I've been a committed SPD user since 1990 (still got my SH M100's!) but for a summer trip when I will need to use flats and space is limited - I need a pair of shoes that will be capable on the bike but also off for hiking (approach type stuff) as well as normal leisure use.
Need to have some decent grip and support (more so than the regular Vans I use on flats) but not too heavy and clumpy. Prefer to keep them around £60 budget.
I've never bought 'cycling' specific flat shoes before - any ideas please?
I like the Vaude Moab shoes and I think you can get them for around your budget if you don't want the waterproof versions. My (waterproof) ones are just finishing their second winter and still look almost new if I give them a clean. I guess they are more bike with a bit of hike than the other way round, but the quality is great.
I found that Five Ten Kastral are on offer widely now - SPD compatible Five Tens - you could keep your SPDs on. You might also look at 'enduro' shoes which are made for walking when they push up hills and are also SPD compatible.
5.10 guide tennie
Just to say have to be flats as the bike is shared frequently and I could swap pedals but prefer to keep it simple.
5:10 do lot of approach shoes that would work. In fairness most approach shoes would work great, but they'll be a bit less grippy on the pedals.
I've done a fair bit of hike a bike on my Teva Links flat shoes. No tread on the bottom so muddy/slippy/wet grass hike a bike is slippy, rocky hike a bike is fine
If you are going to have to compromise on grip on the pedals in order to have a shoe that is more suitable for hike a bike, then how about a pair of Shimano XM7 shoes which have a vibram sole? Leave/put back on the cleat cover on for your holiday, then fit SPD cleats for use at home.
Adidas Terrex Trailcross, currently on offer for £70, so not massively out of budget. They have the 5:10 Stealth sole which is brilliant on the pedals but also one of the more pronounced toe and heel tread patterns I have seen on a MTB flat pedal shoe. I really like mine.
5:10 aescents. Have a stealth rubber sole. It's grippy on the pedals and works for walking. Only thing is it wears down fast if you walk a lot
The 5.10 rep told me the Guide Tennie was the hike a bike shoe of choice. It's a climbers approach shoe, and you can get a low or high top version. I've got the low, and it is nice, while also being handy for scrambling and boldering trips!
I use more mile Cheviot 2 trail running shoes. The grips are almost like rubber spikes and grip my cheapo peddles like epoxy.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Also cheap as chips, which is nice</span>
If your budget is (very) flexible then I would recommend the Only Whats Necessary shoes a lot!
https://www.onlywhatsnecessary.com/fr01-features#overview
I have always ridden flat shoes and since using these wouldn't use anything else! I love a good hike a bike so spend a lot of time riding but also 'hiking' in them. They are grippy enough on the bike but the tread at the front and rear give a lot of grip while hiking too. The high top, thing sole and snug fit give great support and the fact the inner boot thingy fits tight around your ankle means you never get any crap inside your shoe like you do with other shoes. The fact you get two inner boot thingies means they are good or travelling too, you can have one set in the shoes and keep the others as slippers for the evenings, then when one gets wet you swap them over and dry the others out.
I know it is way out your stated budget but I like them a lot so any chance to share the love 😉
It is definitely worth understanding what hike a bike means to you. Flat/rocky/gravelly stuff is fine in ANY flat shoes. Wet, muddy, slidey, greasy needs more tread generally