Dametz

Doesn anyone have a suggestion regarding shoes with platform pedals? Do you just wear sneakers or are there specific shoes that are better? Thanks

pdq 5oh

I've been wearing some Merrell low-cut hikers. They have a somewhat smooth sole. I'm going to look at some Fiveten Impact mid high shoes. These have a smooth sole, and are supposed to stay put on platform pedals real well.

dminor 

Gastro will tell you Five.Ten Impacts; I'll tell you SixSixOne Dually Takis. Both would work well. If you're on a real tight budget, discount-store Vans or other cheap skate shoes will work; but they won't give you the power transfer a good biking-built shoe will due to the flexible sole.

scelia

If you have good platforms (Mental SS), then most shoes will work. I use decent hiking shoes. Those Syncros Mental SS pedals grip everything.

cryptid01

FYI, I'm now endorsing the Marzocchi Bomber shoes as well.

BigBlueToe

I come from a touring perspective.

On a 4-week tour many years ago I bought some "bike shoes" from Nashbar that were for platform pedals. They didn't seem to offer much advantage on the bike over regular running shoes. Off the bike they were plain uncomfortable.

Since then I've adopted the following: prior to a tour I buy a nice, new pair of comfortable, light running shoes. They're all I bring on tour. They work fine on the bike - no troubles with sore feet. Off the bike they are comfortable for hiking, around camp, shopping, whatever. Since I only bring one pair of shoes I save weight (I wear size 14's, so that's substantial.)

I wear the same type of shoes riding around home.

I'm a Luddite I realize - everyone knows clipless pedals are better than platforms.

However, that's on my road bike. On the mountain bike I'm currently building up from a frame, I'm going clipless. I've had my feet bounce off the pedals too often on my old, platform-pedal mountain bike.

dminor 

Boy, you become a rock star and now I can't keep up with your endorsements .

DirtPedalerB

are those airport friendly??

Oleanshoebox

Those Marzocchi shoes are cool-lookin.

Sinker

In general, a cheap skate-style shoe will work well with platform pedals. The only problem FOR ME is the soft sole really makes my feet ache if I spend much time out of the saddle. I finally settled on a pair of 661 Launch shoes. They're decent 'flats' with a stiff sole and are SPD compatible should you ever want to give clipless a try.

BFG

Id really like to try that one....
Five.Ten Impact sole and random Marz upper aren't they?

Oh and Ric0h, im not having a go at you, i know you're still learning and we've all been your position, but shoes do make a huge difference, so do pedals. I'm assuming your mongoose came with flimsy plastic pedals? Not sure about the Iron Horse. If you have a decent set of pinned pedals and quality shoes, it's almost like riding clipless! (Clipless pedals are those pedals that you get special shoes to click into, effectively attaching you to the bike buddy).

pdq 5oh

Good shoes hold up better to being stored in your car than cheap ones.

StephenH

I don't know that it makes much difference. I would vote for lighter thinner shoes myself. It helps to always use the same shoes, as the variation in thickness can be irritating.

santiago

I don't recommend platform shoes for riding your bike. You'll likely ruin your mojo once you get mud on them.

junkyard

Them sh*ts is fly, yo.

never

It does. Try a pair of the 5.10 Impacts (or other variation using the same sole - Marz or the old Intense) and you'll be amazed at the difference in grip.

BearSquirrel

Assuming that you don't make it up ever hill, you may want a little traction to help you get up it. Gummy treaded hikers do a great job at this. Just remember, the steeper the hill, the more likely you're going to be walking up it. This is exactly where you do not want to be wearing flatso skate shoes.

PS, and you can hike in them too.