Mountain Biking - Flat MTB shoes that don't look like skater shoes...

...are there ANY?

I'm thinking about going back to flats for the MTB...been having way to many butt-clenching moments on the new FS bike and I want to get back to basics and just try it out with flats.

Only thing is every MTB-specific show I see looks like a 13 y/o kid should be wearing them with his baggy jeans and eminem t-shirt...(think the sam hill 5/10s - in fact ALL the 5/10s)

Anyone seen anything a little more refined?

I've seen a guy in these: http://fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/10875-five-tennie-blue

Fiveten has the best tread for flat pedals. Vans are not bad, though, and I have a set of Chukkas that I can wear with jeans and a t-shirt. http://shop.vans.com/catalog/Vans/en_US/style/fjm.html

Hey those blue 5/10s aren't bad...ta.

5.10 makes great shoes. Teva Links aren't not too bad either. Sole is not quite as sticky (in a good way for my needs) as FiveTens and they're not bulky from too much padding. I have a pair of first-gen Links in Yeti turqoise and yellow; color choices are a bit more toned down now:

http://www.teva.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-TEVA-US-Site/default/Search-Show?q=Links&source=ggl_ppc&s_kwcid=TC|6883|teva%20links||S|e|16822008841&gclid=CJTg383XvrMCFQVgMgoddhMAVg


BTW, that 5.10 shoe linked above is NOT a bike shoe - - it's a walking/climbing shoe.

This is a bit of an odd suggestion, but I threw on my old no-slip work shoes when I first started riding just because they were old crap shoes, and found them to have awesome grip. Definitely better than regular "skate" shoes like Vans or DCs(Which I've tried). They have been great for me even on my lower end, less grippy pedals. I think it's that there are just so many tread edges to grab the pins on your pedals. The brand mine are is Shoes For Crews, and it looks like they haven't really changed anything in the past decade or whatever. Mine have a tread the entire length of the shoe(Interestingly the model name is "shredder"). Looks like some have tread a gap in the middle of the shoe. No idea if that would have a big impact on grip at the rear of the pedal. They have plenty of styles to choose from if you're too worried about looking like a big boy. :)

Website (http://www.shoesforcrews.com/sfc3/index.cfm?changeWebsite=US_en&route=c_store.browseProductsByCategory&CategoryId=c3)

I have an opposite question. ARe there any spd shoes that would be good for hiking? I'm looking at the Giro Privateers, but I don't think I would ever do much intentional walking in them. Other spd shoes, ahem http://www.dzrshoes.com/shoes, look terrible.

I hear you regarding the skater look. I would rather err on the side of functionality vs look, however. I will probably get the Five-Ten Freeriders as it is less bulky than the Impact or Karvers from Five-Ten.

http://fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/19-freerider-black-grey
http://fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/12014-freerider-pro-danny-macaskill

I hear you regarding the skater look. I would rather err on the side of functionality vs look, however. I will probably get the Five-Ten Freeriders as it is less bulky than the Impact or Karvers from Five-Ten.

http://fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/19-freerider-black-grey
http://fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/12014-freerider-pro-danny-macaskill

Yeah thanks, everything I read says 5-10s are the bees knees...but when I ride the MTB I'm in my road gear so I'm all lycra'd up and the shoes don't match...its irksome.

But I might have to stop being a princess, suck it up and buy the most functional shoe.

Ta.

I went back to pinned platforms after trying clipless for a year.

http://www.zappos.com/five-ten-camp-four-light-gray

Zappos has dozens of 5.10s. They have an amazing sticky surface that works well with pinned platforms. Plus you can get out and hike and wear them around the house or office and they feel great. No clinking on tile floors.

Wow, never seen those.

On the clipless front, I just stuck with it and I can get either foot out really damn fast now. But *not* fast enough to dab in a fast, flat turn. So I stay below the limits of my tires in a given turn, because I'm not real keen on a fast lowside. No problems on the trail clipped in, though.

I've been wondering about the hike-a-bike in stuff like 5.10s. I really am happy with my Specialized shoes because they have nice meaty cleats. I have been mountain biking where I even needed the big toe stubs. That is a rarity, though.

Are the 5.10s okay for dirt climbing on incline especially when the ground is humid?

