The Best Mountain Bike Shoes (Review) in 2019

In our buying guide, we’ll take you through the features that you should keep an eye out for when picking out the best MTB shoes for you. After that, we’ll take a look at how best to use your new shoes and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about these extremely useful products.

What to Consider When Buying Mountain Bike Shoes

• Retention System

This is just a fancy way of saying how the shoes are held on your feet! Laces are the most straight forward but can get waterlogged in poor weather. A hook and loop system will hold your feet in comfort and security, though they can add to the weight of the shoes.

• Clipless or Flat

The other big question is how the shoes will connect to the pedals. Clipless actually means that the shoe connects via a cleat that locks them in place. Flat is a regular shoe that simply sits on the pedal. Both types have advantages and disadvantages and we go into them more below.

• Ventilation

If your feet get hot and sweaty during exercise, ventilation can really help with that. Look for mesh panels and breathable materials to let cool air into the shoe during riding.

Why You Should Use Mountain Bike Shoes

In reality, you can get away with using any shoes or sneakers for riding around on a mountain bike. There are though a pair of advantages to using dedicated MTB shoes.

• Comfort – As they are designed for riding, they are going to provide extra comfort. So that could be a molded insole with arch support, you could also see designs that provide stability to the foot during the pedaling motion. These are just a couple of examples of design choices that can make bike shoes more comfortable during riding.
• Efficiency – What you will also see in mountain bike shoes is that the sole will be stiffer than on normal shoes. That means that the sole will have less flex and will not bend around the pedal like a normal shoe. That delivers more power to the bike with every stroke your legs make. On longer rides, that can really help to preserve energy and allow you and your bike to travel that little bit further.

Different Types of Mountain Bike Shoes

When it comes to mountain bike shoes, there are actually quite a variety in terms of style and design. In addition, there is also the question of pedal compatibility. In this next section we’ll take a quick look at all the various types of mountain bike shoes out there on the market right now.

Let’s start with the different styles of shoes:

• XC (Cross Country)

These shoes will usually have a three-strap retention system or laces. They are designed as an all purpose style of shoe, often with soles that provide extra grip so they can cling to pedals across all terrains and weather conditions.

• All-Mountain

Also known as Trail or Enduro. Very similar to the XC design, however they boast extra protection for your feet, such as reinforced toe boxes. They protect your feet across trail riding. Heavier than XC designs, they are best for Off-Road riding across trails and hills.

• Downhill

This final style of shoe is designed along the lines of road bike shoes. It won’t have the same level of protection as traditional XC, instead it is designed for speed. It will always be a clipless design with an extra stiff sole too. This can make them harder to walk around in off the bike that some other types of shoe.

Pedal Compatibility

In addition to the style of the shoe, you also need to check out how the show will actually connect to your bike pedals. Here, there are two types of shoe attachment style to choose from:

• Clipless Shoes

The name clipless is actually a little confusing! These types of shoes are designed to clip into pedals, via cleats. Old style pedals used to have cages on them that the foot would clip into. Modern clipless shoes simply attach directly to the pedal. They make your cycling more efficient as they direct more power through the pedal. They can take a little time to get used to though.

• Flat-Bottomed Shoes (“Flats”)

Essentially these kinds of mountain bike shoes look like normal shoes. They will however have extra grip soles so they can cling to the pedals. They are easier and more comfortable to walk around in than most clipless shoes, though they are not as efficient at transferring power to the pedals.

Best Mountain Bike Shoes FAQ:

Q: How do I know if my shoe fits right?

A: Unlike running shoes, it is not advised that you buy shoes that are bigger than your normal shoe size. So essentially the cycling shoe should fit as like a normal shoe. You should be able to wiggle your toes, but you should also not feel that your foot is sliding around inside the shoe.

Most brands will have comparison charts that compare your foot size to normal shoe sizes so you can select the right one.

Q: Can I use them for other activities or are they strictly for biking?

A: Some shoes have been designed for walking on various surfaces. That means that you can, for example, ride to a location on your mountain bike, then hop off and hike some trails.

In general though, mountain bike shoes are primarily designed for biking. They will, for example, usually have a stiffer sole than on normal shoes. That makes them great for cycling, but not as comfortable for walking in as regular shoes.

Q: Will the cleat get stuck in clipless MTB shoes?

A: The short answer to this is no, but the longer answer is that it kind of depends a little bit! Specifically it depends on practicing. Clicking your clipless cleats into and off of the pedals is, obviously, not as easy as simply lifting your feet off of a standard pedal.

It require a sideways twisting motion that you need to get into the habit of doing to disconnect your feet from the pedals. At the same time, you also need to practice when to remove your cleats from their connection. After a while, you will begin to easily notice hazards in front of you – stop signals or red lights for example – and know to release your feet or foot in plenty of time to support you and the bike when you stop.

Q: How do I clean my cycling shoes?

A: This first thing to note is that the most important instruction is to read to paperwork and owners manuals that come with your shoes. There will be a slight variation between different materials, so check before you clean!

In general though, a bucket of warm soapy water, an old cloth or rag and old toothbrush should be sufficient to clean your MTB shoes.

Our Top Pick

As we mentioned on the review of this product, the Five Ten Men’s Freerider is missing some of the technical features that you would find on more advanced and specialized cycling shoes. But if you are looking for a pair of simple but highly effective shoes for everyday rides or weekend mountain bike jaunts, they really are top quality.

They are extremely comfortable, they look great and they are easy to clean. More important than that though, that highly impressive rubber sole is going to cling to your pedals, helping keep your feet attached to them for more comfortable and efficient riding.

They are a really good quality shoe that will serve most riders very well during a host of riding conditions. Well-done Five Ten!

Sources:

1. How Mountain Bikes Work - HowStuffWorks
2. 6 Tips for Clipless Pedal Beginners - Active