Which cycling shoes

The comfort of these shoes was impeccable, with no hotspots forming on long rides outdoors or indoors. The cooling effect of the many perforations that pepper the upper is certainly palpable; you can really feel the air flowing in.

Just whether the extreme breathability of these shoes counts as a good or a bad thing will, of course, depend on when and where you are riding. There are multiple sizes available and men's and women's fit options as well as wider fit versions, but colours are limited to just two in each range, white or Shimano blue as pictured for the men's and white or navy blue for women's. Read our full review of the Shimano RC5 road cycling shoes. Like other pairs in the range, the Vaypor S model boasts the brand's unique shoe last which promises better anatomical support.

The sole is of course carbon. We found it very stiff, without becoming uncomfortable after hours of riding.

The toe box in our 'wide fit' shoes was more roomy than most and, like other Bont shoes, the sole is made to be heat moulded for a bespoke fit - though our tester found them just fine straight out of the box. Two UP1 Boa dials make up the closure system, with a Durolite upper across the top of the foot. We discovered a secure fit that was easy to adjust.

The reinforced toe and heel was durable, and though the looks can be divisive we rate these for offering excellent power transfer and comfort all rolled into one. We did give these the best score when we saw them, although this was a while ago, but they still stand out as more comfortable than the likes of the Specialized S-Works 7 shoes and because they have the ability to deliver a truly unique bespoke shoe they really do stand out amongst other similar priced options, such as the Shimano S-Phyre SH-RC You just have to be open hearted to the looks, thinking of the beauty within.

Read our full review of the Bont Vaypor S road cycling shoes. We reviewed the women's Regime, although there's a men's version too and there are half sizes in the middle of each range, so you can get your perfect fit. The Regime shares many of the features of Giro's top spec Imperial shoe, such as twin Boa dials and a non-stretch Synchwire upper, despite its lower price tag. You get plenty of ventilation as well. We rated the sole's combination of stiffness, durability and light weight, as well as the grippy heel and toe pads.

The footbed is swappable to suit the height of your arch. We found the Giro Regime shoes mixed great foot comfort with the right level of support for fast riding. Read our full review of the Giro Regime women's cycling shoe. There's no doubting the racing credentials of the Shimano S-Phyre SH-RC, with its low profile design and sole stiffness rating at the top of Shimano's own ranking. While this level of rigidity might put some folk off and they might question the comfort, rest assure that while you gain maximum reward on sprinting and climbing, this isn't at the total sacrifice of comfort.

Shoe stiffness rankings are far from standardised, with the top-of-the-line Bontrager shoe 14 out of 14, and Fizik's 10 out of 10 for stiffness within their own respective internal rankings. Shimano calls the RC9 carbon sole "rigid and responsive" and rates it level However it's the shoe's ability to be comfortable as well as harnessing pedal power that is important - and this is an area where they excel.

The double Li2 Boa dial system is the newest and smallest from the highly regarded closure brand, and nestles as close as possible to the side of the shoe. This does help to minimise the overall profile of these performance shoes, a clever design when you factor in the wide toe box. However the wrap over design can be tricky to get just right when putting them on and takes a while to get the knack of. There's no doubt that at this price point they are a considered purchase, but when compared to their peers at a similar price they stand out with impressive details such as the undersole venting.

One of the best cycling shoes you can get, if you're willing to pay for it. Once limited to the, no pun intended, sole use of the professional peloton, lightweight shoes are becoming more popular for any riders looking to shave a healthy few grams off their overall cycling set up. The ultra featherweight shoes feature a full carbon sole, a laminate-coated mesh upper and a lace-up closure which all add up, or should that be down, to a minimal score on the scales. While the construction of the Pro Air shoes has been kept to the fundamentals, this hasn't reduced the performance.

