Of all the things you wear while riding a bike, your shoes are arguably the most important to get right in terms of fit and comfort, because your feet are (ideally) always moving. On a road bike, this is even more vital as high cadence can show up the smallest imperfections in your shoe choice, a small rub leading to discomfort and blisters. On a mountain bike, things like how grippy the soles are and what crash protection the toe-box offers are more of an issue, but are equally as important.
The good (and bad) thing about all of this is that if you get it wrong, you’ll soon find out. It’s imperative, therefore, to do a bit of research before you spend potentially hundreds of pounds on the wrong pair. To start with, you need to work out what type of bike you ride (the easy bit) and whether you like flat or clipless pedals.
Related: The best entry-level road bikes
This isn’t as clear cut as flats for trails and clips for tarmac any more – plenty of professional and amateur mountain bike racers and enthusiasts have switched to riding clipped-in to benefit from the ease of use and mechanical advantages enjoyed by their road-going friends. While you’re unlikely to see dirt jump riders wearing cleats, there’s a clear advantage for most of the more cardiovascular off-road activities, like cross-country or enduro.
From there, you need to consider things like how they do up – whether laces, ratchets, Velcro or a BOA-type closure and additional features like weather protection or a neoprene collar. All of that has to fit into your budget, of course, so it’s worth knowing exotic materials like carbon fibre in the sole can push up the price very quickly indeed.
Related: The best cycling helmets to keep you safe on the move
The best cycling shoes
Best for mountain bike flat pedals
AmazonAs a relatively new sport, mountain biking has often borrowed kit from other more established hobbies – motocross jerseys and ski-goggles, for example – so it's only recently that off-road specific shoes have become available. With its trademark grippy sole that hugs your pedals like you're riding with clips, the Five Ten Freerider is the VW Golf of trail shoes, and the Pro format here offers a sleeker look and better weather protection.
Best clipless road shoe
WiggleA properly racy pair of shoes used by actual professional bike racers – so they must be doing something right. In fairness, it's a simple recipe - stiff carbon soles, two BOA dials to ensure a good fit, and arch support you can customise to your foot shape. They are quite expensive, which won't be a huge surprise, but look fantastic - especially in trademark electric blue.
Best winter shoe
AmazonBest all-rounder in our winter shoes article, the R5 Artica offers the same pleasing simplicity as the Shimano above, with a clean exterior design that keeps out rain and cold. Inside, there's a fleece lining and aluminium sole to help keep the heat inside, plus a neoprene top to stop water from rolling down your leg into your shoe. They're quite affordable too, in the greater scheme of things.
Best value clipless road shoe
halfordswww.halfords.com
Here it is again – perennial performer in our best cycling shoe articles, the Boardman offers premium features like a lightweight carbon sole and BOA-style closure, for a rock-bottom price. You even get a pair of rubber bumpers (located front and rear) to make walking easier and to protect the sole, and a clean design that doesn't give away the value price tag.
Best clipless shoes for mountain bikes
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WiggleAs Tom Jones famously sings, it's not unusual to see clipless pedals on the trail anymore, but wearing a pair of roadie shoes with smooth soles on dirt is a recipe for disaster. Shimano's off-road specific shoes here come with knobbly rubber underneath to help you find grip on and off the bike, and a tough toe-box to ward off injuries from flicked up stones or an accidental pedal strike.
Best road shoe for BOA-phobes
www.wiggle.com
Another shoe we've featured before, purely for its now-unusual Velcro closure strap, these Fizik shoes are ideal for anyone who doesn't like the look or feel of a BOA-style shoe. Despite not featuring the latest and greatest technology to hold onto your feet, these shoes promise a comfortable and secure fit with a sleeker look and less-faffy pre-ride routine.
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