I do not use clip-in shoes or toe clips. Tried them years ago and didn't like them. So, I'm strictly a flat pedal man. I know I need more stiffness that what my running shoes offer. So my question is; would hiking shoes offer additional stiffness for riding? Or can you recommend biking shoes for flat pedals?

Before I went over to cleats, I rode with flat pedals or toe clips and I went looking for non-cleated cycling shoes and came up empty. But surely there's something out there? Maybe MTB shoes would work well with flat pedals?

Get yourself a vintage set of bicycle shoes, often times available on Ebay. Fit is a hit or miss thing, when buying this way, but you will, at least, have a proper hard sole and you do not have to use cleats, if you choose not too.

Just did a "shoes" search in vintage cycling, on Ebay. See if this creates any interest, for you.

Or, check out the Classic and Vintage forum, for sale section, and you just might get a set even cheaper and with less risk.

For short rides, even tennies work. But for longer rides, your feet will thank you for having stiff-soled shoes. Most if not all SPD shoes come with a plug where the cleat goes. Just leave the plug in.

Hi Daryou,
For flat pedals with "grip pins", the best shoes, IMHO, are those by Five Ten. I ride Freeriders, and they have almost uncanny grip, and are fairly stiff. Also, because of the generally large surface/contact area of flat platform pedals, shoe stiffness is not all that important.

I should also mention that I periodically use trail running shoes when riding. Most athletic shoes of this type have lots of ridges and nooks that can grab on to the aforementioned pins for good grip.

Best of luck!

I wear the Five Ten Freeriders as well. I have been very happy with them.

I've been wearing these for the past year, and they work very nicely. They are stiff, and the Boa system allows them to really spread out for my very wide feet. The Boa system also works well for narrow feet.

SCOTT Sports - SCOTT Trail Boa Evo Shoe

I use an earlier model of these:

Time Axion Touring/Spin Cycling Shoe | BicycleBuys.com

and just use them without cleats. Honestly, I bought them because the tennis shoes weren't working and I wanted to experiment and these were dirt cheap. (I think I paid less than $30.) But they turned out to be really great. I'm sure there are similar brands with recessed cleat holes that work fine on platform pedals without cleats.

Hmm.. I use platform pedals so I can wear hiking/jogging shoes while riding. If I want to go for a decent hike somewhere, don't need to change shoes. That said I rarely mix the two activities.

I still miss those great old Avocet touring shoes. Walkable rubber sole, cleat-like transverse ridges, and steel shank.

+1 on the Five Tens. I also wear Freeriders but they have other models as well--it's all about the Stealth rubber sole. The grip is incredible especially on pedals with pins (I have pedals with "aggressive" pins for mountain biking, and also pedals with less intense pins on my urban bike--they 5 10s stick like glue to both). I personally have no need to run clipless with this setup.
I can ride with my trail running shoes OK, but I find the knobby bottoms are actually a hindrance and inhibit adjusting my foot as easily as with the 5 10s. Plus lots of running shoes have just too much padding/cushion to "feel" the connection to the pedal properly.

"would hiking shoes offer additional stiffness for riding?" Yes but they are heavy and bulky, bad choice.

You get what you pay for rememeber !
Get shoes specifically made for flat pedals..

Below is my choice and they work together perfectly, I ride single track, mountain biking, not lesurley trail riding but real single track...



Specialized 2FO flat out shoes, thats bike tire rubber on the souls, Perfectly ridgid where we need them to be, flexible in the right way for very comfortable walking. Light, airy, wash them with a hose, will air dry overnight,, NO smell.
Three different arch Inserts available.. they come with the middle level ones.

So comfortable and wear so well they are my primary work shoe,I am on my feet on asphalt alot.

The Race face Affect pedals are quality, adjustable replaceable pins, bearings, serviceable, light and wide.
Traction In abundance...

The pins will bleed you If you mess up, but are we not men ! or are we wussies

I wear Vans on sunny days. Wolverine leather hiking boots on rainy and snowy days.

Odyssey Twisted PC pedals cuz they were cheap $13-15

Add stiff arch Support Insoles to your favorite shoes, you have, and You're good to Go..

Spongy sole running shoes you use energy compressing the spongy foam , it may or may not matter to You.

I find it's the pedal that's the most important part. It must be wide enough to support the width of your shoe, once that's accomplished I picked a light shoe with some bumps on the bottom to mesh with the bumps on the pedal. Rubber on rubber and I never have had my foot slip off in any kind of weather.

Still have a pair of Model 30s. Kind of fitting for 50+.

scott s.
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