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Over the past decade, we've purchased and tested more than 200 bike shoes to bring you our top picks for everything from road cycling to mountain biking.
Our favorite road cycling shoe is the Shimano S-Phyre RC903. It offers great comfort and impressive power transfer.
The Shimano S-Phyre RC903 adds comfort to the list of impressive performance features found in previous S-Phyre shoes. There are many reasons why you'll see this shoe on just as many feet in your local fast group as you will in professional pelotons. The carbon fiber outsole proved to be one of the absolute stiffest in our testing, and the upper complements the sole with how well it locks your foot in place – the result is nearly unmatched power transfer to your pedals. The RC903 also effectively clamps down on your heel, which encourages you to engage your hamstrings as you pedal for additional power. Despite the emphasis on performance, the updated cable routing makes for a comfortable fit that is as ideal for long days in the saddle as it is for quick sprints.
The two BOA Li2 dials per shoe offer excellent adjustability, but the decision to mount the rearward one on the closure flap makes putting on and taking off this shoe a two-handed operation. As much as we enjoyed wearing the RC903 on long rides, the super stiff outsole can cause foot fatigue if you ride with the closure locked down too tight for too long. If you tend to log long distances, we suggest comparing this shoe against the supremely comfortable Quoc Escape Road. Shimano wraps the outsole of the RC903 in the same synthetic leather as the upper, which, along with the plastic heel cup, can scratch easily. Although the issue is merely cosmetic, it's still a bummer to scratch such a beautiful shoe. But these are all relatively minor complaints. If you ride fast and rack up miles, the S-Phyre RC903 offers the all-out performance to make that happen.
The bright blue color of the Shimano S-Phyre RC903 stands out as much as its performance sets it apart. If this look feels too flashy, it's also available in more subdued colorways.
The Giro Cadet is a well-rounded performer with no standout features – it simply fades into the background while riding, allowing you to think about anything but your feet. These may sound a bit like back-handed compliments, but we promise that we hold shoes like this in the highest regard. The single BOA dial and hook-and-loop strap offer enough adjustability to comfortably fit most feet. The carbon-reinforced nylon sole is stiff enough to get most of the power from your legs to the pedals, and a thick heel pad rounds out a solidly built shoe that should last for quite a few years. The best part is that the versatile Cadet costs a fraction of many comparable options in our lineup.
To keep the price point low, the Cadet inevitably compromises a bit on performance despite sharing technologies with some of the more expensive shoes in the Giro lineup. The heel cup is well structured and nicely padded, but it doesn't lock in your heel as much as we would like during out-of-the-saddle efforts. It's also heavy compared to many other shoes we tested. Another option is the Shimano SH-RC100, which is lightweight and very affordable. If you're aiming for a bit more of a performance-oriented shoe, the Shimano SH-RC502 is a suitable option at the same price point. But as a do-it-all, entry-level option, the Cadet is the right shoe for a majority of road cyclists. It offers an excellent blend of comfort, performance, and durability at a relatively accessible price.
The Quoc Escape Road won us over with its relaxed demeanor. A supple, synthetic leather upper and evenly distributed pressure from a single dial closure make for a supremely comfortable cycling shoe. Although other shoes we've tested offer greater adjustability, Quoc's proprietary dial system gently presses your foot against the sole of the shoe without concentrating pressure on any one part. The polyurethane leather upper conforms beautifully to your foot, offering a fit that's more of a pleasant hug than a squeeze. The Escape Road isn't in a rush to get anywhere. Instead, it's sure to offer a comfortable ride no matter how long of an adventure you go on.
With such a single-minded focus on comfort, the Escape Road is lacking a bit in other areas of performance, most notably power transfer. With a generally soft fit, our testing revealed a very flexible outsole. On the bike, we noticed that the upper is stretchy enough that hard efforts often cause your foot to move around inside of the shoe. This is particularly interesting because the toe box is fairly narrow (and Quoc only offers this shoe in one width). Finding an equally comfortable cycling shoe with significantly more requires stepping up a price bracket into something like the Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2. But for riders who couldn't care less about Strava KOMs and rather seek out long, casual rides, the Quoc Escape Road is a compelling option.
