Mountain bike shoes are perhaps one of the most vital mountain
biking gears. In addition to offering strong feet and ankle support,
these are important to enhance your riding performance. While selecting
your mountain bike shoes, it is important to choose them keeping in mind how you are going to use them. The shoes required while cross country biking will be very different from the shoes used during downhill. Before you buy your mountain bike shoes, you need to be clear on certain points, such us
Do you need lightweight comfortable shoes that offer maximum protection? Are you going to wear the shoes only while riding or during walking as well? Do you need clipless pedals?
Once you have answers to the above questions, you will have a clear idea about the kind of shoes you need. To make the choice easier for you, let us have a look at different types of cycling shoes available:
Downhill shoes:
Downhill shoes are good for those who prefer heavier, durable shoes with strong protection. These shoes have a hard, flat sole with dug-in cleats. The Downhill mountain bike shoes are a good choice for outdoor activities. For many riders one of the possible disadvantages that Downhill shoes have as compared to other models is its weight. However, there are also certain lightweight versions of shoes available that includes a mesh upper with leather paneling and simple strap closures to make it lighter without compromising much on the protection.
Racing Cleats:
Ideal for cross-country riding and performance racing, the racing cleats are designed specifically for biking. The shoes are lightweight with hard plastic sole and firm upper shell. They feature either Velcro straps to fasten shoe or hook-and-loop closures. These shoes are made from high-quality materials like rubber compounds and carbon polymers and therefore they are usually expensive as compare to other form of mountain bike shoes. These shoes are not suitable for walking and meant only for biking and for those looking for strong ankle support.
Flat sole:
Flat sole shoes are a good choice for people who are looking for many other activates in addition to biking. These shoes have flat soles and are not fitted with cleat plates. If you are going for mountain ride where pedal traction is important, you can find several varieties of mountain bike shoes that are designed with sticky rubber soles used in rock climbing shoes.So, now you can list your set of requirements and can easily judge which shoes suits your style of riding the most and offer the ankle support you need.
Do you need lightweight comfortable shoes that offer maximum protection? Are you going to wear the shoes only while riding or during walking as well? Do you need clipless pedals?
Once you have answers to the above questions, you will have a clear idea about the kind of shoes you need. To make the choice easier for you, let us have a look at different types of cycling shoes available:
Downhill shoes:
Downhill shoes are good for those who prefer heavier, durable shoes with strong protection. These shoes have a hard, flat sole with dug-in cleats. The Downhill mountain bike shoes are a good choice for outdoor activities. For many riders one of the possible disadvantages that Downhill shoes have as compared to other models is its weight. However, there are also certain lightweight versions of shoes available that includes a mesh upper with leather paneling and simple strap closures to make it lighter without compromising much on the protection.
Racing Cleats:
Ideal for cross-country riding and performance racing, the racing cleats are designed specifically for biking. The shoes are lightweight with hard plastic sole and firm upper shell. They feature either Velcro straps to fasten shoe or hook-and-loop closures. These shoes are made from high-quality materials like rubber compounds and carbon polymers and therefore they are usually expensive as compare to other form of mountain bike shoes. These shoes are not suitable for walking and meant only for biking and for those looking for strong ankle support.
Flat sole:
Flat sole shoes are a good choice for people who are looking for many other activates in addition to biking. These shoes have flat soles and are not fitted with cleat plates. If you are going for mountain ride where pedal traction is important, you can find several varieties of mountain bike shoes that are designed with sticky rubber soles used in rock climbing shoes.So, now you can list your set of requirements and can easily judge which shoes suits your style of riding the most and offer the ankle support you need.
