puma anjans. comfortable but really loose sole.

99% of the time: converse low top black monochromes
http://www.converse.de/images/gross/M5039.jpg

or sambas

+1 on the converse low tops. or if you want to spend money on something other than your bike for a change, some low profile campers (not the bowl toe ones). their stuff changes all the time, but usually they have something small that you can get into yr clips.

you should really use a straight-bladed clipper, it will keep you from getting hangnails.

puma anjans have the softest sole ever

although i love myself some sambas.. those soles are too thin and flimsy for biking for my taste..i prefer the old style campus.. which seem to be on manufacture break right now

vans slip-ons are my pick for warm weather (no lace bull**** to deal with) but i've been wearing some osiris skate shoes in the winter and they're working out just fine.

i did some hardcore vans vs. converse testing back when i was totally inept at getting into clips, and vans totally came out on top. their tread pattern is just way better for kicking in, and i'm pretty sure the soles are stiffer, too.

I have several year old nike dunk hi tops with floppy worn away soles that I wear all year round on the bike. I may as well take a picture of them for posterity before they explode (although they are insanely durable... much more so than any vans or converse I have owned)
http://www.wwmovers-africa.com/haro/dunks.jpg
I wear them totally loose like slippers and a size too big but they seem to work fine for clips and straps. They have been soaked and dried with salt water probably hundreds of times and have been totally abused for several years and they are still holding up great. They are cheap too and come in at least 10,000 styles and colours. Plus they are hi top for the style and ankle protection


Edit: note that I am in fact wearing these very shoes in my avatar.

Ye gods man ...

PS. Dunnit Phantoms. They're cheap (like $50CDN) and comfy, but the sides near the front are too chunky and they catch on my straps. One of these days I'm going to take the belt sander to them and then have the perfect pair of low-budget cycling shoes.

http://images.alloy.com/images/products/6d6405_main.jpg

I like these. Smooth, stiff soles. Tuck the laces under the velcro strap.

http://www.zappos.com/images/681/715...9-123661-d.jpg

Get them from Zappos.com

Dogbait

Asics Onitsuka Tigers
Mexico '66.

Super slender, flat and stiff.
Best shoe for clips.

SAMBAS. Anything with grip on the bottom like New Balance sucked for me. Wide shoes also makes me feel uncomfortable and gives me less stopping control. I wish there were more simple shoes like Sambas because all of the more modern looking shoes resemble space ships more than they do shoes. It's kind of like how the new PT Crusier is more looks more like a space ship than a regular car. I just don't like that ****.

I've been considering ordering a pair of those, i wasn't sure if they were stiff though, good to hear they are.




Does anyone know if you can buy like an insole to put in your shoe that will stiffen up the sole? But not make it uncomfortable.

http://www.journeys.com/images/products/1_17105_FS.jpg
Asics Ultimate 81
vegan too.

Ok, so I'm sick of my floppy ass, breezy Jack Purcells which have ripped at the heel in both left and right shoes. I'm strongly considering waterproof, stiff, steel-toed, American-made Red Wing shoes in lieu of my local shoe store not being able to custom make my dream shoe (apparently cobblers are extinct in all but England and small parts of the US). Does anyone have experience with some serious shoes or just recreational shoes as outlined in this thread thusfar? Most of Red Wing's line-up consists of mega boots for the working man, but a few of their shoes like the one below are more for hiking (and hopefully) for cycling in toe clips. Any feedback on their chunkiness, stiffness, breathability, all-weatherness?

http://www.redwingshoes.com/images/boots/large/8668.jpg