
That was the reaction of my LBS. Affordable, reasonable footprint surface for potentially non-cleated shoes used with my gravel bike to which they're paired. Like the dark color (hopefully it lasts).
This is my 2nd pair for a new gravel bike and they are working out just as well as the first pair. They feel more stable than the equivalent Shimano MTB. My only complaint about both of my sets is that after install I've had to loosen/adjust them to what I guess is the least tight setting, otherwise I have a struggle getting out of the cleats quickly when I need too, which is especially important on trails and gravel roads with the new gravel bike. But at the least-tight setting I can get out when I need to and yet they don't then release when I don't want them to when cranking up steep hills or whatever.