The 16 Best Cycling Shoes for 2016
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Specialized Women's S-Works 6
Historically, cycling companies have made the top women’s product in a given line a step below the top men’s counterpart. Thankfully, that’s started to change, and the best bike shoes of 2016 show that. Example: Specialized, which makes the new S-Works 6 road shoe on a women’s specific Body Geometry last while retaining all the elements of the men’s shoe: FACT Powerline carbon outsole with extra fore-aft cleat adjustment, Dyneema non-stretch upper panel, and double Boa-dial reel closure system.
Specialized Women's S-Works 6, $400.00
Louis Garneau LA84
Classic lace-up style road shoes are all the rage right now, but many of them come with premium price tags. Not Garneau's LA84, which offers a stylish, perforated, seamless synthetic-leather upper on this sub-$100 cycling shoe. The nylon outsole isn't as stiff as carbon fiber, but it's compatible with both three-bolt style pedals and two-bolt systems.
Louis Garneau LA84, $95.00, Performance Bicycle
Sidi SD15
Sidi’s mountain bike shoes get high marks for durability, but they’ve traditionally skewed more to the XC-style look and feel. The SD15 is definitely aimed at trail riders, with a full-coverage rubber outsole (rather than sections of cleat blocks) for great grip. The Techno3 buckle used on the brand’s higher-end race shoes holds the foot securely, and the synthetic leather upper offers the long-wearing life Sidis are known for.
Sidi SD15, $200.00
Giant/Liv Tesca
Giant is known for making some of the best values in bikes, but the brand is steadily expanding into other categories, including footwear; already, it's making some of the best bike shoes of 2016. In its women’s Liv line, the top-line Tesca features a carbon sole with a stiff, crossed-beam construction called ExoBeam that improves torsional rigidity, with a flex zone at the toe for walkability. The soft, comfy microfiber upper features mesh panels for ventilation, a roomy toebox with a reinforced bumper, and dual Boa reel closures.
Price: $320
Info: Giant-bicycles.com
Liv Tesca, $320.00
Northwave Enduro Mid
Northwave enlisted its impressive roster of pro Enduro riders, including Cedric Gracia, to create the new Enduro Mid. The Mid starts with a dual-zone outsole developed with Michelin that uses softer rubber in the center for a surer grip on pedals. The thermowelded upper features a reel-style “speed lace” closure, ventilated mesh panels, a high, padded zone to protect the ankle, and a reinforced toe area to protect against rock strikes.
Northwave Enduro Mid, $189.00
Mavic Cosmic Ultimate
Some companies hedge on reel-style closures, pairing them with traditional straps. Mavic goes all in, with two Ergo Dial closures on a superlight synthetic leather and mesh upper, bonded to reduce stitch seams. The carbon fiber outsole is further vented, but should continue Mavic’s rep for making some of the stiffest road bike shoes available. And borrowing from its new clothing and glove line, Mavic puts Ortholite foam in the insole for long-lasting comfort. The Cosmic Ultimate weighs just 240g (claimed) in a 41.
Related: Editors' Choice 2015: The Best Lightweight Road Shoes
Mavic Cosmic Ultimate, $400.00, R&A; Cycles
Giro Apeckx II/Solara II
Giro might have easily just called this shoe the Sweet Spot. It’s a reasonably priced performance road shoe that fits a ton of people. The microfiber and mesh upper ventilates well (although it’s a bit chilly for shoulder season) and gets two straps and one buckle to securely hold your fit, while the DuPont Zytel sole is stiff enough for efficient power transfer but won’t cause hot spots. But our favorite feature is the fit range: Giro offers it in half sizes from 39-47 and whole sizes up to 50; there’s an HV (for high volume) version as well with the same size run; and Giro makes a nearly identical shoe, called the Solara II, on a women’s last, in sizes down to 36. If you’ve had fit issues with other shoes, give these a try—there’s even a 60-day fit guarantee.
Related: How to Buy a Cycling Shoe that Fits
Giro Apeckx II, $150.00, Competitive Cyclist
Lake MX180
On any adventure ride, you’re never sure what lies ahead on the trail, and you need a shoe that can handle it. Lake’s new MX180 features a grippy, rugged outsole for those inevitable bushwhacks, a waterproof liner for stream crossings, and an armored toe for rock strikes. A high cuff offers ankle support and the side-mounted Boa reel closure keeps things snugged down.
Related: Lake's New Cycling Shoes Are Unlike Any We've Seen
Lake MX180, $190.00, Competitive Cyclist
Pearl Izumi Pro Leader III
Pearl Izumi upends traditional shoe construction (upper bonded to lower) on the Pro Leader III by wrapping the edges of the bonded mesh and microfiber upper around the bottom of the carbon outsole plate. That moves the midsole, which typically covers up those edges and protects your feet from irritation, to the outside of the outsole itself, which drops stack height 1.55mm. A lower stack height is typically a more efficient connection to the pedal. Where the older Pro Leader II had a single Boa reel in the tongue, the new one gets two for fine-tuning fit.
