Recommend a decent tennis shoe for clips and straps
 

I have a pair of Adidas Sambas which have worked well but are wearing out. Is there anything
similar that works well?

Best sneaker for toe clips and straps is actually what you just mentioned...IMHO

unless you can find an Avocet touring shoe from the 80s...

i like to wear some approach shoes....these, in fact....
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db9daa647.jpeg
as you can see, they have a rubberized toe box. makes it a smoother transition getting in and out of the toe cages. as well, they have a low profile sole without too much tread to get hung up in the pedals yet enough for some traction on loose terrain...(ie. gravel ventures). lastly, the sole is kind of stiff. original intention is to offer some rigidity for climbing rocks and such, but i find it useful for extra support under pedaling load. and, they're comfy enough, too

the five-ten adidas are nice and stiff I like them, I've also got good results from the classic Merrell hiking shoes

I just rock Vans Authentics; off-white with a gum sole. Can’t beat ‘em. Sambas are probably sturdier tho.

For years I have ridden using only Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 "track shoes" -- well, I have a pair of their Serrano model as well, which is fine, but I'm not as wild about it as the basic original model:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b9bdd0653d.jpg
I have wide feet (like EE) and want the lowest-profile shoe that will feel like the Rivat cycling shoes I owned back in the 80s -- I don't ride with cleats, but have always used toeclips and straps. These shoes fit the bill perfectly for me. Have a thin sole, are quite light, but they hold up well on a minimal platform pedal like the Mikashima (MKS) GR-9 or their Urban Platform. The toe is somewhat reinforced, but the shoe is definitely minimal; moreso IMO than the Adidas Samba. I find these comfortable for urban walking, or all-day wear at work too. One can get a slip-on version, but I've never been tempted. They go through colorways changes regularly, so I wait until some come up that speak to me. But I must have owned at least a dozen pairs, and probably have 7 or 8 of them currently. About $80 to $100 depending if on sale (remaindered) or new stock.
No, I don't have the orange/yellow number above.

I've used the Adidas Sambas with good luck as mentioned previously. I currently use Adidas Swift Solos like in this picture. However, the soles are not as rigid as the Sambas. They still work great for me but just thought that I would mention that. A quick web search reveals that these are now difficult to find.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9dbee86d16.png

I find that artificial turf soccer shoes work best. The soccer shoe has a stiff sole and that helps allot over the pedals. Some of the tennis shoes can get torn up by the pedal edges.
Here is an example of an artificial turf shoe with light tread and stiff insole for less than 30$ USD. (WalMart)

https://external-content.duckduckgo....fff&f=1&nofb=1

EDIT 2021-05-08 - Looks like the shoe I posted is on permanent back order - went to PUMA Men's Future 6.4 Indoor Trainer Soccer-Shoe, I will post my findings.

I'm a big adidas fan because they run narrow and have decent arch support, which suits my very narrow feet. I have several pair of adidas walking and running shoes. Of the lot, the Daily 2.0 is my favorite for platform pedals, although I no longer use toe clips and straps. I use clipless on the road bikes, but plain ol' flat pedals on the hybrids. The Daily 2.0 is an update on the traditional sneaker with a pretty stiff sole, although not quite like a Five Ten Freerider. Check out the various Daily shoe options. It's a great value at less than $50. I think I paid $20 for a new, no-box special at Ross. Some colorways are pretty subtle. On my army green pair the three stripe pattern is barely noticeable.

I can't recommend any adidas running/walking shoes with Boost soles because Boost is so soft and comfy for walking and running, but would feel mushy for cycling. I can count pebbles underfoot when jogging in my Boost shoes, although it's not painful.

However their newer Lightstrike foam is stiffer. The SL20 is a running shoe with all Lightstrike foam and runs very narrow. It fits me like a custom shoe on my size 11 A/B width feet. But while the foam is relatively firm, it's also rather thick and would require adjusting the saddle height. Not nearly as crazy thick as the new generation of marathon shoes like the Adizero Adios Pro, Nike Vaporfly and Alphafly, etc.

A few weeks ago I noticed an adidas pro quality court shoe (CrazyFlight for volleyball, I think) that was remarkably similar to the Five Ten Freerider, with a really stiff, rigid sole. I didn't buy it, though -- not because it was neon pink but it was size 10.5 and just a bit short in the toe box for me. But at $40 at Ross or Marshall it would have been a bargain in a cycling shoe for platform pedals.

