MTB Shoes?

[SteveS Cup]

Sorry for all the rubbish threads...

Just curious what shoes you were when riding? I'm not looking for SPD's!

I used to wear Vans / Etnies but this was for more jumping etc... most of them are a bit clumpy and heavy but bloody comfortable and grip well with decent pedals.

I've not worn that style of shoe for some years but wondered if they're still considered a decent shoe to ride a mix of MTB'ing and worth purchasing a new pair?

[shalmaneser]

For just pottering around they're fine.

five tens are great for flats but look a bit silly off the bike.

[Jimbo.]

Five Tens Impact 2s (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18195) are the most popular/oft recommended type, as are the recently introduced Freeriders (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=63950). V. sticky "Stealth" rubber sole grips like nothing else. Had the Impact 2s myself, and whilst they do work well, they're expensive, bulky, ugly, aren't particularly durable, soak up loads of water, weigh a tonne when they do get wet and take an eternity to dry out.

I went over the Shimano AM40s, the now discontinued, but more uhhh, colourful...version of the AM41 (http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/Apparel/Shoes/Shoes+-+MTB/Shimano+AM41+Flat+Sole+Shoes_BAM41.htm), and IMO they're 10000x better: 99% the grip of the Five Tens, infinitely better made, slightly firmer sole for pedalling (and include an insert to make them firmer still), nowhere near as bulky and at the time, £20-30 cheaper.

[anonymous-user]

I know I'll probably get stick for this, however - I bought a pair of the slimmer style "Airwalk" skate shoes from Sports Direct. £20, job done. They look fine (to me) on and off the bike and are plenty grippy.

[metalsteve]

I use an old pair of vans, the waffle sole combined with DMR v8's works a treat and is well grippy. Tend to look out for old stock shoes being sold off cheap on ebay.

[curlie467]

Proper crap trainers from sports direct.

[cjs]

I went through this last year, Five Tens were being recommended but at £90 I was not keen! However I eventually got some and I must say they are really, really good shoes, loads of grip on flat pedals, very tough and they protect your feet well. Very comfortable and nice and wide so you can wear decent socks, also available in half sizes to get a good fit. Worth every penny.

[a11y_m]

I echo the cheapo skate shoes from Sports Direct option: I used a pair of £25 Airwalk skate shoes for 2 years and they were great. However, I now use FiveTens instead and there's a noticeable improvement in grip. In value for money terms they're not worth it, but for ultimate gip and blingyness they are!