The fit and comfort of the shoes we tested vary greatly as does sizing. $149.99, $49.99 - $169.99 Also, don't be afraid to use a shoe outside of its intended category. Without riding the mens version, I am not sure how they differ in fit and feel, but they were true to size and performed as the all-terrain riding shoe they were made to be. With more companies making shoes and shoes becoming more discipline-specific the differences can seem overwhelming. Weights may vary in final production. Needless to say, she spends a lot of time on her bike and understands the importance of wearing a pair of shoes that both perform well and fit well. The grip is provided mainly by the pedal pins sitting in the waffle pattern recesses, as opposed to driving into a softer rubber sole like some other shoes. Most shoes in our testing fall somewhere in the middle in terms of volume and width. We hope this detailed comparative review helps you find the perfect shoes for your needs and budget. Since we consider this to be a greater function of the shoe's overall stability, stiffness, cleat placement, and flex, we discuss comfort in relation to stability and control. Cross country shoes can be worn for all-mountain just as all-mountain shoes can be worn for cross country. | They have been my go-to shoes for everyday riding, commuting and for pumptrack laps. To find the best women's mountain bike shoe for you, we researched over 45 options of women's and unisex shoes and purchased the top 12 to test side-by-side. One shoe that surprised us was the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit Women's which has a Vibram Ecostep outsole with a pattern similar to a hiking shoe. $324.99, $159.99 - $224.99 Overall, I would recommend the Ride Concepts Livewires for staying gripped to your pedals on steep, challenging descents and lapping lifts at the bike park. In our testing, we had to size up for some models and size down for others. We hope we've helped you narrow your purchase decision by putting ten of the top-rated shoes to the test. We encourage you to read through our reviews and consider the type of riding you'll be doing, your foot shape, and your budget when making a decision. Some shoes have reinforcement at high impact areas, such as the toe box, while others favor weight over protection. Since these shoes were the most protective and grippiest, I spent the most days in the bike park in Livewires, so Im sure the lava rock and expose stumps at Mt. We also looked at how well the shoe keeps dirt and debris out of the shoe and if laces could be secured to prevent them from ending up in the chain or chainring. Finding a great clipless shoe can really change the quality of your ride. A shoe's stability and control is an important factor in determining how well a shoe performs, and we weighted this metric 20% of each shoe's total score. Breathability earned high marks for these shoes, especially in 80 degree temps. Both shoes are what we refer to as mid-volume and are not overly wide in the toebox, and may be a bit too narrow for those with a wide foot. Despite our mid-foot movement, the Roost Clip has very good power transfer, especially for a lace-up shoe. We are impressed with the Roost Clip's lightweight design and excellent power transfer at a relatively wallet-friendly price. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. What really impressed our testers is how supportive and comfortable the shoe is on long rides. Despite this, we can't overlook the shoe's comfort and power transfer which stand out against its competitors in our lineup. When descending technical trails and when cornering, we examined how much lateral support the shoe had. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. How well can we transfer power into the bikes drivetrain? We measure the length of the opening for the cleat and consider how much fore/aft adjustment the shoe has for the cleat. Built with plenty of protection and a Vibram outsole for superior durability, this shoe has incredible pedal feel to give you the confidence to rail through any trail. Some shoes balance weight and protection and offer a nice balance of the two. We experienced a bit of every type of weather, riding in the snow, rain, and dry, dusty conditions. eMTB Some shoes in our test have quite a bit of volume while others are very low volume. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Specialized uses SlipNot FG rubber on the sole of the Specialized Roost Clip that is designed for traction. In our testing, we have included both women's specific and unisex models. Our testers enjoy technical terrain and some shoes send more feedback into the foot than others when the trail gets rocky. Women's mountain bike shorts are better than ever! Some companies also provide guidance for those who are between sizes in regards to sizing up or down. Many of the shoes in our testing are made to excel in a specific discipline. Even though they do not offer a womens specific 2.0 model, (Instead the womens colors come in 3.0 and 5.0 models) they are simple and have a slim profile so I did not feel like I was wearing goofy mountain bike shoes while I was running errands. The Crankbrothers Mallet Boa, Ride Concepts