Riding clipped in might make you more efficient on the bike, but some shoes really don’t make you efficient when it comes to walking, and they often do nothing for your outfit.

SPD shoes and pedals, usually worn by mountain bikers and commuters, have recessed cleats, making them easier to walk in. Some more causal styles are optimized to be even easier to walk in thanks to more flexible soles, and these options are usually designed to be a little more stylish, too.

A little jargon busting before we go on: Most of these shoes have soles made from either nylon, rubber, or EVA. EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) is a lightweight, water resistant material which offers a good amount of anti-vibration protection, and insulation without being as stiff as traditional nylon, which offers better pedalling efficiency but is not as flexible.

Rubber features on more casual shoes, it’s robust and flexible, but not as stiff as either EVA or nylon.

Here are some of our favourites…