My decade old spesh (sport) spd shoes are looking pretty worse for wear and I've been thinking (for the last 5 years) I need to buy something new. A few things I'm considering:
- I've always used the same shoes for MTB/Road/Gravel, I have a lightweight/vented pair and a goretex pair depeneding on what the weather's doing - anyone reckon I'm missing out by not having road specific shoes?
- I like the look of the Giro range
- I think I want to stay with the more xc race style sole (rather than a rubber sole that you'd get on shoes for flats), the tread on a race style shoe always seems better for walking in when your hacking through muddy ground. Am I missing something? I don't ride pedals with a cage, do you actually get any better grip if you have a cage and rubber soled shoes and you fail to clip in properly?
- Also considering a boa fastening
- Want to spend closer to £100 mark
- I've been getting pain on the outsides of my feet on techinical descents, I'm not sure if it's because the shoes are a bit too loose and I'm curling my foot to try and grip in side the shoe?
... so what does STW recommend?
Thanks
Mat
I'm getting on quite well with my Shimano ME7s. Seem pretty close to what you're asking for in your description.
I tried Mavic last time and found them tight around the toes, plus they died quite quickly.
Having always loved Spesh shoes and wearing them forever I've gone back to the Recon 2.0s (though sure they weren't £175 a few months ago!). Always had carbon soles in the past so tried the 3.0's, but they were much less comfortable to walk around in.
Might not be quite in budget, but a really nice shoe.
I have giro's and probably wouldn't recommend them. They are similar to the ones you linked to except they don't have the boa system, just 2 velcro fasteners and a ratchet. They are ok. But not a patch on the old shimano shoes (can't remember the model) I use to have. They were very comfortable. Whereas the giro's don't feel that good. They felt great trying them on in the shop, but not so comfy riding. I can put up with them for about 4 to 5 hour rides, but i start to get numb feet on anything longer. First pair of shoes I've ever had this problem with. I use them for road, cross and mtb rides. Need to get replacements when I can afford too.
+1 for Shimano me7, having used am9's for years the stiffer sole took some getting used to but I prefer them now although I do use Crank Brothers mallet dh and haven't tried on pedals without a cage. They cost more than £100 tho
I have the Giro Cylinders and they're great. Good fit, Boas works well. Good value for a non-carbon sole XC shoe.
Having said that, the latest Shimano shoes look really nice. A mate has some and they are light and look well made.
+2 for ME7s. Best show I've had, work in all temperatures, great for walking in. Plenty stiff but definitely not a disco slipper, if that's more what you're after though.
I have DMT Iperion, hideous but have a fantastic grippy vibram sole, boa fastening and are a nice hybrid model. I also own 5.10 DH shoes and Mavic disco slippers and the DMT are my go to. Looks like they have been replaced with the much better looking tk1 model.
Shimano fan - same soles through the range - tried on the shoes, bought them, then a year or two later, just ordered the MW7 boots on-line as the size fitted. Always try shoes on first.
Spesh Pro Carbon road shoes - slippy as **** disco slippers.