Shoe Recommendations

What brand have your favorite clipless MTB shoes been?

  • Total voters
    23
Magic

Magic

Formerly 1sh0t1b33r
I'm in the market for new clipless shoes. I currently have the MT-44, which while comfortable, doesn't make a very good wet/cold weather shoe since it's made of a mesh material which traps mud, are harder to wash, and the tying mechanism gets a bit loose all the time. What do you guys ride? I don't need a minimalistic, light weight "race" shoe, just something comfortable with decent soles and lacing system for hike-a-bike on Boon and maybe some CX action.

I was interested in the new Shimano M200, but I see mixed reviews on them and I'm not sure if the extra ankle protector is comfortable and/or necessary. Anybody ride these yet?

~$150ish budget.
 
I am going to be getting the M89 in about a day or so its not lace but the "cheaper" version of the M200. I currently have Spec Comps and they suck for hike and bikes, but overall are not bad shoes. I will let you know how they are
 
Check out the Bontrager RLs. They're a pretty decent shoe - much the same feeling on your feet as the higher end RXLs, but cheaper (sole is composite instead of carbon.) The sizing is pretty much standard.
 
Same here as 1speed
I have had the same pair for 3 years now. Sizing as stated is spot on.
 
Every person I see with Shimano shoes, they look like they are falling apart.
Sidis are very narrow, and tend to be well-suited to a low-volume foot.

I just bought the Mavic Chasm and have been racing CX in it. Love it, very light, stiff and well-made.
The weight actually is the same as the super expensive Mavic shoe that you see a lot of pros wearing
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/mavic-chasm-mountain-bike-shoe-mens
And, bonus, it's on sale!

@Delish swears by Giro shoes.
 
I had my Shimanos for like 4yrs. I think I got them for $30 on Chainlove. They are kind of heavy but I like bike/hikes with them because they are pretty flexible and my feet is comfortable.

This year I noticed that there was a 2inch rip on the sole near the cleats. It could have been there for 2 years, I never notice these things. I still wear the Shimanos though even with the rip.

So this year, I got some Giros and took them out for the first time. I could tell they were much stiffer, lighter and pinched my feet slightly in a few spots. After a 2hr ride they weren't perfect, but felt like they would be fine if I broke them in a bit. Walking was harder on these shoes than the Shimanos.

It's always a crapshoot ordering shoes online. Best to got to a big LBS (campmor) and try them on if you can. But even that won't tell you what your feet will feel like after 3hrs. And sometimes your feet needs a few rides to get used to the shoes. So maybe get ones that look pretty.
 
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I slaughtered the Sidi mtb shoes I had. Road ones have lasted forever.

Road was the total opposite with Shimano. Road shoes were destroyed. Right now I have the Shimano MTB shoes that Jay pushes and they have served me well. Utah obliterated the same kind in 3 months.

Totally useless feedback probably.
 
Giro-Grinduro-Purple-2.jpg


Seriously though...this subject is, well, subjective as hell. The best looking, most expensive shoe is not always the best for you. Try on as many in your budget range as you can first. Try to get as best a feel for what you may experience out on the trail, course, whateva. One man/women's slipper is another man/woman's wooden clog. Odds are, most people on here have thrown/given away more pairs of shoes than the number of years the right ones for them have lasted.
 
I do not know if you can get them anymore or not but I had a pair of Specialized tahoe shoes for ever with no issues until they and my old jeep were stolen.
Now I have Cannodale roam shoes that I have had for about 5 or so years with the only issue is that they are cold in the winter.
 
I have 3 pairs of specialized summer shoes dating from 1999 through 2004. Every one of them is still going strong. I haven't found a need to replace them yet. Sizing is accurate, too.

I used Sidi winter shoes for over 15 years with no issues until I bought some wolvhammers, but the sidis have held up well, although i had to get a size larger than normal to fit. Agree they can be narrow.
 
Dominos said:
Every person I see with Shimano shoes, they look like they are falling apart.
Sidis are very narrow, and tend to be well-suited to a low-volume foot. ]

@Delish swears by Giro shoes.
Click to expand...

The refresh to Shimano's lineup has served me well thus far. The bulkier models from like 3 years ago were the suck.

I've worn Sidi Dominators and they were really good shoes. After that I went to a set of Shimanos that I hated (can't remember the model). Giro Codes (which @Delish wears iirc) were next and this is a really good show that are very reasonably priced if you shop around. Currently, I ride the Shimano XC90 (with the Code as a backup for double/muddy days) which is just an outstanding shoe. I also have Shimano'sM320 road shoe and it's pretty much identical but with a mtb sole.

If you don't need the uber light/custom moldable features of the Shimano's, I would recommend the Giro Code which should fall right into your budget.
 
Everyone has a favorite brand. Mine is Sidi - they fit like fairy-tale slippers. ON ME. They may be horrid for you. You just have to go and try on shoes until you find the right pair. Don't buy 'good enough', or you'll seriously regret it on a long ride..
 
Thanks for the replies so far, everyone... albeit being all over the place. Looks like I'll just have to try a bunch and wear them around until the store closes. I don't ride nearly as much as a lot of you here, so longevity isn't the biggest factor for me if these mesh Shimanos are still in decent shape after 2 years.
 
I had Sidi's and I broke the ratchet mechanism. Now I have, believe it or not, the FiveTen Kestrels. Probably not a racing shoe but a good all mtn one. May get a little hot in the dead of summer but I don't know yet. They only have 2 rides on them, and Jay had to grind them down a bit to fit my pedals (Shimano XTR-PD-M9020) but I like the sticky bottom for bailing on rocks and stuff.

http://www.bikemag.com/gear/review-five-ten-kestrel/
 
2Julianas said:
I had Sidi's and I broke the ratchet mechanism. Now I have, believe it or not, the FiveTen Kestrels. Probably not a racing shoe but a good all mtn one. May get a little hot in the dead of summer but I don't know yet. They only have 2 rides on them, and Jay had to grind them down a bit to fit my pedals (Shimano XTR-PD-M9020) but I like the sticky bottom for bailing on rocks and stuff.

http://www.bikemag.com/gear/review-five-ten-kestrel/
Click to expand...

Ratchet mech is at least easily replaceable. 🙂
 
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