Shop Pro-Approved Cycling Shoes for Your Next Race or Spin Class

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shop-pro-approved-cycling-shoes-for-your-next-race-or-spin-class — Shop Pro-Approved Cycling Shoes for Your Next Race or Spin Class

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Cycling shoes can be intimidating—particularly the idea of wearing something that locks your feet right to your bike’s pedals. “Most folks will have one or two times that they tip over at a stoplight as they’re getting used to [clipping in and out],” cycling coach and former pro racer Sarah Kaufman tells SELF. Not exactly an ideal (or ego-boosting) situation.

But how do you know if you even need clip-in shoes? And if you do, should you get a pair with two or three-bolt cleats? What about straightforward laces or fancy Boa dials?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you. We rounded up the best cycling shoes to wear, whether you’re racing for the podium, tackling some gnarly trails on a mountain bike, or sweating it out in spin class. We also asked a handful of experts to break down the differences between top pairs and brands, so you can be confident you’re making the right decision before you buy. Read on to get the full breakdown.

Our top picks

Best for Road Biking: Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2, $280
Best for Mountain Biking: Shimano SH-GF400, $130
Best for Indoor Cycling: Nike SuperRep Cycle 2 NN Premium, $130
Best Budget Pick: Fizik Tempo R5 Powerstrap, $91
Best for Beginners: Adidas Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoes, $110
Best for Wide Feet: Lake Cx242 Endurance Wide, $400
Best Casual: Chaco Z/2 Classic Sandals, $105

Shop the best cycling shoes

These picks will make your pedaling more efficient and keep your feet happy.

Best for Road Biking: Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2

Fizik

Vento Infinito Carbon 2

For a top-of-the-line road biking shoe that’ll help you perform at your best, Kaufman swears by the Infinito. It’s as stiff as any rider could ask for, thanks to a carbon fiber outsole. But it’s also made to actually feel good, with an upper that wraps around to support your plantar fascia (a band of tissue that runs across the sole of your foot).

Kaufman, who hates when her shoes feel loose, also appreciates how easy it is to adjust the fit as she’s riding. Both dials (one near the ankle, one further down on the midfoot) are super easy to use: “This higher-end Boa dial, you can tighten it by one click,” she says. “I can reach down all I want and change the tightness.”

Sounds good, but need a similar style for mountain biking? Fizik’s Vento Ferox Carbon is the Infinito’s two-bolt, off-road sibling. “It’s the same last (a.k.a design), the same foot shape—just a different sole and different cleat interface,” Kaufman says.

Sizes: 4.5 to 13.5 | Weight: 8 oz | Fastening system: Li2 Boa | Cleats: 3-bolt

Best for Mountain Biking: Shimano SH-GF400

Adventure cyclist Marley Blonksy, co-founder of the movement All Bodies on Bikes, used to slip on different shoes for road biking, gravel biking, and mountain biking. But after injuring her knee, she now prioritizes comfort over anything else—and these flat shoes that don’t require clipping in deliver just that.

She wears them for nearly all of her bike rides. “A lot of people think that if you’re a ‘real cyclist,’ that you’ll be clipping in and wearing the click-clack shoes. But I’ve been riding bikes professionally for a long time, and I ride flats,” she tells SELF. She prefers the ease and versatility of being able to simply hop off her bike and walk around whenever she reaches her destination (or makes a stop mid-ride).

Blonsky also says she feels confident and stylish in these once she hops off her bike. “They look like skateboarding shoes, and if I’m wearing them with jeans or shorts, it doesn’t scream, ‘Hey, I rode a bike here,’” she says.

Sizes: 5 to 11 | Weight: 12 oz | Fastening system: Laces | Cleats: Flat

Best for Indoor Cycling: Nike SuperRep Cycle 2 NN Premium

Nike

SuperRep Cycle 2 NN Premium

Although it’s fine to wear your outdoor cycling shoes when you hop on an indoor bike (as long as the cleats match up), just know that your feet will heat up more in your home or a cycling studio, Kaufman warns. That’s because there’s less airflow inside—so, if you spin often, it might be worth investing in a separate pair that’s extra breathable.

