MTB shoes for commuting

abcdggs

Looking for a new pair of mtb shoes which will mainly be used for commuting, but also for walking around college in and out of shops. Was thinking of getting sidi dominators but i'm a bit concerned that the carbon sole would restrict movement for walking.

opinions woudl be much appreciated

Thanks

Sr. Assumpta

These might not suit all sartorial tastes, but they might be what you're looking for http://www.rei.com/product/796898

empirix

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=32897

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24882

Plasid

I use a pair, very handy for walking about when on and off the bike but if you do any prolonged walking they will get uncomfortable. Throw a spare pair of shoes in a locker and use those if you are in for the day.

abcdggs

Sr. Assumpta wrote: »

These might not suit all sartorial tastes, but they might be what you're looking for http://www.rei.com/product/796898

Thanks for that, but i'm looking for something more utilitarian.

I'm mostly just wondering if a carbon sole like this would be considerably less comfortable than shoes with a plastic or whatever it is sole like this.

Morgan

abcdggs wrote: »

Was thinking of getting sidi dominators

abcdggs wrote: »

i'm looking for something more utilitarian

Classic!

How long is your commute anyway? Any mtb shoes will be fine - I'd recommend removing the toe-studs if they're fitted (and if they can be removed...) or else you'll clip-clip around the place.

abcdggs

Morgan wrote: »

Classic!

How long is your commute anyway? Any mtb shoes will be fine - I'd recommend removing the toe-studs if they're fitted (and if they can be removed...) or else you'll clip-clip around the place.

Utilitarian might be a bit of a stretch alright

Can be up to 60km in a day, but usually about 40k.

oflahero

empirix wrote: »

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=32897

'Five Ten'... oh, just *so* close to accessorising perfectly with your Boards.ie kit.

Plasid

http://www.specialized.com/ca/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=39459&menuItemId=0&eid=0

My latest pair are similar to these (last years version) that i use on my road bike for commuting. Quite comfortable for walking about in, perfect for feet up in a lecture or whatever, and you get the performance for your journey.

There are however a few issues with them:

They are not in anyway waterproof so you will need overshoes and even if its only damp I leave extra socks in locker for change if needed (nothing as yummie as wet feet after "finding" that deep puddle on the otherwise dry road).

The constant use on them is hard-wearing, so if you want to keep for a decent time buy a sturdier lower spec pair. The mesh can split rather easily and the raised sole will wear down after about a year (in my experience) and then they will become very uncomfortable to walk on.

ciotog

I'm looking at sorting out the last issue of my commute which is footwear! So I thought I'd come in on this thread rather than open another one. I like some of the suggestions on this thread (particularly the Five Ten's) but what I'm wondering about is the water proofing/resisting side of it. I do a commute from the countryside so if it's not raining the roads are usually flooded instead. I appreciate that a significant factor in the wet feet syndrome is watering running off clothing. What overshoes do people recommend pariring with MTB shoes like these or regular shoes? I'm struggling to see which products are more suited to the clip-on road bike type shoes over 'regular' shoes (I'm on an xtracycle 'configured' electra townie hence the regular shoes).

ciotog

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions - hoping to go buying in the near future

blorg

I have carbon-soled Specialized MTB shoes. I like them a lot on the bike. They are fine for walking short distances in (infinitely better than my road shoes) but I wouldn't want to be wearing them all day. I also have Specialized Sonoma shoes which you could wear for longer- but the sole is very slippy. And Shimano sandals which I can wear for months on end (two months non stop currently on tour.)

doozerie

For particularly cold, or particularly wet, days I use a pair of Shimano Gore-Tex boots that I think are an older version of these (or very similar at least). They are SPD-compatible but also look a lot like regular boots so walking around in them doesn't look weird. They are basically just like regular boots with a stiffer than usual sole so they are quite comfortable to wear.

C3PO

http://www.specialized.com/ca/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=47115

I have a pair of these which I use for "going to the shop (usually the pub!)" on the mountain bike. They're really comfortable and I think would be perfect for commute/college etc. Shimano have a similar shoe.
I use Sidi Dominators for riding offroad but I'd hate to wear them all day (and they'd look a bit naff?).

ciotog

RPL1 wrote: »

http://www.specialized.com/ca/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=47115

I have a pair of these which I use for "going to the shop (usually the pub!)" on the mountain bike. They're really comfortable and I think would be perfect for commute/college etc. Shimano have a similar shoe.
I use Sidi Dominators for riding offroad but I'd hate to wear them all day (and they'd look a bit naff?).

