Cheapest Vs Most Expensive Cycling Shoes: What Is The Difference?
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- What is the difference between cheap and expensive cycling shoes? We want to discuss if top-spec cycling shoes are crucial to performance or just a nice thing to have? Alex has got his hands on a budget pair of shoes and a high-end pair to share the differences...if there are any 🤔
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Would you ever upgrade to a pair of more expensive shoes? Let us know in the comments! 👇
I have some shoes that cost an amount that I wouldn't admit to my wife, BUT, they cause numb spots, the "still expensive" shoes that fit are way better, so, get what feels good to you
Considering going for orthotics and was hoping to hear about it in this video. Shame! But still a video idea for the future I suppose.
my experience: it's not about the brand, not about the price, not about weight, sole or closure system .... it's all about the fit.
I don't wear dork shoes. I do 50 miles 2X a week w/either sandals or a nice pair of sneakers on my mtn flats. As a kid growing up in the country, we even went barefoot. (I can hear podiatrists everywhere scream.) Most of us are not going to race pro. Maybe it's time to come back to reality. Even $350 would be alot of money for those type of shoes. I can think of better ways to spend it.
Any chance you could do a video on how bib shorts even mid range models cost so much?, where is the money spent during manufacturing to justify the prices we now see. Bibs are by far my most costly outlay during the year. Regards
Fit is THE most important property of a shoe. Every other advantage is negated if the shoes are uncomfortable.
Sure, but that’s not a comparison between expensive and cheap shoes. There are going to be varying comfort levels for an individual within any price range of shoe.
Sadly, every single cycling shoe out there seems to be made for Italian feet.
I wear size 13 (uk) shoes and it’s super difficult to find cycling shoes that fit well. I’ve been wearing the same pair of Bontrager shoes since 2016 😂
Never found a fit shoes, neither cycling shoes. Always unconfortable
I gotta say, coming from a heavily sponsored channel as GCN, listening to them telling us that the quality and performance advantage between components or products that are several times more expensive than others is hardly noticeable is something I am deeply thankful for.
Keep bringing these kinds of videos, I think standard recreational cyclists (as I guess most of your viewers are) will get so much useful info out of them.
Does show, doesn't it? Respect to Alex! Oh, buy he forgot to mention the cool factor. Can you imagine turning up for a ride where everybody else has got expensive equipment and you don't? :D
@@adamsandler4076 It's cycling not a fashion show
@@whoru2376, I don't think you understand how cycling works in 2023 😜
@@adamsandler4076 Yes, I can!
@@adamsandler4076 Theres not a more satisfying feeling then dropping someone who spent thousands and thousands on there equipment, while you are just using the minimum ;)
It's all about the fit, not the price. Cheap shoe that fits your foot shape with correct cleat set up for you is miles better than expensive one that doesn't match your footshape.
Absolutely! An expensive shoe that fits badly isn't going to help!
Werent the exspensive once also more breathable/mesh material? It might dry better, and less damp feets. I highly dislike fake leather in most products.
As I replied to someone else - that’s all very true, but that’s not a comparison between expensive and cheap shoes. Alex isn’t doing a comparison of ‘which is better, an expensive but uncomfortable shoe, or a cheap but comfortable shoe’.
Yes its all about fit, not price, i had DMT and they were too tight, the same for expensive SID's , and at last got NW fits perfect no discomfort even after long rides. But NW model also was from higher price, but price becomes irrelevant , when you need shoe that fits and you can enjoy your ride or training.
@@nem3th But we want to know why you would buy either an expensive shoe that fits or a cheap shoe that fits.
I wear MTB flats shoes with flat pedals on my road bike, I rode a 315km event in Sweden with them last month and they worked great 😂
Decent fitting shoe from a decent brand but they doesn't have to cost £350. For around £120 there are quite a few really nice options.
superstiff carbon sole shoes added a lot of comfort to my rides, no more discomfort
I find that flex in the sole actually helps combat fatigue. Obviously too flexy is no good either; there’s a sweet spot. I went through a few pairs before finding the goldilocks pair.
