You probably completed your first rides with flats, after all, each of us learned to bike on uncomplicated platform pedals. But as efforts get more serious, rides longer, and speeds faster, everyone eventually wonders if clipless pedals wouldn't be better...
While road cyclists usually quickly end up with cleats, mountain bikers and trekkers have long been satisfied with the performance of flats. But who has once experienced the incomparable efficiency and the secure hold of the fixed connection, wants his pedals with click no longer miss. Then you just need the right shoes and off you go!
But which MTB shoes are the best?
Mountain bike shoes with click system are usually a little more streamlined in appearance than bike shoes without click. This is because these bike shoes are worn mainly when it should be fast rather than acrobatic, so if you rather a XC-MTB or a race or marathon mountain bike ride. Of course, such classifications are always generalizations, because the connection between the pilot and the bike allows, on the other hand, many bike stunts where the bike would say goodbye without click.
There are different manufacturers who mountain bike shoes in all common shoe sizes produce. There are also the most diverse fit, so you can find bike shoes that fit well and do not press or chafe. Whether you have rather wide or narrow feet, the wide range ensures that you find the right shoes. In the product features of many of our models is written whether they are normal, or rather suitable for wide or narrow feet. You can also easily filter by shoe size here in the online store, in addition you can specifically search for cycling shoes for women and men
The features of mountain bike shoes with click
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In terms of their characteristics, cycling shoes for mountain bikers are a successful mix of the advantages of performance-oriented road cycling shoes and casual flats-treaders for MTBs.
The Look
MTB shoes with a click system like to borrow from road cycling the smooth, aerodynamic shape. Thus, they have a streamlined, close-fitting fit that supports excellent performance bestes. But you can also buy comfortable sneakers with click system in the sole. You will find many different closure systems in this range, which perfectly adapt the bike shoe to your feet. There are twist closures with cable, tabs with Velcro, ratchet closures as on the ski boot, but also simple shoe laces.
The perfect shoe soles for a strong appearance
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Naturally, cycling shoes must pedal perfectly. Mountain bike shoes additionally always bring at least usable running properties. You can walk comfortably and, above all, safely if you have to push or carry your bike. The outer sole brings for this reason enough profile for slip-free walking with. So you can run in these cycling shoes short pieces without slipping, even off-road and on wet or loose ground the cleats find enough grip. To ensure a secure step, are many outsoles made of a grippy plastic compound, which at the same time somewhat cushions. In the area of the toes and heels, a reinforced cap prevents abrasion too quickly.
To avoid losing too much energy while pedaling, the sole of a cycling shoe is a bit stiffer than you are used to from other shoes. This keeps the foot straight and you can bring the muscle power from the entire leg to the road in the best possible way.
The click system is recessed into the sole. There are different cleats depending on the manufacturer, usually they are attached with two screws. There are two options here: You can either buy cycling shoes from the manufacturer who built your pedals. Then the pre-mounted cleats fit the pedals. Or you buy your mountain bike shoes without cleats, the plates are then supplied with the pedals or you can order them separately at the pedal accessories and subsequently screw on the shoe yourself.
A soft insole delivers the comfort you need.
The upper shoe
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While the sole determines how well a shoe performs, it depends on the rest of the shoe to feel good. To ensure that the mountain bike shoe is comfortable to wear, you will find a soft and anatomically shaped inner layer inside. Here are often innovative microfibers and dimensionally stable foams processed, which are breathable, dry quickly and thus provide a pleasant wearing comfort.
Even the outer layer is now mostly no longer made of leather. Synthetic materials are quite simply lighter, plus they are breathable and dry faster. Various membranes make the shoes waterproof, there are also special winter shoes in which an additional thermal layer is incorporated
Many mountain bike shoes end below the ankle, so you have plenty of freedom of movement. However, some models also enclose the ankle, these models protect particularly well against injury and stabilize the foot.
The features of a MTB cycling shoe with click system at a glance:
- Tight-fitting or comfy-casual, you can buy MTB shoes in both styles
- Various closures make the shoes adaptable
- breathable inner lining
- rugged outer layer
- possibly waterproof membrane
- grippy sole with coarse tread
- the cleats are recessed in the sole
Overall, you can count on a performance-oriented shoe, which means not an ounce too much, a stiff sole that provides efficient power transfer, and plenty of comfort.
MTB system pedals - secure grip with enough freedom of movement
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When you mount system pedals on your enduro, trail bike or XC racer, you want to pedal efficiently and have your bike under best control. With the connection that the cleats make, this is of course guaranteed. But if it gets dicey, you need to jump off as fast as lightning and have at least one foot on the ground. For this, the pedals have a release mechanism that separates the shoe and pedal when you turn your foot to the side. Also, if you want to get off the bike at the end of the trail, you release the foot with a sideways turn of the heel
Just in mountain biking, however, you get some freedom of movement, so you can react finely to the requirements of the ground in the technically demanding terrain, only in the case of larger deviations the bike shoe detaches. This tolerance is also called "Float"and you can adjust the release hardness or pedal tension depending on the model and manufacturer.
To provide a little more security, some mountain bike shoes release not only when you turn your foot to the side, but also when you jerk upwards.
Adjust release hardness and the position of the cleats
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To help you get at least one foot on the ground quickly in dicey situations, you can adjust the release hardness of your clickies. Here you may have to try something around and readjust again and again, because you need to find the "sweet spot" that provides enough grip, but clicks out in time enough in a fall. Just like a comfortable position of the plate in the shoe, the adjustment is mainly a matter of experience. You can rotate and push the cleats a bit before you finally tighten the screws.This will help you find your preferred foot position when you get new shoes.
Clean your shoes - at least from the bottom!
You have really let out the sow in the terrain, plowed through puddles and have tanked mud? If you're done with bringing the drive of your bike back to shape, you should also give your pedals a shower and clean your cleats. Once the dirt in the cleats has really dried and encrusted, you may not be able to get it all the way out of the mechanism. It's better to clean your pedals and shoes on the same day. Gelatinized cleats do not grip reliably, sand and dust also make the metal parts wear out quickly.
Bike shoes for gravel and trekking
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Many bikers looking for cycling shoes for system pedals for their gravel bike or trekking bike eventually end up with mountain bike shoes. They are not quite as tight-fitting as road bike shoes and therefore just a little more comfortable on long tours. You can also run much better in these shoes. If you want to spend on a bike tour not only time in the saddle, but also city strolls, shopping or sightseeing and sights are pending, you do not necessarily need a second pair of shoes in the luggage.
Practice makes perfect!
Before you start for the first time with mountain bike shoes "with click", you should definitely schedule a few practice rounds. To start directly on the trail or in the bike park could possibly go badly wrong! Why? The bike holds your legs. If you're not used to detaching, you'll quickly find yourself running on your nose. Allow yourself plenty of time to get used to the bike, practice dismounting with one hand on a lamppost or house wall. Only when you know for sure that you can get your feet free at any time and without giving it much thought should you set off into the countryside.
Which shoes are perfect for your MTB trips?
With which shoes you ultimately get on your mountain bike depends entirely on your preferences. If you can't decide between clickis and flats, you're still left with combination pedals. If you want to know more about the advantages of different pedals, you can simply click on our pedals past, there you will find much more information.
