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We purchased 14 of today's top cycling shoes and rode hundreds of miles in various conditions to assess each shoe's performance. We suffered through hill repeats in the rain, rode with friends on all-day epics, and even went on some mixed-surface adventures.
The Shimano S-Phyre SH-RC903 is our favorite overall shoe due to its stiff, performance-oriented design while still being comfortable for most riders. For riders seeking the best value, the Giro Cadet is our top choice thanks to its friendly price and solid performance across all metrics.
Shimano's updated S-Phyre SH-RC903 takes the top spot on the podium. The previous version was our top pick for a high-performance road shoe, and this third iteration of Shimano's halo shoe is easy to recommend to even more riders. The sole is impressively stiff, flexing only 1.4 millimeters in our in-house deflexion test. Paired with a locked-in heel cup, the ability of this lightweight, 16.7-ounce shoe to push power to your pedals is unparalleled. The two re-routed BOA Li2 dials – reinvented with cloth cable guides – do an excellent job distributing tension while still being comfortable on all-day rides. Coupled with 5 millimeters of fore and aft cleat adjustment, you're sure to be able to dial in the fit of the S-Phyre to maximize performance.
Putting the shoes on and taking them off can be a bit fussy. It's annoying that the upper BOA dial is attached to the upper flap rather than on the side of the shoe, and the upper cable tends to snag on the lower BOA dial. The shoe's sole is so stiff that riding with the closure too tight for too long can cause foot fatigue. If you regularly ride long distances, a more flexible and comfortable shoe like the Quoc Escape Road is worth considering. But don't get us wrong, the newest S-Phyre RC903 is still comfortable enough for all-day rides, especially for competitive riders who aim to eke out every bit of performance.
The Giro Cadet excels at nothing, but it's good at everything. The one-piece Synchwire synthetic upper fits closely around your foot, and the combination of a single BOA dial and hook-and-loop closure system provides real adjustability. The carbon-reinforced nylon outsole landed in the middle of our stiffness rating – flexing a very reasonable 7.2 millimeters in our in-house test – offering a nice balance of comfort and power transfer without tilting too far to either side. The Cadet is an excellent blend of comfort, adjustability, power transfer, and price, which makes it easy to recommend to any rider. Still, it should be particularly enticing for entry-level riders.
While it shares some technologies with higher-end shoes in the Giro family, the Cadet understandably makes some compromises to keep the price point more reasonable. The BOA L6 dial only microadjusts tighter and cannot microadjust looser. This isn't very pleasant, especially if you're trying to adjust your shoe from the saddle. If you often fiddle with your fit, it's worth considering the Fizik Tempo Overcurve R4, which has a BOA Li2 dial that allows for adjustment both ways. Even though the heel cup on the Cadet is stiff and well-padded, heel retention is weak, which makes digging in for hard efforts more difficult with this shoe. It is also not particularly lightweight, tipping the scales at 18.7 ounces for a pair of EU size 42. However, for riders who want a shoe to melt into the background – and only occasionally want to chase local Strava KOMs – the Cadet is a great all-around option.
The Quoc Escape Road is beautifully designed with supple material and a simple closure system, making it a supremely comfortable cycling shoe. While other dial systems offer more adjustability, the single Quoc dial evenly distributes gentle pressure across the PU-leather upper. The stock insole is more substantial than others at this price point and even features a small metatarsal button to help further relieve pressure. This slipper-like shoe is comfortable from the moment you put it on, and that feeling persists even on long rides.
However, a singular focus on comfort leaves us wanting in other areas. The sole of the Escape Road is not very stiff – deflecting a surprising 12.1 millimeters in our in-house test – heel retention is lacking, and the upper is flexible enough that hard efforts out of the saddle can cause your foot to move around in the shoe. The toe box is fairly narrow, and the upper can bunch up at the toes when the closure is tightened. It is also only available in one width – if you have wider feet, check out the Shimano SH-RC502, which offers similar performance and a wide last. But if it fits your foot well, then the Quoc Escape Road is perfect for the discerning rider who favors casual comfort above all else, especially if you're not concerned about being the first to the top of the hill.
While the Quoc Escape Road feels soft under power, it's comfortable for the long haul.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
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We logged many hours and many miles in all of these cycling shoes.
