Touring Shoes
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Wheat Ridge, CO
Bikes: 2021 Canyon Ultimate, 2016 Kona Precept 130, 2014 Novara Safari, 2004 Cannondale R600, 1991 Giant Sedona
Touring Shoes
I'm biking from Boston to Seattle this summer and looking for some shoes suitable for riding as well as hiking. I have Shimano M324 pedals. Also, I'd like to bring sandals along on the trip. I was thinking chacos, or something of the sort. Any suggestions are appreciated!
#2
I wear Lake Mountain Bike shoes. Good for walking and cycling ... and I have the same pedals.
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#3
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Shimano and I think Lake make sandals that are designed for use on a bicycle with clipless pedals. I am not a fan of them -- I own a pair of Shimano ones and have worn them very little -- but there are other touring cyclists who love them, and can adapt with stuff like Seal Skinz and woollen sock to suit bad weather conditions.
#4
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Joined: Jul 2011
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I love my lake sandals, most comfortable shoes for walking I have, and great on the bike. I can't use them with the bindings because of ortho reeasons, so I use them with the straps. That is not an easy deal, but it does mean that I have more than just the straps of sandals to crank on the pedals with, and that may be an advantage.
#7
I have been touring and commuting with these for years. They have held up extremely well.
Amazon.com: Shimano SH-MT33L Mountain Bike Shoes - Men's: Shoes
Amazon.com: Shimano SH-MT33L Mountain Bike Shoes - Men's: Shoes
#8
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From: Mid-Atlantic
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Sneakers
The Man Who Rode to the Moon (and back) (twice) | Miles 4 Melanoma
Freddie Hoffman is one of the most accomplished cyclists in the world. He could kick your ass.
The 43-year-old New Jersey native wiggles his no-name running shoes into toe clips. His lifetime odometer stands at an astonishing 1,202,625 miles. His top tube reads “To the Moon and Back, Twice.”
The 43-year-old New Jersey native wiggles his no-name running shoes into toe clips. His lifetime odometer stands at an astonishing 1,202,625 miles. His top tube reads “To the Moon and Back, Twice.”
#9
I'm biking from Boston to Seattle this summer and looking for some shoes suitable for riding as well as hiking. I have Shimano M324 pedals. Also, I'd like to bring sandals along on the trip. I was thinking chacos, or something of the sort. Any suggestions are appreciated!
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#10
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 919
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From: South Austin, Texas
Bikes: 2010 Origin8 CX700, 2003 Cannondale Backroads Cross Country, 1997 Trek mtn steel frame converted commuter/tourer, 1983 Univega Sportour, 2010 Surly LHT, Others...
I use:
Shimano Cycling Sandles

Or
Pearl Izumi X-Alps

Multi platform pedals on all my bikes used for touring/commuting...
And I take one or two pairs of Vibram FiveFingers along for hikes, town, camp, etc…...
Works well for me….FiveFingers don't take up much space when packed…..
Shimano Cycling Sandles
Or
Pearl Izumi X-Alps
Multi platform pedals on all my bikes used for touring/commuting...
And I take one or two pairs of Vibram FiveFingers along for hikes, town, camp, etc…...
Works well for me….FiveFingers don't take up much space when packed…..
#11
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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Shimanos sandals because they adjust with straps, so, are versatile with thick or thin sox ,
and for rain there are gore tex liner sox to wear over your own sox to keep the feet drier ( or plastic bread bags . )
Walking for a long time in a SPD cleat is not good for it .. Myself a sightseeing shoe was worth packing, as I was in Europe
and not staying to rolling up the trip milage, primarily ..
and for rain there are gore tex liner sox to wear over your own sox to keep the feet drier ( or plastic bread bags . )
Walking for a long time in a SPD cleat is not good for it .. Myself a sightseeing shoe was worth packing, as I was in Europe
and not staying to rolling up the trip milage, primarily ..
#12
just pedal

Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Houston, TX
Bikes: Surly Disc Trucker, trek 560
haven't been touring but I only ride in my shimano SPD sandals... they will be what I use on my week long katy trail ride in a few weeks... some waterproof kayaking socks and some hiking wool socks if it gets cool.
#14
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Have 1 shoe with a lace cover Flap covering them , they are discontinued long ago , so which one does not matter in this discussion.
Loose fit and supportive insoles , and by using a toe clip-pedal and a curved slot on the sole bottom
the blood circulation in my feet and the nerves were not constricted as they would be with a snug fitting SPuD shoe.
and so the riding all day was comfortable..
Loose fit and supportive insoles , and by using a toe clip-pedal and a curved slot on the sole bottom
the blood circulation in my feet and the nerves were not constricted as they would be with a snug fitting SPuD shoe.
and so the riding all day was comfortable..
Last edited by fietsbob; 05-07-14 at 11:11 AM.
#15
For me the answer depends on how much hiking and how tough the expected terrain is. I insist on "real" bike shoes which to me means bike specific shoes with cleats for clipless pedals. If the hiking is fairly short distances (a few miles at most) and the terrain not too difficult, just my SPD Sidis are fine. If I require better hiking footwear for long/difficult hikes I carry a second pair of footwear. In that case I might take any of a variety choices. Racing flats seem pretty ideal, but I have used a number of other shoe types successfully.
I use a bike shoe that is efficient and comfortable on the bike.
Mine are Lake shoes similar to Machka's, but I also carry a pair of lightweight running shoes. We do a lot of walking on our tours, and it is also nice to get out of the bike shoes at the end of the day.
On one of our tours we did 40 miles of trail hiking, plus a lot of around town walking. I would not want to subject good cycling shoes to that abuse; nor would I want to subject my feet to a stiff soled cycling shoe. I'm not sure you can have a shoe stiff enough to be a good cycling shoe,and still be flexible enough to be a good walking shoe; you end up with a shoe not good for either activity.
Last edited by Doug64; 05-04-14 at 03:34 PM.
#16
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: 2005 Cannondale SR500, 2008 Trek 7.3 FX, Jamis Aurora
And I would go with a pair of light weight shoes for off the bike. I have a pair of Tevas that weigh next to nothing.
#17
Every day a winding road
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: 2005 Cannondale SR500, 2008 Trek 7.3 FX, Jamis Aurora
Extremely poor advice. Very unhealthy for you feet. You need a stiff sole to help prevent flexing of your foot. A stiffer sole aid in power transfer too. Mountain bike shoes are even probably stretching it a bit on sole stiffness but they are a satisfactory compromise.
#18
Extremely poor advice. Very unhealthy for you feet. You need a stiff sole to help prevent flexing of your foot. A stiffer sole aid in power transfer too. Mountain bike shoes are even probably stretching it a bit on sole stiffness but they are a satisfactory compromise.
#21
I don't find other methods tighten the shoes enough.
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#22
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Delaware
Bikes: Yes, I have bikes.
Specialized makes some very good "touring" shoes. Recessed SPD cleats and a flat bottom (no studs) so they work very well both on and off the bike. When I go with bike sandals I use Keen's. I just like to protect my toes.
#23
Don't get me wrong, I own plenty of spds and "appropriate" shoes, and feel that if your feet do get sore then you should use a stiffer sole, a larger pedal, whatever helps you personally. But if you can wear thongs and use rattraps for your touring, then no one should tell you that you cant, unless you ask if they know of something different.
#24
The longest day I ever pulled fully loaded was on platforms with toe clips, and a cheap pair of shoes from payless. 164 miles over a(admittedly low)mountain range and a river valley. And about four days riding on each side of that. Its appalling that I was not crippled, but really the only people who would be appalled are marketing execs who want you to believe that you need the latest riding teck, and the riders who blindly believe the marketing execs.
Don't get me wrong, I own plenty of spds and "appropriate" shoes, and feel that if your feet do get sore then you should use a stiffer sole, a larger pedal, whatever helps you personally. But if you can wear thongs and use rattraps for your touring, then no one should tell you that you cant, unless you ask if they know of something different.
Don't get me wrong, I own plenty of spds and "appropriate" shoes, and feel that if your feet do get sore then you should use a stiffer sole, a larger pedal, whatever helps you personally. But if you can wear thongs and use rattraps for your touring, then no one should tell you that you cant, unless you ask if they know of something different.








