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The best bicycle shoes are a must-have for anyone who takes riding seriously, but which ones are best for you will depend on what kind of cycling you do. To get the most out of one of the best road bikes, you’ll need a pair of top-spec shoes. If you ride a gravel bike most of the time, you’ll want the best gravel bike shoes. Commuter bike riders, on the other hand, will want the best bicycle shoes for commuting.
Cycling is a sport for the feet. Even though the foot doesn’t make any power on its own, all of the watts made elsewhere pass through your toes. So, shoes that don’t fit right can cause pain and also slow you down. Phil Burt, a former British Cycling physiotherapist and bike fitter at his own company, Phil Burt Innovation, told us: “If you’re wearing a shoe that doesn’t fit right, it will rub around the little toe and cause pain between the first and second toes, where many people feel tingling or numbness.”
Best Cycling Shoes Comaprison Table
Product Name | Type of Shoe | Closure System | Sole Material | Weight (Approx.) | Price Range |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SHIMANO RC5 CYCLING SHOES | Road Cycling Shoes | BOA | Carbon | 255g | $150-$250 |
Tommaso Strada Mens Cycling Shoes | Road Cycling Shoes | 3-strap | Nylon | 283g | $90-$120 |
X5 Terra | Mountain Biking Shoes | BOA/strap | Composite | 365g | $200-$250 |
Nike Mens Superrep Cycle Indoor | Indoor Cycling Shoes | BOA/strap | Rubber | 300g | $120-$150 |
Cycling Shoes | |||||
Giro Regime Mens Road Cycling Shoes | Road Cycling Shoes | BOA | Carbon | 265g | $150-$225 |
SHIMANO RC5 CYCLING SHOES

Type | Road Cycling Shoes |
---|---|
Closure Type | Boa Dial |
Sole Material | Carbon |
Gender | Unisex |
Weight | 245g |
Color | Black, Blue, White |
Shimano has used the technology from its top-of-the-line S-Phyre, which is shown below as an example of a great, but more expensive, bicycle shoe, to make a shoe that is both cheap and good. One of the BOA dials has been replaced with a Velcro strap to lower the price, and the dials are the L6 type, which only ratchets tighter.
This is different from the IP1 dials on the S-Phyre, which let you loosen the tension in 1mm steps. But this hasn’t come at the expense of being useful. These shoes were very comfortable, and no hot spots showed up on long rides outside or inside. You can feel the air coming in through the many holes in the top, which helps to keep your feet cool.
The Good
- Easy to carry and comfortable
- Power is transferred well with a carbon sole
- The Boa dial makes it easy and safe to get a good fit.
The Bad
- Could be too small for some types of feet
Tommaso Strada Mens Cycling Shoes

Type | Road Cycling Shoes |
---|---|
Closure Type | 3 Velcro Straps |
Sole Material | Fiberglass-injected Nylon |
Gender | Men’s |
Weight | 315g |
Color | Black, White |
Since 1985, our cycling shoes, bikes, and other cycling goods made in Italy have made riders look like pros. But we are more than just cool stuff; we are a group of people. Our customer service team in Denver is great about bikes and can help with any questions or problems. Also, our “Lifetime Warranty Replacement Promise” gives you the confidence to put our gear to the test over and over again. We hope you’ll join The Ride to have fun, get fit, and meet new people.
With the Strada shoes, you’ll be ready for your best ride yet. These shoes are made to work both indoors and outdoors, and they can be used with any kind of gear, whether you’re spinning or road racing. Performance depends on having the right gear, so these shoes let you choose your favourite wheels and get set up to do your best. The Strada shoes are made to make you feel great every time you ride, whether you’re a pro or just starting out.
The Good
- Option for beginning and intermediate cyclists that is not too expensive
- With 3 Velcro straps, it’s easy to get a good fit.
- The fiberglass-injected nylon sole makes the shoes light and durable.
The Bad
- May not be stiff enough for advanced cyclists. Not many colour choices.
X5 Terra

Type | Mountain Biking Shoes |
---|---|
Closure Type | BOA L6 Dial and Strap |
Sole Material | Carbon Reinforced |
Gender | Unisex |
Weight | 315g |
Color | Black |
The new Terra X5 shoes are made to be a two-bolt cycle shoe with a price in the middle of the range. They have the same bottom unit as the £190 M4B shoe, but cost £150 less. For an extra £10, you can get a shoe with a waterproof suede upper instead of the normal synthetic leather one.
Both Terra X5 types close with the same L6 Boa, but the Fizik Terra X5 also has a lower Velcro strap. This is different from the M4B. As with the Fizik M5B Uomo shoes we’ve tried before, this strap doesn’t change much about how well the upper fits. I put the shoe on and then took it off, but I didn’t use it.
The Good
- The BOA L6 Dial and Strap closure makes it easy to get a good fit.
- Carbon-reinforced soles make the shoes last.
- Great traction and grip on rough terrain
The Bad
- May not be good for riding long distances. Not many colour choices.
Nike Mens Superrep Cycle Indoor Cycling Shoes

Type | Indoor Cycling Shoes |
---|---|
Closure Type | BOA L6 Dial and Hook and Loop Strap |
Sole Material | Rubber |
Gender | Men’s |
Weight | 360g |
Color | Black, Grey, Green |
Even though these shoes are very different from what we’ve come to expect from Nike’s cycling shoes, they’re very similar to the SuperRep line of exercise shoes. As a result, the shoes have an expressive and bold design with a black/red colorway that makes the perfect medium for the brand’s famous Swoosh logo.
Inside and under the shoe, there are more features. The bottom is made of a nylon-based material with a textured pattern, and the toe and heel areas have orange traction pads to match. Inside the shoe, there is a decorative SupeRep pattern on the inner bottom, which can be taken out.
The Good
- Designed for indoor cycling, with a BOA L6 Dial and Hook and Loop Strap closure for a secure fit.
- The rubber sole is durable and gives you a good grip on indoor cycling pedals.
The Bad
- May not be good for cycling outside
Giro Regime Mens Road Cycling Shoes

Type | Road Cycling Shoes |
---|---|
Closure Type | BOA Li2 Dial and Hook and Loop Strap |
Sole Material | Carbon |
Gender | Men’s |
Weight | 265g |
Color | Black, White, Red |
The Giro Regime Cycling Shoes are the real deal. They have dual Boa L6 dials that let you change the fit in milliseconds, a breathable but seam-free Synchwire top, and laser-perforated ventilation to keep your feet cool. We also found that they were comfortable right out of the box, so we could go faster on our Peloton without getting sore feet.
The Giro Regime Cycling Shoes are at the top of our list of the best shoes for Peloton because they have all of these high-end features. So, if you want a good bicycle shoe that looks good and works even better, we can’t say enough good things about these.
The Good
The Bad
FAQs
Cycling shoes are a specialized type of footwear designed for cycling. They typically have a stiff sole that helps to transfer power efficiently from the feet to the pedals, and a secure closure system to keep the shoes firmly in place while cycling.
Road cycle shoes are made to be used on smooth, paved surfaces. They usually have a stiff sole that helps power get to the pedals as efficiently as possible. Mountain biking shoes, on the other hand, are made for riding off-road and usually have a more flexible sole that gives you a better grip on uneven ground.
Clipless pedals are a type of pedal system that lets you attach your bicycle shoes more securely to the pedals. This can help cyclists get more speed and better control.