Credit: Ryan Baham
How We Test Cycling Shoes
Step one is to survey the most popular cycling shoes available to better understand our options. We then select a range of shoes that reflect a cross-section of the market, including a wide range of styles, price points, and performance designs. After purchasing all of these shoes at retail price – just like you – it's time to get down to testing. Our in-depth test process attempts to quantify the attributes that riders value most while teasing out the strengths and weaknesses of each shoe over hours in the saddle. We utilize quantitative metrics to support our real-world experience to identify the best shoes relative to overall performance and value. For a deeper dive into our process, check out our in-depth article about how we test cycling shoes.
Our testing of cycling shoes is divided into four rating metrics:
Comfort (35% of total score weighting)
Power Transfer (30% weighting)
Durability (20% weighting)
Weight (15% weighting)
We built our own test jig to measure how much each shoe's sole deflects when subjected to a 25 pounds of force. This allowed us to directly compare sole stiffness.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Why Trust GearLab
Cycling-obsessed Arthur Richardson heads up this review as our lead tester. Arthur grew up riding the backroads of Marin County, California, where he first fell in love with the feeling of flying down hills. After earning a bachelor's degree in Iowa, which included working in Iowa's largest bike shop and a brief sojourn to Russia, he returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. He spent the next seven years working in a bike shop and becoming completely ensconced in the cycling culture of central California. Now living in the well-rounded biking hub of Bellingham, Washington, Arthur is perfectly positioned to rack up the miles, whether on- or off-road.
Senior Review Editor and multi-sport athlete Ryan Baham laid the foundation for this article. Originally from Florida, Ryan now enjoys a different kind of endless summer in Southern California, where there's never an excuse not to rack up miles on his bike. He holds two bachelor's degrees from the University of South Florida and went on to pick up a master's in public administration and a graduate certificate in procurement from Old Dominion University. When he's not testing products for GearLab, he works as a business systems analyst consulting for companies like Genentech, Tesla, and Meta.
The S-Phyre RC903 road cycling shoes provide a close connection to the bike.
The stiffness index printed on the sole of a shoe doesn't tell us very much, so we measured how much each sole deflected with 25 pounds applied to it.
Close examinations of every shoe helps highlight design decisions that can affect comfort and overall performance.
Analysis and Test Results
Our in-depth testing with each of these shoes allows us to evaluate them against important performance metrics: comfort, power transfer, durability, and weight. While they may have different closure systems, all the shoes we compared are three-bolt cleats, ensuring an apples-to-apples comparison. However, our lineup has a wide range of prices, so let's look at which models offer the best overall value.
What's the Best Value?
Our discussion of value weighs the performance of a cycling shoe against the cost. The overall performance is defined by our rating metrics, which is the primary consideration in our ranking – the price of a product always comes secondary to its performance in our tests. This discussion of value also needs to consider each shoe's intended use. A shoe with a flexible sole designed for all-day comfort isn't going to be a good value for a rider tackling their next Strava KOM, no matter how low the price.
As an entry-level shoe, the Giro Cadet presents an excellent value thanks to its well-rounded performance.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
If you are a competitive rider seeking no-compromises performance, then the Shimano S-Phyre RC903 is the way to go – it has an incredibly stiff sole, peerless heel retention, and an upper that locks the foot in place for unrivaled power transfer. But it is also one of the most expensive shoes we tested. At the other end of the price spectrum is the Giro Stylus, a shoe that offers decent performance at a reasonably low price point. This is a great option for folks just getting into road cycling. In the middle is the Giro Cadet, a shoe that offers an excellent balance of comfort and power transfer. It is comfortable enough for all-day rides, and the sole is stiff enough to deliver power to your pedals efficiently. The best part is that it offers 80% of the performance of the top models we tested at less than 50% of the price.
Although it doesn't offer the same adjustability as the Cadet, the Giro Stylus is a great option for anyone shopping on a particularly tight budget.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Comfort
There are many factors that contribute to the comfort of a cycling shoe. However, our testing has demonstrated that there are certainly some overarching themes. The toe box has to be big enough to allow your forefoot to spread out but not so big that it moves around while pedaling. Ideally, a shoe would be offered in many different widths to fit as many feet as possible. This is an unreasonable ask of manufacturers, so a shoe's amount of adjustability is paramount. The heel cup also needs to secure your heel so that your foot doesn't lift when you stand to strain. If the pressure from the closure system isn't evenly distributed, that's a recipe for hotspots, and ventilation is important because hot feet are not happy feet. In short, a good shoe conforms to the form of your foot while having a modest amount of cushion in just the right spots.
