The Best Mountain Bike Shoes- Getting The Most For Your Money
You use your feet far more than you realize when riding on your bike. Whether it’s putting down the power, carving up the turns or pushing your bike up to the top, your feet will always be engaged in some way.
A shoe that isn’t fit for purpose could leave you miserable on a ride, so it’s far better to get a mountain bike specific shoe that you know will work.
So whether you ride flat pedals or clipless, you need a good shoe to deliver power through the pedals. Here’s our pick of the best mountain bike shoes in the market today.
1. Mavic Men’s Alpine Biking Shoes
The Mavic Alpine mountain bike shoe is a comfortable, durable trail shoe. The Alpine features a Contagrip rubber outsole which produces excellent traction and durability. The trail tested lug pattern helps you keep your footing on steep inclines/ declines. To keep your feet comfortable during long rigorous rides, Mavic used their dual density OrthoLite® sock liner. The OrthoLite® helps to keep feet cool and dry while providing increased comfort on and off the bike. Multiple vents can be found throughout the shoe, which further promotes dry comfortable feet.
Highlights:
- Trail Grip Outsole: Contragrip® rubber outsole with trail tested lug pattern.
- Contagrip®: The best in traction and durability.
- Ergo Fit OrthoLite®: Dual density OrthoLite® sock liner for cooler, drier, healthier cushioning for increased on and off the bike comfort
- Lace & Strap closure
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- EVA midsole
- Toe and heel protection
- Reflective highlights
2. Five Ten Freerider Contact Mountain Bike Shoes
The Freerider Contact features our innovative and treadless Contact Outsole™ under the ball of the foot allowing for quick, on-the-fly adjustments without lug interference. The stiff midsole and added toe protection keep your feet safe and supported for all-day riding. The abrasion resistant textile and synthetic upper shaves weight making the Freerider Contact the lightest Freerider in the line.
Highlights:
- Innovative Contact Outsole™ with Stealth Mi6™ rubber
- Lightest Freerider model
- Added toe cap protection
- Abrasion resistant textile & synthetic upper
- Stiff, compression-molded EVA midsole
- Low-profile, performance fit
3. Shimano XC50
XC50s offer a palette of Shimano trail technologies at a great value price point. The tough synthetic upper, micrometric buckle closure and glass fiber reinforced sole perform perfectly on all your off-road rides from weekend blasts to races and events.
Highlights:
- Tough Synthetic Leather Upper
- Micro-adjust buckle
- Dual offset velcro straps
- Flexible insoles
- Volume performance Last
- Glass fibre Reinforced Polyamide Sole
- Soft arch pad
- Dual Density PU Tread
- Ventilating Mesh inserts
4. Pearl Izumi X-Project 3.0 shoes
A game-changer for mountain bikers and cyclocross riders, the X-PROJECT 3.0 is Pearl Izumi’s newest innovation for off-road performance. Made with a full-length, tapered carbon-composite plate, these MTB shoes blend stiffness with flexibility for maximum pedaling efficiency AND hike-ability. Rubber is bonded to the lugs in the super-light TPU sole and provides better traction than hard plastic lugs found on other shoes. Synthetic leather upper with mesh supplies excellent ventilation and resilience. EVA foam heel absorbs impacts and 1:1 Anatomic Buckle closure gives the ultimate in stability, fit and support.
Highlights:
- Co-molded rubber tips on hollow TPU lugs provide traction on an extremely lightweight bottom unit
- Full-length, tapered carbon-composite unidirectional plate gives on-the-bike power transfer and off-the-bike hike-ability
- Synthetic leather upper with mesh is durable, breathable and well-ventilated
- Run shoe EVA foam heel absorbs impact for off-the-bike comfort
- Seamless construction in the toe area for no-seam comfort in the flex zone
- 1:1 Anatomic buckle closure features a 25° angled strap design that follows the anatomic curve of the foot
- Includes insole with metatarsal padding
5. Scott MTB Elite Boa Shoes
The MTB Elite BOA is an all-mountain choice that takes comfort to the next level. It offers a more relaxed fit and features the BOA closure system for easy, secure adjustment. The Ergologic insole features an adjustable arch support and metatarsal button. With our new adaptive fit pattern the upper section closes with a BOA ratchet and the forefoot is closed with a velcro strap with welded armor protection for high wear area durability. The sole features a minimal racing style tread design constructed with Sticki rubber for fantastic traction on roots, rocks and loose soil.