Hellion Clip, and Shimano AM7 Women's also scored highly for protection. For example, the Specialized 2FO Roost Clip excels at trail riding, the Ride Concepts Hellion Clip shines on technical trails, and the Ride Concepts Traverse bests its rivals for downhill and enduro riding. These shoes each have reinforced areas at the toebox and EVA foam in the midsole and or outsole to help absorb trail impacts. Shoes that caused pressure points, hot spots, or were generally uncomfortable scored lowest in this metric while those that remained comfortable, even on long rides, scored the highest. Weights are based off pre-production products at time of publication. PRIVACY POLICY The Sidi Trace is the lightest shoe in our test, weighing 335 grams per shoe for an EU 40 woman. All of these compounds are designed to provide maximal traction and grip, especially on rocks and roots. A feature packed shoe that performed well on a variety of trails and conditions. Technical terrain with a variety of ups and downs is a good way to test a shoe's stability, control, and power transfer. Alternatively, a soft midsole can transfer impacts and other shocks from the trail into your feet, causing pain and discomfort. | This cause some lateral movement in the shoe and a less than ideal fit. Many shoes in our metric perform very well in this metric, thanks to grippy outsoles and good flex in the midfoot. The Scott MTB Elite Boa Lady performs and looks like a much more expensive shoe. The sole is made from Leatts own Ride Grip rubber compound that is the hardest of the shoes tested and did not show any signs of wear after months of abuse. The six top-performing shoes in this category performed well while hiking on rocks. $109.99, If you take care of your equipment, it will take care of you. Check out our Cycling Shoe Guide to find your perfect pair. /bike-clothing/cycling-shoes/mountain-bike-shoes/bontrager-flatline-womens-mountain-bike-shoe/p/21731/. The Stiff Lollipop plate combined with the Body Geometry footbed and SlipNot FG sole absorb impacts from moderately rocky trails but begin to send more feedback into the foot on more advanced rocky trails. Our testing included mellow Midwest cross-country laps, desert riding in Arizona, and some late-season Colorado high country riding. Directional treads on the heel and toe area help you keep the rubber side down, whether youre riding or hike-a-biking, "Bontrager found the perfect rubber compound andlayout which struck a nice balance between providing tractionand still allowing for foot placement adjustments. The Ride Concepts Livewires were the only true womens specific mountain bike shoe that I tested. The Five Ten Trailcross Clip-In has the most breathable uppers of any shoe in our test, but the mesh is thin and offers little protection for your toes. To test each shoe's comfort, traction, and flex for walking we scrambled up rock slabs, hiked through sand, loose slopes, packed dirt, and even a little snow to see how each shoe performed. We've also tested complete bikes and all of the other biking accessories you may need to complete your riding kit. While descending baby-head strewn trail, we never experienced a loss of stability and the EVA midsole dampened trail vibrations. Our team of testers has also done complete testing and reviews of the best men's mountain bike shoes and the pedals to go along with them. We looked at the amount of protection provided by the sole, midsole, footbed, and upper of each shoe for this metric. | For this metric, a shoe receives 15% of its rating. Its worth noting that the shoes tested here arent part of Leatts Womens shoe line as they didnt have inventory available at the time, however the womens shoes are just different colors and graphics, so were pretty confident our review will still carry over. Join the Pack and get the latest news and read the latest reviews on the topmountainandelectric mountain bikes. MOTO The sole is more flexible than the Leatt and Ride Concept shoes and makes not only pedal feel more pronounced but also the ease of hiking. $199.99, $49.99 - $109.99 Got feedback? However, it offers substantially more forefoot protection than similar XC-style models, a feature we consider to be important when selecting a shoe, especially when they are so similar in weight and design. STORE, ABOUT US Want to win some free schwag? They actually felt the stiffest of the shoes tested and had a good feeling of protection in the toe box. That said, they don't offer the same level of protection as the beefier trail and gravity shoes we tested. If you're looking for an all-purpose mountain bike shoe, the Roost Clip is a great choice at a fair price. | In general, those by Ride Concepts have a narrower forefoot than those by Five Ten and Specialized. A sleek race shoe might be uncomfortable after two hours, so we focus on comfort for rides ranging from short hour-long rides to all-day epics. Bachelor accelerated my wear. The Leatt 2.0 shoes are the medium-soft flex option shoe in Leatts line of flat mountain bike shoes. Most are slippery in wet conditions due to the lack of lugs, but some shed mud better than others. This metric was the easiest to score. Shoes with soft lateral support allow your foot