Trying to find a pair of riding shoes that:
a) Don’t have water gulping mesh toes
b) Aren’t full winter GoreTex boots
c) Aren’t downhill oriented

Generally ride woody trails on a hardtail and my gravel-bike on bridleways, nothing particularly rocky or hardcore.

Have quite liked Shimano shoes in the past and was looking at these again, but from what I can see they seem to fall into categories a, b or c above.

Thanks all!

Giro Terraduro

Shimano XC51N, just an XC shoe winterised (and looking a little ‘special’ as a result)

EDIT:

nickc – Member
Giro Terraduro

Aren’t they covered in holes?

Aren’t they covered in holes?

yeah, there’s a few, but no mesh

Shimano a) and some Sealskinz socks. It’s what I ended up doing.

Mtb Shoes with mesh toes are a **** stupid idea.

If anyone finds a decent (as in don’t look like those up there^^^) pair please let me know

Specialized 2fo cliplite.

Sidi’s with a pair of Sealskinz socks.

I got the ‘new’ shimano xc7 shoes, while they have a mesh toe it is very small. More importantly the rest of the shoe has a kind of plasticky coating which means water and mud run off quickly instead of being absorbed. I’ve put a bit of gaffa tape over the mesh for winter and my feet are dry even through soaking wet rides and cx races

The Shimano XC51N is sold as all season.

I have Shimano M089 and MW7’s – I’ve found I’m using the Winter boots most of the time on local XC stuff as it’s gloopy, even in the summer. The M089 has a mesh toe.

The MW7’s aren’t too hot, but they are a boot.

Oh, the XC51N looks like it will fit the bill, I’d not spotted it before. Had mostly been looking at the MW or ME model ranges.

I’m not sure it’s a good looking shoe, but I don’t think those Specialized ones are much better looking (nor my 5:10 Maltese). And at least they’re not white!

Sealskins are great, but I only like wearing them when I’m properly wintered up and going out in steady rain. A closed toe should keep most of the puddles out on a ride the day after rain.

Thanks all

The “N” is for Nordic apparently. I bought a pair for CX duties and they’ve been spot on so far