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What shoes for flat pedals?
When I came over from road bikes to mountain, I assumed to be efficient I had to ride clipless. I'm learning that lots of accomplished mountain bikers ride flats (and that at my skill level I don't always feel comfortable clipped in). What type of shoe is best for flats? I'm just using a pair of Merrell low cut hikers right now.
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Anything with a relatively flat sole that is fairly stiff. Good pedals are as important as good shoes.
There are several very good MTB dedicated shoes. Most people will recommend 5-10s, which are good, maybe the best, but pricey. I personally ride with Sketcher Vigor 2.0s. They have a fairly flat sole, but still enough tread to be good for walking and hiking. soft rubber but with hard stiff rubber at the arch, and gel insole. They work great for me, on both my bikes. I run Shimano Saint pedals on one and Raceface Chesters on the other. And best thing, I get them cheap from Amazon. I usually buy them two or three pair at a time. |
Originally Posted by hig4s
(Post 20568560)
Anything with a relatively flat sole that is fairly stiff. Good pedals are as important as good shoes.
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I'm a Giro fan and they have a lot of great shoe options for riding flats.
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Here's a link to a specific pair of the five ten's people are talking about:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/FT07.h...07_color=Black It uses a special grippy rubber that is very strong at gripping metal pins on pedals. So they work the best with flat pedals with metal pins. I use DMR Vaults, they're expensive at a little above $100 but their large slightly curved platform is very comfortable. RaceFace chesters are also popular are cheaper though I haven't used them myself. |
I would wear trail running shoes.
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I’m giving the five ten Freeriders a try. About $85ish if the adidas website gives you 20% off. I’ve tried Converse Cons. TOMS. New Balance skate shoes. main problem I am expecting 5 10 to fix with the other brands listed is how the wrapped rubber around the sole peels away. 5 10 is a molded bottom that wraps up, then stitched. A bit heavy and I can’t feel the pedal as well. But so far I like them. - additional comments: - the soles are really grippy. Once your foot is on the pedal, you can't really rotate it. You gotta kinda lift your foot a bit. Could be good on the trails. - the sole is nice and stiff. Not as stiff as a plastic MTB sole, but much stiffer than my TOMS or Converse. - the upper is a nice heavy material. I am expecting them to last a good long while. Write up here on the approach shoes from 5-10: http://www.bikepacking.com/gear/five...ennies-review/ Action shot https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4737ab9e6.jpeg |
I'm just using an old pair of Merril Trail shoes as well, but mine have an elasticized top portion that keeps out rocks, etc. I have some Pearl Izumi bike shoes that would work equally as well, but use them on my road bike SPD...stiffer sole.
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I’ve used regular trail shoes and running shoes with pinned pedals. Works fine for the road and around town, but IMO does not quite cut it for MTB use. I’ve tried dedicated flat pedal shoes with the sticky soles (not 5-10s, but similar) and they seemed to work a lot better. The sole was stiffer and the grip was like glue. If I were to go with flats for MTB regularly (I am mainly a clipless guy on the trail), this is what I would get. I will probably get a pair of 5-10s at some point, but due to orthopedic lifts needed, it gets expensive. |
Five tens are the #1 choice. Personally i don't like a solid shoe, i want to feel the pedals. I wear Newbalance Ninimus 20 crosstrainers. I also removed the spikes and put on grip tape.
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Originally Posted by JonnyVain
(Post 20576377)
Five tens are the #1 choice. Personally i don't like a solid shoe, i want to feel the pedals.
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Seriously people, try a pair of Sketchers Vigor 2.0 for about $40 Amazon, even if you don't like them on the bike they are great walking, hiking, and everyday kick around shoes.
