Best women’s cycling shoes: Comfort and ride performance from the feet up
The best women’s cycling shoes provide an efficient and comfortable transition of power from your legs to the pedals
With your feet doing most of the work on the bike, a comfortable set of kicks can make or break your ride. If your feet aren’t comfortable, nothing will be, so the best women's cycling shoes should not only fit well but deliver efficient power transfer so that your energy isn't wasted.
That's why it's important to invest in the best cycling shoes for your budget, and to consider women's specific shoes if you find that unisex ones don't offer the comfort you need. Choosing the perfect pair of women's road shoes can be tricky, especially since feet come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention the fact that women's feet, on average, tend to be shaped slightly differently from men's. Women's specific shoes will be constructed around a women's specific 'foot last' (the mould around which shoes are shaped), which takes into account the variation in foot anatomy between the sexes and ergonomically tailors the shoes to fit better to women’s feet.
Comparing materials, arch heights, widths and closure systems can be quite a minefield, only then to also factor in weight and price (often hand in hand), so to make this process easier for you, we've rounded up our picks of the best women's cycling shoes for road use and answered some FAQs at the bottom of this article.
Quick list
A great option for any woman who's just getting into road cycling and wants to explore the advantages of clipping in with stiff soles and efficient power transfer.
A performance cycling shoe made for riding long distances. Comes in various widths and is effortlessly comfortable even when spending hours in the saddle.
Featuring a contemporary classic design, these shoes are lightweight, fast and comfortable. They also feature a lace-up fastening system.
Specialized has trickled down tons of good tech from its top end offerings into this lower priced shoe. Plus the colourway options are fun.
Designed to be heat-moulded around your foot, this shoe provides all the benefits of a stiff upper without any of the painful complications that come with it. The Vaypor S comes in five width options including wide and double-wide, which makes it perfect if you have wide feet.
A great gravel shoe, perfect for any adventure. These are incredibly comfortable, as the material is supple enough to be soft, but also retains its shape and security at the same time.
Recent updates
Last updated on 2nd April 2025
Quoc Gran Tourer, Fizik Tempo Overcurve R4, Specialized Torch 1.0 and Shimano SH-RX600 were added. Products no longer stocked have been removed, and buying advice has been added.
Best women’s cycling shoes available today
Best comfort
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want value for money: This shoe offers good tech for a decent price.
✅ You want breathable: With lots of ventilation points, you should have cool feet with these shoes.
❌ You want a performance shoe: This option is made for enthusiasts and amateurs.
❌ You have large feet: The sizes available may not suit everyone.
The Scott Road Comp Boa Lady Shoe may be a bit of a mouthful but it's a great option for any woman who's just getting into road cycling and wants to explore the advantages of clipping in with stiff soles and efficient power transfer.
They make great summer shoes, thanks to the myriad of ventilation points, leaving your feet feeling airy and cool on descents. Their breathability and heat-shedding also makes them a great option for the turbo trainer in winter.
We found these shoes to be super versatile, comfortable, effective and user-friendly, plus they're excellent value for money.
Read our review of the Scott Road Comp Boa Lady Shoe.
Best endurance road
2. Fizik Tempo Overcurve R4
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a performance shoe: This shoe is a high-specced option.
✅ You want breathable: With lots of ventilation points, you should have cool feet with these shoes.
❌ You have small feet: The sizes available may not suit everyone.
Fizik delivers with the Tempo Overcurve R4, a high quality and high performance road cycling shoe.
The fit is excellent, thanks to the brand's overcurve technology which is essentially a staggered collar that wraps around the ankle, which keeps the foot snug and in place comfortably.
The moderately stiff R4 outsole hits a neat balance between comfort and pedalling efficiency, which is where this shoe really excels. It's comfortable when riding for hours in the saddle but without negating on performance features.
The Tempo Overcurve also come in a wide version and a host of colourways too.
Best lightweight
3. Giro Empire Women's shoe
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want lightweight: At 215g, these are the lightest in our guide.
✅ You want lace-up shoes: This option offers the traditional closure system.
❌ You want to adjust your shoes on the go: Lace-ups are not the most versatile option.
❌ You have small feet: The sizes available may not suit everyone.
For some true classic styling, look no further than the Giro Empire women’s shoes. This lace-up shoe pairs a retro feel with a super soft and supple upper, which although leather-like, is fully microfibre and lightweight.
These shoes are fully comfortable from the first ride, a somewhat rare occurrence as normally it takes a few weeks to break in shoes. A great feature we noticed is that they come with three different instep and arch support inserts that fit under the insole. Having a low, medium and high arch support insert means that no custom footbeds are required, and everything you need is in the box.
The shoe is quite flat across the sole, so your toes aren’t lifted and you can achieve a great pedal stroke with power through the whole rotation. The Giro Empire is a great choice if you have a bit of patience. Compared to similar shoes, they take longer to put on and properly tighten up. Alternatively, if you want to try Giro shoes with a Boa system, opt for the Regime, which shares all of these fit features but forgoes laces for the ratchet system.
Best budget
4. Specialized Torch 1.0
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a big brand road shoe without the price tag: Specialized has trickled down tons of good tech from its top-end offerings into this shoe.