The Quoc Escape Road's sole deflected 12.1 millimeters on the jig we used to test flexion, which validated our experience on the bike during hard efforts. But the Escape is made for comfort, not competition, and in that sense it excels in its design.
The Freerider Pro has become the standard that all other bike shoes are compared to in the world of flats. When using flat bike pedals, the grip of your shoe is crucial, and Five Ten's Stealth rubber has long held its reputation as the best rubber available. This model offers the best pedal grip we've seen in a flat bike shoe — offering the next best form of attachment besides clipping in. The midsole of this option is stiff, gifting quality power transfer while simultaneously keeping foot fatigue to a reasonable level. Our testers were still able to strut around the brewery or the coffee shop off-the-bike in these shoes, with a slight amount of toe flex, allowing relative comfort for non-pedal travel. The Freerider Pro's medium-volume design accommodates a healthy variety of foot sizes and shapes with a modest, padded upper construction, offering protection without feeling cumbersome. This shoe is definitely worthy of your consideration if you're looking for top-of-the-line flats.
While it's considered an asset to have grippy shoes, the Freerider Pro might be too grippy for some riders who like to switch their foot position often. Being able to adjust foot positions easily is one of the mainstay positives for choosing flats over clipless. Also, the durable construction of this model unfortunately comes at the cost of breathability, causing our feet to get sweaty, especially on hot days. For those needing better breathability, the Five Ten TrailCross LT offers excellent ventilation. If you're seeking an option with an ankle cuff, check out the Five Ten Freerider Pro Mid VCS, which offers similar quality. Besides a few small drawbacks, the Freerider Pro is an incredible shoe that tops the charts for all of our testers.
The Giro Latch blew our testers away with nearly flawless performance in our rigorous and comprehensive testing. This option, first and foremost, keeps your feet attached to the pedals, even on rowdy terrain. The Latch is also built with Mute Foam and Tack Rubber on top of Gamma Tread, impressively absorbing bumps and vibrations normally felt in the pedal. Giro's Tack Rubber allows some foot movement but still gifts riders with excellent grip. The Latch strikes a balance between pedal performance and walkability, with a midsole offering some (but not too much) flex. Lastly, this option boasts a high score in the weight category, further solidifying the Latch as a top-notch choice for flats.
Before you rush out to purchase the Giro Latch, it's worth noting it doesn't offer the best breathability. Its microfiber construction in the upper does breathe ok for a mountain bike shoe, but if you need something better, we'd recommend the Specialized 2FO Roost Flat. The Latch also doesn't offer the best protection for more technical riding, with options such as the Five Ten Freerider Pro - Women's better suited for downhill/rougher trails. Despite these setbacks, the Latch is a good choice if you're seeking flats that can handle cross-country or trail riding — we thoroughly enjoyed its comfort, weight, and bump absorption.
The Ride Concepts Livewire is an excellent option that ticks virtually all of the boxes for an all-mountain bike shoe. This model offers an outsole made with Rubber Kinetics – an unwaveringly reliable rubber that maintains grip on even the bumpiest of trails. The Livewire strikes a decent balance with its mid-range sole stiffness, allowing for pedal performance without sacrificing its ability to walk, whether on the trail or at the pub. We were pleased with the protection offered by this model, with molded toe and heel construction and D30 inserts that help absorb impact. There's a lot to love about this shoe, and with a medium-volume fit, it'll work for many riders.
The Livewire isn't the stiffest option available, making it less ideal for those seeking the best in power transfer. At 458 grams per shoe for a size 11, it's not the lightest pair either, so it's not the best choice if you have a need for speed. If that's the case, we'd recommend the Giro Latch, which has a stiffer midsole for pedaling and is lighter. We are also fans of the rigidity and lightweight feel of the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch. Many riders will find these setbacks to be minor and will love the Livewire as an amicably priced, versatile shoe.
