Touring - Pedals and shoes to use while to Touring

What type of pedal and shoes are best for touring.

Thanks

:)

To the best of my memory, I've used the following combinations while touring:


MKS Touring pedals (flat "rat trap" pedals) w/ toe clips w/ athletic shoes
MKS Touring pedals w/o toe clips w/ athletic shoes
SPD clipless pedals w/ Shimano SPD sandals
SPD clipless pedals w/ Pearl Izumi bike shoes


The list is roughly ordered chronologically ordered. I'll stick with the SPD pedals and PI bike shoes for my next trip, whenever that will be.

Each of the pedal/shoe combinations I've listed have pros and cons. I only take one real pair of shoes on a tour. I also take a flimsy, weigh-nothing pair of flip flops for showering and wearing around the camp site, but most of my off-bike walking must be done in whatever on-bike shoes I'm wearing.

Considerations for shoe choice:


Comfort on the bike. This is obvious, since you'll be spending so much time on the bike. I'm a bit more comfortable clipped in (SPD, not toe clips). I also suffer from hot foot discomfort and middle toe numbness on my right foot. The stiffer soles of the PI bike shoes help my feet tremendously in that regard at the expense of slightly worse off-bike walking.
Comfort off the bike. I make lots of stops for ice cream, food, sight-seeing, or other reasons. I don't want to be changing my shoes or walking like a duck for those activies.
How they feel when wet and how well/fast they dry. I always seem to ride at least one day in the rain. This is what killed the athletic shoes as an option for me.
Temperature appropriateness. I on;y tour in the summer time, so sandals or mesh top shoes are fine. Cold weather riding would require different shoes or booties of some type.


I discovered the virtues of wool socks about 5 years ago, even in the summer (especially in the summer!). I wear SmartWool PhD Cycling micro socks or their Adrenalin micro sock at all times on my bikes. They are awesome with sandals.

Keen water sandals with MKS touring pedals for the win. I wear these in all conditions. Hot weather, no socks. Cold weather, with thick wool socks. Hot rainy weather, no socks, just let em get wet. Cold rainy weather, with socks and gaiters. They are also great from swimming and hiking. They are good enough for walking around town though they are a bit heavy. On some tours where I know the riding will be very challenging or there will be a lot of uphill and I will have a lot of heavy gear then I add power grips. Done deal and only one pair of shoes for all my touring needs.

The kind you like the best. Seriously, everyone has their own preferences. Personally I like my Sidi Bullet II shoes with some old school Shimano SPD pedals.

I discovered the virtues of wool socks about 5 years ago, even in the summer (especially in the summer!). I wear SmartWool PhD Cycling micro socks or their Adrenalin micro sock at all times on my bikes. They are awesome with sandals.

I agree - the socks are key! I haven't tried a ton of shoe/pedal combos, but I've really liked the Attack Sock from Pearl Izumi. Plus, for touring, they're lightweight and wash/dry quickly.

My thanks to all of you for the great info

I prefer the stainless egg beaters on all my bikes. I wear mtn shoes for everything casual so I don't slip when off the bike. My mtn shoes also snap into my Crank Bros Quattro pedals on my road bike. As a result I only wear my road shoes when I'm in full kit on "serious" rides.

I now use Shimano SPD sandals for touring, but it took me a while to see the light.
A buddy of mine urged me to try them and my response was something like... "You can't be serious."
Sandals with SPD's seem like an oxymoron, but I'm now a believer.
1. Don't have to worry about rain.
2. They double as shower sandals so you don't get foot funk from public facilities.
3. Comfortable around the campsite post-ride.
Just need to apply frequent and copious amounts of sunscreen to the tops of your tootsies..

Like Blumeanie said, I like eggbeaters. Dependable, lightweight and you can walk around in MTB shoes. I carry a pair of Teva sandals for extended periods off the bike. And yes, I found out years ago that wool socks are the way to go.

This is a highly personal and subjective opinion. I prefer Time Atacs with a recessed hiking type shoe. But really you ask 20 different people you are gonna get 20 different answers.

I would probably use some kind of clip ins if I could. I just ordered some White Ind. platform pedals to use with my Lake sandals. The sandals are tops, will have to see about the pedals. I will make some clips for them.

http://www.whiteind.com/pedal.html

walking/running/hiking shoes with flatpedals and toe clips has always worked for me.

^ Duke's way sounds pretty bullet-proof to me, though I'd consider a stiffer soled mtb shoe. That said, I'm keen on SpeedPlay Frogs with a comfortable mtb shoe for walk-a-bility. Been using Specialized Tahoes.

Thinking about it, if my Frogs give it up, I may go back to clips.

My wife swears by the Shimano sandals with spd cleats. I have ridden Pearl Izumi, Lake, Sidi and Nashbar, along with others that don't come to mind. I've ridden Look and Speedplay pedals. For touring or just general riding, I'm finally settled on MKS platforms and comfortable athletic shoes or sandals or (preferred) Shimano A530 pedals. These offer a marvelously comfortable platform on one side and an spd cleat on the other. Shoes: Specialized Taho for now. These are the most comfortable shoes I own -- cycling or otherwise. That said, I intend to try the Shimano sandals when these are done. The spd cleat is recessed enough to permit comfortable walking. When I want to move my foot around, I can switch to the uncleated side. For touring, the Taho shoes and a pair of Croc sandals (weighing next to nothing) cover all my needs. The Crocs are more comfortable than bare feet, weightless, and they are fine on the platform side of the pedals. I cannot say enough good things about the A530s, just superb. I only wish I'd discovered them 30 years ago.