These shoes from Nike fit the bill, with a light mesh upper, plus vents under the sole. Meanwhile, a stiff inner plate helps you push off with each pedal stroke. Plus, the subtly metallic design will make nearly any cycling ‘fit pop (which we argue is still important, even if you’re the only one who sees it).

Even better: These kicks won’t prematurely kick the bucket. “I’ve had them for five years, and they’re still great,” dedicated Peloton fan and longtime road cyclist Diana Richardson tells SELF. “The Velcro is still super strong!”

Sizes: 5 to 12 | Weight: 9.6 oz | Fastening system: Velcro | Cleats: Compatible with 3-bolt and 2-bolt cleats (sold separately)

Best Budget Pick: Fizik Tempo R5 Powerstrap

Racing shoes for road biking can get super pricey (we’re talking $400-plus). But this pair from Fizik offers a great bang for your buck. It keeps the price lower with Velcro closures and a nylon composite (rather than fully carbon) outsole.

But instead of having just one or two straps across the foot, Fizik designed the wide closures here to criss-cross the shoe like a ribbon, helping you get a more secure fit. One strap adjusts pressure on the instep, while the other runs across the midfoot.

The brand rates the sole stiffness a six out of 10, so this isn’t the best race-day shoe. Yet with hundreds of five-star ratings on Amazon, it’s clearly got a major fan base among budget-conscious cyclists.

Sizes: 4.5 to 13.5 | Weight: 9 oz | Fastening system: Velcro | Cleats: 3-bolt (sold separately)

Best for Beginners: Adidas Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoes

Adidas

Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoes

Not ready to make the leap to clip-ins? No problem. Just look for a dedicated flat pedal biking shoe with a fairly stiff sole, Kaufman suggests. She recommends Five Tens, thanks to their easy-going, skater-style aesthetic and grippy tread.

“It’s going to have a sole that is a little gummy because, even though you’re not clipping in, you want the shoe to be pretty well attached to the pedal,” she says. Plus, at just $110, these are a relatively budget-friendly starter shoe. (And even if your bike ends up gathering dust in the garage—hey, it happens—you’ll still have a cute pair of kicks you can wear without it.)

Sizes: 5 to 11 | Weight: 13.2 oz | Fastening system: Laces | Cleats: Flat

Best for Wide Feet: Lake Cx242 Endurance Wide

Lake Cycling has a reputation for making wide foot-friendly cycling shoes. This model was designed in collaboration with a pro racer who needed extra room for her bunions, Kaufman says. Six separated panels provides a little extra wiggle room right where you need it, with two premium Boa dials to zero in on the perfect pressure around any sensitive areas.

“It has these flaps that encircle the shoe to be really variable across the length of the foot,” Kaufman explains. Bonus: The heel is designed so you can heat these shoes up in the oven, then mold them to your foot, so they fit just right.

Taking your ride on rockier routes? For a mountain biking version of this shoe, check out the two-bolt Mx242.

Sizes: 6.5 to 20 | Weight: 11.5 oz | Fastening system: Boa Li2 dials | Cleats: 3-bolt

Best Casual: Chaco Z/2 Classic Sandals

While sandals made for watersports might sound like an odd choice for cycling, Blonsky swears by her Chacos in the summer. “If I’m going to the beach and I don’t want to change shoes, I ride in sandals. But I’ll opt for Chacos that have a stiffer sole, rather than flip-flops,” she says. The firm strap system helps her feet feel protected and keeps her from worrying that her sandals will go flying.

But she can still easily enjoy the fun destinations at the end of her journey. “When you go to the beach or go to the river, you can just leave your shoes on and get in,” she says. “I’m all about practicality.” She adds that Bedrock sandals are also a popular pick among adventurous riders looking for a similar kind of versatility, but she herself has always been a “Chaco girly.”