Pearl Izumi Pro Leader III, $320.00, $320 at Competitive Cyclist
Shimano RP3
You’d be hard-pressed to find a road shoe that gives you more performance-per-dollar than Shimano’s new RP3, one of 18 (yes, 18) new shoes from Shimano this year. The upper is a synthetic leather/mesh blend with two offset straps and a midfoot ratchet buckle for secure closure, while the sole is a stiff, glass-fiber reinforced nylon. It fits both 3-bolt and 2-bolt cleat systems so it’s versatile enough for spin classes with SPD-style pedals. And the men’s comes in a huge size range, from 36-52, while the RP3 women’s version, with a different last, is offered from 35-44.
Related: Meet Shimano's 18 New Shoes for 2016
Shimano RP3, $120.00, $120 at Competitive Cyclist
Fizik R4B
The new R4B might be the sexiest mid-price shoe we’ve seen. The one-piece, perforated Microtex upper is sleek and stylish, with a four-point closure system that includes a Boa reel dial and two straps. The injected composite outsole is slightly less stiff than the top-shelf R1B but won’t leave you lacking. It’s available in men’s and women’s versions.
Fizik R4B Donna, $225.00, $225 from R&A; Cycles
At a Glance
Carbon-injected sole is stiff but comfortable
Laser-cut uppers, front and rear vents in the sole, and perforated insoles provide great ventilation
Boa dial closure cinches tight and makes adjustments easy
Five Ten Freerider Contact
Don’t let the street styling fool you; this isn’t just a re-purposed skate shoe. Five Ten puts its extensive background in rock climbing to work with the grippy Stealth Mi6 rubber, on the outsole of the newest update to the Freerider series. The company’s softest, stickiest rubber compound, it’s paired with a smooth, treadless section under the forefoot to allow quick adjustment on flat pedals. It’s fine for trail use, but don’t expect great loose-conditions traction if you end up hiking. The abrasion-resistant lace-up upper is slightly lower volume, with more defined heel-cup structure to hold your foot in place. It’s offered in men’s and women’s (shown) versions.
Five Ten Freerider Contact, $150.00, $150 at Competitive Cyclist
Bontrager Classique
With brands like Rapha and Giro leading the way, there’s been a revival the past few years of classic-looking apparel and shoe styles with updated materials. You could call Bontrager’s Classique a me-too item, but that overlooks what Bontrager got right: a durable microfiber upper that starts off stiff but wears in nicely, a stout carbon fiber sole with 5mm of fore-aft adjustment on the three-bolt cleat attachment system, and a molded heel cup with no-slip lining. And yes, because style matters, we love the laser-cut perforations on the upper, the snap closure to keep your laces out of your bike's chain, and that Bontrager ships it with four lace colors.
Bontrager Classique, $270.00
45NRTH Wølfgar
Even five years ago, the Wølfgar, which looks like a snowboard boot, might have seemed like a joke. But with the growing popularity of fat biking, a double-layer, SPD-compatible boot that’s good down to -25 degrees F is plausible, even though its use is extremely specific. The (replaceable) felted wool liner sits inside a Primaloft-insulated shell, with Aerogel insulation on top of the carbon fiber midsole to further protect from cold transmitted by cleats and pedals. The Vibram outsole accepts studs for icy conditions and the high cuff and ankle strap offer support for the inevitable postholing hike-a-bike session. The Wølfgar is a ridiculous shoe in many respects: a dedicated, sub-zero winter riding shoe that retails for a luxury car payment. But if you’re among the truly committed winter riders, it might be an investment you want to make.
45NRTH Wølfgar, $450.00
DZR Mechanic
These classic skate-style shoes hide a secret. Lift up the sole and you’ll see a removable plate that lets them accept two-bolt clipless cleats, with a stiff midsole shank to keep your feet from wrapping around the pedals. The synthetic leather and canvas upper lets them fit in with any casual wardrobe, while the gum rubber sole offers a bit of contrast and long-wearing grip.
Related: Awesome Cycling Shoes That Double as Street Shoes
Nalini Snake
You might know Nalini more for its clothing, but the company also has a line of shoes that includes the impressive Snake, which may be the least-expensive road shoe we know of that’s made in Italy. The mesh and microfiber upper gets a twist-style reel closure, and at a price level you rarely see. The nylon outsole works with three-bolt cleats and two-bolt SPD-style systems, and has a stabilizing rib under the midfoot to improve torsional stiffness. Our only gripe is that the size run is limited, from 37-46 in whole sizes only.
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Nalini Snake, $139.00
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