Best Mountain Bike Shoes 2020
We tested a ton of MTB shoes this year. These our our picks for best mountain bike shoes from our test.
Five Ten Kestrel Lace
The Kestrel has been a solid performer in the FiveTen lineup for years. The lace-up version has classic skate-shoe styling and is comfortable both riding and walking (the sole isn’t quite as stiff as the Boa model). Five Ten’s signature Stealth outsole is super grippy and will help keep you on your bike even if you haven’t quite managed to clip in.
The rugged exterior feels absolutely bomb-proof, and venting over the toe helps keep them cool (or at least a little cooler; this style of shoe is always going to be hot). The only count against the Kestrels is that this solid construction, padding, and grippy rubber is really heavy. This isn’t a featherweight cross-country shoe; but if you’re looking for a trail, all-mountain, or downhill shoe, the Kestrel will serve you well. One of the best clipless mountain bike shoes of the year.
(Note: there’s also a Boa model that ratchets instead of ties. I opted to include the lace-up model here because it’s what I ride. If you like the idea of a more consistent fit, check it out.)
Price: $150.00
Shimano XC5 Shoe
This Shimano Mountain Bike shoes not all too versatile. It won’t give you maximal traction for hiking. It won’t protect your feet from rock bashes. But it will help you ride as fast as you possibly can. The XC5 is designed for cross-country, cyclocross, and gravel-road riding. Which means it’s almost a road shoe. But the lugged outsole and a little bit of flex where it’s needed make it very at home on rougher rides.
Synthetic leather and lace closure are all you’ll find on the upper: no bash guards, reinforced sections, or Boa dials. This is a stripped-down shoe made for going fast. And even though it doesn’t have the hiking chops of trail shoes, the Michelin rubber outsole over the carbon fiber reinforced midsole will give you enough grip to get through those rockier sections of a cross-country ride.
Price: $150.00
Sidi Dominator MTB Shoes
The Dominator has long been a proud shoe; Sidi’s legacy of professional-level footwear is predicated on shoes like this. It’s meant for one thing and one thing only: going fast. The leather-like upper is super light and well-ventilated. The Caliper Buckle system gives you tons of adjustability. The nylon composite sole transfers power like nothing else.
This particular shoe is designed to work well for cyclocross, so the tread compound is a bit softer than most MTB shoes. But it still manages to be super light and ready for the rigors of cross-country rides and races.
Price: $249.00
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Been running the 5-10 Freeride (for warmer weather – breathable) and Freeride pro (colder or rainy weather) since I switch to flats…..used to run the Giro Terraduro (went thru 2 pairs) on Crank Bros Mallets, but for Flats (running DMR Vaults) the 5-10’s are insane anf grippy. I maybe lose 10% of the pedaling power I had in clips, but feel much more versatile to try tech sections with these two shoes and my flat pedals…..I won’t be switching back to clips with the performance I get from those kicks!