My priority is to not walk round like a wally when I'm in the mid ride pub/cafe. MBK shoes for the win.
Switching to MTB shoes was one of the best decisions Ive made regarding bike kit
I was 'forced' to start on SPD MTB clips because those were the only pedals available in my LBS when I first started. Came to truly appreciate not gimp-walking in bars when I started doing group rides, and don't think I'll ever transition to a different clip system. :)
So many roadies lack the self awareness . I almost feel embarrassed for them , I say that as a roadie with MTB cleats and cycling shorts ( nobody wants to see your ball sack )
Completely agree, MTB are real world shoes for road riding all day. I want to be able to walk to the cafe
@@bikepackingadventure7913 I thought of this and bought a pair. But it had a carbon sole and it feels like I'm walking on high heels lol.
I got a pair of heat moldable Lakes a few seasons ago and don't regret spending the money one bit. Fit and comfort is much better.
I recently went the expensive fit service - cheap equipment route suggested here. Best advice and best kept secret in bikes. I am amazed at the benefits every time I ride.
As with any sport, you can pay as much as you like for almost anything. I usually head for a midpoint, use reviews/personal recommendations and have seldom been disappointed on cost/performance/longevity.
Good point. It's always best to look at reviews to really get a sense of how a product may work for you or not.
I’m a big fan of doing what Katie Kookaburra does, which is putting MTB SPD pedals on her road bike and wearing MTB shoes. Way more practical for walking in when you’re at the cafe, and way easier to clip in - especially if you’re somewhere where there is traffic and lots of stopping. They’re plenty stiff, and I usually prefer the colors too.
Go for some Ultegra A600 or ES600 pedals then.
I can see to that there’s a wider Q factor with mountain bike pedals and that’s OK because I seem to have a better fit and less knee issues with my mountain bike and my gravel bike and I have a fixed gear bike with mountain bike SPD peddles. No problems. It’s the road set up the very narrow Q factor in road bikes and perhaps standard Shimano SLSPD pedals with the standard spindle axle. I got the longer ones now since they came out with those I wish they had those 11 years ago, but you could seriously have any issues with two factors with road bikes, maybe some with wider hips it might affect, so I’m glad she’s doing that no harm there whatever works the best 😊
Loads of us have been doing that for many years, SPD is much more appropriate for most people. I find the Shimano PD-ME700 (replaced the M530) or the perennially robust and cheap M520 are great on the wet/winter bike.
Cheaper shoes are just fine, and sole stiffness/carbon/boa dials etc are not important. It's all marketing BS - more specifically, product differentiation - that's why companies continually want to sell ever fancier, feature-laden versions of things. Don't believe the hype.
I have been using 50€ Shimano MD76 shoes for about 15 years and they are still going strong. Perfect fit and comfort.
I'm still wearing the same Shimano SPD shoes I bought in 1996 for about $55. I haven't even had to replace the laces, and I ride almost every day. Same Onza pedals, second set of cleats.
Another winner of a video from Angus. Personally I stick with a 4 letter Italian brand as I know I can buy a size 43 and put them straight on and away, cleat positioning is identical too (small ocd thing, cycling shoes should be white).
I recently bought some Lake CX242. They fit so well! Light and stiff, but super comfy!
Been using the Lake CX242 for almost a year. One of the best (limited options ) for wider foot people like me. I am not a big fan of the design. But comfort is first, so that’s that.
Just switched to MTB flats on the commute bike and the good bike. Rocking a €12 pair of Decathlon NH100's and they are holding up better than I expected.
on my second pair after five years. Perfect for MTBing
@@elektrikmaus Does that include "sending it" though? Not sure how resilient they are if you fall off....
I rode Giro Gravel shoes on SPD and switched to Northwave Extreme shoes with Look Keo2 System and it is a real boost on my road bike. My feet don’t hurt and my muscles get sored later then before. Subjective it’s a game changer!