A note on the retro clips and straps: I use them on a fixed gear because they're secure when backpedaling. But they really are less comfortable, and they chew up street shoes. There are those who disagree, but I feel much more comfortable and connected to my bike with spds or some other clipless system.

SPD clipless pedals w/ Pearl Izumi bike shoes


The list is roughly ordered chronologically ordered. I'll stick with the SPD pedals and PI bike shoes for my next trip, whenever that will be.

Each of the pedal/shoe combinations I've listed have pros and cons. I only take one real pair of shoes on a tour. I also take a flimsy, weigh-nothing pair of flip flops for showering and wearing around the camp site, but most of my off-bike walking must be done in whatever on-bike shoes I'm wearing.

Considerations for shoe choice:


Comfort on the bike. This is obvious, since you'll be spending so much time on the bike. I'm a bit more comfortable clipped in (SPD, not toe clips). I also suffer from hot foot discomfort and middle toe numbness on my right foot. The stiffer soles of the PI bike shoes help my feet tremendously in that regard at the expense of slightly worse off-bike walking.
Comfort off the bike. I make lots of stops for ice cream, food, sight-seeing, or other reasons. I don't want to be changing my shoes or walking like a duck for those activies.
How they feel when wet and how well/fast they dry. I always seem to ride at least one day in the rain. This is what killed the athletic shoes as an option for me.
Temperature appropriateness. I on;y tour in the summer time, so sandals or mesh top shoes are fine. Cold weather riding would require different shoes or booties of some type.


I discovered the virtues of wool socks about 5 years ago, even in the summer (especially in the summer!). I wear SmartWool PhD Cycling micro socks or their Adrenalin micro sock at all times on my bikes. They are awesome with sandals.

I agree with with your shoe choice. I have an old ugly pair of PI carbon sole shoes that have served me well for 5 or so years. I got them really, really cheap because...well...damn...they are uggggggglllly!

http://xoomgear.com/i/p/l/SHOE-26.jpg

For pedal's I'd suggest Shimano M520. Cheap, rugged, two sided and not horribly heavy.

I now use Shimano SPD sandals for touring, but it took me a while to see the light.
A buddy of mine urged me to try them and my response was something like... "You can't be serious."
Sandals with SPD's seem like an oxymoron, but I'm now a believer.
1. Don't have to worry about rain.
2. They double as shower sandals so you don't get foot funk from public facilities.
3. Comfortable around the campsite post-ride.
Just need to apply frequent and copious amounts of sunscreen to the tops of your tootsies..

X2
I've had my sandals 3 years. The only time I don't wear them is snow riding.

Jerry H

I use the Specialized Taho to commute and for touring. Very comfortable, and I've used them to walk in all day. But, to each his own. Go try on about 10 different pairs of shoes until you find yours.

I use the Specialized Taho to commute and for touring. Very comfortable, and I've used them to walk in all day. But, to each his own. Go try on about 10 different pairs of shoes until you find yours.
These look like a very good choice to me...

I suggest some inexpensive MTB or touring shoes. For pedals, I'd go with Crank Brothers Egg Beaters C (http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1514). Cheap (as in price), rugged, serviceable and easy (4 sided) entry/exit. There is 3 ways to engage and a choice between 15 or 20 degree exit. What I thought was cool is that it accepts a 6mm hex key to install/remove. :)

I wear tennis shoes and have toe clips on my pedals. I also wear my tevas on hot days. The soles are stiff and my feet can breath in hot weather. Socks are the key to warm or cold days.

I suggest some inexpensive MTB or touring shoes.
What is considered a "touring shoe" these days?
Back when I started cycling, a "touring shoe" was a stiff soled running style shoe with a slot in it for the pedal cage. I've not seen that style of shoe for quite a few years now.
Mountain biking shoes make a lot of sense in that you can pretty much walk around in them much more efficiently than a pure "road" shoe.

What is considered a "touring shoe" these days?
Back when I started cycling, a "touring shoe" was a stiff soled running style shoe with a slot in it for the pedal cage. I've not seen that style of shoe for quite a few years now.
Mountain biking shoes make a lot of sense in that you can pretty much walk around in them much more efficiently than a pure "road" shoe.

Something like this (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_226168_-1_10000__11501) or this (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_224578_-1_201465_10000_201472). Or whatever else you can find with google. :)

My wife and I use the old style Crank Bros Mallets, but I like the new ones (http://www.crankbrothers.com/mallet1.php). I've been using some Shimano shoes similar to these (http://www.rei.com/product/780633), but I'm thinking of checking out the Keen Springwater because I have pancake feet.

I like the SPD shoes that are not like normal riding shoes but are like hiking shoes. I use normal road or mtb shoes for road or mtb riding, but for touring I like to carry only one pair of shoes and be able to get off walk around, see a museum, eat wherever, sightsee, whatever and not have the discomfort or awkwardness of walking in riding shoes. I also prefer carrying a pair of teva or similar sandals too for camp.
End of the day though its all about what you like best. Regular pedals with toeclips and walking shoes don't make you lose any real efficiency really, not for touring purposes.

i use spd 747s from way back when. last tour i used keen spd sandals, and before that, i used nashabar and shimano spd sandals. i like shimano 2-strap spd sandals the best

edit: i think keen's are alright cause they got a closed toe and are good vs cold weather. but they are expensive and they don't drain water/pebbles as well as the old shimanos

Last couple of years Keen sandals, touring pedals. This year got some new BMX pedals, love 'em. See my review here.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/reviews/board/message/?o=3Tzut&thread_id=137351&v=F&page=1&nested=0