Mountain Biking - Shimano Shoes Vs Other Brands

I am in need of a new pair of shoes. I have been recommended by my lbs to get a pair of shimano shoes. However my previous experience with other shimano products is that there is generally another company that will make a product of a higher quality or just better features (not just talking about shoes here).

Unfortunately i dont have a huge range of options (definetly not ordering online) in what to get but i am considering looking in to Answer shoes. Anyones opinions on shimano shoes? Any other brands you would recommended?
(btw looking to spend up to about $200 Australian dollars. The 2 pairs of shimanos were $149 & $199)

Thanks

I have specialized shoes, i think they look nice, i find so many shoes have these ass ugly designs and flashyness. Its like a light show, mine are a nice gray, leatherish material and compatable with all the popular cleat patterns.

Does anyone know about Alpine Star shoes. I got them when i got my first pedals from my cousin (speedplay forgs) and i tried to search for them and i couldnt find them.

alpine stars makes some of the best dirtbiking boots in the market

what sort of brakes do you have? im an aussie too mate, so gimme msn address because it is going to take too long here but if you have cables, metallic is the way to go, 60 bux for 4 of them

yeah, dude i am in serious need of people who ride properly, i hav 1 mate who does and 1 dude i talk to, so if u want to talk bikes and that, well, im here, totalstooge@hotmail.com, im aussie too mate lol

shimanos are very comfy, but sidis last the longest and have the best fit.

what sort of brakes do you have? im an aussie too mate, so gimme msn address because it is going to take too long here but if you have cables, metallic is the way to go, 60 bux for 4 of them

how would what kind of brakes you have make a difference in what shoe you buy? were not talking about brake shoes

Thanks for everyones replies. After looking in about 3 stores yesterday i have decided that i will just go for the shimanos.
Fish Fish, where in australia are you?

alpine stars makes some of the best dirtbiking boots in the market

Im talking about mounatin biking shoes, Was it somehting they made for like a year then gave up on?

shimanos are very comfy, but sidis last the longest and have the best fit.


Thats a bit subjective isn't it!


Theres always someone who makes something that looks flashier or is lighter or is this or that.
As far as Shoes go, Shimano's are great if they fit well.

Answer shoes in my experience have suffered from the soles falling apart. Not one pair, not two but 3!
Eventually i gave up, demanded my money back and bought some Northwaves which are now 5 yrs old and still ticking over.
18months ago I bought a pair of Shimano M221's and they are superb!
Comfy and strong
Very stiff in the right directions and the sole is nice and grippy.
They're not the lightest, nor the flashiest, but they get the job done and are very efficient at power transfer

shimanos are very comfy, but sidis last the longest and have the best fit.

Now that is very subjective isn't it? Sidis dont fit my feet correctly while Shamino shoes fit like a dream. There are also some posts saying Sidis are wearing out on mtbreview.com. So really, the trick is to find a pair of shoes that fit the particular person, and it is really hard to make a generalization on which manufacturer is able to make the best pair of shoes.
Ming

Now that is very subjective isn't it? Sidis dont fit my feet correctly while Shamino shoes fit like a dream. There are also some posts saying Sidis are wearing out on mtbreview.com. So really, the trick is to find a pair of shoes that fit the particular person, and it is really hard to make a generalization on which manufacturer is able to make the best pair of shoes.
Ming


Is it just me or do cycling shoes tend to run *really* tight compared to street shoes of the same size? Some of the cycling shoes I've tried on look like banana peels, they are so narrow! I like Shimanos, too, but I always have to go at least a half size larger than the same size in a non-cycling shoe (as I also have to do for Lakes, 661's, .....).

I have a pair of sidi action... WOW... what a great pair of shoes. I tried the entry level shimano shoes... they were ok... but the sidi action has a twist lace... so I was very secure to my shoes... and easy to get out..