Best cycling shoes of 2024 - the foundation of every great ride

The connection between your feet and the pedals is so critical that if you get it right, you can do more than you ever thought possible. Get it wrong though, and no amount of perseverance will carry you through. It doesn't matter how much time you've invested in training and preparation, if you start experiencing pain in your feet it can derail everything.

Cycling shoes weren’t always quite so critical. At one time it was common for bikes to use a flat pedal and regular shoes. The next innovation was to add a toe clip that allowed a regular shoe to have a better connection to a bike. Then, in the 1970s and 80s, Cinnelli and Look developed a technology paradoxically called clipless pedals. There's no need for a toe clip anymore but you depend on the design of the shoe to anchor your feet to the pedal.

These innovations have led to today's best bike shoes being an extension of the best bike pedals. For the best cycling shoe brands that means, the vast majority of options use a three-bolt cleat interface. The best road cycling shoes are usually also the lightest, they tend to be the stiffest, and the focus is on performance and power transfer. They are also not great for walking; if you want to be able to walk with ease, we've got more options on our list of the best gravel bike shoes. Here, the cleat is smaller and recessed into the sole, while the shoe itself has a tread for grip, making them among the best commuter cycling shoes too.

With that small bit of understanding behind you, keep reading to see what I think are the best road cycling shoes available today. I've included options for a wide variety of the best cycling shoe brands at different price points and I've tested everything on this list in a variety of situations. We also have a guide specifically focusing on the best cycling shoes for wide feet. An area of the market which is growing as brands recognise lots of shoes are on the narrow side for people. 

Towards the bottom of this post, we have advice on how to choose the best road cycling shoes for your needs.

Quick list

The best cycling shoes available today

Best long distance road cycling shoes

The Trek RSL Knit is a very unique shoe. There's nothing else on the market quite like it and yet, I'll be very honest and say, these are my favourite shoes on this list. My life on a bike is all about going as fast as I can for as long as I can and the Trek RSL Knit perfectly complements that experience. 

The place that starts is the OCLV carbon base. In the Trek nomenclature, it's a 14 out of 14 rating for stiffness. Of course, no one knows what that means but with time on the feet of Lidl-Trek riders, it's safe to say it's plenty stiff. It's certainly stiff enough that I can't perceive any difference compared to other top-of-the-line shoes. What's more notable about the base than the stiffness is that there are big vents ahead and behind the cleat mount and the mount has alignment marks both vertically and horizontally to make setup easy. At the toe, there's also a large traction pad that morphs into a large front protector. 

That toe protector is important because the upper is a fabric knit. It's difficult to keep clean, especially in white but even in black, I doubt it would hold up to rubbing against the front tyre. What the knit upper does do, amazingly well, is keep your foot in place without any pressure. One of the key issues on long-distance rides is foot swelling and the knit upper makes that a non-issue. It also keeps the weight low and allows air to come through when it's hot.

As good as that is, the knit needs some support. To that end, there's an external skeleton and a pair of metal Li2 BOA dials. It's tough to get in as the system doesn't completely open but once in your foot stays perfectly in place with no pressure point or rubbing. The Trek RSL Knit is a joy to wear even on short rides but it comes into its own when the distances stretch out.

Best budget cycling shoes

The Fizik Tempo Powerstrap R5 is going to be somewhat controversial as an overall best-budget cycling show selection. BOA dials dominate the options for modern cycling shoes and many cyclists consider them a must-have. I kind of agree and yet, these shoes have none. 

My reasoning has to do with price and available options. Quite simply, BOA dials cost money. BOA is a separate company and using them means licensing the technology. When it comes to budget shoes, that cost tends to put dual zone adjustments out of reach and even the single BOA dial used is often one of the lower-spec options without all the features that make BOA great. Fizik gets around this challenge by just leaving BOA dials off the design and instead using an innovative system of big straps and Velcro. 

