1. Surprisingly noticeable difference
I bought these just thinking it would be good to have some added foot and ankle protection, but I could never go back to regular shoes after riding with them. Obviously, the protection is there, but what is immediately noticeable when riding with these is that your foot and ankle feel so much more secure. You gain confidence when you ride because your whole foot is much stiffer and shifts feel crisper. The only thing I dislike about them is that the laces are super long and they're uncomfortable for walking around in, but they aren't for walking they're for riding.