The Specialized 2FO Roost Clip is a great option that's friendly to your wallet and to your ride. Don't let the casual appearance fool you – these shoes provide great power to your pedaling and can handle most of your rides- just keep them out of the downhill park. The 2FO Roost Clip offers the coveted SlipNot FG sole, which keeps your feet happy whether you're on your pedals or walking your bike. We also loved the high adjustability of the pedal positioning, allowing you to dial in the pedaling fit you want. Considering this option's low price point, we can't recommend this model enough.
While our heels were securely held, the Roost Clip has a relaxed fit that can cause some lateral movement in the midfoot. We were able to handle technical sections of the trail, whether up or down, but some riders will want a tighter feel. Despite this detail, the Rooster Clip still gifts excellent power transfer and felt like a dream on our feet — we still can't believe its pedal performance for being a lace-up shoe. If you need an option that performs better, look into the Crankbrothers Mallet Boa, though it's more pricey. Another option is the Ride Concepts Wildcat - Women's. With a mid-cut design and beefy construction, the wildcat will offer more in terms of foot security. At the end of the day, this option is worthy of your consideration as an all-arounder mountain bike shoe, and its affordable price will help you afford other needed bike purchases.
Besides riding in a lift-accessed bike park, these shoes were incredible all-arounders.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
How We Test Bike Shoes
If you add up the years we've each spent biking, our testing team here at OutdoorGearLab has collectively spent a few hundred years riding bikes. We've combined that wealth of experience and created objective, rigorous testing processes for each of our bike shoe reviews to help you make an informed decision on your next purchase. We buy every single shoe ourselves, accepting zero handouts from companies to ensure a bias-free assessment of every option. We've used and abused each bike shoe in several different environments, from the misty coastal roads of California to the dry slickrock of the Utah desert, to ensure every product's best and worst qualities are unearthed.
Every shoe's scoring metrics include durability, weight, performance, and comfort. Each type of biking has unique demands for the rider's shoe, so each category has additional unique metrics to help you objectively find the best pair of biking shoes for your needs. So, dive into each of the reviews to learn more about our testing processes.
Testing flat pedal shoes on tight turns.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why Trust GearLab
Our star-studded testing team is passionate about every facet of biking. It's made up of certified mountain bike guides, champion road cyclists, bike designers, and guidebook authors.
Our lead tester for cycling shoes, Arthur Richardson lives and breathes bikes. Now living in the bike-hub that is Bellingham, Washington, he grew up riding road bikes in Northern California, where he also worked in a bike shop for seven years. If something is related to road bikes, Arthur likely has an opinion about it. Tara Reddinger-Adams is a professional mountain bike guide, coach, and avid rider. In 2016, she received certifications in a Bicycle Instructor Certification Program (BICP) Level I and Professional Mountain Bike Instructor (PMBI) Level I. Since then, she has started her own business, guiding and coaching hundreds of clients across the US, and has leveled up to BICP Level II and PMBI Level II “Air” certifications. She leads the charge for our women's biking reviews.
We take specs like weight, size, and other measurements so you can decide which shoe is right for you.
We take each pair of bike shoes out for field testing to see how they perform on different types of terrain.
Whether you go with clipless or flats, we've tested the best options for each.
Jeremy Benson and Pat Donahue have both worked stints as Senior Mountain Bike Editor at OutdoorGearLab and have teamed up to take on our reviews of men's mountain bike shoes. Jeremy is a professional-class mountain and gravel bike racer with a slight addiction to Strava. He has lived in North Lake Tahoe for almost two decades and is the author of Mountain Bike Tahoe. Pat has been riding bikes his whole life and has dipped his toe in everything from downhill and enduro races to full-day endurance rides. Today, he co-owns a local bike shop in South Lake Tahoe. This exceptional testing team has decades of experience in professional and personal riding, and is here to offer you top-tier advice to help you choose your next pair of bike shoes.
Feeling locked in with the right shoes can provide a sense of confidence when tackling tricky features.
