What shoes when off of the bike?
#1
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
What shoes when off of the bike?
So what shoes do you wear on tour but of of the bike?
My SPDs are pretty comfortable to walk in but I really like to get out of them off the bike. When I am touring say on the GAP and it is going to be warm and I know I will not be walking much I just take a pair of sandals. That way they double as shower sandals.
Other times, What I used to take was my New Balance athletic shoes that I wear every day. Very comfortable but bulky and heavy. Lately I have been taking a very light weight "athletic" shoe I found online. They are really more of a slipper with laces. Really comfortable for lounging but not much good for long distance walking.
This year if the cards work out right I will be doing a side trip to Rainer (via automobile) and I certainly might want to do some walking at the Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood. I am afraid those light weight shoes could be a problem.
So what do you wear off bike?
My SPDs are pretty comfortable to walk in but I really like to get out of them off the bike. When I am touring say on the GAP and it is going to be warm and I know I will not be walking much I just take a pair of sandals. That way they double as shower sandals.
Other times, What I used to take was my New Balance athletic shoes that I wear every day. Very comfortable but bulky and heavy. Lately I have been taking a very light weight "athletic" shoe I found online. They are really more of a slipper with laces. Really comfortable for lounging but not much good for long distance walking.
This year if the cards work out right I will be doing a side trip to Rainer (via automobile) and I certainly might want to do some walking at the Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood. I am afraid those light weight shoes could be a problem.
So what do you wear off bike?
Last edited by spinnaker; 06-25-19 at 07:16 AM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,837
Bikes: 2016 Fuji Tread, 1983 Trek 520
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
430 Posts
Same as I wear on the bike, a pair of trail runners (NB). I put Superfeet insoles in to stiffen up the sole a bit. Old tech toe clips work fine with them.
Long ago I noticed while on tour I really spend as much time off the bike during the day as on it, often walking on rocks. That's a pain at best and dangerous at worst in cleats.
Trail runners are well ventilated and dry quickly after a rain storm. In harsh, freezing conditions I carry a couple of bread bags ("Bagtex") to go over the socks inside the shoes.
Long ago I noticed while on tour I really spend as much time off the bike during the day as on it, often walking on rocks. That's a pain at best and dangerous at worst in cleats.
Trail runners are well ventilated and dry quickly after a rain storm. In harsh, freezing conditions I carry a couple of bread bags ("Bagtex") to go over the socks inside the shoes.
#5
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,522
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4355 Post(s)
Liked 3,994 Times
in
2,665 Posts
I will typically wear cycling shoes but in summer time I will usually take a pair of flip-flops or I might bring a pair of Five Fingers. If I was on a longer tour that required a significant amount of walking or hiking then probably some trail runners or lightweight boots but I so rarely do that and my current Shimano XC-7 shoes are fairly comfortable off bike so long as I am not standing all day in them.
#6
Senior Member
Varies with the trip. Sometimes SPDs only, sometimes I take some other form of light footwear. I really used to like Cushe slipper shoes but they are no longer available. I have sometimes taken flip flops or Crocs (in a neutral gray or brown). I have taken trail runners.
The choice depends on how much hiking I plan to do and how rugged the terrain will be.
Don't forget that if all the hiking, all of the more rugged hiking, or at least most of it is concentrated in one portion of a trip you don't necessarily need to carry the shoes the whole trip. I bought a pair of trail runners in the Yosemite store just for the week there. You can buy or have a pair of shoes sent from home and send them home after just for one portion.
You could have real hiking shoes for Rainer if you want and never carry them on the bike since that part of your trip is by car. I think that is what I would do.
The choice depends on how much hiking I plan to do and how rugged the terrain will be.
Don't forget that if all the hiking, all of the more rugged hiking, or at least most of it is concentrated in one portion of a trip you don't necessarily need to carry the shoes the whole trip. I bought a pair of trail runners in the Yosemite store just for the week there. You can buy or have a pair of shoes sent from home and send them home after just for one portion.
You could have real hiking shoes for Rainer if you want and never carry them on the bike since that part of your trip is by car. I think that is what I would do.
#7
Full Member
I'm using Kinetarelay which slip on shoe by Saucony that weighs not very much and packs down to nothing. They are fine for walking around town but I wouldn't want to use them for hiking
#8
Senior Member
So what shoes do you ware on tour but of of the bike?
My SPDs are pretty comfortable to walk in but I really like to get out of them off the bike. When I am touring say on the GAP and it is going to be warm and I know I will not be walking much I just take a pair of sandals. That way they double as shower sandals.
Other times, What I used to take was my New Balance athletic shoes that I wear every day. Very comfortable but bulky and heavy. Lately I have been taking a very light weight "athletic" shoe I found online. They are really more of a slipper with laces. Really comfortable for lounging but not much good for long distance walking.
This year if the cards work out right I will be doing a side trip to Rainer (via automobile) and I certainly might want to do some walking at the Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood. I am afraid those light weight shoes could be a problem.
So what do you wear off bike?
My SPDs are pretty comfortable to walk in but I really like to get out of them off the bike. When I am touring say on the GAP and it is going to be warm and I know I will not be walking much I just take a pair of sandals. That way they double as shower sandals.
Other times, What I used to take was my New Balance athletic shoes that I wear every day. Very comfortable but bulky and heavy. Lately I have been taking a very light weight "athletic" shoe I found online. They are really more of a slipper with laces. Really comfortable for lounging but not much good for long distance walking.
This year if the cards work out right I will be doing a side trip to Rainer (via automobile) and I certainly might want to do some walking at the Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood. I am afraid those light weight shoes could be a problem.
So what do you wear off bike?
