Once you’re clipped in, you have more control over your bike and your feet remain in an optimal position on your pedals. As such, it's the most up to date vision of what Specialized believes is the best shape and it's 4mm wider at the ball than the previous generation of S-Works 7 shoe.

The upper is a woven fabric made from yarn containing at least half Parley Ocean Plastic content and the rest recycled polyester; it's padded and comfortable just like the tongue. Those drawbacks aside though, you get the iconic Adidas sneaker design and it's perfect for jumping on a city bike and clipping in. When shoes were softer, pedals had to do more of the work and at this point road bike tradition was to use a three-bolt cleat so that's what road bike shoes tend to use.

It’s still manageable and not overly clunky for pedal-heavy days, but we prefer the lighter and nimbler feel of the Freerider and Freerider Pro above. Drawing inspiration from the vivid and dynamic strokes of Picasso's paintings, this shoe seamlessly combines classic aesthetics with energetic graffiti patterns.

Whereas the best cycling shoes for road cycling only have to help you to pedal efficiently, the best commuter cycling shoes have to give reasonable pedalling efficiency but still be comfortable and practical for walking around town - they may even need to look reasonably stylish too. It certainly doesn’t impede pedal engagement, which is just as well because the Hellcat Pro’s deep cleat pocket can certainly impede engagement until you slip one or (probably) two shims under the cleat.

It wasn't until I got the Vaypor S out on a long ride that I really appreciated the extra space in the toe box. The tackiness really helps stability when using a caged clipless pedal, but it also adds some extra security if you fail to clip in properly and end up just resting your foot on the binding.

In other parts of the world, you might find more advantageous pricing, and if you do find pricing that works, you'll get a traditional pointed toe box and a narrow fit paired with the best heel retention of any of the shoes I tested.

The whole system sits close to the shoe, making it fast and simple to get the fitment perfect, and if you need to pull some kind of cycling overshoes on, there's nothing to get in the way.

ounces, and trimmed-down build that dries fairly quickly, the shoes are plenty capable on mellower terrain and long trail rides. But what this means is that GR5 shoes are simply excellent for walking in, whilst still being sufficiently stiff for all-day (non-competitive) riding. The sole is stiffer to resist the forces of the cleat acting on a small area and while the cleat sits below the surface of the sole, you'll want to take care on wood floors. Despite all the good, the reason that the Rapha shoes aren't in the main list is that the knit outer is impossible to clean. You’re also able to use your entire pedal stroke, including the upstroke, because you’re attached to your pedals.Tack on a true-to-size fit (it’s great for average to slightly wide feet), very clean styling, and premium, long-lasting materials throughout, and you have all the ingredients for a quality trail and enduro shoe. Introducing the Santic Fuji Men's Carbon Road Bike Shoes: Where Performance Meets Comfort and Support!