I'm 59 years old and still wearing the shoes which I bought 40 years ago: A pair of DUEGI with 8mm beech wood sole and leather shoe. There is just a short leather insole at the heel. The rest of the foot has wood contact. This feels very comfortable as the wood adsorbs moisture. 15 years ago I stumbled on a stairwell, one sole broke and I could fix it with epoxy. When I bought these vintage shoos they where expensive but it turned out to be a really good investment. Would I like to have an upgrade? Maybe just this Boa system.
I’ve been wearing mtb shoes up until recently. This year I switched to road shoes and due to generally narrow toe box of road shoes, I just learnt that my feet has potential to get bunions. Luckily I found out that there are brands (like Lake) who make wide and even extra wide models. Now my feet is happy :). I went with a mid range model thinking that super stiff soles will also cause more pressure and increase chances of getting a bunion.
Good timing on this video I’m actually in the market for a new pair.
Can't agree more. Buy your shoes at the local store, i.e. try them, get advice, support local small business. Didn't pay 300 but very happy with my Mavic Cosmic Elite SL;)
I got a cheap(ish) pair of velcro shoes from amazon back in 2019....still going strong now, having done around 10,000km each year.
I know I look like a dork when I show up to ride in my velcro shoes. But I don't care--they are great for me...
Been cycling regularly since the mid Eighties as an aid to long distance running. When watching your clip my first thought was to go for the cheaper shoes. I’m obviously getting slower and not in that period when my body had potential to improve. So a waste of money. But! I thought, yes..comfort is much more important now, especially on long rides. So I would spend more if I could on shoes with stiffer soles. Excellent clip. Thought provoking
Glad you found it informative! Comfort on long rides is very important
I used to ride my cross/fitness bike in trainers on flat pedals, flat pedals because I use it also to ride to the shops and around town. When doing long rides on the weekends I got numb/painful feet, because the pedals were pressing through the soles. So I bought a pair of Northwave shoes with carbon soles to stop the pressure on my feet. At 71 years old I didn't want to start learning how to use cleats so I got a cobbler to glue a rubber sole over the cleat screw holes so that I could use them on the flat pedals. It works great no numb/painful feet, and they only cost 23€ (ca. 25 pounds), because it worked so well I got a second pair and did the same.
I just bought Sidi Genius 10 shoes. They're a little heavy and warm, but I wear a 46 and most shoes are very tight in the toes. These are the most comfortable shoes I've ever ridden in.
agree, i have the Sidi Shot, and they are super.
I've had the off road version of those cheap £50 chinese shoes for about 3 years. 3yrd of cx and all year round gravel. They are still in one piece !
Hi Alex (yeah I know your name if noone else does), 20 years ago my local cycle shop was called ALDI! I bought 2 pairs (which I tried before purchase and fit great) for £8 each (similar are about £20 now). They have stiff soles, are comfortable and I'M STILL USING THEM REGULARLY. OK they're SPD only (but thats fine for us ordinary mortals) and velcro (which was the thing then).
Depends what you want, of course, but in my experience good cheap is great.
Good video. I still ride with my Diadora Gekos, which I bought 20+ years ago. They are still in very good shape. I've had a few spots where the uppers started coming loose, but some Gorilla Glue and a clamp fixed them. They are comfortable and fit my wide foot and high instep. Also, being a touring/MTB-style shoe, I can walk anywhere without taking them off and putting on a pair of flip-flops, which I carry in case I will be stopping somewhere for while. I'm 65 now and have reduced my riding to 20-25 miles or so a day and the Geko's are still going strong. There is a difference between cheap and inexpensive. Inexpensive gives you quality without all of the higher-end materials and other fancy doo-dads, whereas cheap can be crap or maybe OK, if you are lucky. Find a good quality shoe and it will last a long time.
Well being a size 14 choice is never the biggest concern i take whatever i can get thanks Shimano 😂
Same here, xc5 for the win
Shoes and bib shorts are the two places were I would never cut corners. I started with a pair of cheap shoes and discovered in my first 100Km ride why when it comes to shoes you get what you pay for, as both of my feet went numb after 60 or so kilometres. Bought my first pair of Sidis a few years ago and never looked back. Have done 200+ Km rides with them and never had any hot spot or numbness on my feet. My legs, on the other hand...