✅ You want a shoe with personality: The colourway options offer something for most people's desires.
❌ You want a supportive heel: You might be better off with a women's specific option.
❌ You have wide or small feet: The sizes available may not suit everyone.
The Torch 1.0 are Specialized entry-level budget road shoes which still pack in a ton of decent features.
These are great first shoes if you want to try out a stiff road shoe without a hefty price tag. With a 6.0 Stiffness index, the injection-moulded nylon composite sole is engineered to be moderately stiff and lightweight, which gives a nice balance when riding.
The single Boa L6 dial makes it easy to make on-the-fly micro-adjustments and get the shoe on and off. There is also plenty of ventilation to help keep feet cool and I particularly like the reflective heel, which is a nice touch.
The downside is that the Torch 1.0 doesn't offer smaller sizes or different widths; however in my experience, I've always had to go up in shoe size for cycling shoes, so it could be worth trying out a pair in-store if you can. If you are able to fit into Specialized's sizing, then the choice of colours is rather magnificent and fun.
If you want a carbon sole, then try the Torch 2.0, which is the more premium option.
Best for wide feet
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want high specs and high quality: This shoe is the cream of the crop.
✅ You want lightweight: This is a light and fast option with a monocoque carbon sole.
❌ You want lots of colour choices: It only comes in white or black.
Bont is undoubtedly the shoe of choice for wide-footed riders in the pro ranks. The shoe has an unyielding sole, arguably the stiffest on the market, and it extends in length to form part of the heel cup, creating a monopiece that holds its shape.
The shoe comes in five width options, including wide and double-wide. At first, the upper might feel cumbersome, but it’s designed to be heat-moulded around your foot so you have all the benefits of the stiff upper without any of the painful complications that come with it.
All Bont shoes are handmade, as a bit of a warning, meaning there can be small size discrepancies and setting up cleats from one pair to another can take some extra time. Plus from our research, not everywhere sells the various width options.
One of our male reviewers tested the Bont Vaypor S and came away thoroughly impressed by what it offers as a complete shoe.
Best gravel
6. Quoc Gran Tourer II
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want versatility: I've worn these on road and gravel and hiking up mountains and they are excellent.
✅ You want breathable: With lots of ventilation points, you should have cool feet with these shoes.
❌ You want super lightweight: These are made to be robust, so they are heavier than others.
❌ You want a road-specific shoe: You will need SPD pedals to wear these.
If you want one pair of do-it-all shoes then I would suggest trying these, my favourite cycling shoes of all time, which is why these are included. A huge claim, I know, and I have not tried every shoe on the market, but these I simply cannot fault.
The Gran Tourer II are expertly designed, offering ample comfort and durability, and are roomy enough for a wide fit. They are also trendy and cool - just look at that design - and every time I wear them I feel fantastic.
Made with gravel and bikepacking in mind, the sole is excellent when in need of tread or taking on some hike-a-bike.
On a more technical note, the Gran Tourer II's use Quoc's own one-dial closure system, which works well, features a stiff sole, and a splashproof microfibre upper which moulds to the rider’s foot over time.
I have worn these for 1000s of kilometres on road and gravel and I plan to ride them for many more. If laces are more your thing, then check out our Quoc Gran Tourer shoes review where we gave them five stars, so don't just take my word for it.
Best for standing out
7. Shimano SH-RX600
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a funky off-road design: These shoes are full of personality.
✅ You like bikepacking: The wide outsole offers good stability when taking on some hike-a-bike.
❌ You have small feet: The sizes available may not suit everyone.
Another gravel shoe in the guide, the Shimano SH-RX600 are an excellent pair of kicks for off-road riding.
They are a good option for wider feet and are designed for comfort and breathability. They feature a BOA dial for fastening plus a velcro tab at the front of the shoe, ensuring a snug fit.
I've had many a compliment when riding with these shoes, my personal favourite being "those shoes are whack".
These come in both a men's and women's version, and personally, I wear the men's because I've found these fit my feet best. It's all personal preference, so go with what suits you.
As with the Quoc Gran Tourer II's, you will need SPD pedals for these shoes.
Best for timeless premium design
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want premium timeless road shoes: These shoes are race-ready and stylish.
✅ You want lightweight: 255g puts these shoes at some of the lightest in this guide.
❌ You have small feet: The sizes available may not suit everyone.
The Mono II is a truly beautiful premium road shoe which are comfortable, adjustable and easy to clean. These are stiff shoes, ready for a race, club ride and everything in between.
The uppers use a stitched two-piece microfibre synthetic construction, the ankle is low and the tongue is flapped, which all contribute to the shoe feeling lightweight and slipper-like on the foot. The dual closure dials mean you can adjust the fit easily, and make it simple to get the shoe on and off.
Our reviewer Tom raved about these, noting that the shoes do everything well without a fuss and he found them gloriously comfortable, even in the heat.
With a hefty price tag, these are a premium pair of road shoes but if you can afford the outlay, they are definitely worth the investment.
How to choose
What type of cycling shoe should I get?
