When I raced back in 70's my cleats did not work at all like this. I had those tiny thin narrrow Italian leather shoes with hard leather soles and a solid metal cleat that was just a little narrower than the front to back width of my Campy NR pedals. You inserted shoe fully until it contacted toe clip front, moved your foot downward, and tightened straps. No groove or anything on cleat.
I still use toe clips. Instead of Campy NR or SR pedals now, I go with a pedal like MKS Mtn that has serrated edges on front, back, and outside edge. I just use regular discount store athletic shoes that are narrow at toe so fit in toe clips. I buy shoes with some serrating on the bottom for extra traction with the pedals. This works well - I clip in/tighten straps and have confidence when out of saddle climbing. The serrated edge on outside helps to keep my foot from moving towards outside and coming loose when doing hard climbs.
I'd like to buy a better shoe for my toe clip pedal system - shoes with stiffer sole - but can't one available in stock in extra-wide widths.
Originally Posted by froze
I've been riding clipped for over 30 years and still ride clipped! Actually clips are stronger then the nonclip method...what? yep! that's why track bike riders still ride clipped because they cannot stay seated in clipless pedals due to them over powering them. And when I use to race (again in clips) I...well raced and averaged much better then 18mph in them. I have ridden as far as 158 miles in one day (did that trip several times and involves a lot of mountain riding) on clip pedals and never wished I was clipless...I did wish for a new body after those rides!!!
Yes it is easy to ride any shoe you have on with clip pedals without having to put on a platform to ride with regular shoes; but Shimano and probably others do make MTB shoes that can clip onto a clipless pedal and be used to hike in.
The only problem today with people trying to clip and race (this won't be an issue with you wanting to ride then hike) is that people today use the wrong shoes; the right shoe has a cleat with a grove that slots onto the rear of the quill pedal to keep you from pulling out your foot when you don't want to, if you have those type of shoes (as I do) then you don't need to cinch down the cleat as tight thus cutting off circulation to your feet. But due to the nature of hiking shoes the soles are lugged and those will be difficult to pull loose at the wrong time because the lugs will grip the quill pedal...this I know because I'm experimenting now with a set of hiking shoes.