Are the 5.10s okay for dirt climbing on incline especially when the ground is humid?
They're fine. Impact climbs better than my Sidis because they're more comfortable to walk around in, and it's way better on rocks because it doesn't slide as much. Plus when the ground is humid, it's not like you're getting mud stuck in your cleats to complicate clipping in.

Daspydyr, are those from FiveTen's bike line or are they approach shoes you just use for biking and just happen to work well? And if they're approach shoes, what are the lugs like? Just wondering, because the Impact's lugs are pretty low, and it would seem to me (logically at least, have not tried it in practice) that higher lugs would mean less stick. Not that it matters...I like my Impacts. The Impact doesn't really look like a skate shoe...it's a bit bulkier than even the big thick 90s fat shoes with the padded tongues are, so you wouldn't mistake them for a skate shoe. IMO the Freerider looks more like your modern skate shoe than the Impact. But I can see that they'd look a little silly with spandex.

but I can see that spandex would look a little silly and out of place with them.ftfy.

ANY shimano MTB shoe...

ANY shimano MTB shoe...

Ahhh...thanks?

Wow, never seen those.

On the clipless front, I just stuck with it and I can get either foot out really damn fast now. But *not* fast enough to dab in a fast, flat turn. So I stay below the limits of my tires in a given turn, because I'm not real keen on a fast lowside. No problems on the trail clipped in, though.

I can get my feet out no probs...but like you not fast enough for a quick foot plant to enable me to keep the pace up. So I'm figuring the little extra control I'll have will enable me to get through some of the tough rock gardens without stopping and panicking.

Worth a try I reckon...I'm actually hoping it doesn't help as I'd prefer to be clipped in the other 90% of the time.

Zeph-my camps are a tad bulky. But I wear cargo shorts over my diaper drawers 90% or the time. The lugs are short and work well. I intentionally tried running off the side of rocks and was WOW'D with the grip on a rock face. Bulky-but a real outdoors machine.

Dminor actually shamed into my first (and only) pair of 5.10s and Crypt gave some guidance. I had always worn mid high basketball shoes. My ankles are bad from and I thought Midrise were my only help. The 5.10s have an incredible heel cup. I get every bit as much ankle support from the 5-10s as any BB or cross training shoe. The rocks I "tested them on were at Red Rocks Canyon, Calico Basin. NOTHING is flat. NO PROBLEMS and the side of the shoe grips almost as well as the bottom.

Another plus is with pinned platforms you can get different foot positions for climbing, descending, cornering, quick dab and go. YEAH, I dab, don't judge me.

Probably won't ever happen to you people, I am clumbsy. If you ever get really racked up in a fall and still have a foot clipped in and you can't get loose......never gonna do that again.

Probably won't ever happen to you people, I am clumbsy. If you ever get really racked up in a fall and still have a foot clipped in and you can't get loose......never gonna do that again.

Happened to me and turned my ankle into a grapefruit.

maybe something like a hiking boot? more ankle support..
Shimano made some .. IDK about Aussie distribution channels .

Bike shop might.

I wish they made spd hiking boots.

The issue with a hybrid SPD hiking/walking shoe is that a good cycling shoe has a very stiff sole with little flex. I wouldn't want to walk too long in a shoe that doesn't flex especially when hiking.

I think he's more referring to having a mid- or high-top shoe with a SPD cleat. Someone might actually make those.

5.10 does make a high top bike shoe.

http://www.zappos.com/five-ten-impact-v2-high-2-black#prdInfo

http://www.zappos.com/five-ten-line-king-scorched-earth-black#prdInfo

http://www.zappos.com/five-ten-line-king-scorched-earth-black#prdInfo

But again, I thought I needed a mid to high top. But the strength of the heel cup gives me the support I want.

I'm also looking for a decent flat shoe, but I have a bit of a fit problem. I have really F A T feet and have had trouble finding just about any sport specific shoe or boots. I finally found a pair of Sidi Megas that work well for my road bike, but I'd like to find some good shoes for my off-road riding. I have two bikes I ride off-road, so I won't be going clipless. I have looked at the Five-Ten Lows and I have a pair of Teva casual shoes that fit OK (with a little stretching) so if they are consistent across their product line, those might work. So how wide are some of the shoes that have been suggested in this thread, so far.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Dean