On test we found them to offer an incredible ride feel, balancing stiffness, support and comfort, although while we totally appreciate the laces assist in keeping weight to a minimum, they did prevent on the move adjustment. At the top of Giro's cycling shoe range, the Giro Imperial shoes are the brand's first to include Boa dials, with the twin dials crossing the uppers a total of six times, for excellent pressure distribution and easy on-the-fly adjustment. Giro's lightweight uppers have wide areas of venting mesh, making for a cool ride, but supported by non-stretch fabric, so that fit doesn't suffer.

The shoes sit on Easton EC90 carbon soles. Rather than going for ultimate lightness, Giro has included a replaceable heel protector, to up the shoes' longevity. We feel like this shoe needs to have a warning beacon from the start. These disco slippers won't suit all feet including those of our tester , and most recreational riders will find they wreck their feet, but they're so famously popular with a lot of riders, especially if you are looking for out and out performance, so any best cycling shoe guide without a pair would be left wanting.

This iteration of the S-Works shoes features an even stiffer sole rated 15 of Spesh's own scale , and though there's no industry-wide standard these are seriously unmalleable. The result is they won't be to everyone's taste, but if you want rock-hard race-ready soles, they could be for you.

The outgoing shoe received complaints of pinching at the ankle and heel, so Specialized has added additional cushioning. We found they still rubbed initially, just below the ankle, but this dissipated with time. The shoes use aluminium Boa dials, which offer minute adjustment, with a Velcro strap across the forefoot while vents on the soles and Dyneema mesh provide ventilation.

Read our full review of the Specialized S-Works 7 road cycling shoes. However, with cycling shoes being both incredibly rigid and fixed in place via cleats and pedals, those who fall outside the norm can struggle to find shoes that fit.

The latter provide wide toe boxes as well as custom moulded heel cups to ensure a good fit all round for those with a wide forefoot and narrow ankle. It could be that your foot is collapsing, and therefore splaying. A lot of people think they have wide feet, but given an off-the-shelf corrective insole, the problem goes away because they have the support their foot needs.

You can buy arch supporting insoles in your local chemist, and of course there are many brands out there who will create you a custom version should you want something more bespoke. Despite the name, the CX is definitely a road shoe, sitting third from top of the range. Luckily they come in three other colour schemes, including a striking chameleon blue and a black-white graphic fade.

The moulding process is simple enough on your own, though the instructions in the box recommend having help, preferably from a Lake dealer. If you do it yourself follow the instructions closely, do not tighten the shoes too much immediately after heating or risk disfiguring the toe box, reducing the space available for your feet and detracting from the look.

Do it right and the process works well, and I experienced no heel slip out on the road. The sole is a thing of beauty, its glossy carbon weave glints in the sun and is drilled for ventilation. On the bike is where the sole really shows its colours though. Initially I experienced a little bit of tightness on my wider, right foot, but this eased and though there is plenty of room in the toe box, there is no unwanted movement on the upstroke.

Read our full review of the Lake CX road cycling shoes. Straight out of the box and these are classiest shoes on test. There is nothing wrong with the others, but every seam and stitch on the Bonts is perfect, the join between the upper and the matt finish carbon weave sole a beautiful, gentle curve.

When I opened the parcel I felt like a kid on Christmas morning, but, with a few rides in the shoes, the gloss has been very slightly tarnished, as I occasionally found them uncomfortable.

They are brilliant shoes though. The rigid sole is extraordinarily direct, allowing flawless power transfer. Shaped like a boat, it holds your foot in place laterally, that deep heel cup grips you solidly, and while the upper looks soft, it is rigid on all but the top of the shoe, where memory foam makes for a cosseting feel. I found myself constantly fiddling with the dual Boa IP1 fasteners to get the right balance between tightness and comfort.

Bont boasts its top end shoe is the most heat mouldable on the market, and while its website says remoulding was unnecessary if the shoes fitted, I found a session in the oven enhanced the fit. You can read more about the different kinds of cleats and how they attach to your cycling shoes and pedals below. There are many other types of cleat and pedal systems out on the market.