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I like five ten too. Paid less than $30 a few years ago for clearance shoes deal. |
Moved on to
I used to have Five Tens, and then I went on to the Bontrager Flatline; and I guess I have to say that the Flatline is a lot stiffer. They are a lot more solid AND just as grippy, but for me it was a better switch to the Flatline .. ... away from the Five Ten. Not that the Five Ten was a bad shoe! it was a good shoe! I just feel a lot more confident in the Flatline from Bontrager. And wow! Bontrager gave me a 30 day warranty for fit:)
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...olorCode=black. Truth is though... after umpteen years using cleats; I decided to go back to cleats just about a month ago. But if I were to go back to flat I would use and highly recommend that FLATLINE!!! |
Originally Posted by MobiBike
(Post 20622666)
I used to have 5 tens and then I went on to the Bontrager Flatline and I guess I have to say that the flat line is a lot stiffer there's a lot more solid just as grippy but for me was a better switch to the flat line away from the 5:10 not that the 5:10 was a bad shoe it was a good shoe I feel a lot more confident in the Flatline from Bontrager and wow it gave me a 30 day warranty for fit
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...olorCode=black. truth is though after umpteen years using cleats I decided to go back to cleats just about a month ago. But if I were to go back to flat I would use and highly recommend that Flatline |
Originally Posted by 2cam16
(Post 20623147)
Holy no punctuations, Batman!
capitalization, and the list goes on. And not enough line breaks either. It's the auto dictation on my phone, and I don't have a computer and just learning how to really mess up responses using my phone. Thank you for the rebuke.! I will try to do better next time knowing I've got to an audience that will help correct me if I blow it again. |
From racing bmx, dirt jumping and trail riding, I’ve always worn skate shoes. Perfect blend of feel, grip and support. |
Originally Posted by MobiBike
(Post 20623164)
and worse misspelled words improper,
capitalization, and the list goes on. And not enough line breaks either. It's the auto dictation on my phone, and I don't have a computer and just learning how to really mess up responses using my phone. Thank you for the rebuke.! I will try to do better next time knowing I've got to an audience that will help correct me if I blow it again. Not trying to razz you over nitpicky stuff (I am really bad about miss-spelling and typos myself), it’s just that without periods many posts are unintelligable without a lot of extra effort and guesswork on the part of the reader, and the reality is that a lot of people won’t bother even trying. I made one pass through your post, realized it was going to take a buch of extra time and guesswork to understand, and then just moved on. |
Originally Posted by hig4s
(Post 20576766)
Seriously people, try a pair of Sketchers Vigor 2.0 for about $40 Amazon, even if you don't like them on the bike they are great walking, hiking, and everyday kick around shoes.
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another vote for 5 10
I have the MacKaskill version I cannot ride like Danny They are heavy but have served me well |
Five Ten's are the best:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-t...shoe/FT07.html I started with Chrome Kursk's but was a bit annoyed that sometimes my foot would not be totally secure on the pedal and slip around a little bit sometimes. Nothing "serious" just kind of annoying. I read about and bought Five Ten's and that stopped happening, they use a special kind of rubber that is much grippier on metal pins and my foot feels completely secure on the pedal unless I lift it off. It grips so much I have to lift my foot off the pedal to reposition it, I've been considering removing some of the pins on the metal so it's not quite so grippy. Five Ten's seem to be what all the mountain bike racers are riding with as well. |
Originally Posted by BikeLite
(Post 20572189)
I would wear trail running shoes.
So I too have found trail running shoes to work well with my grip pin pedals (Wellgo B184). Just recently I purchased, and have been using, Asics Gel-Scram 4 shoes and they are fantastic. Superb grip that even allows for pulling back/up on the pedals. Best I've had that work well for me. Safe riding all! Best regards |
Originally Posted by 2cam16
(Post 20623147)
Holy no punctuations, Batman!
I did get to read the other great comments however so it was worth the time to read and fix. |
I like my stiff soled walking shoes. when I expect very cold weather, I use the larger pair with room for sock liner & hand warmers taped between socks. when I expect water/mud I use the waterproof pair. when I expect both cold & water I use my extra large winter boots
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I love the pair of Shimano GR7’s I bought recently. Fairly normal looking with no crazy logos. They also fit relatively wide feet. The collar keeps dirt out and they have an elastic band on the tongue to hold your laces. No more tangling them in the crank! john |
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