I'm thinking of switching to clipless pedals. I ride my bike to work and class as well as riding on the weekends on bike trails, and would like to know if there is a setup for clipless that would allow me to wear the cleated shoes as if they were normal shoes. You know, like walk around in them all day. I'm a complete noob, so links or details are always good

Or would I just be better off with a set of toe clips?

Personally I've never seen a riding shoe that I would want to wear as regular footwear so I stick with clips + straps for commuting and getting around and wear road shoes when doing longer rides.

Might it be worth it to get one of the combo platform/clipless pedals so I can switch it up without having to remove the pedal?

That could be a good solution!

I have these on my MTB

https://www.crankbrothers.com/mallet.php

Clip in when riding trails and big platforms when tooling around without bike shoes

You can use mtb shoes with SPD pedals and walk pretty well in them, depending on the shoe maker.

Yes. Shimano makes a pair. Performence has their "campus" pedal which is a non brand version of the same thing and is much cheaper.

They work fine. Only downside is that they are a little heavy, but they'll work fine for both of your stated purposes.

Cool, they have a shop just up the road from me, I'll have to stop in and check those out... It comes with cleats, that just means I need the shoes, correct?

When I'm just going around every day, I ride in normal shoes on top of my SPD-SL's. They have enough platform not to hurt my feet, although the only considerations to keep in mind are that they get a bit slippery when it's raining and I wouldn't do it in leather soled shoes, rubber only.

MTB shoes are a lot more walkable than road shoes, but like someone above said, I really haven't ever seen a pair of clipless shoes that I'd want to wear while going about my day.

These seem ideal. You can ride them without bike shoes as quoted above. Check them out at a LBS.

I wouldn't bother with those. Once you experience the benefits of riding clipless, its hard to go back. I've been riding clipless for awhile, but recently, I made the mistake of buying a pair of the Shimano clipless/platform combo pedals for my touring/utility (long haul trucker) bike, thinking that I might occasionally use the platform side, but one try on the platform side was enough to convince how much riding platforms suck in comparison to clipless.

To the OP...if you really think you'll be doing a lot of walking in your bike shoes, get yourself a pair of crank brothers pedals. CB cleats are very small and fit far inside the tread of any MTB shoe, and thus, do not scrape on the ground as you walk. Shimano SPD cleats are larger and a pit more prone to peak out beyond the tread a bit and grate on the ground as you walk.

Check out Shimano's "mountain touring" lineup of shoes. I've never tried them, but they all look pretty "walkable" to me.

https://bike.shimano.com/

Yes, once you have the cleats and pedals, all you need is the shoes. Any pair of "mountain" shoes is compatible with any pair of "mountain" pedals and cleats. Likewise, any pair of "road' shoes will work with any pair of "road" pedals and cleats. You just can't mix the two (usually).

The OP is riding to work and class. Presumably he doesn't want to wear bike shoes all day at work or in school. But he wants the benefit of clipless on longer rides where's he's not commuting.

The campus pedals are the perfect solution for this (hence the name Campus) My daughter raced juniors with those pedals, and was still able to ride to the friend's house down the street in flip flops.

And I've seen a numbe of people use them in fast group rides with no ill effect.

IMHO, about the best answer you're going to find if you want to commute in street clothes, and do longer rides in bike shoes on the same bike, and don't want to be bothered changing pedals.

Incorrect. Shimano SPD-R pedals need SPD-R shoes (at least according to Shimano). SPD pedals (which might be thought of a MTB pedals, but also are used for road riding) aren't compatible with Look style 3 hole shoes. Speedplay pedals only work with 3 hole shoes with an adapter, and 4 hole shoes designed for Speedplay's are only going to work with Speedplay pedals.

So there does need to be some thought when you're picking out a pedal/shoe system.

My main problem (other than just not liking platforms) is the need to adjust saddle height when using the platform side. My bike shoes+cleats tend to have a higher stack than any of my street shoes on the platforms. Everytime I attempt to ride the platform side the saddle is just a bit too high for comfort. Perhaps its possible to achieve a compromise saddle height or find the right shoe, but I'd rather have the correct saddle height and not have to fuss with finding the right shoe to match the stack of the clipless side.

Yep, that's almost exactly the case. I just don't feel like having to change shoes when I get to work hahaha... My commute is short enough that I don't need a change of clothes or anything, its only 2 miles

I am not incorrect. I said (usually). There does indeed need to be some thought. You, on the other hand, are overthinking it. In the vast majority of cases (if not all of them), all 2-hole shoes and cleats are "mountain" and 3 hole shoes and cleats are "road".

crank brothers also offer this gadget which i have for my single speed. you simply click this thing (with a cleat on it) into your pedal and can ride it just like a platform, remove it obviously for going back to a mtb pedal.

I would just buy road pedals and bring a pair of street shoes in your backpack to change into once you're at work/school.

Nope. Both my wife and my daughter had road shoes designed to be used with SPD pedals. Similar to these:

https://www.petracycles.co.uk/product...ource=googleus

Shimano Road Touring Shoe RT51SPD.

And I'm not simply being pedantic here. The OP is seriously considering the dual sided SPD pedals. If he goes that route, he needs an SPD compatible shoe.

Belts and suspenders.

I've walked miles and miles in mountain bike shoes for various reasons...mostly related to the ability -or lack thereof- of my ride partners. While not the most comfortable shoes for hiking, you can walk a very long way in them. Go with a mountain bike shoe and a two sided mountain pedal. Dive in, it's just easier that way

I switched to clipless about 3 years ago, it made such a big difference. The cool part is you not only move the crank on the down stroke but also on the up. Whenever I hop on a platform pedal bike and start pedaling, I lift my other foot off the pedal and I get laughed at >_<

Sure about that?