Sounds like you've found the right pair then! Legs hurting on long rides is part of the fun, no? 😅
I think another thing you can compare is their ventilation.
One thing not mentioned is that the more expensive (e.g. flagship line) shoes will be offered in half euro sizes (e.g. 42.5) while the cheaper versions only full Euro sizes (e.g. 42 and 43). More expensive shoes are also offered in two widths, and sometimes three with different width sole plates. It is the latter that raises manufacturing and inventory costs. If you don't need a very particular size, a cheaper shoe may be just as good. Moreover, because the Art Vep shoes wrap around the instep, I think it could actually be more comfortable than the DMTs which have a cable over the top of the foot and no padded tongue.
Cycling specific insoles make a big difference, because in cycling you pull your foot back. If you have feet of slightly different size, you can put a piece of cardboard or some bar tape under the insole to reduce the volume or build up the arch. If the lace guide is open on one side like the Art Vep shoes, you can even loop the Boa cable around it a second time, and it will lock in the tension at this level, giving you even more control over the fit. Just pull out some extra cable, twist and set it in the lace guide. This will give the shoe the same feel as a lace up shoe.
I bought a pair of those Artveps recently and I think they look good, and they feel great for me with my ludicrously wide feet. The cleat fitting socketss feel a bit flimsy though so I'm wary that the threads may strip or they'll just loosen or wear out very quickly, and the two-bolt mounting plate rattles if you're using a three bolt cleat...had to superglue that in place to shut it up. Also a couple of cack-footed attempts at clipping in has scuffed the toes quite significantly...maybe more expensive shoes would be a bit more robust? Loctite for the cleat bolts and nail varnish for the scuffs softened the concerns.
I'm a beginner - recreational rider, with no aspirations of doing KOM's or the like. However, I do use my bike and kit on a commute as well.
So, I'm missing an important aspect here: weather resistance. The less I need to carry with me for the chance of 'bad' ( cold/wet ) weather, the better.
I'm already leaving my wet weather overpants and helmet cover at home, but I'll have a very light rainjacket with me.
So how do these perform in those summer storms, how easy are they to clean / maintain?
A well fitting shoe with good support is going to prevent you getting aches and pains, which is going to be worth more to most people than the performance gain. There are some good options in the mid range between these two examples
I bought the DMT SH1 on march and I have to say these are the best cycling shoes I ever had. Very comfortable and stiffer, well cooled, but difficult to clean
You are not allowed to say the expensive shoes are crap. They probably aren't, but this is an ad and therefore not reliable.
Why are you even here then? There are ways to make honest videos even with sponsors but if you automatically just assume anything in this video isn’t useful why are you still clicking on GCN videos? Genuinely curious. Is it all the product videos you hate while loving everything else?
@@Millicente I don't hate, I dislike. And my comment is to put things in perspective. I like the vids where they do challenges or experiments based on science. But these X vs Y vids, where one of them is their own sponsors is not my cup of tea.
I ride both DHB Dorica, and S works 6 shoes, both fit me perfectly, and, honestly, the only difference for me is the ease of boa fixings over laces.
I wait till the sales then buy them if I need them save money
I found out "cheaper" shoes are less "stiffer" and more comfortable on long ride. Less pain = more watts 😂. Midrange shoes are the way to go.
Comfort and a stiff carbon sole is a must for me,normaly carbon soles are expensive, but if you want the best and have the cash go for it.i just bought the cube shoes yesterday and they are stiff, comfortable and the price is great for the quality.
What I took from this is a quality mid range shoe is the best choice.
I'm a xc rider use specialized recon 2.0's very happy.
I have 3 pairs of the Amazon shoes and they’re absolutely fine. I’m riding over 150 miles a week and have had no issues.
