Northwave Aerlite S.B.S. Shoe - Men's Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered a pair of these Northwave Bike Aerlite S.B.S. men's road cycling shoes (blue/white), after having done a search and found an excellent price here on Amazon, as compared to elsewhere. After I received them today I discovered why.
The online photo and description shows and states that these shoes have two Velcro straps and an S.B.S. micro-adjustable buckle. The pair I received have three Velcro straps, no buckle. I thought perhaps they sent me the wrong model shoes but the correct model is printed on the shoe and the box. What is funny is that there's even a tag attached to each shoe that describes how the non-existent micro-adjustable buckle system works.
Another misleading bit of information in the description has to do with the cleats. It says "Cleat included:" in the list of features. There is not a "Yes" or "No" after the colon. Someone (like me) may not notice the colon and think that these shoes include cleats - they do not.
Finally, the country of origin for these shoes is China, which is stated in the description. I searched online for other retailers who are selling this model shoe and some of them state the country of origin is Italy. I don't know if what I received is a cheap knockoff of a quality Italian made shoe or what. I do know that this price is no bargain for a three Velcro strap cycling shoe made in China.
I have contacted the vendor for an RMA # and am returning them. They were polite but I could have avoided this hassle and return shipping charges if the online description and photo had been accurate.
Review Update: It has been four days since I wrote the above review. The vendor (backcountry.com) just called me and apologized for the error. They said the shoes I received were last year's model and somehow got mixed in with this year's. The micro-adjustable buckle is a new feature. They are sending me a replacement pair before they even have the other ones back. I've read that Backcountry.com stands behind their products 100% and this proves it to me. Although this initially caused me some grief they've won me over as a future customer with their excellent customer service.



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You want to be a part of your bike, or have your bike be a part of you - the perfect fusion of man and machine. Northwave knows how you feel. That's why the developed the Aerlite S.B.S. Using innovative carbon technology, Northwave developed ST (stiff and thin) soles for ultimate stiffness with minimum thickness. This means direct, immediate power transfer for optimum efficiency and acceleration.Product Features
Material: [Upper] Microfiber, Aerator Mesh
Lining:
Soleplate: carbon fiber, thermoformed wooden arch insert
Tread: No
Lacing: 2 hook-and-loop straps, 1 ratchet
Cleat Compatibility: 3-hole road
Weight: [Pair, 43] 24.4oz (692g)
Recommended Use: Road biking
Manufacturer Warranty:

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