Best Cycling Shoes for Men and Women of 2017
The gear that one uses makes all the difference for those who make a lifestyle choice out of biking. Cardiovascular endurance puts a heavy strain on many parts of the body and, most of all, the feet and legs. The best cycling shoes for men and women of 2017 are designed to protect the rider’s joints and muscles from strain and long-term damage, as well as to enable the most efficient riding.
Cycling Shoe Key Features
Just like cycling shorts, a pair of shoes made for cycling come in many shapes and sizes and are made for indoor, outdoor, or off-trail biking. It is important to take special note of how the shoe feels on your foot as not all cycling shoes are made for all feet—there is no such thing as ‘no one shoe fits all.’ Consider finding a few of the best cycling shoes that you would like to try on and go to your local bike shop to give them a try.
Once you are ready to settle on one pair that feels good and fits well, save some money by ordering them from our links below. Of the many design aspects present, there are four key features that bikers should take note of when looking at cycling shoes.
Fasteners
Cycling shoes feature one of four different fastening methods. The most common and inexpensive fasteners are made by Velcro. Velcro can be easy to adjust and lightweight but will lose strength over time with continued rugged use. There are some cycling shoes that feature laces, but these are specialized and can be quite pricey. The highest quality systems include Ratchets and Boa Dials.
The Ratchet system is secure and accurate but it is quite impossible to adjust during a ride. The Boa Dial system is not cheap, but it gives cyclists the best of both worlds, with a lightweight design that is easy to adjust mid-ride and provides the most secure fit.
Soles
Cycling shoes will most often feature a hard sole design, which supports the foot as a whole when hooked into small pedals. The soles are usually constructed out of carbon, plastic, or a combination of both. Carbon fiber is the best quality material for cycling shoe soles, due to its stiff design and lightweight; however, carbon soles are often seen in shoes that sit on the upper end of the price scale.
Plastic soles are much more affordable; however, their durability and overall quality is not that of longevity. Cycling shoes in the middle of the market range are often constructed of a composite combination of carbon and plastic. Try on several pairs with different sole construction to determine the sole stiffness that feels best for you.
Cleat Design
Cleats are designed as either 2-bolt SPD clipless cleats or 3-bolt cleats. 3-bolt cleats are sometimes preferred by those whose main form of cycling is indoor spin cycling. They are very secure to the pedals but are not easy to walk in. Clipless cleats with 2 bolts are often preferred by bike commuters and touring cyclists riding outdoors.
This is because clipless pedals allow the rider to remove their foot from the pedal at any time, simply by swinging their heel away from the bike. 2-bolt SPD cleats are also designed to sit inside of the cycling shoe, making it easy and comfortable to walk in them. Try cycling with both styles before settling on one or the other.
Fit and Comfort
The make and model of cycling shoe that you choose will determine how the shoe fits. Many brands are designed with a different standard for width and snugness of the cycling shoe, which will determine how comfortable it is to ride over the long term.
In general, bikers with narrow feet will be served better by Specialized, Giro, and Fizik, whereas Shimano and Bont design cycling shoes with wider feet in mind. Once again, try before you buy as the fit of your shoe will determine how comfortable it is to ride with.
Best Cycling Shoes of 2017
The market is saturated with biking shoes of all types and wading through the options can be an arduous task. We consider the best cycling shoe for men and women to be one that is not only designed with exceptional quality features but also at an affordable price. Below, you will find our top cycling shoe picks for men and women, in 2017.
Best Cycling Shoes for Men
1. Shimano RC7 Lightweight Road Cycling Shoe
Shimano creates some of the best quality biking gear and hardware available on the market. The SH-RC7 is our pick for the best mid-range cycling shoe for men of 2017. Coming in around $180, these cycling shoes are high quality, yet affordable.
Description and Features
The SH-RC7 tends to be a bit wider than others made for men with large feet. Designed for road racing and endurance cycling, the SH-RC7 features a carbon composite sole for the most support on the pedals. These shoes are lightweight and fashioned from a perforated synthetic leather blend, which is breathable, strong, and soft.
Shimano designed the SH-RC7 with a Boa IP1 reel strap fastening system, which distributes pressure evenly across the top of a rider’s foot, where other designs may constrict circulation to the foot. The hook and loop fastener strap provides a full range of adjustability, allowing the fit to be customized for a wide range of feet.
This cycling shoe has a stiffness rating of 10 out of 12. The hard sole carbon composite provides a maximum amount of support for a rider’s foot, which results in more power and less wasted effort. The SH-RC7 is designed to accommodate a 3-bolt locking system, which makes it perfect for indoor spinning and outdoor long-distance riding.
Best Cycling Shoes for Women of 2017
2. Sidi Level Carbon Road Cycling Shoe
Sidi has been providing the professional biking industry with top quality equipment and gear since 1960. However, their Level product line is specifically designed for entry-level riders, who are serious about cycling.
Due to the overwhelmingly positive reputation of the brand and a reasonable price tag coming in around $140, the Sidi Level Carbon is our pick for the best cycling shoe for women of 2017.
Description and Features
The Sidi Level is built with a Millennium carbon sole and a buckle closure system. The buckle is operated by a lever on the top of the shoe, which releases or adds tension.
To completely release tension, the rider squeezes both ends of the buckle, which unhooks the fasteners. Sidi’s buckle closure system makes it easy and safe to adjust your cycling shoe tension while in motion.
The Sidi Level provides a substantial step up from the traditional nylon sole. The Sidi Level features a nylon/carbon injected matrix fiber, which lets the shoe retain its structure and rigidity, even through heavy temperature changes. The material is inherently water-repellent and is unaffected by changes in the environment’s humidity. The sole is drilled with a 3-hole cleat design; however, it is completely compatible with most standard clipless and 3-hole cleats, allowing for a maximum level of versatility for outdoor or indoor usage.
The carbon sole works in conjunction with the shoe’s heel cup, which retains its shape through heavy use and prolonged riding. The cup is anatomically designed to keep the rider’s heel from slipping, which provides additional protection in the event of an accident and the Sidi Level includes a spare polyurethane heel pad.
More Options
For those who are looking for a more advanced or even an entry-level shoe, check out our other top cycling shoe picks for 2017.
● Giro Riela R Trail Shoe
● Louis Garneau Multi Air Flex Fitness and Mountain Bike Shoe
● Diadora Trivex Plus II Cycling Shoe
● Pearl Izumi Tri Fly V
Feel free to leave comments and questions and always remember to wear a helmet!