As with women's road bike saddles, cycling shoes offer a very personal fit so we advise trying on a few to see which suits you. It's also important to consider what sort of riding you are doing and whether you need two pairs or just one for this. For example, if you are a pure roadie who races, a lightweight road pair might suit you best, and if you dabble in both road and gravel, and only want one pair of shoes, I would suggest going for a gravel pair like the Quoc Gran Tourer II.
The cleat system you use will also affect your shoe choice. Road cleats use a three bolt pattern and off-road cleats use two. Shoes are rarely equipped with both fittings, although some brands will offer their shoes with either a two or three-bolt pattern. If you are new to clip-in pedals, check out our cycling with cleats guide, which covers everything you need to know.
What size cycling shoes do I need?
We can’t stress enough how important this is, especially as sizing can vary greatly between brands, and often isn’t reflected in what you might wear in casual shoes. You want your shoes to be snug, but still giving your toes enough room to wiggle and some space for your sole and arch to breath, without cramping up.
Remember your feet swell as you get hot, so if a shoe is snug when trying it on in a shop, it will only be tighter on the road. If you have the option to order two sizes and return one if ordering online, this can be a safe option, and don’t hesitate to reach out to customer service for sizing help.
What's the difference between closure systems?
The closure system is how the shoe will stay on your foot. In this guide you can see there are a few standard options: laces, velcro, Boa dials and the Sidi system which is similar to Boa. The Boa will give you the best tightness and small secure adjustments, but as a warning, if they break they are expensive to replace and may leave you without shoes for a while. Velcro is a great low-price and low-maintenance option that offers security and stability without the high price tag. Lace-ups that can be seen on the Giro Empires (and dhb shoes) are great for comfort, retro style and low profile functionality that never breaks, but can be tricky to adjust to the correct tightness.
FAQs
Are cycling shoes gender-specific?
Not always, but some brands do offer women's specific cycling shoes. These are made using a women's specific 'foot last', a mould around which the show is constructed, and this will be ergonomically designed for women's foot shapes.
While all bodies are different, dimensions data suggests that on average, women tend to have shorter and narrower feet. Their shape is slightly different as well, so it's not always a case of offering smaller sizes with the same proportions.
If you have trouble wearing unisex shoes, it may be that a women's specific design will work better for you.
What's the best material for cycling shoes to be made from?
Shoes come in two families of material: leather and synthetic leather, sometimes with knit fabric technology added into the mix. Opt for a knit shoe for superior breathability and lightness, leather for a material that will naturally mould and adapt to your feet, and synthetic leather for a smooth, durable and easily cleanable surface.
How do I check for cleat adjustment?
When you look at the sole of your shoe, look for a shoe that offers some degree of adjustability in where you place your cleat, to ensure you have the correct setup and cleat placement for efficient power transfer. This can vary greatly among different shoes and different feet, so adjustability is key.
How long should cycling shoes last?
If you are investing in an expensive pair of shoes, you want to make sure they are going to last a good few seasons in the pedals. Check for which parts are replaceable, and do know that the more expensive shoes tend to be better constructed and longer-lasting.
Should cycling shoes be stiff?
The answer here depends on your needs. If you spend more time on a bike, and you are generally riding harder, you will want a stiffer shoe. Part of this is a matter of efficiency and not wanting to lose power to flex in the shoe. Part of it is that a flexible shoe can cause discomfort over time.
On the other hand, you might prefer a softer shoe. If you aren't pushing that hard or riding that far, a softer shoe is going to feel more comfortable. A softer shoe also tends to be less expensive, as the sole may be made of nylon or fibreglass composite rather than the carbon fibre used in higher-priced shoes and the upper may be less technical.
Can I use my own insoles in cycling shoes?
You should be able to use custom insoles in a cycling shoe however the support a foot needs while riding is different to a walking shoe or trainer so it may not offer the same benefits. It's also worth mentioning that the insole which the shoe comes with might not be the best option for you. If you think you may have additional requirements then having a bike fit and changing the insoles can really help in fitting the shoe to you, rather than the other way around.
How we test
You'll see from the above and from our detailed reviews that we'll call in shoes and expect to use them in all weather, usually over several months, to get a clear understanding of their capabilities and limits.
For information on how we test check out our guide to how we test.
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Mildred joined as Reviews Writer for Cyclingnews and BikePerfect in December 2020. She loves all forms of cycling from long-distance audax to daily errand-running by bike, and does almost everything on two wheels, including moving house, and started out her cycling career working in a bike shop. For the past five years she's volunteered at The Bristol Bike Project as a mechanic and session coordinator, and now sits on its board of directors.
Since then she's gone on to write for a multitude of cycling publications, including Bikeradar, Cycling Plus, Singletrack, Red Bull, Cycling UK and Total Women's Cycling. She's dedicated to providing more coverage of women's specific cycling tech, elevating under-represented voices in the sport, and making cycling more accessible overall.
Height: 156cm (5'2")
Weight: 75kg
Rides: Stayer Groadinger UG, Triban RC520 Women's Disc, Genesis Flyer, Marin Larkspur, Cotic BFe 26, Clandestine custom bike