Of all the major contact points with the bike, your feet have perhaps the greatest workload and responsibility, so it’s vital that the interface between them and your pedals is up to the job. Whether you ride on- or off-road there are two main considerations here – whether you ride clipless or flat pedals, and how the shoes are held on to your feet.
The first point is largely moot on tarmac as most roadies ride clipped in these days, due to the more efficient pedal motion that comes from being attached to your bike. Doing so means you can provide power to the rear wheel on the push and the pull of the pedal, rather than just on the way down.
On the trail however there’s still a divide between clips and flats, which largely depends on what sort of riding you do. Freestyle disciplines where pedalling isn’t that important (dirt jumping and arguably downhill racing) tend to favour the simplicity and strength of flat pedals, while in more cardiovascular activities like cross country and enduro riders are turning to clipless pedals for the same biomechanical efficiencies that make them popular with their lycra-clad cousins.
Keeping contact with your flat pedals over rough terrain is still vital though and while a good set of pedals can help in this regard, it’s vital to get a pair of shoes with a grippy sole that can hold on to them. It also needs to be made of a tough, cycling-specific material to avoid it being ripped to bits by spikey pedal pins.
Then you need to decide what sort of fastening you want, and here there are two main considerations – a BOA ratchet system for the ultimate in all-round hold, or traditional laces or Velcro for a more stylish and laid-back look.
The best cycling shoes for less than £100
Best clipless shoe for racing
Clean and fast looking, these sleek Scott shoes feature a stiff but ergonomic footbed to help put maximum power through the pedals while remaining comfortable for long days in the saddle. The BOA closure means they're fast to put on and take off, with a perfect fit an easy thing to achieve thanks to an additional Velcro strap over the toes to tailor things lower down your foot.
Best shoe for flat mountain bike pedals
The benchmark MTB shoe with its famous Stealth rubber sole that holds on to your pedals so tight you'll swear you're clipped in. They're hardwearing too, standing up to all sort of wet and muddy abuse, with loads of padding and a hard toebox to help protect your feet from crashes or flying rocks. A sleeker looking, water-resistant 'Pro' version is also available but they're more expensive and we're not sure they're worth it unless you do a lot of riding over winter.
Best value clipless road shoe
www.halfords.com
Featuring a super stiff and lightweight carbon sole and BOA-aping dual-tightening system, the Boardman Carbon packs a lot of premium features into a great value shoe. Rubber bumpers fore and aft also help you walk and protect the sole when you're off the bike, and an understated grey colourway would help even the fastest sprinter fly under the radar.
Best clipless MTB shoe
Undeniably bulkier than the road equivalent this mountain bike shoe offers more rugged styling and protection while still allowing you to use clipless pedals on the trail. Two Velcro straps allow you get the fit you want while keeping it snug and a rubber sole with chunky tread means you can walk off the bike without falling over.
Best road shoe if you don't like BOAs
www.wiggle.com
It might sound a bit of a niche but not everyone likes the look and fit of a BOA ratchet and there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of other choice out there in the road cycling world. These Fizik shoes feature a Velcro strap that wrap all the way around your foot for a snug and comfortable fit, with sleek and clean external lines and the ability to easily slip waterproof overshoes on top in winter.
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