The straps that Fizik uses aren't like what you find on other brands of shoes. Instead of a stiff strap that pulls the opening above the tongue closed, Fizik connects the straps of the Tempo Powerstrap R5 all the way down to the base of the shoe. The strap material is also different and it's both strong and flexible with no pressure point. The whole system sits close to the shoe, making it fast and simple to get the fitment perfect, and if you need to pull some kind of winter cover over, there's nothing to get in the way. 

The downside of course is that there is no BOA dial. It's still pretty easy to adjust mid-ride if you have to, but it will never be as simple, or precise, as a BOA dial. The shoes are also a bit on the warm side as they lack a vent through the sole of the shoe. 

Fizik frequently creates two shoes that are exactly the same, other than one will have a two-bolt cleat interface and tread and one will have a road-specific base. That’s the case with the Tempo Powerstrap R5 as well, so if you prefer walkability for your road bike, or if you need a gravel shoe, check out our review of the Fizik X4 Terra Powerstrap.

Best budget shoes with a BOA dial

As I already said, for a lot of buyers, a BOA dial is a must-have. If you are shopping for a BOA dial at a budget price, the Bontrager Circuit shoes are a quality option that won't break the bank. There are a few different BOA dial options and the Circuit uses an L6. Like all BOA dials, it's warrantied for life and you can swap pieces if anything ever breaks. This particular model also has pull to release functionality although it's only a single direction. You can tighten it with a twist but if you want to loosen things up, you'll need to pop it and then tighten it again. 

Another big advantage to the Bontrager Circuit shoe is in the sole. Trek, under the Bontrager sub-brand, uses a nylon composite that the brand puts at a 7 out of 14 for stiffness compared to the other options available. That part isn't all that unique for a shoe of this price range but what is very unusual at any price range is the ability to mount your choice of two-bolt or three-bolt cleats. Even if you use a two-bolt cleat you won't get the walkability of an off-road shoe but you do have the option if you prefer the ease of use that comes with a double-sided off-road pedal. On top of that, Bontrager puts a vent at the toe which does a great job keeping you cool. 

The big downside is that the lower strap is essentially for show. It's not impossible to tighten it a little bit but the shoe and strap are too stiff to get much movement. 

You can read more details in our full Bontrager Circuit review. 

Best budget cycling shoes with laces

Adidas was once one of the best cycling shoe brands, then it disappeared from the market. Now there are new offerings and instead of looking to dominate the market with range-topping shoes, Adidas just wants consideration. After spending time with these shoes, I'm happy to say they are more than worth consideration. 

The Road Cycling Shoe comes priced a little higher than the least expensive options here but still less than half the price of the most expensive options. For that money, you get a shoe that feels a lot like it could be a soccer cleat. It has the same bit of upturn at the toe and the laces would also feel at home on a soccer cleat. The upper is a woven fabric made from yarn containing at least half Parley Ocean Plastic content and the rest recycled polyester. It's padded and comfortable just like the tongue. 

For the sole, Adidas chose a fibreglass-reinforced polyamide plate instead of carbon. It's the softest of budget options but it’s completely workable, it's possible to recycle it, and it also helps keep costs down. The front and rear tread blocks are non-replaceable and the whole design is a bit heavy but, again, at this price point, everything seems reasonable. 

I have to also mention the iconic Adidas style. Style matters when it comes to shoes in general but the three Adidas stripes are going to turn heads in a whole different way. Like most Adidas products, colours change pretty often so you might find something different out there but they all have the stripes. 

Best midrange cycling shoes

Budget cycling shoes offer a lot of great features but as you progress through the journey that is your cycling, you'll outgrow that tier. Features like a soft and walkable base are what you want when you are starting out and riding for an hour or two. Pretty soon though, you'll need a stiffer shoe with a more advanced construction and that's where a midrange cycling shoe is perfect. 

As with every category of price/features, there's a lot of competition but the shoe that's impressed me the most at the midrange is the Trek Velocis. At 227 grams per shoe, the weight is more than competitive with the best cycling shoes available. You also get a dual BOA Li2 fastening system so you can individually tune both the lower and upper portions of your foot. 