Credit: Jake Pritchett
How to Pick the Best Bike Shoes
Our feet are the only parts of our body that make contact with the pedals of a bike, making our biking footwear among the most crucial elements of any bike setup. Whether you're a mountain biker or a road biker, quality bike shoes that fit you correctly are just as important as which bike you buy. Fortunately, a bike shoe is a much more affordable piece of equipment to purchase or upgrade than buying or upgrading an entire bike as long as you find the right shoe for you.
There are many different types of bike shoes but finding the right option for you isn't as daunting as you might think.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Clips, Clipless or Flat Pedals
For those newer to cycling or mountain biking, one of the greatest misunderstandings is what it means to have clips, clipless or flat biking pedals, or shoes. We totally get it — we've had those same misunderstandings, too. Until the 1890s, bike pedals were all that we would consider flats today, meaning a flat platform pedal that can be used with any shoe, and the rider is not attached to the bike. In the 1890s, pedal toe straps/clips became an option for cyclists, which allowed the rider to attach their feet to the pedal with a toe cage and straps. While designs varied, these clip pedals were all unreliable in terms of how well they kept your foot attached to the pedal. In more intense pedaling, riders could experience their foot slipping out, but in a crash, a rider might stay attached. While designs existed much earlier, it wasn't until the 1970s when “clipless” pedals became widely used, where a rider had a sort of cleat on the bottom of their shoe that would lock into the bike pedal and no longer needed clips (toe cages) to attach their foot to the bike. These clipless pedals were initially dangerous in a crash since they didn't release, but spring innovations rapidly improved their designs and allowed for shoe release in a tumble. It also became simpler to get into and out of the pedal, with a simple step-down motion to get in and a heel twist/pivot to get out.
Clipless pedals, pictured in the foreground, have become a quintessential part of a bike setup and, subsequently, clipless shoes (all shoes in this photo) as well.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Present-day clipless bike pedals and shoes have nearly perfected their design, and they are really the only option recommended for invested road cyclists. In the mountain biking world, one has the option to use flat (platform) bike shoes/pedals or clipless. While you can still buy toe clip pedals from a few manufacturers, we would recommend using clipless or flats for any biking to maximize performance and safety. It's also important to note there are multiple types of clipless pedals available, and one will likely need to buy a different cleat for their bike shoes (or just transfer your pedals) if switching from road to mountain biking or vice versa.
Modern-day clipless bike shoes and pedals offer an unparalleled way to connect to your bike. Clipless systems range from trimmed down “egg beater” pedals to hybrid offerings like this one that still offer a platform that's reminiscent of flats.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Cycling Shoes
Cycling, or road bike shoes, are the lightest category of bike shoes. They tend to be extremely aerodynamic compared to the relatively clunky mountain bike options. These shoes offer the greatest pedaling efficiency, incorporating a stiff sole build that is frequently made of carbon fiber. Even though entirely carbon outsoles are the highest performing, they're also typically the most expensive, so a hybrid of nylon and carbon can be an excellent compromise between performance and value. The cleat in the forefoot of the shoe protrudes from the sole, further aiding efficiency and a level of pedaling power found only in this category of bike shoes. Cycling shoes also generally offer unparalleled breathability by opting for lightweight synthetic materials in the upper shoe construction.
Road bike shoes are the most sleek and aerodynamic category of our various bike shoes.
Credit: Ryan Baham
Unlike mountain bike shoes, cycling shoes are not designed for walking around. The hard pads that improve the durability of the outsole offer minimal traction, and a higher forefoot than the heel makes for a very awkward stride. Compared to mountain bike flats, walking around in cycling shoes sounds like tap-dancing on the pavement. While some options are better than others for walking, if you're utilizing a road bike as a commuter, we simply recommend keeping a pair of normal shoes at the office or in your backpack. While it's possible to use cycling shoes for mountain biking, we generally discourage this unless you are focusing on cross-country riding.
Whether a road cyclist or a downhill mountain biker, there's an excellent option for you and your feet.