Finding a cycling shoe that fits your foot well is paramount, because the more time you're able to comfortably spend in the saddle, the better you will become at this sport.
Credit: Ryan Baham
The top-performing S-Phyre RC903 has a form-fitting upper, a heel cup that locks the heel into place, and a closure system allowing a wide range of adjustability. Its fit is oriented towards performance: there is almost no foot movement within the shoe once it's tightened down. The forward-most BOA dial makes meaningful adjustments to the tightness of the toe box, and the rear dial settles your instep comfortably against the sole. The outsole on the RC903 shoe is very stiff, which can cause fatigue if you're riding with the closures too tight for too long. However, with the closures at a reasonable tightness, the shoe is comfortable to wear all day while still providing excellent performance.
The minimally padded collar on the S-Phyre RC903 offers just enough cushioning to the stiff heel cup without affecting heel retention.
Credit: Adam Bridier
All of the Shimano shoes we tested – the S-Phyre RC903, as well as the RC502, RC100, and RC3 – all have a tongue-less upper, where the two sides of the upper wrap your foot like a burrito. This design helps distribute the pressure from the closure system more evenly over your instep. While the higher-end RC903 utilizes dual BOA dials for its closure system, the price-point RC100 wraps up with three basic hook-and-loop closures. The softer, less-exacting fit of the RC100 makes it a great entry-level shoe or an inexpensive option for indoor spinning, but unlike the stiff RC903, it likely won't help you win any sprints.
Shimano uses a tongue-less design, which helps evenly spread the pressure of the closure over to top of the foot.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The Quoc Escape Road has a super supple polyurethane leather upper that feels comfortable from the moment you put it on. The shoe feels soft but snug, like a good hug. While there are some downsides to the Escape Road, it is one of the most comfortable shoes we tested. We were a bit surprised by this fact, mainly because many of the other top contenders for comfort include two dials to customize their fits. However, the proprietary Quoc dial system – similar to the more ubiquitous BOA system in terms of feel and adjustment – does a great job of evenly distributing pressure across the top of the shoe.
The Quoc Escape Road shoes are comfortable and stylish, making them a great option for long days on the road.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The Specialized S-Works Torch is a stiff, form-fitting shoe like the S-Phyre RC903but has a wider toe box. The carbon sole of the S-Works Torch is 4 mm wider than the S-Works 7 that preceded it, making it more comfortable for more people. For folks with feet that aren't quite wide enough to comfortably wear the wide version of any of these shoes, the Torch offers a little more room around the toes without compromising on performance. Additionally, in each area where the metatarsal bones would come in contact with the upper, Specialized reduces the thickness of the material to increase the suppleness. This is the same idea as the X-Comfort Zone in the super comfortable Louis Garneau Course Air Lite XZ, but with a much lower profile.
The Specialized S-Works Torch is stiff, lightweight, and very stylish.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The Specialized S-Works Ares is not just lightweight and stiff but also among the most comfortable shoes we tested. This model shares some of the more successful designs used by Shimano – like the foldover, burrito-style upper, and BOA fastening system – but two major design points set this shoe apart. The first is a Dyneema-reinforced sock-like upper that perfectly hugs the foot for a cushioned, secure fit. The other is a suite of design features collectively called Body Geometry by Specialized. They include a supportive structure for the arch, a wedge built into the sole for ergonomic alignment of the hip, knee, and foot, and a footbed structure meant to relieve pressure on the metatarsals.
The upper on the S-Works Ares actually closes over a built-in sock for a close, secure fit.
The footbeds are key to the Body Geometry suite.
Aside from their closure systems, the Giro Stylus and Cadet share a very similar construction. The Cadet effectively combines a single BOA dial with a hook-and-loop strap over the toes, while the Stylus employs three straps to keep the price point low. The amount of padding used in these shoes is more than in some other offerings, especially in the tongue, which can cause undue pressure across your metatarsals. With both shoes, we were never able to totally alleviate that pressure, which eventually became uncomfortable on long rides. However, the added ease of adjustability of the BOA system on the Cadet made it the superior of these two shoes.
