pakossa

Been using SPD (MTB) shoes/cleats, even on my road bike, for years. (Had been using Look, but got tired of almost breaking my freaking neck every time I'd walk or get on/off the bike . . . yes, I am that much of a klutz!) I've seen ads for the Speedplays that are supposed to be walk-able. (Looks like it just has some rubber around the cleats.) Anyone here use them? How do they compare to SPD? I've read that they may not be as durable as other systems. Is that so? Are their shoes available in the extra wide width I need?

TimothyH

You put Speedplay cleats on whatever shoes you want. Buy wide shoes, screw the Speedplay cleats into the bottom of the shoe and off you go.

Elvo

Buy the chinese keep on kovers

Wheever

+1. they're awesome and dirt cheap. Such a no-brainer for speedplay users. Can't imagine how speedplay thinks their walkable cleats can compete for so much more expense.

metalheart44

I have the Speedplay Light Action with the covers. They work great. I think they fit better than the Keep-On covers.

spdracr39

There is a learning curve when going to road shoes from MTB shoes but with cleat covers you will get accustomed to them. Without covers you are in danger.

KantoBoy

I 3rd this



Just to give you a visual.

No more clinking and clanking while walking. I seriously doubt I would need a new pair of cleats in 5 years. @ $20 a pair it's better than buying a new set of cleats.

TrojanHorse

The built in speedplay model looks slicker than the keep on kovers (my wife has the speedplay version) but I'm perfectly happy with my kovers, and they're cheaper. Some people allege that they squeak a little though.

pakossa

I take it you can't put them on MTB shoes? And with the covers, I'm assuming you have to put them on and off when getting on and off the bike? (That would put me in danger of slipping/falling before I get the chance to put them on, after all!)

joejack951

Far more shoes don't accept Speedplay four bolt cleats than shoes that do (including every MTB style shoe). Verify before buying especially if buying online. A number of road shoes have Speedplay specific versions. Perhaps there's an adapter out there allowing use of a Speedplay cleat on a three bolt shoe but it won't be ideal.

Garfield Cat

I guy who designed Keep On Kovers is in Las Vegas. I never met him but left him a message while I was there. One of the covers came off during a ride while in Las Vegas doing the Red Rock loop. I told him about it and he sent me another set, free of charge.

TimothyH

By "whatever shoes you want" I meant whatever width, color and material you want. I should have been clearer.

As @joejack951 pointed out, speedplay cleats have to go on shoes which are speedplay compatible. Speedplay compatible means the newer Speedplay specific shoes with four bolt holes in the bottom or the more common three bolt shoes with the 3 hole to 4 hole adapter which comes with speedplay cleats.

I believe that mountain bike shoes are all two bolt and will not be compatible.

I have used speedplay's for 12+ years and my experience is that the danger of falling is pretty much the same with and without the caps. The caps keep dirt out of the cleats, keep the cleats from getting ruined when walking on concrete and keep the hardwood floors in your house from getting scratched. The caps don't really seem to do much to increase traction or help me walk in any way. Others may have a different experience.

TJClay

I've had issues keeping the walkable covers on my cleats. I've lost the right foot cover at least 4 times. First time I found it, second time I didn't and speed play replaced it. I glued them on next time and still lost one a couple times. I'm going back to the regular cleats and the "keep on kovers" with a little hot glue on them also.

Jay Olson

If you want Speedplay pedals and use an SPD compatible shoe, you can use the Frog or Syzr pedals.

hueyhoolihan

compared to MTB spds they are not walkable. people using them still walk like ducks, they just don't fall down as often. but look like they might.

randallr

4th on the "keep on covers". I've used my speedplays since about 1998, got keep on covers a year ago, the keep on covers really enhanced them for walking, also make it easier to click in (kind of guide you in better)

the_freewheeler

yep, agree 100%. keep on covers are one of the best $17 investments i've ever made.

randallr

Oh, and if you're curious about weight, the keep on covers come in at 41.1 grams/pair (Maybe less than new because I've walked on them a fair bit).

randallr

That weight is for the ones that go on my road shoes with speedplay zeroes.

