Giro Berm Men’s Mountain Cycling Shoes

Mountain bike shoes are stiffer than an athletic shoe or skate shoe, but generally not as stiff as road cycling shoes. Whether you choose a clipless or flat style shoe, the outsoles are designed for great traction and grip on the pedals and in dirt, so that you ride or walk confidently on dusty, muddy, or wet trails and terrain. Like road cycling shoes, you’ll want to choose a pair that fits properly to provide good support and comfort when you’re riding. Your foot should feel stable in the shoe, with good arch support and your heel firmly in place. Clipless Mountain Bike Shoes: The benefits of clipless mountain bike shoes are the same as road cycling shoes. Being clipped-in to the pedals can make it easier to power over rocks and roots, and can also make it easier to bunny hop, or control your bike in technical situations. Additionally, you can perfect your “lower half fit” so your feet, knees, and hips are all aligned, making it easier to maintain a higher or more powerful pedal stroke for racing or training. If you choose a clipless shoe/pedal combination, it’s important to make sure you set-up the cleat position properly for best comfort and performance. If you’re not sure how to do this, or if you’ve had issues with knee pain, foot discomfort or similar concerns, check with a professional bike fitter or your local bike shop. Flat Pedal Mountain Bike Shoes: The most obvious benefit of flats is that they can feel super natural and they’re intuitive to use. Your feet naturally know where to go on the pedals and you can make small adjustments whenever you need to. It’s also easier to put a foot down if you need to for a tight corner, emergency stop, or to avoid a fall. There are some tradeoffs with flat pedals. Since your feet aren’t clipped-in to the pedals, slipping or bouncing off the pedals can happen, especially in wet or really rocky terrain. Unless you’ve spent time mastering some skills, moves like bunny hops and side hops, and lifting your rear wheel, can also be harder to execute since you can’t rely on the clipped-in connection to help you lift up the wheel. And last but not least, it can be difficult to maintain a high cadence for extended periods of time.