The cheaper shoes are really awesome in that you can use the SPD cleat system to but I'm sure the build quality is better on the DMT.💯👌🏻
I went to THE bike shoe specialist in the Netherlands (bikeshoe4u) and I got some lakes extra wide. Fit like a glove. Expensive, but the fit is everything. I had narrow Shimano shoes earlier and I was in pain after 100km
I don’t remember what I paid for my shoes, but I got myself some entry level Mavic shoes when I decided to give clipless pedals (SPD) a try. They’re doing okay, I had to replace the lacing system twice for a few bucks (maybe 2 1/2 years/6000km done with them) - but the overall shoe is holding on just fine. Too fine in fact, some justification for buying a new shiny pair of shoes (they even look only slightly used!) would be very welcome indeed 😂
As someone not riding competitively I do just fine with plastic flats and trainers. Let’s me get off the bike and go anywhere I want without fuss and saves me hundreds in pedals and shoes. For me it’s as good as I’ve needed.
Whatever works for you! There certainly is something to be said for being able to walk properly off the bike 😂
When you flexed the soles you pressed in a direction that doesn't happen when riding. Toes don't flex up when cycling the way they do when walking. It would be more instructive to try to flex the shoes in the other direction, into a higher arch instead. This is what one feels when standing on the pedals in, say, tennis shoes and to a lesser extent, cheap cycling shoes; one's heels drop. It seems possible to me that composite soles could be designed to flex a bit for walking but would resist flexing in the opposite direction.
Can you do a video on what would happen if you used indoor training tires on outdoor rides?
I would say price is something I will turn a blind eye on (to some degree) when it comes to shoes. As someone with a high arch it makes a big difference between shoes that have inserts compared to none at all.
Can you do the same for sunglasses now 😅 I really want to know if I am missing out by not having £150+ Oakelys or Sun Gods.
I got a cheap pair for my first clipless last summer and they are holding up quite well after about 1 year and 2k miles of use. £350 seems like an absurd amount to spend on a pair of cycling shoes, given what they actually are. But if you've got money to burn, the really pricey ones do tend to look the coolest.
I use midrange shoes. Fit is most important, that goes without saying but after that the stiffness of the sole is most important to me. If the sole is too soft my feet goes numb. I’m guessing it is because the pedals are pressuring on some nerves. But I use XPD pedals so maybe it is different on road shoes.
So I don’t need high end shoes with carbon soles but a glass fiber sole is a minimum for me. And yes I have tried cheaper shoes. They works for spinning classes.
All I can say is that my (expensive italian family owned very famous maker name here) bought MANY decades ago are still holding strong and are my go-to shoes. Meanwhile I have destroyed or worn out cheap shoes. And that goes for road and MTB shoes. In fact, I still wear a pair of (same name italian leather mtb shoes) that I know I had on in my last racing season in 1994 and were not new at that time already!
My trusty 15 y/o pair of Specialized roads shoes fit me so well, I keep scouring the internet looking for used mint examples as eventual replacements
Just because the same amount of power is produced at the crank doesn’t mean there isn’t energy lost in sole flexion.
I've always wondered why the soles of your shoes should be made out of carbon fibre, and that 2020 paper by Hurt & Kram seems to confirm it. Now, it is obviously really important that your shoes fit very well in any case, but I don't think that they must not flex at all to provide relatively efficient power transfer. I ride cheap (about €100) Mavic shoes that are not quite as flexible as the ones on this video, but fit me well and provide a good power transfer for sprints. My FTP is around 200W and my absolute 1s peak power ever in sprints is just short of 1,000W. I could perhaps pay more for some higher quality upper, but not over €200 anyway.
Awesome watts
I bought a top pair of Bontragers 14 years ago and they still work fine.
Thanks Arlo...I went from crap road shoes to good MTB shoes and it was a new world ! BUT....I am OAF and a newer rider , I couldn't believe the difference , dude ! It was huge , to me , I bought 2 pair , exactly the same model after that ! Yes , I did play contact sports.....why do you ask ?
Biggest factor is easy. Which will stay white for longer 🤔 🤣
A good quality footbed can make all the difference, even on a budget shoe. This is because in cycling, we pull back and push forward. Your foot should be craddled so as to not slide back and forth.
Don't forget the sole drillings. Fizik famously were too far forward for many people. Specialized have inbuilt correction that isn't suitable for everyone. Lake have a wide range of sizings and adjustment.