to move and feel unstable. Also scoring well in this metric is the Specialized 2FO Roost Clip at 322 grams for a EU39.5. When it comes to pedaling position, over 1 " of fore/aft positioning makes it easy to find your preferred cleat position, and a generously sized cleat opening makes clipping in and out a breeze. The shoes in our test range from cross-country models to all-mountain and downhill-specific models. Keep in mind that our ratings are comparative, and lower-scoring models may be contenders for your consideration. The Shimano AM7 even features a neoprene ankle collar for support and to keep dirt out and the Mallet has a highly padded ankle for protection. Featuring a Boa lacing, an adjustable footbed, and a nylon and composite outsole, the MTB Elite Boa Lady has top-notch performance and features at a reasonable price point. Leave a comment and vote up the most thoughtful comments and each month well pick a winner. The Livewires had a pretty good pedal feel under all those layers of protective soles but are on the stiffer side without being too much while walking around. The Hellion Clip has a Power Drive nylon shank that is supportive and stiff and in combination with the synthetic Microfiber uppers provide excellent lateral stability. Although they are on the more flexible end of the scale, the Vibram soles are tough, grippy and super durable. The Ride Concepts Hellion Clip uses Clip Grip rubber in a uniform hexagonal pattern on the sole. While this may not be part of everyone's riding, we consider it an important part of an all-around shoe giving it 25% of the weight in this metric. Some shoes provide excellent lateral stability, while others allow the foot to slide in the shoe, this can be especially pronounced when cornering. Shoes by Ride Concepts, such as the Hellion Clip have a gusseted tongue and weather-resistant uppers to help keep moisture and dirt out of the shoe and does a great job. Bontrager Flatline Women's Mountain Bike Shoe, inForm Performance last offers a relaxed fit for more comfort on the bike and more utility off the bike, Uniform tread pattern provides consistent, predictable interface between pedal and outsole, Directional tread at toe and heel gives off-bike scrambling traction, uphill or down. We wore the Hellion Clip in moondust conditions and the shoe was covered in grey powder with the consistency of baby powder, yet our socks were amazingly clean. From cross-country trails to slow-speed technical trails, and baby head-strewn descents we put a variety of shoes through our test metrics to determine the best womens and unisex clipless mountain bike shoes available today. Weight was given 15% of a shoe's score, as it affects the stability, control, and protection of the shoe. The midsoles also have a noticeably softer feel and a little bit more arch support than other shoes tested, which makes the Flatlines comfortable on the bike yet supportive for walking or hiking. Cleat placement is a personal preference, although there are some generalities based on one's preferred riding style. Crankbrothers uses their Match Compound rubber on the soles of their Mallet Boa Clip shoes with directional lugs for maximum traction off the bike. Mud lingers between the cleat and sole, even after walking around and knocking off dirt and mud. Searching for a new set of flat pedals for your mountain Best Mountain Bike Shorts for Women of 2022. If the sole is soft it may bend and you may be able to feel the pedal through the footbed. The Specialized 2FO Roost Clip also scores well in this metric and has a Still Lollipop Nylon Composite Plate in the sole that provides a stiff and efficient pedaling platform. | There are now more options available at multiple price points and more options for each riding style. Each pair was tested on a variety of trails, where we evaluated their strengths and weaknesses in relation to their intended use. They are comfortable, offer a casual fit and are very durable but I do not love the way they look, which is totally subjective. Prices shown are manufacturer's suggested retail prices. When powering up technical climbs our feet stayed securely in place and the stiff EVA midsole and PowerDrive nylon shank do not flex underfoot resulting in good power transfer. Because technical terrain places different demands on a rider's shoe, factors like impact absorption, support, and protection become even more important. When considering the stability of a shoe we take into consideration lateral flex and support if we can feel the cleat through the midsole or footbed, and our overall control over the pedals. We consider how much space there is around the cleat once it is installed and how easy it is to clip and unclip from the pedal. Due to supply chain issues, compatible parts may be substituted at any time without notice. Our top-scoring shoe for protection is the Ride Concepts Traverse. Many factors influence your decision on what pair of clipless mountain bike shoes to purchase, and we've just tested twelve of the best pairs available. The Elite Boa Lady felt controlled and stiff, allowing us to efficiently transfer power into our pedals. We wore the X-Alp Summit on our left foot with the Hellion Clip on the right