Mountain bike shoes are all about compromise – maintaining the efficiency of pedalling offered by road shoes, but with extras that enable you to actually walk in them.

8 of the Best MTB Shoes for Women

For one, the soles won’t be quite so rigid, allowing for more natural walking. Secondly, they have grips on the sole that provide a platform away from the cleat that you can walk on.

Cleats

Mountain bike cleats work with two bolt shoes and are not compatible with road bike systems. The most popular MTB clipless systems are Shimano SPD, Look and Time MTB.

What to consider

MTB shoes have a lot to do with what kind of riding you do – if you ride off-road competitively, for instance, you’ll want a stiffer sole that’s more similar to a road shoe. But if you love getting off your bike to clamber over obstacles, you’ll need to be able to walk like a real person.

The kind of riding you do will also effect the level of ventilation you choose: those who love the mud will probably prefer winter shoes that minimise the likelihood of wet feet!