Shoe tested - ‘All new’ Bont Riot 24
Price - rrp $329 (cheapest online - $299)
When we first saw the prototype for the all new Riot from Bont, we new that something special was on the way. The Riot has always been a popular shoe in the range for Bont, but its features and aesthetics sometimes set it aside from the premier shoes in the Bont collection. When the real deal landed on our desk, the upgrades and stylings had everyone convinced this may be the best Riot yet.
The new Bont Vaypor which we reviewed here, was a game changer for Bont. An all day shoe with superior comfort and a strictly lightweight race design. The new Riot has borrowed heavily from the design features on the new Vaypor but kept the price down at a ludicrously good level. Lets look a little closer at the Bont Riot 24 and see where the differences lie and who we feel this shoe is suitable for.
Visually, the new Riot looks very similar to the Vaypor. There are some minor differences in the patterning on the shoes upper, and the tongue is slightly thicker and firmer. The L6 BOA fit system dials are unidirectional and don’t have the feel of the top level Li2 BOAs on the Vaypor. The white on white and black on black visuals remain very clean and the closure system works very well for securing the foot in the shoe evenly.
The upper design on the new Riot is generally deeper and offers more forefoot and mid foot space than the Vaypor. In this regard, this is one of the deepest shoes on the market which is great for wider feet or those with high arch profiles that tend to struggle to fit into the waist of some shoes. The heel cup is super deep and firm which is typical of all Bont’s offerings. I’d love the Bont logo on the heel to be gloss white rather then black, but I guess its important to separate the visuals across the range (I’m a white on white with more white fan generally).
The sole of the shoe is a carbon composite that is a little thicker than the Vaypor version (4.8mm vs 3.6mm) but is seriously stiff. There is no penalty here verses the Vaypor and the new carbon weave appearance is superb. The same comfortable low carbon tub fitment system is at play here as well which was a design feature we first saw on the new Vaypor. This means less chance of pressure points on feet with ‘lumps’.
There is the standard road 3 bolt cleat fitment system on the sole of the new Riot. There is no scope for bolt movement on the new Riot so you will need to use the travel in your cleat system to finesse the final fitment. The cleat holes are situated more towards the rear of the shoe rather then towards the toe box. With this in mind, you should easily be able to slide your cleats far enough back for a more rearward position. We know this can be a challenge with other shoe brands, but we have fitted a number of these shoes already and have zero problems fitting cleats.
The insole is the base level Bont option and ticks the boxes. The upgrade insoles are always available to further tailor your fit. The new Riot is also heat moldable but I would caution users from molding the shoe until entirely necessary. Give it at least 4 weeks before you approach an oven!
The overall weight remains incredibly light only giving away 40-50 grams over the top level Vaypor. This is an amazing outcome for a supposed mid tier shoe. Many shoes in this price category are far weightier.
Overall, this shoe looks, feels and rides almost like the Vaypor (a little less supple perhaps), at a hugely competitive price point. It’s certainly a great shoe for big feet and those with wide or high arches. Within this category of shoe pricing (RC7 etc), this shoe is amazing value for money. For those wanting slightly cleaner aesthetics and an even lighter shoe, the Vaypor still reigns supreme, but damn its close.
Pros
Improved aesthetics
Lightweight
Low carbon tub construction makes it zero risk
Stiff and reponsive
Spacious for the wide feet (2 fit option)
Deep secure heel cup
Cheap!!
Cons
May be too roomy and deep for narrow slim feet
Unidirectional BOAs
Overall - 9/10