In yet more of an effort to make sure there are no hotspots, there is both a unique foam tongue and the MetNet system. Both are pretty simple but the tongue is a thick foam so no matter how hard you tighten the BOA dials, it will keep the pressure from affecting the top of your foot. MetNet meanwhile, is a system of perforations in the synthetic outer that allow for stretch and flex where pain points can form. 

The base is a carbon composite that Trek rates as 10 out of 14 for stiffness. There's enough flex in the toe that you can walk easier but there's no noticeable flex in the centre of the shoe. Unlike some of the competition in this price range, there's venting through the base as well as a replaceable rear heel pad. 

Despite all the positives, some small details distinguish this shoe from the more expensive options. In general, the upper is less premium with a less premium insole and a heel cup that lacks the finesse of more expensive shoes. Generally, it's all forgivable and unlikely to be an issue but I do wish there was toe protection. The harder outer material might hold up to tire rub but a toe cap helps keep a shoe looking better for longer.

Best hot weather cycling shoes

In case it's not already apparent, I'm a fan of the Fizik Powerstrap system. There's nothing quite like the joy of popping open a BOA dial at the end of a long ride but aside from price, BOA dials are also heavier than other systems. Brands making the lightest shoes available tend to have different closure solutions and for Fizik that means the Powerstrap system. As in the budget Tempo R5, the Fizik Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave has two big and flexible straps that attach to the sole and close with Velcro. 

The R2 Aeroweave isn't trying to be a price leader though. Instead, this shoe is for a rider who loves a lightweight shoe and a narrow fit. The sole is a 10/10 stiffness on the Fizik scale, though there are stiffer soles out there, and there's a large vent at the front. Up top is where the real innovation is though. Instead of a wide variety of materials on the market, Fizik uses something called Aeroweave. Imagine the plastic lanyards, or bracelets, that kids make, then imagine using that material to knit the entire upper of a shoe. It's light but it's also so open that you'd better make sure you are wearing something stylish from the best cycling socks list. You can see right through the Aeroweave so your socks are on display. 

The only downside of the Aeroweave is also the only real downside of the shoe in general. The construction seems to limit colour options so make sure you like black. On the upside, it's tough. Even a toe rub or two won't be an issue.  

Read more details in our full Fizik Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave road shoes review. 

Best lightweight cycling shoes

The basic Giro Empire design has been around for years. The latest version is the Giro Empire SLX but the formula is essentially unchanged. Way back then, and now, the idea is to use a seemingly simple construction to make the lightest, most exacting shoe possible. If you want a wide shoe or an ultra-stiff sole, you will want to look elsewhere. I almost added BOA dials to that list as well but there is a slightly heavier version with BOA dials if you must go that route. I strongly recommend letting go of that need though. The laces are a light stretchy material that never comes undone and there's a place to stash them so they don’t get in the way. The laces also mean the exact fit you need in every part of the shoe. 

Either way though, this is a narrow shoe and even I can induce a bit of flex in the carbon sole. That's what makes it great though, it fits like a second skin and practically begs you to stand and dance on the pedals. It also means that I wouldn’t choose these shoes for the longest rides when your foot swells a lot. In those situations I prefer the Trek RSL Knit which gives a similar feel but with less pressure. On the upside, if you’ve got a low-volume foot like I do, Giro includes replacement arch supports to get you fit dialled in. 

The downside of all that weight reduction is that there are some things that don't make the cut. The Synchwire upper looks and feels great but it doesn't stand up to toe rub and adding a plastic protector would have added weight. I suspect it's a somewhat similar story as to why there's no adjustability in the cleat placement. 

Read more details in our full Giro Empire SLX review. 

Best everyday cycling shoes

Over the years, Specialized has been shifting the shape of the shoes the brand makes. More and more the toe box is wider with more room, making comfort on a par with the best road cycling shoes. 