The Giro Stylus has much the same feel as the Giro Cadet, but at an even lower price point.
The Giro Cadet offers excellent value, with a fit that accommodated a wide range of foot shapes.
While some of our testers loved the Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2, it wasn't adjustable enough to comfortably fit everyone's foot. It has a tongue-less upper design similar to the S-Phyre RC903, with a rear BOA system with a small cable guide attached to the shoe's body. When we tightened the dial enough to lock our foot in place, the broad instep strap would bottom out against this cable guide, preventing the shoe from tightening further. Additionally, the toe box was too generous – even with the front BOA dial snugged down very tight, our toes had enough room to wiggle and curl. During out-of-the-saddle efforts, we noticed our toes moving around or splaying to try and take up the extra room in the toe box. Increasing the tension on the front BOA dial seemed to tighten the outside of the shoe, specifically behind the pinky metatarsal, more than spread the pressure evenly over the entire front of the foot. If you have a higher volume forefoot or a wider foot, then the Vento Infinito might be a great fit for you. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work well for narrower or lower-volume feet.
The Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2 is quite adjustable, but has limits to how tightly you can adjust the rear dial.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The Fizik Tempo Overcurve R4 is a great value for a relatively high-performance shoe, but it has one glaring flaw in the comfort department: The forwardmost inner cable guide is fastened in such a way that it really presses on the big toe metatarsal. This pressure quickly became painful for our lead tester, even on short rides. While not all of our testers experienced this, enough riders did, so we felt it necessary to mention and dock the comfort score for this shoe.
The forward most cable guide on the Overcurve R4 is mounted right over the first knuckle of the big toe, which was painful for our lead tester.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The Venzo SPD-SL is comfortable initially, thanks to quite a lot of soft padding. However, the flexible mesh upper doesn't spread the load of the three hook-and-loop fasteners well – we felt each one individually across the top of our foot. Additionally, the collar and heel cup are over-padded, which compresses as you tighten the hook-and-loop system. The hook-and-loop straps feel like they are clamping down on the foot before your heel ever feels locked in. The cleat mount is also very far forward on the shoe, and the hardware doesn't offer any adjustability. This point is important to consider if you would like to mount your cleat further back, though admittedly, if you already have these preferences, then you likely want a higher-performing shoe.
The Venzo was initially comfortable, but despite the ample padding, the unevenly distributed pressure from the hook-and-loop straps quickly proved problematic.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Adjustability
Adjustability is a key component of comfort and can greatly affect how well a shoe will perform. Cycling shoes tend to sport one of three different closure systems: a dial system (like BOA), hook-and-loop straps, laces, or a combination of these. High-end road shoes tend to have two dials; mid-level shoes usually carry one dial and a hook-and-loop strap; lower-end shoes tend to rely on hook-and-loop straps or laces only.
Even though the shoe construction varies widely between the shoes on the market, the closure system tends to vary according to price point.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
A BOA closure system is easiest to make small adjustments while you're riding, but not all BOA dials are the same. The top dog, the BOA Li2 system – found on shoes like the S-Phyre RC903 and S-Works Ares – can micro-adjust in both directions (loosening and tightening) while pulling on the dial releases all tension for quick exit and entry.
Most cycling shoes are converging on a dial-and-cable as the best closure system. The BOA Li2 system offers micro-adjustments for both loosening and tightening, as well as pull-to-release all tension.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The BOA S3-Snap dial – included on the S-Works Torch – offers the same micro-adjustability as the Li2, but it doesn't have the pull-to-release function. This makes putting on or taking off a shoe a bit of a slower process because you have to unwind the dial all the way to get enough slack on the cable to slide your foot in or out.
The BOA S3-S offers knurled aluminum dials for a premium feel. However, the adjustment click can be difficult to hear or feel while riding, and they don't have a pull-to-release function.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The BOA L6 system – on mid-level shoes like the Shimano RC502 and Giro Cadet – is micro-adjustable tightening but doesn't allow you to make small adjustments to loosen the shoe, which can be a bit annoying. Critically, BOA covers their fit system with a lifetime guarantee, so if a dial wears out or a cable frays, you can get a replacement at no charge.