Credit: Andrew Crook
Mountain Bike Clipless Shoes
Clipless mountain bike shoes are intended for those seeking clipless pedals and shoes for their unpaved adventures. Being attached to your mountain bike allows for better pedaling power/efficiency and maneuvering over, around, or through most features you'll encounter on the trail compared to flats. When you're attached to your pedal, you need to be more exact with your shoe fit, as any unnecessary space (or improper sizing) can encourage more rubbing/blistering than flats. While good pedaling technique involves minimal upward pull on the pedal, we all do it, so your shoe needs to fit your pedal stroke in multiple directions.
Mountain bike clipless offerings are many riders' preferred shoe/pedal system due the feel of being more connected to the bike and superior pedaling/power transfer.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Mountain bike shoes have a few different designs that can garner strong opinions depending on the type of biking you're looking to do. Cyclists who are more oriented to racing and cross-country rides may prefer a slimmer, road bike-esc shoe with less rubber. These are frequently the lightest shoes in the category, but with reduced rubber, they can be less friendly for hiking a bike on the trail. These shoes' aesthetics are also an acquired taste should you go out to dinner or to a brewery after a ride. The other common sub-class of mountain bike shoes is the more casual, downhill-friendly design. These look similar to flats with a wider shape and sticky rubber but with an insert for cleats in the forefoot. These are more commonly used with wider clipless pedals that offer more stability for technical downhill riding with a platform that's reminiscent of flat pedals.
Mountain bike shoes feature many different types of soles and last shapes. The far left shoe is more akin to road bike shoes in its narrow profile and lack of sticky rubber when compared to the other three options.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Avid mountain bikers are split between riding clipless or flats (arguably more riders are in the clipless camp), but if you're new to the sport, consider starting on flats as you can more easily hop off your bike on the trail as you learn the basics. While any clipless system will ultimately release in a crash, that release will not necessarily happen immediately, and you might be attached for a second longer than you'd like. Some do start off learning to mountain bike clipless, but they anticipate a steeper learning curve.
If you're getting into mountain biking, clipless pedals/shoes take some getting used to- if you come up on a trail feature you can't just simply step off your bike, you have to do a heel twist and unlock your cleats first.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Flat Bike Shoes
This type of shoe doesn't have cleats and can only be used with flat/platform pedals. Flat shoes are the most versatile of any bike footwear genre, as they can also be used hanging around town as much as on the trail. Typically, these shoes will have a flat, wide bottom to maximize surface area on a flat pedal and will likely be made with some form of sticky rubber to stick better to the pedal. The sticky rubber used in a flat biking shoe is either similar or identical to the rubber used in approach/climbing shoes, where sticky rubber is essential for performance and safety. Without cleats and gifting excellent rubber, these shoes are likely to excel at hiking your bike if you come up on a technical section of a trail you don't want to ride or are sessioning a feature and want to run laps.
Mountain bike flats, when paired with the right-sized pedal, can still allow riders to connect to each pedal stroke.
Credit: Byron Adams
Mountain bike flats reduce pedaling efficiency when compared to clipless, but finding a pedal that fits your bike shoe's forefoot dimensions can greatly improve your pedal stroke and downhill performance. As previously mentioned in our mountain bike shoes section above, these are an excellent option for those just getting into mountain biking, as you can hop off your bike quickly. Mountain bike flats are also a great option for commuters and casual, recreational cyclists in an urban environment who want a more protective shoe for biking but still want the aesthetics of a more normal-looking shoe.
Mountain bike flats often offer a more casual aesthetic than clipless shoes and are extremely pleasant to walk or hike in.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Conclusions
Whether you're an avid road cyclist or a budding mountain biker, there's an excellent bike shoe for you and your budget. The shoes highlighted in this article are all award-winning models in their respective categories and have earned their place as the top options. We encourage you to pedal through this page and ride to the in-depth category reviews to find the right companion for your biking feet.
—Ryan Baham, Tara Reddinger-Adams, Jeremy Benson, Pat Donahue, and Arthur Richardson
