Complete with a full carbon sole, double Boa dials and brush-clean leather, the good-looking Lake MX238 Gravel shoes provide strong performance at a high price. You’ll want to spend some time perfecting the fit as the roomy toe region and potential for wheel overlap won’t be for everyone, nor will the heavy weight, but other than that, these hard-wearing and easy-to-maintain shoes don’t have many drawbacks.
Made for the rough stuff
The black and gold Lake MX238 Gravel shoes are made from a combination of Ecco Fullgrain suede leather and mesh – plus a Helcor abrasion-resistant panel on the heel. The effect is a soft, brushable feel. There are perforations on each side and the front to increase airflow – as well as webbed mesh sections on the tongue and flanks. Hidden underneath is another small metal grid vent.
The shoes have an entire carbon plate running from back to front, with three chunky cork-coloured Mountain X real rubber platforms that provide a stable base to walk on. The SPD cleat is sunken deeply enough within the middle platform to ensure that the MX238 makes minimal noise on flat surfaces.
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Two Boa dials keep the shoe secured snugly to the foot with the top dial also having a small plastic lace guide. According to Lauren Ryan at Lake Cycles, these make sure that the laces are directed in the right place for comfort. There is no lace guide on the other Boa dial – which functions fine without one – and I really couldn’t find a function for this.
My shoes came fitted with the updated Li2 dials which have a smaller profile and provide more micro adjustments than their predecessors. A patch of hooked Lycra has been sewn into the heel. This is smooth in one direction but rough and – yes – clearly hooked in the other. It functions like one-way Velcro.
The insole has quite a drastic profile, rising significantly to follow the arch of a foot. There is some padding on the inside of the tongue but nothing of note further down towards the toe region.
Room to manoeuvre
I have been wearing the Lake MX238s for almost six months now and they are certainly a comfortable pair of shoes. I’m a fan of the hooked heel, which gives a little bit of extra security when your foot is threatening to wiggle around, literally clasping onto your sock material.
Most riders will be familiar with the Boa closure system, which allows you to create a totally dialled level of pressure on the central areas of the foot. Having two dials contributes to the high price, but it does make a difference in both comfort and performance. Double dials are able to achieve a level of snugness and security that you just can’t get with laces or a single dial. Plus, you can modulate the pressure in different areas of the foot.
I would say there is such a thing as too much space when it comes to the toe region. I was measured up via Lake’s exacting fit system and I find myself with oceans of space to move in. My toes are nowhere near touching the side or end of the shoe, and personally I would prefer a bit of snugness. The fit system involves drawing an outline of your feet onto a piece of paper and working out the optimal size via measurement.
This isn’t by mistake. Ryan from Lake says, ‘The 238 series is our widest fitting shoe (except the 201) and provides more volume for those that have a high instep.’
It has also led to some wheel crossover during my test period. Lake considers this a necessary evil to provide that extra room around the toe.
‘For the toe overlap, this is something I too have experienced on my gravel bike,' Ryan says. 'We wouldn’t recommend sizing down to avoid this unless of course the shoes are clearly too big.’
Since these are wider-fitting shoes (even in the non-wide edition), my 107mm foot width is probably more suited to something narrower – but that hasn’t stopped me using them as my go-to gravel shoes as they are still very comfortable and practical.
That said, the heel area fits perfectly, and I wouldn’t want to reduce the amount of space here. It is worth spending some time on achieving the fit you want – trying a pair of Lakes on first would be the best bet.
My black suede shoes
I don’t have much in the performance cons column. The carbon sole contributes to a very stiff and rigid foundation. Even trying to bend the shoe between my hands doesn’t return much noticeable flex.
This carries through into real riding results, with me rarely feeling like power wasn’t transferring efficiently from pedal stroke through to crank. Having double Boa dials really helps with this as my foot felt secure at every point. The only inefficiency stemmed from the large toe profile, which did overlap with the wheel on tight turns. The black marks on the cork toe cap are there as proof.
Somewhat ironically, on a pair of black, mark-absorbing shoes, this shade of toe cap readily shows off all blemishes.
As most riders will testify, you spend a lot more time clipped out of gravel shoes than road shoes – skirting over gates or simply toppling over on technical, muddy climbs. It’s important that gravel shoes aren’t a scratching pain to walk in, and the MX238s are not. They’re pretty much silent when walking on reliable flat surfaces and the extra sculpted underside means they grip on paths and tracks.
Despite being black, the Lakes did a good job of keeping my feet cool. They’ve been my go-to gravel shoes during the worst part of the year, so it hasn’t been the most gruelling test in that sense, but the ventilation works effectively.
More importantly for these seasons, they provide good insulation on some unpleasant days. The internal padding and the suede combined with my thermal socks minimised any numbness on rides.
As Ryan points out, ‘The leather we use is heavier than the fake leathers you see on a lot of shoes, but it offers exceptional comfort.' I wouldn’t argue with that. And the idea is that the suede will form to your foot over time.
At first, I was sceptical about the material but there is an evidence-based logic to suede gravel shoes. I haven’t really had to clean them, even for the occasional photo shoot. If you let the dirt dry, an old toothbrush easily gets rid of dust and mud. The reflective strip on the heel is wipe clean and a useful safety touch.
As you can see from the pictures, they are still looking commendably fresh. The dirt that finds its way into harder-to-reach nooks and crannies on the tongue and mesh areas requires a proper soap and wash down to remove.
The MX238s aren’t light. They look and feel quite cumbersome and the priority here is clearly comfort and durability. One shoe and insole came in at 425g (EU 45) on my scales without a cleat fitted.
For context, the Quoc Gran Tourer shoes that Emma rode to Tunisa in weigh 345g per shoe (EU 43) while the Udog Distanzas weigh in at a claimed 330g (EU 42). They aren’t total outliers, as the Café du Cyclist Outlands Gravel Shoes weigh a claimed 370g per shoe (EU 43).
The rough with the smooth
When it comes to gravel, I am certainly no racer. I am mainly concerned about comfort, ease of maintenance, aesthetics, and walking short distances without having to hear that awful grinding sound of metal on stone. The MX238s score well in all of those departments.
If you are a racer, they come with a slight weight penalty and are actually more concerned with sturdiness and durability than speed. Perfecting the fit isn’t a breeze, but if you do, they have the potential to be extremely comfortable shoes. They still look great six months in and the double Boas are going strong, so if you’re willing to cough up the cash, the MX238s are a very strong option.
- Buy the Lake MX238 Gravel shoes now from Lake Shoes (£295)
Lake MX238 Gravel shoes specs
- Model: Lake MX238
- Weight: 850g (EU45 pair)
- Price: £295
- Sizes available: 36-50 (half sizes & regular/wide)
- Colours available: White/Black microfibre, Black Suede / Gold, Beetle/Black microfibre
