Note that all of these are flat pedal mountain bike shoes with a protective or molded toe cap, a lace-up design, and stiff-ish heel cups. Find a mini-review of each shoe below followed by ratings, weights, and other details, then read on for a few of my favorite picks in different categories. However, more and more companies have released shoes that challenge Five Ten’s market dominance, so I decided to research and round up a bunch of the most well-regarded and mainstream options and put them to a group test over the last year.Įach of these shoes was ridden with OneUp flat pedals (my personal favorite) on a variety of hardtails, rigid 29+ bikes, and my full-suspension Ibis Ripley. It was pretty clear early on that Five Tens were the creme de la creme for their ultra-sticky soles that keep you glued to the pedals. While learning to ride flats on the rocky and rooty technical trails around my home in Western North Carolina, I quickly learned the importance of good shoes and pedals. I’ve healed since then, but I stuck with riding flats on my trail mountain bike and consider myself something of a long-term convert at this point.

I’ll admit that it was challenging at first, but it ultimately led to me becoming a better rider and changing my style altogether. But the nerve issue forced me to switch to flat pedals for all types of riding and learn how to pedal more aggressive trails with flats. Prior to my injury, I always rode with SPDs while mountain biking and on most bikepacking trips, aside from longer dirt road tours where I switched to flats and a comfortable approach shoe.

This was particularly evident in the twisting motion required to disengage clipless pedals and SPDs, which made it a little challenging to unclip quickly and easily.

Once I was able to start riding again-some seven or eight months later-I had to face the fact that there was nerve damage in both of my feet. However, that changed after a serious back injury and surgery a few years ago. I started out mountain biking with clipless pedals and cleats and considered myself committed to them at one point.

Flat shoes or SPDs? It’s an age-old debate in the cycling world.

Cycling shoes for wide flat feet