Atreyu, an Austin based startup, makes a very simple running, walking, whatever shoe, that uses an unidentified EVA foam sole that feels very much like adidas Lightstrike to me (adidas specs their soles but doesn't actually make it, so the same or similar soles may be available to other shoe makers). The remarkable thing about Atreyu is the minimalist approach. No outsole -- usually a thin rubber tread to protect the thicker midsole. You run directly on the EVA sole material and it's quite durable. It's an interesting compromise between cushioned for running, yet also rather stiff and supportive for walking. I haven't tried it for cycling yet but will try to remember to do so soon on my hybrid with iSSi Thump pedals, which have prominent molded in plastic pins rather than replaceable steel pins. I'm betting it'll work fine. And it's not too wide so it might work with toe clips and straps. And Atreyu shoes are incredibly light, like around 6 ounces per shoe.

I just bought a new pair of these, as I'd worn out the previous pair and I like them very much, both on and off the bike:


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7b27bd6e3d.jpg

So Adidas bought out Five Ten?

I've had 2 pairs of 5-10 shoes and really liked them- I had a pair of Dirtbags that I loved and a pair of Spitfires that I like- The Spitfires are more 'walking around' comfortable, but much warmer than the Dirtbags. And it was really fun to say "Dirtbags."

I have a pair of Merrell 'running' shoes that have been my favorite riders- I can get the model later. I love the MOAB hikers, but I couldn't see riding in those.

I used to LOVE the North Face "Scend" shoe for riding. I took out the stock insole and replaced it with a stiffer gel sole thing and they were wonderful.

i'd be interested in the model of Merrel runners you liked. the MOAB hikers have been awesome favorites for 3 straight years of daily 4 miles around the coast.

I like MTB style SPD shoes for toe clips and straps. You need to get the wide MKS clips for these but that's generally true for hiking shoes as well. Bike shoes have a stiff sole which matters to me. I find that during a long ride (say a metric century or longer) my feet get hot boxed. A stiff sole helps a lot.

I have the "Merrell Burnt Rock Travel Suede Hiking Shoes Dusty Olive J91249." I've had them for about 3-4 years. Better riding shoes than "runners" or "hiking shoes." I find they get wet really easy- but I haven't Scotchgarded them or anything. Not as aggressive of a tread as the Vibrams on the MOABs.

I've had 3 pair of MOAB boots- a pair of Gore-Tex that lasted over 5 years, a pair of M-Warm winter ones that I've had for 3-4 years and a pair of M-Dry ones I just got in fall. Love those things.


Here's an eBay image- Let me know if you want pix of my shoes.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...85107a8f5f.jpg


I dug through my pix- I got them April 28th of 2018. (I found them when we were on vacation)

I like Vans skate type shoes if they are narrow . I have used Target brand with a rubber tip like Converse and they work well. Basically I look for flat soles with mild tread and narrow front to slide in and out. I leave my straps loose enough where my foot slides out if I need to come to an unexpected stop. Most of my pedals are Campy Superleggeri so I don’t struggle to “flip” the pedal when taking off. Softer soles help .

I have a pair of leather Vans that work well.

Top

Adidas Gazelles work quite well too.
Tim

Another vote for Gazelles. I had a pair BITD (like 45 years ago) that I loved so much I wore them till they fell apart. I was tickled to discover they are making them again, so I snagged a pair to wear when riding the 1982 Lotus Supreme i just finished building up, and they work great.

After 25 years of exclusively clipless, getting off a bike and being able to just walk around is weird, though, I gotta tell you.

I found the following announcement...

https://bikerumor.com/2011/11/03/fiv...red-by-adidas/

I like hiking shoes as well because of the stiffness of the soles. It's just a matter of finding one without huge toe 'bumpers'.
Salomon and Merrills are my regulars but every model seems to fit differently. Same for Keens.

Yeah, the walking around thing is pretty nice, and now they come in more colors! When they first came out, in the early 70s, it was the shoe to have on my high school CC team, you could only get red or blue, very pricey too. Of course, the uppers were kangaroo hide if I recall, but now a lot cheaper, and the kangaroos are happier.
Tim

Yep, that's the ones. I got them in blue, just because that's what I had Way Back When.

I had the red ones, same reason.
Tim

I remember the discontinued Puma Kugel shotput shoe used to get recommended by you-know-who (rhymes with Rant Reetersen). Is anyone using current shotput/throwing shoes? I imagine the requirements, like a thin, stiff sole, haven't changed much, but I have no experience or knowledge of what's on the market now.

Back in ‘74 I wore Converse Allstars “Chucks”.