The Specialized S-Works Torch is the replacement for the S-Works 7 and the latest in the many S-Works options the brand makes. As such, it's the most up-to-date vision of what Specialized believes is the best shape and it's 4mm wider at the ball than the previous generation of S-Works 7 shoe. 

The changes aren't just the work of intuition either. Specialized pulls from the trends seen through over 100,000-foot scans as part of the RETÜL fit system. The same data also guides the particular shape of the central cut-out as well as the angle of BOA dials and the way that they sit on the shoe. It's also data you can feel when putting on the shoe. 

The end result is a shoe that seems to be good at everything. Short rides, endurance rides, racing, day in and day out the S-Works Torch is a shoe you can grab and know it will work. I've highlighted a number of shoes that are really good at a particular thing. Sometimes that's a price detail but sometimes it's an innovative feature. The S-Works Torch is more of an all-arounder and while some shoes are polarising, the Torch will work for almost everyone. If you want a great road cycling shoe without having to decide if a certain use case is right for you, grab the Torch. 

It's also nice that the outer is so hard-wearing. Since you are likely to be wearing the S-Works Torch a lot, things like protection at the toe against toe rub, an easy-to-wipe-clean outer, and metal BOA dials are an advantage. Unfortunately, those BOA dials, while looking great and holding up well, do lack pop-to-release.

Read more details in our full Specialized S-Works Torch review.

Best cycling shoes for wide feet

The Bont Vaypor S was one of the shoes I was most excited to test. When they finally got to me though, they seemed to be the wrong size. It took quite a bit of examination to realise that the length was spot on. I couldn't go down a size but there was a lot of volume in the front of the shoe. It's unusual and I didn't immediately love it. The way the flap across the top of the shoe limits the adjustability by hitting the lower BOA dial eventually didn't help. 

Given that I don't have wide feet, I was sceptical of the design. On short rides, I didn't see much advantage although I did appreciate the toe rub protection and the incredibly grippy material on the interior of the shoe. It wasn't until I got the Vaypour S out on a long ride that I really appreciated the extra space in the toe box. It's much more substantial than Specialized despite that brand getting wider in the toe box over the years. Even when my feet swell, I never have issues with pressure anywhere in the shoes. 

If that description sounds similar to what I like about the Trek RSL Knit, it is but the two shoes are completely opposite. While the base of the Trek is stiff, Bont is a whole other level. Bont is known for a bathtub style that wraps up past the base of the foot and it makes for an incredibly stiff shoe. 

The other difference is that you can go even wider, or custom. There are a total of four widths to pick from without having to go for a custom size and you can even customise the carbon with a simple heat mould process. I'm also a big fan of the fully reflective exterior of the Reflex Ghost version.

You can read more details in our full Bont Vaypor S review.

Best cycling shoes for cleat adjustment

Shimano and Specialized are, at least in the US, the two most common cycling shoe brands. Just about every bike shop carries both and comparisons are obvious. As you look to decide between the two, the signature difference is how Shimano handles the closure design. Instead of coming from both sides of the shoe and closing in the middle, as you'd expect from a shoe, Shimano wraps one side over the other. It's unique compared to almost everything on the market and it makes for a narrower fit throughout. This latest generation adds more vertical volume at the toe but as soon as you start to head towards the back of the shoe everything narrows out. It's not as narrow as Giro but definitely more so than Specialized and that continues all the way to the heel cup which is even narrower than the Giro Empire. 

Outside of that, the big differentiator for Shimano is how much cleat adjustment the brand builds into the sole. The channel for sliding the cleat mount is roughly 18mm compared to 10-11mm for most brands. It might not sound like a big difference but if you want to get your cleat way back to the centre of your foot, most brands won't do it. Shimano does, as does Fizik but Fizik is even more narrow than Shimano. If that's your desire, Shimano will do it and you also get excellent toe rub protection, great mid-foot retention, and incredible colour options. The only downside is that the covered section of the sole definitely takes damage compared to the carbon on the outside. 

You can read more details in our full Shimano S-Phyre RC903 review. 