Comfort is everything.! Bought some cheap leisure Halfords Mtb spd type shoes and wow can use them everywhere road , mtb even walking around the house. Nothing worse than a case of Hotfoot 50 miles from home . Audax riders know all about getting the right set up to suit.
I do hope the soles on the expensive shoes are stuck on better than those of my Chrono-Xs and Radials. What a friend we have in Gorilla Glue.
I've bought cheap cycling shoes (when I first started) and I've bought expensive ones. I discovered that cheap ones won't last, of you're putting on big miles. I've had cheap ones where the sole started to separate from the uppers after a few years (Had to resort to epoxy to keep riding), and I've had expensive ones that have lasted over a decade (looking a little beat)
My favorite was a pair of Carnac M5 Carbons that were just too expensive for my pocketbook, listing for way over $400 USD. They sat on the shelf of our team's bike shop, for over a year, gathering dust, because of the price. After a year or so, the shop owner (Team DS) noticed me looking at the shoes every month or so and offered them to me at his cost. (somewhere a little less than $200)
Couldn't pass them up. They now look quite beat up, because of multiple crashes, but they still feel as good as new.
I bought Shimano $130. A good middle I think. Fits well rides fast. Although my cleats are sweaking. But fixed that.
I seem to be a standard size 45. Have two shoes. One with velcro the other with boa. Both comfy but the boa is a better system
After a few years riding i figured out how much of a difference good shoes make. Shoes should be invisible during the ride. If you ever think about your shoes it might be a problem. I buy very expensive shoes second hand and i pay a fraction of their actual cost.
I found one nice pair used. Love buying used gear i save a fortune
@@secretagent86 Ì got a kangaroo leather pair worth $700, for peanuts. 😍
I buy top spec stuff whenever its newer versions comes out, so the just outgoing version gets on sale and still would be top of the range stuff.
Get the best there is with more reasonable prices.
Well, I am not a pro and not a beginner so yes fit is important, I am not worried about 3 or 4 seconds on a climb I just want to finish my century! I look for a good fit decent quality, and yes is quality is usually more durable. You are right the mid-range shoe will have many of the same features as the high end. So get some shoe that fit you and your dogs will love you for it!
My dhb (hi wiggle) aerons broke at the cleat bolt thread stud in less than 200 miles (both front studs actually, I only noticed it after the second one broke) so there is such a thing as too cheap 😅. For the record customer service was great and got me a voucher for the price of the shoes, got some fiziks coming.
i have had a set of the cheaper ones for 2 years now... very nice shoe.. no difference over my 4 year old sidi shoes.. they are comfortable.. and cool on the 100 + degree days we get here in Sacramento.. and water does not effect them at all
I’ve got to shout out Boa, I left my shoes next to my bike after an indoor session. My dog got to them and chewed off a dial. Contacted Boa looking for spares Found out they have a free lifetime warranty, which includes dog related incidents. New Boa dial in the post. If I’d had a knock off dial, I’d have been buying a new pair of shoes. This would have been a real case of buy cheap, buy twice. The shoes were only a month old. Thanks Boa
Having quite long and narrow feet, the only pair of shoes that fit me really well ended up being a €400 Garneau. All other aspects in terms of ventilation, cleat options, stiffness of the shoe can really be found in a variety of shoes at all pricepoints, but I do think fit is just the one most important
I recognize your issue. I have slim feet and can't find any shoes that will fit, and like you say: fit is the moest important. The best I could find are the 400€ Sidi I am using currently, in which I need to put two extra insoles to make them fit. I am not familiar with Garneau so I will check them out. I was actually thinking of maybe trying women's shoes for a better fit. Does anyone have any good ideas?
@@hinkorookmaaker6050 my shoes are 46 EU / 11.5 US size, so women's shoes is not an option unfortunately 😄 For me that was just a long trial and error. I also have a pair of cheaper MTB Shimano shoes, which I simply accepted that the fit would be not as snug and that is not as critical for offroad rides, which I do much less
@@KonstantinLopatin I'm 42 EU size so I should still find women's shoes my size. Or put on a lot of extra socks 😛
One correction on bike shops. I have been cycling since 1966 and have bought many shoes in many bike shops and not once did I find one single person in any of the bike shops that knew anything about the shoes they carried other than preferred brand, price and sizes they stocked. This includes buying 3 pair last year alone (1 Mb & 2 Rd). I wish bike shops knew far more about shoes than they do, but sadly they don't.