Giro uses a BOA L6 dial on the Cadet, paired with a single hook-and-loop strap just behind the toes.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Some brands like Quoc and Sidi have developed their own dial-and-cable fit systems. The Quoc Technology Dial System is micro-adjustable to tighten, and instead of pulling the dial out, you turn it back a small amount to release all tension. This system is very intuitive, making entry and exit from the shoes a breeze. It has a lifetime guarantee, but unlike BOA's guarantee, there will be questions asked.
Quoc's proprietary dial system is intuitive and easy to use, but doesn't feel as secure as the similarly designed BOA system.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Hook-and-loop closure systems (e.g., Velcro straps) are tried and true, but they are more difficult to replace when they wear out and don't allow for the same small adjustments that dial-and-cable closures do. It is much more difficult to get an exact match of tension on each foot with hook-and-loop closures. And needless to say, these closures are much more difficult to adjust while riding. Lastly, laces are, well, laces. They are excellent for adjusting tension and offer absolutely no provision for tension adjustment on the fly. If your shoe proves too tight on a ride, you're stopping to re-tie it.
Consider Aftermarket Insoles
Insoles go a long way toward making a comfortable shoe. Less expensive cycling shoes come with flimsy insoles, while higher-end shoes include insoles that provide more support. Insoles are available as an aftermarket purchase, but that is an additional expense that needs to be considered alongside a price point model. Some brands, like Shimano, also offer insoles that can be adjusted with aftermarket pads to improve arch support.
Hook-and-loop straps are a tried-and-true solution, but they are impossible to replace when they wear out and are not great for making small tension adjustments while riding.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Taking all of our notes into consideration – from close examination of design details through hours spent riding in each pair – we ranked the shoes in our lineup according to their overall comfort rating.
Power Transfer
The stiffness of a cycling shoe's sole helps define how much of the power from your legs makes it to your pedals. It's not the whole picture, however – the ergonomics and fit of the upper also need to be considered. Primarily, we want to know how securely the shoe holds your heel in place, which is critical for standing and straining during hard efforts without your foot lifting out of your shoe. However, we also want to examine how well the upper and closure systems minimize motion inside the shoe, as any energy lost to foot movement is energy lost to your pedals.
Those of us who do a lot of climbing greatly appreciate a shoe, like the S-Works Ares, with the ability to efficiently transfer power from your legs to your pedals.
Credit: Andrew Crook
Many brands have a stiffness index that they print on the bottom of their shoe. For example, the S-Works Torch has a stiffness index of 15, the S-Phyre RC903 rings in at 12, and the Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2 boasts a 10. The scale used to measure the stiffness index, however, is never well-defined, nor is it standard across brands. Giro does include units with their stiffness index – the Cadet has a stiffness of 80 N/mm, and the Stylus has only 60 N/mm – but it is unclear how those ratings are measured.
If you look closely at the toe of the Giro Cadet, you'll notice that the outsole is stamped with a stiffness rating of 80 N/mm. But what does that mean?
Credit: Arthur Richardson
To better understand how sole stiffness translates directly to power transfer, we recently developed our own test. We placed 3D-printed inserts in each shoe to mimic the form of the ankle and heel and mounted each shoe to a jig using their standard mounting hardware. We then hung a 25-pound weight from a U-bolt wrapped around the insert and, using a digital deflection gauge, measured the linear deflection of each sole at the ankle collar. Since the applied force simulates how you would flex a shoe during a hard effort, our system provides an excellent real-world approximation of the stiffness of each shoe. It also allows us to directly compare the shoes in our lineup using a consistent measurement.
With a deflection of only 1.4 millimeters, the S-Phyre RC903 is easily one of the stiffest cycling shoes we've ever tested.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Along with the form-fitting, highly adjustable upper and unparalleled heel retention, an incredibly stiff outsole secures the S-Phyre RC903 a high power transfer score. The sole on the S-Works Torch is nearly as stiff as the RC903 and offers similarly excellent heel retention for out-of-the-saddle efforts. The Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2 deflected mere fractions of a millimeter more during testing and is nearly as powerful as these other shoes. Despite a stiff sole, the Vento Infinito doesn't offer the same level of adjustability in its closure system, which we noticed translates to more movement inside the shoe (at least for our testers with low-volume feet).
