When just starting out, there’s no set manual that anybody gives you detailing the best mountain bike shoes. It’s mostly just a matter of personal preference and opinion. As you may know, there are different mountain biking disciplines, each category benefiting from a shoe built a particular way. The major categories include trail, XC (cross country), enduro, and downhill, with some more niche categories as well. So when looking for the right type of mountain bike shoes, it can be a little confusing at first. In case you haven’t yet, read our guide on how to choose mountain bike shoes to figure out what will suit you best. But, if you have a good idea of what you want already, continue on. With a proper introduction out of the way, find out what we think are the best mountain bike shoes out now.
Tips for Picking Mountain Bike Shoes
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Best Mountain Bike Shoes 2018
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Best Flat Pedal Mountain Bike Shoes
Flat pedal shoes, as you may have already guessed, feature a flat sole made of very grippy rubber. This flat outsole allows you to stick to your pedal pins like glue while allowing you to dab and get off your bike with ease. The flat surface of the shoe allows for maximum contact with flat pedals while remaining flexible enough for lots of walking comfort. This is especially useful if you’ll be doing a lot of hike-a-bikes fairly often. Coupled with the fact that flat pedal shoes are also built like bulky skate shoes means a recipe for success. Offering lots of protection and padding to keep your feet safe from the environment as well as your bike, flat pedal shoes are a convenient package for those who enjoy all-mountain/enduro, dirt jumps, and downhill biking.
For our top choices in flat pedal shoes, we chose the Five Ten Freerider Pro, the less bulky Five Ten Freerider, the Specialized 2FO Flat 2.0, and the Shimano GR7.
A more protective toe, a weather-resistant synthetic upper, less weight, and less seams to prevent blowouts, the Five Ten Freerider Pro offers a bevy of improvements to the original Freeriders.
Five Ten’s classic shoe, the Freerider, is a symbol for reliability in the MTB world. Extremely versatile with a good amount of support and protection, and of course, a grippy sole that won’t fail you.
The Specialized 2FO Flat 2.0 features an improvement to the original’s sole, with a SlipNot 2.0 rubber compound and different thicknesses in different areas of the sole to improve on feel and shock absorption. Oftentimes, redesigns don’t do the original any justice, but these are a certified winner.
A Michelin rubber outsole? A breathable synthetic upper? Amazing toe protection? A simplistic but functional design? Need we say any more about the Shimano GR7?
Best Flat Clipless Mountain Bike Shoes
Flat clipless shoes are very similar to a flat pedal shoe, but they also feature a cleat mount on the bottom of the sole for clipping into your pedals. This keeps you more secure while cycling than flat pedal shoes. Also built with lots of protection, padding, a sticky rubber sole, and enough flexibility for walking comfort, these types of shoes are extremely versatile and the best of both worlds (or sides of the mountain if you will). Clip into your cleats if you want cycling efficiency, or, don’t get too attached by riding with the flat sole in case you need to bail or do some quick maneuvering in a pinch. Perfect for all-mountain, downhill, and casual trail riding.
Our picks for best flat clipless shoes include the Shimano SH-ME7, Giro Terraduro, Shimano AM9, and the Five Ten Hellcat.
Highly effective for cycling while featuring a Michelin rubber outsole for any off-the-bike adventures, the Shimano SH-ME7 is somewhat of an outlier. Versatile enough for any MTB discipline whil remaining protective, lightweight, and durable, these shoes are out top choice for flat clipless shoes.
A hike-a-bike friendly shoe that meets the needs for all-mountain and enduro riders. Although the first versions had delamination issues, they have since been resolved making the Giro Terraduro a very durable shoe. A rigid nylon shank in the sole also helps with cycling efficiency.
TheShimano AM9have been around for a while, sporting a futuristic look and are Shimano’s flagship downhill/enduro shoe. The rugged lace shield, the impact protected toe, and the overall comfort are just a few of their best features.
The current Five Ten Hellcat are an update of the classic Hellcats, with a lighter and lower-profile build. They are also more durable with a redesigned heel and a stiffer rubber sole. You can’t go wrong with the Hellcats as they continue to stand the test of time.
Best Clipless Mountain Bike Shoes
Clipless mountain bike shoes have a two-hole mount on the bottom of the soles that allows you to attach your cleats to them. This means you can use pedals from either SPD, Crank Brothers, or Speedplay. Being able to clip into your pedals gives you more efficiency while pedaling as you can generate power whether pushing down or pulling up. Combine that with a very stiff sole and a minimalist/lightweight design and you’ve got a perfect shoe that is extremely effective for long distance cycling. Although clipless shoes offer more security and control, they do not offer much protection, padding, or walking comfort (or as much traction for that matter). Use clipless shoes if you do cross country, trail, or cyclocross riding.
Our top picks include the Shimano XC9, Fizik M4B Uomo, Pearl Izumi X-Project Pro, and the Lake MX237.
Built specifically for cross country and cyclocross, the Shimano XC9 are a no-nonsense racing shoe for those looking for absolute efficiency. An extremely stiff carbon sole, a comfortable BOA closure system, and a super light weight are its best features, although they’ll cost a pretty penny to own.
The Fizik M4B Uomo are an incredibly tough pair of shoes, with a Microtex upper and carbon reinforced sole that can withstand many a beatings. With a sculpted footbed and supportive heel, they’re amazingly responsive to boot.
The Pearl Izumi X-Project Pro are an update to the original X-Project, with a lightweight carbon sole, improved BOA closure, and a new upper and lug design. All of these features mesh together well to make a shoe that can do many things well, making them “perfect for all mountain bikers and cyclocross riders” as Pearl Izumi says. They certainly aren’t wrong.
The Lake MX237 are an exceptionally well-rounded pair of shoes built mainly for cyclocross riders. Stiff for racing, comfortable for running, and durable for the entire journey, these shoes won’t disappoint.
Best Mountain Bike Shoe Brands
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Fi’zi:k
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Five Ten
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Giro
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Lake
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Louis Garneau
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Mavic
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Northwave
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Pearl Izumi
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Scott
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Shimano
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Sidi
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Specialized
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