There is something missing in your analysis. The degree to wich the cleat is ajustable. A cleat not ajusted properly will cause a lot of disconfort on the long run. That is an important feature for me.
I have yet another confession to make in my road cycling journey the last nearly 6 years: my shoe, and the trouble I avoided.
I knew practically nothing when I first got into road cycling, but had a couple friends, and a super friendly LBS, that I made friends with over the years. (MTB, and BMX mainly).
I went to the LBS to check out the shoes, and they had a load of them on sale that weekend.
I had a starting point as to what to look for, thanks to my friends. Amd thanks to my LBS, II ended up with a pair of Specialized shoes, that look very similar to the current Torch 1.0 on top, but the sole of the current S-Works shoe.
They are also nearly 6 years old. And still in great shape.
They cost at the time, full retail of $328.00 in the store. So of course they fit like a glove😂
I walked out at a total of $85.00 after the sale price, and the "let me help a regular customer out" bit of extra discount. Because they wanted me in something I NEEDED, but also a little bit better, because they didn't want me back in a year or two for another pair.
I don't put the watts down that most do, and I don't ride the miles a lot do, but those shoes still look and perform like new, SIX years on, or near to it.
Its all in the fit, and the "buy once, cry once," at least to a point.
My shoes are more than I need/ needed/ deserved at the time. Or now, honestly.
My story is the perfect example of educating yourself, amd shopping around a bit. If you don't know exactly what you need, that relationship with the LBS can be all the difference.
A good bike shop WILL take the time with you, and make certain you get what you need.
I bought inexpensive shoes and took them to a bike fitter. He spent a lot of time on the shoes and my foot making measurements and positioning the cleats. Finally, after he spent an hour positioning the cleats and watching me ride my bike on his indoor device, he pulled the cleat off one shoe and but a barely perceptible shim in it. He put it back together and adjusted my saddle (he explained that shoe design and how we position the cleats can influence the saddle position and height.) He then went back and looked at my legs, feet and gripe on the handlebar. He made one more small adjustment moving the cleats back a couple of mm. Total expense: $130 for the shoes and $175 for the fit.
Today I took my new shoes out and rode 100 km with 1000 m of climbs. I experienced no fatigue or pain in my foot. With my old shoes (which were fitted by a more expensive fitter but a similar type of shoe) I always had pain.
So, my conclusion is: for endurance riders, get the shoe that feels good on your feet and is the color you like, but don't overspend. Instead use the savings on a fitter. But the trick is finding the right fitter.
As a person who cant turn down a good sale. I recently bought the Adidas road cycling shoe. Things I dont like is there is a gap around the ankle that bows out. Also the shoes flex when I bend them. To the contary the Adidas gravel shoes are stiff enough. You dont need a high end shoe, but thats what I buy because I i like the look. Look good, feel good, and ride good. Theres no reason to be cheap when it comes to shoes, because they last for years.
I’m not rich enough to buy cheap things. There is a large range of options in between, and the law of diminishing returns means seven times the price will never be seven times the performance. I use a single dial DMT. They are on sale at AUD$250 near me (were $459) and really good (for me)
I personally go for comfort. J do not like the one "knob" system as you can not tighten each zone of your foot.
I just replaced my older Shimanos with a newer, slightly lighter version, and since they were the same brand I could order the same size. Fit perfectly out of the box. Maybe I just got lucky. 😉
Second those saying they'd not cheap out on shoes. Chamois and shoes are two most important factors for avoiding numbness, pain, discomfort on especially longer rides. I have cycling shoes that are on the expensive end of the spectrum - and not one but a couple of pairs to avoid stinky shoes - but I have never regretted as they fit my feet very well, transfer power, stop my toes from moving about in the shoe and don't give me blisters. My advice: find the one brand that fits your feet, then progressively upgrade your shoes with that brand. At the top end of the spectrum there is little difference but higher end shoes are always going to last longer.
