks.
Apparently they will be replaced with Bont Zero+ model, so they still have the flap, but have a BOA mechanism instead of laces. Hopefully I can still get them secured nicely like I can with laces.
JMR
Unfortunately, I snapped the carbon sole on one (right inline with the pedal axle) from doing standing starts. Bont are going to replace them, but I can't send them back till after nationals in 3 weeks.
Apparently they will be replaced with Bont Zero+ model, so they still have the flap, but have a BOA mechanism instead of laces. Hopefully I can still get them secured nicely like I can with laces.
JMR
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 437
Bikes: yellow tricycle di2 grip shifters
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
i own four bont vaypors and no problems. i love these shoes. planning on picking up the track model before season begins. you either love or hate them.
my buddy had his heel break. the heel began to go up through the sole or something. he said it might be from walking in his shoes.
my buddy had his heel break. the heel began to go up through the sole or something. he said it might be from walking in his shoes.
#8
VeloSIRraptor
they famously had QC problems as they scaled up from small-boutique-shoe-guys to mass-market.
Allegedly most of the issues have been resolved, but buyer beware. I've seen a variety of shoes come through my shop that were absolutely warranty issues and Bont didn't want to deal with them.
An industry guy I talked to recently said that since they have gotten their QC in a better place they are more willing to do warranty work, and they had just been overwhelmed previously, so that might be the case.
I dunno- if they were a better match for my foot I'd probably get another pair. I quite liked the ones I had, but I have the opposite foot shape of their last, and no amount of molding/vacuuming/was ever going to make it right.
Allegedly most of the issues have been resolved, but buyer beware. I've seen a variety of shoes come through my shop that were absolutely warranty issues and Bont didn't want to deal with them.
An industry guy I talked to recently said that since they have gotten their QC in a better place they are more willing to do warranty work, and they had just been overwhelmed previously, so that might be the case.
I dunno- if they were a better match for my foot I'd probably get another pair. I quite liked the ones I had, but I have the opposite foot shape of their last, and no amount of molding/vacuuming/was ever going to make it right.
#9
Elitist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times
in
77 Posts
i own four bont vaypors and no problems. i love these shoes. planning on picking up the track model before season begins. you either love or hate them.
my buddy had his heel break. the heel began to go up through the sole or something. he said it might be from walking in his shoes.
my buddy had his heel break. the heel began to go up through the sole or something. he said it might be from walking in his shoes.
they famously had QC problems as they scaled up from small-boutique-shoe-guys to mass-market.
Allegedly most of the issues have been resolved, but buyer beware. I've seen a variety of shoes come through my shop that were absolutely warranty issues and Bont didn't want to deal with them.
An industry guy I talked to recently said that since they have gotten their QC in a better place they are more willing to do warranty work, and they had just been overwhelmed previously, so that might be the case.
Allegedly most of the issues have been resolved, but buyer beware. I've seen a variety of shoes come through my shop that were absolutely warranty issues and Bont didn't want to deal with them.
An industry guy I talked to recently said that since they have gotten their QC in a better place they are more willing to do warranty work, and they had just been overwhelmed previously, so that might be the case.
It was interesting to watch. They were the new darling shoes for a while, then after 1.5 years they were being blown out on Bonktown.
I was one of the negative reviewers (here on BF). But when they are in one piece, they work amazingly. That's why I'm asking for new reviews and feedback, hoping that things are more stable now.
#10
VeloSIRraptor
certainly- regarding their recent stuff, I haven't seen a single warranty come through on shoes that are from MY2013.
#11
aka mattio
I love my Bonts.
I really do think they make me go faster.
Other than that, nothing to add but echoes about past QC issues that I believe are resolved.
I really do think they make me go faster.
Other than that, nothing to add but echoes about past QC issues that I believe are resolved.
#13
Elitist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times
in
77 Posts
This all happened back in early 2010. I dealt with the shop I bought them from (All 3 Sports in Atlanta). I didn't deal directly with Bont. All3Sports sent my shoes to Bont in California expecting a warranty replacement pair. But, they put "carbon paste" on them and returned them. This was the equivalent of putting whiteout on a cracked fork. I took one step in them and the paste cracked. I asked All3Sports to simply give me a refund and let them deal with Bont after that.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 740
Bikes: T1, S2, P3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I know its 6 months old, but wanted to bump if anyone had more feedback on current models, particularly the Vaypor track model. I got hooked on Sidi last winter and will probably remain as my road shoe, but would like to get a new pair of shoes just for the track.
And even with the prior quality issues, it sounds like they have a pretty good warranty program?
And even with the prior quality issues, it sounds like they have a pretty good warranty program?
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Finland
Posts: 81
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have Track 1, the older track model, and no problems on track nor on road, survived a couple of crashes. Also have Vaypor +, with the ATOP dials (newer ones have BOA) and other than a few scrapes they are like new. I recommend them.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 740
Bikes: T1, S2, P3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the feedback. Seems like they are going to be harder to get than I assumed, the only Bont dealer around says they can't get the track shoe as their US distributor doesn't carry them (not sure if it was a can't or won't situation).
Anyone buy directly from Bont's website? I tried on a pair of Bonts and have a pretty good guess at size, they seem to fit a little big (about half to a full size bigger than SIDI, but maybe its because they are moldable?). Only worry is getting hit with duties, its like 30%...
Anyone buy directly from Bont's website? I tried on a pair of Bonts and have a pretty good guess at size, they seem to fit a little big (about half to a full size bigger than SIDI, but maybe its because they are moldable?). Only worry is getting hit with duties, its like 30%...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
23109VC
General Cycling Discussion
0
10-02-17 11:40 AM
MulliganAl
Commuting
7
08-04-11 05:27 PM