Best cycling shoes for on and off the bike

I suspect that a lot of people looking for the best cycling shoes are looking for something that covers everything you need from a shoe as well as the ability to ride a bike. If you want a pair of shoes that you can wear all day then get on your bike at the end of the day, that's what the Crankbrothers Stamp Street Fabio does best. 

I've tried a number of cycling shoes that allow you to clip in but also walk around, but in the end, it's the Stamp Street Fabio that I keep coming back to. The picture above is actually my son's pair because, after almost two years, my pair are looking a little rough. In fact, if you are looking for the best kids' bike shoes, the Stamp Street Fabio is a great choice as long as they are big enough for a size 5, or bigger, adult sizing. 

Either way, kids or adults, what I love about the Stamp Street Fabio is how comfortable and secure they are. At the ankle, there's a bit of neoprene that stabilizes the fit and while these aren't minimal, there's zero drop plus a wide toe box. You can walk or stand in these and never think about them as cycling shoes. The colour choices are stylish also. 

When it's time to get on the bike, the sole is just as secure. You might not be able to clip in but the laces fit into a lace garage and the sticky flat base is a perfect foundation. Crankbrothers sells pedals but I've never had the Stamp Street Fabio slip on any pedals no matter how slick they are. 

Although I'm always clipped in for serious rides, I recognize that's not what works for every person or every ride. If you are commuting or casually riding somewhere, don't worry about clipping in. The Stamp Street Fabio is comfortable and the sticky rubber helps you stay connected to your pedals despite no room for a cleat.

Best all-road cycling shoe

We have a buyer's guide specifically covering the best gravel bike shoes where you can find a lot of nuance. Still, as you browse a list of the best bike shoes, it seems like there should be at least one option here that can handle any road, paved or not. In some ways that means narrowing down an entire category to one shoe but after an exhausting search, I've landed on the Rapha Explore Powerweave. 

I used to recommend a racier shoe designed for gravel racing but then I broke that shoe. Turns out that although I like to ride all day, as fast as possible, I also don't shy away from steep rocky ascents and underbiking. I will often get off the bike and shoulder it for a quick run up a steep hill when I'm not sure I can keep the bike upright. 

On the other list, these are the "Best gravel shoes for fast adventure riding" and I guess I agree with that assessment but really I just don't want my shoes to hold me back. I'm always going to be riding fast but if I choose to wear a gravel shoe it’s so I don't have to worry about what the surface I’m riding over is. If I need to get off the bike and walk, I can. If I need to ride all day and keep my power high, I can. There are only a few shoes on the market that combine both a race-ready stiff carbon sole and protection for that sole. Rapha nails it, plus adds the ability to tune the fit with variable arch supports. 

As far as things I'd love to see changed, I'm in full agreement with my colleague Will. We both noticed the narrow toe and even though my foot shape works with it better than his, I would still love more space for long days. We flip a bit in our thinking in the hard-to-clean exterior though. There's no doubt it's more difficult to clean but I'm apt to just hose it down and he prefers to let them dry before using a hard brush. Whatever you do, it's certainly not going to be a simple wipe-down. 

You can read more details in our full Rapha Explore Powerweave review. 

Cycling shoes we also tested

I always test products that miss out on the final buyers' guide. When it comes to the best cycling shoes, there were a lot more that almost made it than in some of the other guides. Fantastic shoes that are incredibly good but just missed inclusion when compared to other options. If there's something about any of these that sparks a connection to your needs, you won't go wrong. 

The first pair of shoes that were close but ultimately missed the main list is the Sidi Shot 2. Sidi is a somewhat legendary name in cycling shoes and is considered one of the best cycling shoe brands. The only reason these missed out is price. In the US, the pricing is well over many of the options listed above. In exchange for that price increase, you don't get noticeably more technology. In other parts of the world, you might find more advantageous pricing, and if you do find pricing that works, you'll get a traditional pointed-toe box and a narrow fit paired with the best heel retention of any of the shoes I tested. The Tecno-3 Push Flex system is also incredibly comfortable but there's no pop-open function and no micro-adjustment for loosening. 