I too have taken very light simple "running shoes" that were both inexpensive in price, but not really good for much walking. They were fine for what I used them for, cost me 25 canadian bucks or something at a clearance place, but the cheapness of them showed up in not having proper arch support etc, so for more walking they were not very good.
I took better quality running shoes next time and appreciated them for when I walked more.
it seems to me that its pretty simple--a more comfortable shoe to walk/hike in is just going to weigh more, and you have to evaluate what your priorities are.
I personally wouldnt take my cheap but light shoes again, unless I really was not going to be walking around much, and while I forget the diff in weight I was dealing with, probably 150-200 grams, if your feet will be more comfortable in heavier ones, so be it.
#9
Senior Member
I wear my Keen sandals on and off the bike. They're not perfect, but they're the best I've found. On the bike, off the bike, on a hike, walking in town, in the shower, in the river, in rain, in the mud. If it's cold, I can wear them with socks. If it's cold and wet, I wear them with waterproof socks. If it's just wet, my feet get wet. I've occasionally tried to travel with a 2nd pair of shoes. But they take up a lot of space, and my Keens get the job done most places.
Likes For Rob_E:
#11
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
it seems to me that you have answered your own question really.
I too have taken very light simple "running shoes" that were both inexpensive in price, but not really good for much walking. They were fine for what I used them for, cost me 25 canadian bucks or something at a clearance place, but the cheapness of them showed up in not having proper arch support etc, so for more walking they were not very good.
I took better quality running shoes next time and appreciated them for when I walked more.
it seems to me that its pretty simple--a more comfortable shoe to walk/hike in is just going to weigh more, and you have to evaluate what your priorities are.
I personally wouldnt take my cheap but light shoes again, unless I really was not going to be walking around much, and while I forget the diff in weight I was dealing with, probably 150-200 grams, if your feet will be more comfortable in heavier ones, so be it.
I too have taken very light simple "running shoes" that were both inexpensive in price, but not really good for much walking. They were fine for what I used them for, cost me 25 canadian bucks or something at a clearance place, but the cheapness of them showed up in not having proper arch support etc, so for more walking they were not very good.
I took better quality running shoes next time and appreciated them for when I walked more.
it seems to me that its pretty simple--a more comfortable shoe to walk/hike in is just going to weigh more, and you have to evaluate what your priorities are.
I personally wouldnt take my cheap but light shoes again, unless I really was not going to be walking around much, and while I forget the diff in weight I was dealing with, probably 150-200 grams, if your feet will be more comfortable in heavier ones, so be it.
So don't know if I want to take the heavier more comfortable ones or the lightweight ones.
#12
Senior Member
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: QC Canada
Posts: 1,971
Bikes: Custom built LHT & Troll
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 846 Post(s)
Liked 149 Times
in
106 Posts
Ditched SPD for platform pedals (Saint). I do not carry extra shoes (space consideration). I ride with Teva sandals in warm weather, and trail runners when temperatures are approaching freezing.
If I were riding with SPD shoes, I'd carry sandals or trail runners based on temperature. My preference is for sandals
If I were riding with SPD shoes, I'd carry sandals or trail runners based on temperature. My preference is for sandals
#14
Senior Member
The same shoes I wear all of the time, because they're comfortable and work just fine for riding a bike. I'm not in a race when I'm touring...
#15
Full Member
In warm weather it's sandals, no need for two pairs of shoes. In colder weather, near and below freezing I'll wear whatever is appropriate for the conditions.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,546 Times
in
7,329 Posts
Currently on tour with a new pair of Xero Shoes. Liking them a lot. Featherweight and pack flat.
#17
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
I decided to go with my cheapie light weight slipper shoes.
#18
Junior Member
Nashbar cycling sandals. Spd cleats. Great all around for walking. For long hikrs I take the cleats off.
#19
Junior Member
Chaco
I ride in stiff carbon sole Specialized mountain bike shoes with Speedplay frog pedals. Very comfortable for biking but not great for walking much more than around a grocery store. Carry Chaco sandals for off bike use—strap on top of back rack. Great for walking or light hiking.
David
David
#20
Senior Member
One of my knees needs a particular cleat angle, same angle of cleat since 1992, so sure wouldn't want to get it right, or wrong, numerous times.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Down Under
Posts: 1,936
Bikes: A steel framed 26" off road tourer from a manufacturer who thinks they are cool. Giant Anthem. Trek 720 Multiroad pub bike. 10 kids bikes all under 20". Assorted waifs and unfinished projects.
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Liked 1,154 Times
in
640 Posts
Shimano XM9 and Crocs Flip Flops (not the closed sandals) The XM9s cover riding, walking and hiking and evenings. Have a good Vibram sole. I wear boots everywhere anyway. The Crocs walking around camp and they are indestructible without being huge.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 81 Times
in
64 Posts
Back when I toured ultra light and I was ultra light kung fu slippers. Everyone’s different. Maybe you need casual dress shoes, walking shoes, light low top trail shoes.
#23
Senior Member
Removing and putting back on cleats is just asking for knee issues if not positioned well, or more likely them loosening a bit and even coming off and getting them even stuck in pedals-- I've seen it with someone and had to deal with fixing it.
One of my knees needs a particular cleat angle, same angle of cleat since 1992, so sure wouldn't want to get it right, or wrong, numerous times.
One of my knees needs a particular cleat angle, same angle of cleat since 1992, so sure wouldn't want to get it right, or wrong, numerous times.
#24
Miles to Go
I carried two pairs of shoes - clipless and walking - for my first couple of tours. I found it to be a pain to carry extra shoes, and I reasoned that I was not in a hurry anyway, so I could dispense with the clipless, and just wear normal shoes. I wear new Balance on and off the bike.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,150
Bikes: 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2004 Novara Randonee , old fixie , etc
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 671 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
43 Posts