They don't actually take the same cleats - there are a few different Shimano cleats - but the cleats are easily switched if you buy new pedals. I use the same shoes with my road (A-520) and mountain (M-515) pedals...they both work with SH-51 cleats. Originally I had SH-55 cleats which unclip in any direction, but I trained myself to only unclip outwards and switched to the SH-51 cleats. Less chance of accidentally unclipping.