The Fizik Vento Stabilita Carbon is also a shoe that does one thing better than anyone else. The design leaves the upper completely soft under the arch and then pulls the strap for closure through that same section. The effect is perfect for anyone who has a high arch and the shoe is also incredibly light with tons of cleat adjustability. Despite all the strengths, the strap that runs across the top of the foot can sometimes create a pressure point. It's a shoe that solves a very specific problem while potentially creating another. Not only that but the Fizik Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave is one of my favourite shoes of all time and the two are similar enough that I gave it the nod for the list. If you've got high arches, you might want to consider the Vento Stabilita Carbon.

Like the Fizik, the Adidas Road BOA cycling shoe was missed because of a competing product from the same brand. This time though, it really comes down to price. The soles of the Adidas The Road Shoe and the Adidas Road BOA cycling shoe are the same. That means you pay a premium to add a BOA dial while getting similar performance. If that's a must-have, you've got the option but otherwise, the laces on The Road Shoe do a great job and you get the best pricing. 

Yet another shoe that lost out to sibling rivalry is the Specialized S-Works Ares. The Ares is one of my favourite shoes and a shoe I always grab when I need something I know will work. It locks your foot in place better than anything else out there. The problem is that it's an older shoe at this point and Specialized has moved on to a newer design. The Torch has most of what makes the Ares good but also has the wider toe box and, arguably, looks a lot better.

The last shoes that almost made the list are the Rapha Pro Team shoes. The Rapha shoes are a narrow fit similar to Fizik and for me, it's perfect. What I notice every time I put them on though isn't the fit, it's how stiff the sole is. It's unlikely that you are thinking of Rapha when you are considering an ultra-stiff cycling shoe but you should. Despite all the good, the reason that the Rapha shoes aren't on the main list is that the knit outer is impossible to clean. It looks beautiful when new but it's very difficult to keep it looking that way. If you are willing to take the risk, the performance of the Rapha Pro Team shoes is among the best. 

How to choose the best cycling shoes for you

The first thing you are going to want to think about is what kind of cleat you would prefer to use. This list is mostly options for road cycling shoes and that generally means a three-bolt cleat mounting system. These shoes also make great shoes for indoor cycling and are compatible with the Look Delta cleats used by the Peloton Bike. We have a separate guide to the best indoor cycling shoes, if you want more options. 

If you'd prefer to use a two-bolt cleat then you need a shoe designed for that type of cleat and for gravel bike pedals. I've included one gravel-specific option and there is also one shoe that lets you use either type. If you want more options for two-bolt shoes, take a look at our list of the best gravel bike shoes. 

With that out of the way, the next decision is what kind of closure system you want. I test a lot of shoes and I'm not someone who's all that bothered with different systems. If given the option, I'd choose laces because I like the look and I feel they are the most comfortable. The downside is that there's no way to reach down while riding and loosen, or tighten, your shoe just a little. For some people, that is a deal breaker. If you constantly fiddle with your shoes, then there's nothing easier and more precise than a good BOA dial. Fizik also has the Powerstrap design which lets you reach down and make changes although it lacks the precision and speed of a BOA. There are also dial closure alternatives to a BOA used by some of the best cycling shoe brands, such as the Sidi Tecno-Push and Northwave X-Dial.

Once you've made those decisions, you are likely looking at only a small number of shoes and now it's time to decide how wide your foot is. There's been a big shift to wider cycling shoes over the last few years. For some, that's been a boon. I don't have wide feet though so it's been less exciting for me. 

You might also consider your arch support at this point but it is a little less important. Unlike width, you can add extra arch support down the road. Some shoes give arch support options that you can easily swap out, or Bont has high-quality insoles you can use in shoes of your choice. Aftermarket options are also available from non-cycling brands such as Solestar. There is also a whole world of custom insoles that you can move from shoe to shoe.