We should mention the success of the S-Works Ares in minimizing foot movement. The suite of improvements in the stiff, carbon sole and ergonomic footbed is part of the Specialized Body Geometry design, which is meant to boost efficiency and comfort. The sock-like fit of the upper creates a tighter, more adherent form that doesn't allow your feet to shift around when you're trying to crank. The linchpin to the Body Geometry design is the PadLock heel, which works as well as the name implies – it locks your heel in place, providing a cradle without any impediment.
Comparing Stiffness Ratings
Interestingly, our testing revealed that a stiffness index score of 12 from Shimano roughly corresponds to a score of 15 from Specialized and a score of 10 from Fizik.
The Fizik Tempo Overcurve R4 deflected twice as much as the top-tier shoes in our tests but still proved to have the stiffest sole at the mid-level price point. Although it doesn't offer the same adjustability as shoes equipped with two dials, the single BOA Li2 dial on the Overcurve R4 effectively locks in your instep. It scored well in our high-load riding tests, too, and if the particular last fits your foot well, it makes an excellent value proposition of performance versus price.
Considering its mid-range price point, the Tempo Overcurve R4 surprised us with a stiff outsole that equates to impressive power transfer.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The deflection ratings of the lower-priced Giro Cadet and Stylus correspond with their mid-tier power transfer scores. Compared to the more flexible soles of similarly priced options – like the Shimano RC502 and RC100, respectively – the Giro shoes perform pretty well. Unfortunately, both the Cadet and Stylus suffer when it comes to heel retention. Both have highly padded heel cups that don't effectively lock your heel in place. Even with the fasteners on both shoes snugged down fully, our heels still moved around during hard efforts. While the Cadet wouldn't be our first choice for a sprint, it does still have a sole stiff enough for solid efforts.
Considering that the Giro Stylus costs a mere fraction of most of the shoes we tested, this sole stiffness result was surprising (in a good way).
Credit: Arthur Richardson
The Venzo SPD-SL presents a very similar issue. Although the 7.93 mm of deflection is impressive for such an inexpensive shoe, the heel retention is abysmal. The three hook-and-loop straps can tighten just enough to get by during a hard effort, but the lack of heel support makes it difficult to engage your hamstrings and pull through each pedal stroke. To offer some contrast, the Shimano's RC502 doesn't have the stiffest sole – it deflected 11.33 mm during testing – but the heel cup does its job. Similar to the S-Phyre RC903, the RC502 uses a similar tongue-less burrito-wrap design, just with a single BOA and hook-and-loop closure. Although the fit feels less exacting than the Giro Cadet, the RC502 is a better shoe for out-of-the-saddle riding. With many of the same features as the premium RC903, the RC502 is intended to be a price-point performance option, and we think that Shimano hit the mark.
Most mid-level shoes use a classic construction with a tongue and a fastener system. Shimano uses a wraparound design on the RC502 (far right).
Credit: Arthur Richardson
In contrast to the performance-oriented Shimano RC502, the Quoc Escape Road has one of the most flexible soles in our test. It's a shoe aimed at riders who care less about KOMs and more about being comfortable on an all-day adventure. On the bike, we noticed that the polyurethane upper flexes significantly during hard efforts, which allows the sole of your foot to lift away from the sole of the shoe. While comfort and power transfer are not always mutually exclusive, comfort definitely takes precedence with the Escape Road, and it shows in its lackluster power transfer score.
The outsole on the Quoc Escape Road deflected more than 12 millimeters. But considering that this shoe is built for comfort rather than performance, this result wasn't too surprising.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
After backing up the data from our in-house deflection test with plenty of long hill climbs to discern any loss of power due to movement within the shoe, we finally ranked each cycling shoe according to an overall power transfer score.
Durability
It's incredibly frustrating to spend your hard-earned cash on new gear just to have it come apart soon after – high-quality cycling shoes should last for years. We put these shoes through their paces during our intensive testing period, and potential design flaws tend to show themselves during that process. We keep a particularly close eye on specific places where shoes tend to wear out quickly and note the wear and tear to offer a fair assessment of expectations around longevity.
What's the best way to test durability? Many, many miles of hard riding through every type of weather.