Do you have an overshoe for them on wet days? Commuting from Galway countryside the water comes from all angles

ciotog

doozerie wrote: »

For particularly cold, or particularly wet, days I use a pair of Shimano Gore-Tex boots that I think are an older version of these (or very similar at least). They are SPD-compatible but also look a lot like regular boots so walking around in them doesn't look weird. They are basically just like regular boots with a stiffer than usual sole so they are quite comfortable to wear.

You're happy with them on the wet days are you? For parts of the road that I cycle, flooding is routine so boots like those could really be the way to go.

doozerie

Yeah, I'm happy with them. I only use them for commuting so on wet days I wear waterproof trousers over my regular trousers and these come down over the top of the boots. My commute is only 11km or so so I'm not out in the rain for very long but so far the boots haven't leaked.

These are mine. They are no longer available on many sites but that might mean you could find them cheap somewhere or other where they are trying to get rid of them. The site I link to there seems expensive, think I paid around £90 for mine a couple of years back but that might have been while they were trying to get rid of them before the new model came out.

abcdggs

RPL1 wrote: »

http://www.specialized.com/ca/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=47115

I have a pair of these which I use for "going to the shop (usually the pub!)" on the mountain bike. They're really comfortable and I think would be perfect for commute/college etc. Shimano have a similar shoe.
I use Sidi Dominators for riding offroad but I'd hate to wear them all day (and they'd look a bit naff?).

Looking naff isn't something i worry about, my current shoes are these which i love
. just looking for something that will most importantly be good for cycling with, and that i can wear for short amounts of time ie an hour or so

doozerie

For most days commuting I wear a pair of Specialised BG's and find them very comfortable both on the bike and off. Their black+grey colour also means they are fairly discrete when off the bike (sometimes I have to go to customer sites as part of my job and I have no qualms about wearing these, but then mine isn't a shirt and tie job).

One thing that contributes to their being comfortable off the bike is the fact that I bought them one european size larger than my "decent" road shoes. I did this to allow room for me to wear thicker/thermal socks on colder days (for really cold days I use the Shimano boots I mentioned in a previous post) so that I don't have to resort to overshoes which I find a hassle for commuting. They still fit well despite the extra space when wearing normal socks. By comparison, for anyone interested in the Shimano boots, my boots are a small fit so although they are marked as the same size as my Specialised BG's the boots are a snugger fit.

One thing though, I have narrow feet and in particular a narrow heel and both the Shimano boots and Specialised BG shoes fit me well, which might mean that they are not so good for wider feet (or it could just mean that the boot and shoe heels are well shaped to enclose the heel, something that not all shoes manage to achieve). I took a chance and bought both online without ever having tried on a pair and it worked out well, but it is a risk though.

Keep_Her_Lit

My current pair of MTB commuting shoes are these Gaerne G.3W jobs:

Gaerne_G3W.jpg

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39265

In a previous life I owned Gaerne motorcycle boots which were very well made and very comfortable, that's why I chose these. They are also very comfortable and I have no problem spending a couple of hours walking around in them whenever the need arises.

On the bike, they haven't caused a single ache or blister on longer spins either (5+ hours). So the Italian reputation for fine footwear seems to be holding up well!

They are nice and stiff and light, so perform well. They have a simple but clever ratchet system beneath the straps which allows you to get the fit good and tight when you want and alleviates some of the tension from the velcro. I think the velcro will last longer as a result.

They are fairly well ventialted with mesh panels, so you'll need overshoes for warmth at this time of year. And of course they are not in any way waterproof.

I've been using them for just over a year and they are holding up very well, with no signs of premature wear. They were old stock when I got them, so this particular model is now obsolete. I'd say that a similar Gaerne shoe in the same price range would be a good bet and I'll most probably stick with Gaerne when it comes to replacing these.


I should also mention the Carnac Sirius which I had before the Gaerne.

carnac_sirius.jpg

Although pricey, these were one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I ever owned (i.e. of any shoes, not just cycling shoes). They were also incredibly tough, notwithstanding some cosmetic deterioration, and lasted 6 years before finally falling apart. Then I searched high and low for another pair but to no avail. I also have a pair of Carnac road shoes but for comfort they're not in the same league as the Sirius. If you're prioritising comfort while still wanting a proper performance shoe, I'd recommend trying on a couple of shoes from Carnac's current MTB range. A slight drawback is that nobody seems to stock them in this part of the world! Perhaps Carnac just aren't bothered in trying to distribute in Ireland and the UK.