Sizes: 5 to 12 | Weight: 11 oz | Fastening system: Adjustable straps | Cleats: Flat

What to look for when choosing cycling shoes

Cycling shoes should be snug enough that your heel doesn’t slip out the back, but not so tight that your toes can’t wiggle a little. “I think it’s probably a fairly common misconception that your cycling shoes should be really tight,” Renee Eastman, a cycling coach with CTS in Colorado, tells SELF. They also have a reputation for running narrow—but you don’t want your foot to be squished so much that your toes go numb.

That said, Kaufman points out the fit depends on your riding goals: While you’ll want a high-end racing shoe to fit “like a glove,” a shoe you plan to walk around in should have a bit more breathing room.

Cycling shoes with cleats that clip into your pedals can help you ride more efficiently. “You’re locked in, so for the full rotation of your pedal strokes, the up and the down, you’re transferring your force,” Blonsky says. But not all clip-in shoes are the same. The pedals on a road bike usually call for a shoe with three-bolt cleats that stick out the bottom of the sole. Most mountain and gravel bikes, on the other hand, have pedals that work with two-bolt cleats. These recess into the sole, so you can easily hop off and walk through un-bikeable sections of a trail.

Cycling shoes come with a few different fastening systems. Simple Velcro straps are found on many less expensive pairs, Eastman says. On pricier shoes, you’re more likely to see a ratchet system (like a Boa dial closure) that’s a little higher tech and might last you longer. Both are easy to adjust as you’re riding. “On a strap or a Boa, you could just reach down while you’re cycling if your foot was a little uncomfortable,” Eastman says.

Another option is laces, which are trendy right now, Kaufman says. But they don’t offer that flexibility to adjust on the go, and there’s also the potential that they could come untied and wrap around your cranks. (Just ask Blonsky: “When I was a kid, I had that happen, and you’re stuck to your bicycle,” she says. “That can be really dangerous.”) Still, some people like the old-school comfort of being able to simply lace up a shoe. “It is just personal preference,” Kaufman says.

Whether you’re clipping in or not, look for a cycling shoe with a stiff sole. “If you’re riding in a really soft sneaker, every time you press down on the pedals, some of that energy is going to just compress a squishy sole,” Kaufman says. This is even more critical for racing—some top-of-the-line cycling shoes will even have a carbon plate in the sole to make it extra rigid. But super stiff shoes aren’t the most comfortable to walk in, so if you want a pair that’s more versatile, you can go softer.

How we picked these cycling shoes

First, we spoke with coaches and serious cyclists about what to look for in a good pair of cycling shoes. Then, we picked their brains on their personal favorites and top recs.

We also tracked down which of today’s models have dedicated followings among coaches, pros, and everyday cyclists, scouring dozens of online reviews and personal accounts. We considered qualities like performance, comfort, durability, adjustability, and fit. Any shoes that made this list checked off all of our experts’ must-haves, with reputations for being comfy enough for long distances, but efficient enough to pull off speedy rides.

Frequently asked questions about cycling shoes

Are running shoes okay for cycling?

Technically, yes. If you’re just heading out the door for a casual five-mile ride, and all you’ve got are running shoes, sure, it’s fine to wear your running shoes. But know that the cushy foam underfoot is going to compress into the pedal with each stroke, eating up extra energy, Kaufman warns.

“Not only are you losing some power transfer from the bottom of the shoe flexing every time you pedal, but you could also get some arch fatigue from that constant bending of your foot,” Eastman adds. Even if you don’t want to clip in, you’re better off with a flat, stiff sneaker like Adidas’s Five Ten shoes, which are made for biking.

Can I walk around in cycling shoes?

Clip-on road biking shoes are not meant to be walked around in. “Most of the cleats are made of plastic, so walking on them wears them down, and [eventually] they don’t lock into the pedal as well,” Eastman says. She adds that you can get covers to put over your cleats if, say, you want to stop at a coffee shop mid-ride.

Otherwise, mountain biking shoes with two-bolt cleats and flat pedal biking shoes are both made so that you can easily walk in them.