R1lee

I have had zero issues with any of my keep on kovers. I do know they had an issue with the original batch.
Everyone I know who rides with keepon's have had no issues.

Garfield Cat

With Keep On Kovers, I noticed on my Zero's that I do not have to clean off the dirt as often. So why buy the Speedplay version?

Complete set (Zero cleats, Walkable Covers, Cleat Buddies) is $55 and it includes a removable plug (Buddies) that covers the center when you walk in dirt.

At Colorado Cyclist the Zero Version 2 cleats sells for $40.00.

That would mean $15 is the extra you pay for the "Walkable Covers" with the "Cleat Buddies". Speedplay replacement Covers $20 and Buddies $6 = $26. So just buying separately the extra is just $26 compared with Keep On Kovers for maybe $20 or so.

I haven't put the Kovers on my office Pitney Bowes scale, but the published weight of the Speedplay Covers with Buddies is 4.8 oz or 3.6 oz depending on the hole version.

Still, it would make a nice Christmas gift. If these calculations are pretty much correct, it will have an adverse effect on Kovers marketability.

JohnJ80

I've used the KeepOn Kovers for years and I have the Speedplay walkable cleats. The Speedplay Walkable cleats are better in every respect. So if you are starting out fresh, then that's what I would do.

FWIW, Speedplay also has an MTB cleat out that has 10 degrees of free float. I have those on my cross bike which I use for an adventure bike (rack etc) and is largely used on the road or when I want walkable shoes (i.e. MTB shoes). They work pretty well and I like them. I also tried them on my fat bike this winter which I ride on the beach that has sand that is the grittiest I've ever seen. The crystals manage to sieve up almost everything that ever comes in contact with them. They also seemed to cause the speedplay MTB cleats to not rotate anymore so I changed them out to my old Time ATAC mtb pedals. In all fairness, and what was probably the problem, is that I had just put the cleats on my cold weather biking shoes and hadn't retorqued them down. So I suspect that sand got between the cleat and the sole - at least it looked like that when I took them off. That said, I've also ridden then in dirt and other junk (mud) and they've been fine. THis sand is sort of a special case - it's trashed a lot of wind surfing parts, lawn chairs and other boat stuff (I've lived on this river for decades). It's not like other sand.

So if I were you, I'd either go with the speedplay walkable cleats or the speedplay syzr (mtb pedals). I like the road pedals a ton.

J.

EthanHawley

I use SPD pedals on my road bike precisely because I want to be walk comfortably off my bike (helpful for post-ride breakfasts or walking around during lunch/rest stops during long rides. I had been using Shimano shoes with a recessed space for the cleat that look just like road shoes but were discontinued, but I found these great Mavic Cyclo Tour Sport shoes that have the same recessed space for the cleat. They're just like regular shoes off the bike except the soles are a bit stiffer. Something to consider...

MoonJW

I switched over from SPD to Speedplay walkable cleats early this summer.

I lost a cover once and they sent me a free replacement. I purchased a backup pair of covers anticipating the worst but the covers haven't fallen off again, even without glue. Knock on wood.

You still duckwalk slightly in the SP walkables. It's not like a good pair of SPD shoes that you can take on a multi-day trip and not bring another set of shoes if you're traveling light. And obviously, you still have to worry about grime and grit in the cleats, unless you are putting on the cleat caps. Still, the overall benefit (to me) of the Speedplay, plus more convenient walkability, was enticing enough to make the switch.

Frontrow

Another satisfied Keep on Kover cyclist here. I've got the Z.3 version (Keep on Kovers Z.3 for Speedplay Zero or Light Action Cleats Cover - Long Lasting), which have a little less material than what is in the photo above. They are also molded a bit tighter to fit and hold on the cleat (per the manufacturer). I have had no issues with them falling off when unclipping or walking, but they do sometimes squeak when walking.

While these will save your cleats/cleat-screws, they do not provide any protection against mud or dirt getting into the cleat. You'll want to be alert not to walk where mud/dirt/sand could clog up the cleat.