Highlights:
- Upper Material: microfiber, 3D nylon mesh
- Closure: BOA, hook-and-loop forefoot strap
- Footbed: Adjustable ErgoLogic removable insole
- Sole: fiberglass reinforced nylon co-injected, [lugs] Sticki Rubber
- Cleat Compatibility: 2-bolt
6. Giro Chamber Mid shoes
Don’t be fooled by the skate-inspired, street shoe look — the Chamber™ is a pure performance race shoe packed with technical features. An SPD-compatible, dual-injected shank merges efficient pedaling with a flexible forefoot; an internal bootie secures the foot and keeps mud and other debris out; and the Vibram rubber outsole provides grip and durability. Whether you’re clipping in for a world championship race run or exploring your local singletrack, the Chamber is ready to shred.
Highlights:
- Upper: Skate Style Upper, Internal bootie retention system
- Outsole: Dual density Vibram rubber outsole, Molded SPD compatible shank
- Footbed: Aegis Single Density Footbed
- Weight: 536 grams (size 42)
7. Pearl iZUMi Women’s W All-Road II Cycling Shoes
The Pearl is a great women’s biking shoe, and it’s made of synthetic material with a rubber sole. It fits great due to the anatomic style closure that matches the shape of the wearer’s foot. Plus it has great arch support, and concave shape with a low profile bottom.
Highlights:
- Synthetic leather and nylon mesh uppers are breathable and durable; low-cut ankle support reduces overall weight
- 3 hook-and-loop closure straps are angled to follow a more anatomic curve, ensuring an evenly tensioned fit and the elimination of hot spots
- Nylon and composite fiber shank/plates ensure excellent power transfer
- Insoles provide excellent arch support and cushion
- Low-profile, concave shaping of footbed/plate cradles the foot for support, comfort and pedaling efficiency
- Low-profile outsoles can be worn indoors and out
- The Pearl Izumi All-Road II mountain bike shoes are compatible with 2-hole cleats; cleats are not included
8. Venzo Mountain Shimano SPD
The Venzo Mountain Bike Cycling Shimano Shoes is a very durable biking shoe that offers excellent gripping properties. It is very versatile and can be used with or without cleats. The materials it is constructed with are extremely breathable mesh made from high quality synthetic materials and when washed or wet, drys very quick. The SPD Pedals for shimano are compatible with these shoes and together they provide an awesome cycling experience.
Highlights:
- Built with awesome top notch technology that offers excellent performance.
- Utilizes an extremely breathable mesh made from a high quallty synthetic fabric that offers quick drying ability.
- Comes with a sock-liner textile that is easily removable.
- Sports a constructions that is low-cut for a quick, lightweight and better fit.
- Utilizes same design as a running shoe where the heel side is bevel shaped and the forefoot side very flexible to comform to every contour on the leg when cycling.
- Designed to work well with all SPD pedals from Shimano.
- Weights at just six hundred and forty grams.
9. Mavic Rush Mountain Shoes
The Mavic Rush is a cross country race shoe that not only provides excellent power transfer, but is extremely comfortable. The Ergo Fit preshaped 2 density composite insole with high density rear heel cradle acts as a miniature pillow for feet to rest upon. The Ergo 3D EVA tongue insert follows the contours of the instep for increased instep comfort. Though these shoes are almost as comfortable as your house slippers, don’t mistake this shoe to be any other than a race ready cross country shoe. The Ergo Lite Ratchet is a low profile, light weight ratchet that allows you to make precise adjustments. Two Velcro straps further synch the shoe onto your feet. The Energy Grip Outsole has superior traction as well as energy transfer to get you from point A to point B in a jiffy!
Highlights:
- Energy Grip outsole with fiberglass-enhanced nylon insert for stiff, efficient power transfer
- Contagrip lugs with proprietary rubber compound and tread geometry/density provide excellent traction and resilience
- Synthetic and mesh upper is durable, breathable and easy to clean
- Ergo Fit 2D pre-shaped, dual-density, composite insole with a high-density heel cradle adds cushioning and support
- Agion treatment reduces bacteria and odors
- Synthetic heel counter maximizes pedaling efficiency
- Ergo 3D EVA tongue insert follows the contours of your instep for increased comfort
- Injected rubber toe caps protect against bumps and scrapes
- Reflective highlights add visibility
- Ergo Lite Ratchet with 2-position adjustment and 2 synthetic microfiber straps for a supple, precise fit
10. Shimano SH-XC70
Everything we loved about Shimano’s XC90 flagship shoes — the snug, durable upper and heat moldable shape — is now available at a lower price point. The XC70 isn’t the stiffest shoe around, but it’s still worthy of toeing cross-country and cyclocross start lines. The insoles come with three arch support inserts of different shape to fine-tune fit.
Highlights:
- Carbon fiber outsole
- Thermo-formable insole
- Asymmetrical hook-and-loop fasteners
- Micro-adjust ratcheting buckle
- Scratch-resistant synthetic leather
- Ultralight open mesh panels
We hope you found what you were looking for.
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