Bike Shoes

“No hoof, no horse!” Whether on an enduro, gravel- or road bike and regardless of electric assistance, the right cycling shoes provide power transmission and comfort. From shoes for flat pedals, with soft and cushioning sole to stiff carbon midsoles for clipless pedals, cycling shoes are developed in a variety of variations and for different uses and seasons.

With this category guide, we help you find the perfect cycling shoes for your rides. Get rid of tired feet and legs!

It's the sole that counts!

In fact, the structure of the midsole and the compatibility with clipless pedals define the characteristics of a cycling shoe. In disciplines that benefit from forward momentum and direct power transmission, shoes with a stiff midsole offer decisive advantages. In contrast, a softer composition of the midsole provides good damping effects and is ideal for enduro, relaxed trail rides or laps in the bike park.

Click-compatible mountain bike shoes with 2-point mounting for cross-country and gravel use provide with a coarse outsole for a firm grip on not rideable passages or the last summit climb. The open profile at the ball of the foot promotes self-cleaning and ensures that the cleats remain free and can engage in the pedal cage. Should you not feel comfortable clicked, there are alternatively shoe models that are suitable for flat pedals.

Road bike shoes have, in addition to very stiff, smooth outsoles and midsoles, the distinctive feature of a 3-point mounting standard. This contact solution results from a thinner and lighter sole design compared to mountain bike variants. The force distribution takes place in combination with cleat and pedal on a significantly larger area.

Shoelaces, Velcro fastener or Boa system?

The most obvious advantage is offered by the Boa system. Through the twist lock you can regulate the shoe width on the fly and thus provide relaxation during longer descents. In addition, of course, it is easier to put on and take off. Some shoes are equipped with a Boa closure at the instep and have a Velcro closure in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joint. This allows the shoe to be better adjusted at points.

Bike shoes with or without click system?

This decision is entirely up to you! Do you feel comfortable in what feels like a fixed connection with your bike or do you prefer to stand on the pedals untethered. Basically, this is pure habit and can be learned quickly.

Bike shoes without click systems offer the advantage of quickly taking your foot off the pedal and being more suitable for everyday use. But if you are looking for maximum performance on the pedals, there is almost no way around click shoes. The direct connection of shoe to pedal gives you not only a round pedaling feel on the road bike, but also on the gravel bike or hardtail in rough terrain or on technical uphills.

Click systems prove their advantages on trails with fast strokes and heels. Pedal kickbacks due to compression and rebound of the rear end no longer affect the foot position. This means you always have an optimal position on the pedals. Do not worry in case of a crash, the resulting rotational movement of the foot almost always releases the connection to the pedal.