Many people make the mistake of thinking there’s no need for buying specialized mountain biking shoes. While it may be possible to physically ride a mountain bike in your running shoes, it’s not the optimum situation. Having the proper gear is about performance, not style. Wearing a good quality mountain biking shoe will improve the way you ride. In addition, your ride will be more comfortable in the right shoes. I wrote this post to give you a few tips on why street shoes just won’t cut it on the trail.
Non-cyclists tend to look at the “outfits” of serious bikers and see nothing but style. It’s true that biking apparel tends to be flashy and not exactly something you would wear to the mall. But every part of the apparel ensemble serves a purpose and is designed to perform that function well. Mountain biking shoes are designed to help you pedal more efficiently, to provide better protection for your feet, and to allow for safe dismounts from the bike when the situation calls for it.
You’ve probably been taught that good athletic shoes are flexible. This is absolutely true for some sports, but not for mountain biking. Shoes that are designed for use on bike trails are actually pretty stiff. This allows better contact with the pedal and a more powerful pedal stroke.
Mountain biking shoes can be found with three different types of soles. The sole is the most important part of any shoe, and mountain biking shoes are no exception. The least expensive shoes have a sole made of injection-molded plastic. In the middle range, soles are usually made of a composite of plastic and carbon fiber. At the high end of the range, soles are constructed of 100% carbon fiber. These different materials also contribute to weight. Cheaper, plastic-soled shoes will be heavier while carbon fiber soles make for a light shoe.
Although specialized mountain biking shoes may seem expensive, you will never regret spending enough to get a good shoe. That being said, price should not be your only decision point in either direction. You’ll be spending lots of time in these shoes (hopefully), so once the basic requirements are met, you should always maximize comfort.