Credit: Adam Bridier
With cycling shoes, a big part of the durability question is looking at what parts are serviceable and replaceable. Laces are an easy, inexpensive fix. Hook-and-loop straps are a bit trickier, as they are generally sewn onto the shoe. Unless the design is flimsy to begin with, fortunately, these straps tend to last for years. It may be surprising that shoes with easily replaceable BOA closure systems – like those on the S-Phyre RC903 and Infinito Carbon 2 – score higher than those with hook-and-loop straps. BOA systems have a lifetime guarantee: if the closure system fails, BOA will send out a replacement after asking only a few cursory questions.
Even mid-tier shoes, like the Overcurve R4, are expensive. It's nice to know that the BOA system is easily replaceable if it eventually wears out.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Quoc employs its own Quoc Technology Dial System, which is very similar in appearance and application to the BOA system. The Quoc system is also covered by a lifetime warranty, but they will ask questions before sending out replacements for a nominal fee – crashes or other incidents that damage the dials are not covered.
Even though the Quoc Escape Road is designed to be durable, it has a lot of stitching, which began to fray in a few spots by the end of our test period.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Aside from the closure system, the contact pads on a cycling shoe tend to wear out the fastest. Walking is part of riding a bike, and the heel pad of the shoe will inevitably wear thin over time. Unfortunately, it seems like mostly top-tier models offer replaceable heal pads. It's reassuring to know that you can replace the pads when they wear out on your new $400 cycling shoe, but it would be better if more brands offered this as an option on mid-tier shoes like Quoc does on the Escape Road.
Even though the S-Phyre RC903 has thick heel pads, they still don't keep these shoes from scuffing.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Starting and stopping is part of riding a bike, too, so it's critical that a shoe has a durable toe cap. Even though most of the shoes showed hardly any major wear during our test, none of them include replaceable toe pads – this is something we'd love to see change within the industry. However, it's important to note that the abbreviated toe cap on the Specialized S-Works Torch allows the carbon outsole to come in contact with the ground during push-starts. This will undoubtedly lead to increased wear over time compared to other shoes with longer toe caps, like the S-Phyre RC903.
The oversized toe cap incorporated into the toe of the Overcurve R4 helps protect the carbon-fiber composite outsole from damage.
Credit: Ryan Baham
The Venzo SPD-SL was the only pair of shoes in our test that ran into a serious problem. Although we installed and removed cleats many times from all of the shoes, the Venzo was the only shoe that one of the cleat mounting hardware threads stripped. We should also point out that this shoe has very thin hook-and-loop straps and numerous seams between the various panels of mesh and fabric, all of which are potential failure points. Even though the Venzo represents an incredible value compared to other shoes in our lineup, its durability is something to seriously consider.
Testing many shoes involves a lot of cleat adjustments, which puts an exceptional amount of wear and tear on the mounting positions.
Credit: Erin Grant
Our intensive testing period attempts to simulate many months of wear and tear and tends to bring to light any glaring issues related to durability. Close before-and-after examinations of each pair of shoes allow us to rank them according to an overall durability score.
Weight
Road cyclists are easy fodder for weight-weenie jokes. Many of us do care about how much our equipment will weigh us down, and cycling shoes certainly don't escape this stereotype. The mass of each shoe carries through every pedal stroke, so lighter is better. However, how a shoe achieves its weight is also important – the lightest shoe isn't worth it, in our opinion, if the sacrifice is durability or comfort.
The Specialized S-Works Torch shoes are not only very lightweight, but these shoes are stiff and comfortable as well.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Easily one of the lightest weight shoes in our lineup is the Giro Imperial, weighing a remarkable 16.6 ounces for an EU size 44.5. The S-Works Torch is another standout, weighing in at only 15.9 ounces for the pair of EU size 42.5. Specialized cut the fat of this shoe with a carbon fiber sole, titanium hardware, and thermoplastic polyurethane upper with minimal padding. The only area of compromise on the Torch seems to be the abbreviated rubber toe cap, which, unfortunately, for durability's sake, does not cover the whole tox box.
Take Notice of the Size
Not all of our editors have the same-sized feet, so our actual weights vary depending on the size of the shoe tested. Most of the shoes we tested and measured run between EU sizes 42 and 45. We've listed the Size Tested and corresponding Measured Weight per pair under Specs in the Comparison Chart at the top of this article.
As far as top-performing shoes run, the Vento Infinito Carbon 2 was heavier than expected. It offers more cleat adjustability than most of the other shoes we tested – with 6 mm of fore and aft adjustment – but for some reason, designers opted for steel hardware, whereas other top shoes employ titanium.
