Versatile, comfortable and cooling on hot rides, these shoes offer great value for money and adequate power transfer, and would be a valuable addition to many women's cycling wardrobes, whether that's for indoor cycling, or getting out on their first road rides.
Pros
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Comfortable and supportive fit
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Lots of ventilation points
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Supportive insole with metatarsal button
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Decent power transfer
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Excellent value for money
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Aesthetically pleasing
+
Long-lasting
Cons
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Boa dial only turns in one direction
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Scott’s Road Comp Boa Lady Shoe sits at the more entry-level end of its road shoe spectrum, one level above its entry-level Road Comp Lady Shoe. We've had our hands on them for a while in an effort to find out if they're good enough to earn a spot on our best women's cycling shoes list.
While this mid-to-low level shoe may not have some of the bells and whistles of its more premium RC model, it does offer excellent value for money, especially for anyone looking to start out their road racing journey without breaking the bank. With women’s cycling very much on the up, and more women getting into the sport, having access to entry-level cycling shoes that offer good value for money is very important.
I've ridden with the Scott Road Comp Boa Lady shoes over the past six months now, mostly making use of them indoors while the weather misbehaved throughout the spring, and then getting them outside through the summer to gauge how they fare in the real world.
So how well do these shoes perform, and do they also perhaps deserve a place in our guide to the best women's indoor cycling shoes? Read on to find out.
Design and aesthetics
The white and turquoise colourway is very easy on the eyes (Image credit: Mildred Locke)
Scott’s Road Comp Boa shoes are constructed around its anatomic ‘wrap fit’ design, which comprises a synthetic leather upper designed to conform around the curves of the foot like a second skin.
Beneath the polyurethane outer layer is an inner lining made from Scott’s 3D Airmesh fabric. This soft-against-the-skin fabric is constructed from two layers spaced apart by fine polyester fibres in order to maximise air circulation and cool the feet. It features throughout the forefoot and is exposed in three places above the toe box. For the rest of the Airmesh left hidden, laser-cut perforations across the upper allow air to flow in and out of the shoe.
The upper is complemented by a nylon and fibreglass composite outsole that provides a reasonably in-depth guide for cleat placement and alignment. There’s also a ventilation point that sits beneath the toes to help increase airflow. The outsole has a stiffness index rating of six, on a scale that goes up to 10.
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The white upper is complemented by turquoise highlights(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
The nylon/composite outsole features a cleat alignment guide and vent under the toes(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
The shoes are secured with a Boa L6 dial and Velcro strap(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
At the back, the heel cup is plenty stiff and envelops the heel to provide a firm foundation of support and grip. Inside is Scott’s ErgoLogic removable insole, which features a central metatarsal button for added support, and ventilation holes at the forefoot.
With their white and turquoise colour scheme, the Road Comp Boa shoes are really quite beautiful with a modern-meets-classic aesthetic. I’ve personally always been wary of white shoes (or any white cycling kit, for that matter), simply because I know it won’t stay that way for long. These shoes have a shiny wipe-clean finish on the upper, which definitely helps to rid them of the worst dirt, however, the three mesh panels above the toe box have succumbed to brown stains, and a bit of discolouring is inevitable as they've become more exposed to the elements and city pollution.
Stains and colours aside, the Road Comp Boa shoes are secured with both a Velcro strap and a Boa L6 dial that can make incremental adjustments on the fly, providing you only need to tighten. The L6 dials only turn in one direction to tighten, whereas to loosen they have to be released in one go, so they do a good job as long as you’re not likely to overtighten and then need to start all over again.
Performance
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There are multiple ventilation points and perforations for cooling(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
The padded heel cup and pliable upper do a great job of supporting the foot(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
At this price point, it’s no surprise that the nylon composite sole isn’t the stiffest you can get, which is evidenced when you pile on an all-out sprint, whether that's indoors or outdoors. Having said that, the sole isn’t exactly compliant either, and I doubt most riders looking at shoes within this price range will notice much difference without having ridden with an ultra-stiff shoe previously.
In fact, although it’s undoubtedly heavier than a full carbon outsole, it provides decent enough power transfer that will satisfy most cyclists, and the slight flex improves comfort and reduces the likelihood of developing hot spots over long rides. Having used them for several months indoors, and then subjected them to multiple outdoor all-day slogs, I can confirm that they provide a level of stiffness that helps you power through tough sessions on the turbo trainer, but offer enough compliance to remain comfortable for multiple hours of use.
The fit is great, thanks to the pliable upper and soft padding around the ankle, which together cradle the foot nicely. Add to this the firm but comfortable ErgoLogic insoles and the Boa L6 retention system, and it’s very easy to fit and forget. Over the course of six months of use, the shoes have moulded into shape around my foot, providing a good amount of support to key areas.
The various ventilation points do an excellent job of channelling cooling airflow across the toes which feels really refreshing when descending on a hot day. The mesh panels contain quite large openings and you really do feel a rush of air that's well appreciated when riding in a heatwave, as we recently experienced in the UK.
Verdict
The key takeaway here is that the Scott Road Comp Boa Lady Shoe, while not exactly rolling off the tongue, is an excellent option for any women just getting started in the sport and looking to explore the benefits of stiff soles and power transfer. Also, thanks to its ventilation properties, it makes a great option for those planning to continue their training through the winter on their turbo trainer.
All in all they're pretty versatile, and most cyclists would be satisfied using them for daily rides, Sunday club runs, and even the occasional crit. They do a great job of blending low weight, comfort and retention with performance and adequate stiffness, and all in an aesthetically pleasing and wallet-friendly package. What's not to like?
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.
