If you like winter sports, that probably also means you spend a lot of time tromping around in the snow on your way to the mountains, or just the grocery store. We’ve been using several women’s and a couple men’s winter boots, and you can check out our roundup to see which ones might be best for you.
While we love to talk about the newest and most technical footwear, we spend most of our time in much more casual shoes and boots. The good news is that we’re continuing to see casual-looking shoes that are more comfortable, more versatile, and / or more environmentally sustainable, and you can check out our roundup for several of our favorite men’s and women’s options.
The Five Ten Hellcat Pro is a burly, downhill-oriented clipless shoe that’s designed to offer lots of protection and comfort while maintaining pedaling efficiency. And for that use, it’s one of the best options we’ve tried.
When it comes to bike shoes, there are plenty of burly skate-style shoes that sacrifice pedaling performance, and a lot of pedal-oriented shoes that look out of place anywhere except on the bike. In between those two categories sits the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch SPD, and it’s definitely worth a look for riders looking for some of the best of both worlds.
The X-Project P.R.O. is Pearl Izumi’s new premium mountain bike shoe, said to be “perfect for all mountain bikers and cyclocross riders.” We weigh in on whether — and where — the P.R.O. actually excels.
The Five Ten Freerider EPS is a very versatile shoe for those too attached to their bikes to let a bit of bad weather put them down.
If you’re looking for a stiff, efficient shoe for longer trail rides or cyclocross races, the Pearl Izumi X-Project 2.0 is a great option.
After almost two years in the Giro Terraduro we’ve got a long term durability update.
Danny Macaskill’s new signature shoe from Five Ten is comfortable on and off the bike.
The Five Ten Kestrel lace strikes an exceptional balance of pedaling efficiency and walkability.
The Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch II is a stiff, breathable bike shoe that excels at all-mountain and trail riding.
The Five Ten Kestrel Lace Women’s has a narrower fit and some key changes that all riders — both guys and girls — who prefer a lower-volume fit will appreciate.
We take a look at the Five Ten Freerider ELC, which replaces the Freerider Elements as Five Ten’s foul-weather flat shoe.
The Kestrel is Five Ten’s most pedaling-efficient shoe, blending a stiff sole with trail-worthy features.
The Drako Carbon SRS is SIDI’s high-performance XC shoe, and it is proving to be both comfortable (especially on long rides) and extremely durable.
Update: After a year of riding, the Five Ten Impact VXi is still going strong, and has proven to be far more durable than its predecessors.
The Giro Code VR70’s great power transfer and wide range of fit options make it an attractive option for riders looking to lay down the power.
The Giro Terraduro is a SPD-compatible, all-mountain shoe that pedals very well, though durability has been an issue.
The new Pearl Izumi X-Alp Enduro IV is one of the best clipless trail shoes we’ve tested. See how it stacks up to other shoes in its class.
The Five Ten Maltese Falcon is a durable biking shoe that provides great traction. It’s also comfortable and pedals well, especially if you’ve got wide feet.