The thinly cut Vento Infinito Carbon 2 feels fairly light while riding, thanks to a nicely vented upper. So we were surprised by the scale weight of this otherwise high-performance shoe.
Credit: Ryan Baham
The Shimano RC100 surprised us by undercutting many of the other high-end shoes in the lineup, weighing in at only 17.21 ounces for a pair of EU size 43. The perforated polyurethane upper and plastic hook-and-loop closure rings help keep the weight down.
How To Choose Cycling Shoes
Cycling is all about the experiences you have with your bike, and having the right pair of cycling shoes allows you to spend more time on your bike, forming those memories. We have another article that offers in-depth buying advice, but we want to lay out a few key considerations – namely, related to comfort and fit – to help guide your purchase decisions.
Comfort vs. Performance
For competitive riders focused on getting up the hill as fast as possible or those planning a race schedule, finding a light, stiff shoe to help generate power is usually the top priority. Others may need a pair of shoes for more relaxed riding or all-day comfort for long-distance rides. Comfort and performance don't have to be mutually exclusive, but it's important to understand that the two are in balance. Being realistic about your intended use will help you better home in on the best options. For novice riders, finding a more casual, entry-level shoe that prioritizes comfort will help you stay in the saddle for longer. As you build experience, you will get a better feel for what cycling shoes have to offer. Once it comes time to purchase a performance-oriented shoe, you'll likely feel better paying the hefty price tag associated with many high-end options.
Sole stiffness is a major factor influencing both comfort and performance. A stiffer sole will transfer more power to the pedals, but a stiff sole can also fatigue your foot if your arch isn't supported well enough. But a stiff sole isn't worth much if your foot isn't held against it, so any conversation about sole stiffness must include a discussion of how well an upper holds your foot in place. The upper on a high-performance shoe will stretch less than one aimed at all-day comfort since the goal is maximum power transfer. But if the upper doesn't correctly conform to your foot, you will quickly develop hotspots. Not every shoe will fit every foot well, so the goal is to find one that has as stiff of a sole as possible without compromising comfort.
Fit
How much room your forefoot has to move around can make or break a shoe's fit. Too much movement of the forefoot can significantly decrease performance as precious watts are lost to the foot moving in the shoe. Likewise, curling toes to compensate for a toe box that is too large decreases comfort. Most brands offer a sizing guide, and many brands recommend tracing your foot on a piece of paper to measure accurately. You can also get your feet damp and step on a piece of paper to evaluate your arch height. Measuring your feet in centimeters correlates to European (EU) sizing, which is the primary way shoes are measured in the cycling world (even among American brands).
Another aspect to consider is the width of your foot. Many brands offer multiple widths of a shoe, usually denoted “regular” and “wide.” Some brands (Specialized) even offer a narrow version of their top-end shoe, although with limited color choices. Sometimes, the “wide” designation means a brand has simply sewn a larger piece of upper fabric to the same outsole. Other times, they will build an adjusted shoe using a wider last. If you have a wide foot, it's worthwhile to research what each brand means with their width designations.
Additionally, it's important to be aware of each brand's return policy, as some brands (Fizik) are stricter than others. Most brands recommend trying the shoes on a carpeted surface – this will avoid scratching the sole, which will keep them eligible for returns.
Closure System
The closure system on a shoe helps properly secure your foot and allows for on-the-fly adjustments on the road. Many higher-end shoes will offer a BOA or other dial-style system that is both lightweight and easy to make micro-adjustments. Other shoes are designed with lace or Velcro straps, which are often found in more cost-effective options. These more classic designs allow for tight closure, but they are more susceptible to wear from rubbing, and you don't have the ability to adjust them while moving. As you look at different shoes, it's worth considering how often you fiddle with the fit of your shoes and whether adjustment on the fly is necessary.
Although two-dial systems have become the standard for high-performance shoes, we greatly appreciated the adjustability of the single dial and hook-and-loop system on the Giro Cadet.
Credit: Arthur Richardson
Conclusion
Finding the right pair of cycling shoes will make every ride better, so we suggest taking the time to closely consider which shoe best suits your experience – we dig deeper into these considerations in our buying advice article. By closely examining the top cycling shoes on the market, we hope to cut through the murkiness of marketing claims to help you easily find the perfect fit for your foot.