Check with your local facility to see what pedal system is on their indoor cycling bikes. It is built into each cleat or pedal and is measured by how many degrees your feet can rotate left and right. Float allows your feet to rotate a few degrees from side-to-side while being securely connected to the pedals. This creates a safer, more natural pedal stroke while riding the bike both in the seated and standing positions. So double check and make sure those cleats do not rotate when they are screwed into your shoe.

Consult with the staff of your local bike shop if you would like to learn more about float. Three Key Parts Using cycling shoes involves three key parts: the pedals, the shoes and the cleats.

Finding the Right Shoe There are three simple steps to determining the right cycling shoes for you: Determine which pedal system is on your indoor cycling bikes. Be sure to check with your facility to see what pedal system is on their indoor cycling bikes. Find the cycling shoe that fits you best. Read below for even more info on shoes, cleats and pedals, and how they all work together. This is key for certain tricks.

The second thing to consider is how much support you want around your ankles. Popular styles are often available in mid- or high-top versions. This extra material around your ankles protects them from rocks and debris that can be dislodged by your tires. It also protects your ankles from being torqued too much in one direction. On the flip side, the flexion in your ankles will be more restricted. When it comes to flat-pedal shoes, you may need to go through a couple of different styles before you know what you like.

As your riding style changes and progresses, you may find your preference in shoes will also change. Here are some suggestions to help you get going safely. The most important thing is practicing before hitting the road or trail.

This is especially important if you started with toe clips and straps , which require a different foot motion to get your feet out.

Clipless pedals release by swinging your heels outward photo below. Teach your feet this motion while standing over the bike. You're just going to practice getting your feet in and out, not sit on the seat or ride anywhere.

If you're worried about falling over, practice on a lawn or soft surface. Even better, if you have an indoor trainer, mount your bike on it and practice in place photo. Click your right foot into the right pedal and remove it 50 or more times, and repeat with your left. It should begin to feel natural and easy.

Keep clicking and releasing until you've really got it down. You're training your muscle memory until you can do this without thinking about it — even better: without looking down! When you're comfortable getting in and out of the pedals, do a short loop around the neighborhood and practice entering and exiting the pedals for real. The trickiest thing the first couple of times is remembering to swivel your heels to get out instead of pulling back the toe-clip motion.

As long as you keep the correct motion in mind you'll get your feet out just fine. If you're worried about it, plan your neighborhood test loop to end next to a telephone pole you can hang onto for insurance.

Remember too that you don't have to stop if you're not ready to get your feet out. Just keep riding and find something to hold onto like a parked car or parking meter, and then click out of the pedals. If you're still having trouble getting in and out of the pedals, practice some more while standing next to the bike. There might also be something making it harder to get out of the pedals, such as a too-tight adjustment, a misaligned or loose cleat.

If that's the case, be sure to bring your bike and shoes in so we can have a look, solve any problems and get you going. Buying Tips Save your bucks. You don't have to buy a company's most-expensive model to get great clipless shoes. What that extra cash buys you is lighter weight, a little more durability and sometimes added adjustability.

If you don't need these extras, save your loot and go with a budget model. You'll still get excellent pedal power. Know your needs. Before shopping for shoes, figure out how you like to ride and what you need from your shoes. Will you walk in the shoes a lot? Do you ride trails, road, both? Are weight and high function important? The better you can define what you want, the easier it'll be for us to help you into the right system.

Find a fine fit. For road shoes, purchase a glove-like fit. The shoes should be snug with just enough room up front to wiggle your toes. The foot should be held tightly inside the shoe and should not be able to slide forward and back. And your heel should fit snug and not have a tendency to lift. For mountain-biking shoes, the fit is similar except that you may walk in these shoes a lot.

So, leave a little more room in the front of the shoe. Mountain biking shoes fit like tight running shoes. Ride both styles. Make sure they match. Be sure your shoes, cleats and pedals are compatible! If you have any questions, just ask. In closing, when you're shoe shopping, don't underestimate the importance of trying them on.