Good video Alex, but I still come back to the same question, 'Do the average leisure cyclist even need a cycling shoe?' Is it just another gimmic' for the cycling industry to make money from the masses. I now use flat pedals, enjoy my cycling just as much and I can hop on the bike at any time using whatever footwear I have on. The bike gets out more often, the car stays at home. Win for the planet, win for the pocket and win for the health aspects!
My wife is a fantastic cyclist and triathlete and she has cheap alloy flats and trainers. Could she benefit from any clip less pedal and shoe? Maybe. But she is competitive in her age group without.
Whilst I wouldn't buy an unbranded shoe from amazon, neither would I spend over £300 on a high end shoe. There are plenty of well know brands that sell middle of the range priced shoes. Also look for the introduction of new models because retailers will be looking to shift on the older model probably with a nice reduction in price. The Shimano S-pyher 903 for example. Forget that, but the 902 in some places is 50% less than its original price.
Maybe the movement of the foot is distributed more evenly on the cheap shoe and concentrated on one joint on the expensive shoe?
It's similar with running shoes. Most runners could easily use cheaper shoes, unless you are running for a new world record.
BUT it does make a significant difference, whether you have 100g extra on your torso/bike or on your shoes, because you move those extra 100g a lot, which builds up in fatique.
Finally it's usually the ego, that needs the expensive ones.
It also might be a companys tactic to make shoes not last forever...
I have those Chinese shoes but my say “speed”, and will say apart from the color of my Shimanos I cannot notice any differences in performance though the Chinese “speed” shoes flex slightly more like in the demo there. He’s part they were only $41 :)
My gripe about shoe pricing and BOA dials: I think BOA dials are great as a closure instead of laces and straps, but think we are being ripped off by the shoe manufacturers who put them on their shoes. The good BOA dials are micro-adjustable in both directions, to tighten and loosen, which improves comfort on a ride. However, you only get these on the top models of each shoe companies shoes, often costing £250-£350. Mid and low range shoes almost always have BOA dials that only adjust to tighten, and have to be loosened off completely before tightening to the correct tightness again. I'm sure that a BOA IP1 or Li2 could only be a few dollars/pounds more than the L6 one way adjusting BOA, but you have to pay £100 to £150 more to get a shoe with the better dial. I just checked on interweb, and replacement price for both the IP1 and L6 are £18, bonkers.
So what does wearing orthotic insoles change? What percentage of us use them?
If a shoe is 200 grams heavier would that slow your cadence or once you are up to speed it doesn't matter?
I’m an endurance Roadie. I ride a pair of Specialized MTB/CX shoes. I choose comfort and the ability to walk normally on my bikeahike outings. These are perfect for my riding style. 🥰
I’m not sure pure racing shoes would fit with my cycling style.
I agree that better shoes will deliver better value overall. 😊
@MrGCNTech what does this mean?
There's a lot - in my view - of smoke and mirrors, and perception, about these things, though I'd agree there are certain ground rules such as fit and comfort. For a non competitive cyclist like me who likes a bit of bling now again, I try to keep an eye out for medium to medium-high spec stuff at sale times, as every kind of kit is shockingly over-priced most of the time, and getting more and more expensive. Keep up the vids though, GCN, they're really interesting!
Funny saying shoe weight is most likely to count climbing. I would have thought high cadence?
My city has 3 bikeshops, one of them doesnt sell any shoes, the others have 3-5 pair of shoes and none of them fit. It's a really annoying topic for me, been looking for shoes for over 5 months by now, ordering 3 pairs online, just for the size, only to realize they are uncomfortable after riding 25 minutes... 😢
So if the carbon sole not flexing at all is better for longer term comfort, why do loads of shoe manufacturers market their less stiff soles as better for longer endurance rides, because they are more forgiving on your feet?? 🤔
Although i purchased Shimano 902 Road Shoes recently, if i would have known that there is no difference in performance, I would have purchased 2-3 different color cheap shoes to match with my different jerseys. 😅