and found the X-Alp Summit slid more on a loose, rocky hike a bike climb than the Hellion Clip which we were able to press more into the ground to increase traction. Weighing 351-grams for a EU39, the MTB Elite Lady Boa weighs in around the middle of the pack out of the shoes tested here. The inside ankle is higher for additional protection and support and welded D30 protection wraps around the mesh areas of the uppers for additional impact protection. Related: How We Tested Mountain Bike Shoes for Women. Being able to stand, push, and pull on the pedals is very important when it comes to controlling your bike because it allows you to move the bike under you. The Traverse is the heaviest shoe we tested, weighing in at 450-grams (women's EU40), 82-grams more than the average weight of all the shoes we tested, due to the additional ankle support and protection it provides. Unlike other shoes that left our feet sore after riding technical sections of trail, the Traverse soaked up trail chatter and vibrations, leaving our testers impressed by their stiffness and ability to absorb trail impacts. These are all questions we take into consideration. Can we pull up on the pedals? After each ride, we took copious notes on each shoe's stability, comfort, protection, and walkability. The synthetic Microfiber uppers are stiff with reinforced zones at the toe and heel and a generously padded tongue and ankle collar provide support and protection. The synthetic leather offers great protection in wetter weather and holds up to some serious bashing on rocks or shrubs thanks to the aggressive treatment on the toe and heal. We also monitor for pressure points or hot spots when wearing the shoe. Ride Concepts shoes are the only true womens specific shoes that feature unique construction while the Leatt shoes and Bontrager shoes are more of a color-changed adaptation, which does not necessarily mean they will not work as well if you are looking for womens mountain bike shoes, as you will see below. In our testing, we have found lower-priced models that employ trickle-down technologies and perform really well. With features typically found in shoes costing substantially more, such as a Boa lacing system and customizable footbeds, this shoe performs very well on a variety of trails and is comfortable to boot. $224.99 - $234.99, $79.99 - $129.99 In contrast, the Ride Concepts Traverse features a D30 High Impact Insole, which is much thicker and absorbs all trail chatter and impact before reaching your feet. We tested 15 of the best Are you in need of a new rack to transport your beloved Are you searching for a fresh set of mountain bike knee How We Tested Mountain Bike Shoes for Women, Best Bang for Your Buck Trail Riding Shoe, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Comfortable fit, large cleat opening, good power transfer, excellent trail absorption, Lightweight, good power transfer, easy to walk in, Protective, comfortable, supportive, well-constructed, Comfortable, excellent protection, excellent power transfer, easy to clip in and out of, great for hike-a-bike, Comfortable, stiff, good power transfer, large cleat opening, This comfortable shoe impressed our testers with its fit, trail absorption, and power transfer and is a great match for short trail rides and all-day epics alike, This unassuming shoe combines on and off the bike performance with good power transfer and walking comfort at a relatively reasonable price tag, A supportive and durable shoe made to withstand the rigors of technical trail, all-mountain, and bike park riding, A high-performing shoe that offers comfort paired with excellent stability, protection, and walkability, This shoe offers a shock-absorbing sole and breathable uppers that deliver exceptional comfort, even when on technical hike-a-bike sections, Microfiber synthetic with TPU toe and heel protection, Synthetic weather-resistant micro-perforated, EVA, Three-quarter dual-density TPU shank, EVA midsole, This comfortable shoe not only fits well but has good power transfer and a stiff pedaling platform and is at home on flow trails and all-day epics, A comfortable, top-performing shoe with a relatively reasonable price tag, This supportive and durable shoe is most at home when things get rowdy making it a great choice for technical trail, all-mountain and park riding, If youre looking for a comfortable shoe with maximum protection and stability look no further, The Hellcat combines a stiff, shock-absorbing sole, with protective, breathable uppers all at a modest price point, A light-duty trail shoe with Boa lacing with good support, stiffness, and walkability, A solid choice for the rider looking for a feature packed shoe that does not break the bank, Best for shorter, less technical rides due to its moderately stiff sole, An adventure riding shoe to bridge the gap between hiking and clipped-in mountain biking, This protective shoe is best suited for wet or cool conditions with good trail absorption but only average power transfer, Worthy of consideration for riders needing a shoe with lots of volume and that is lightweight, Worthy of consideration for cross-country racers due to a combination of features, weight and a modest price point.