The best road cycling shoes tested and reviewed by our team
Your feet are one of the most important contact points on a bike, so it’s vital to choose your cycling shoes carefully. There’s a lot of choice though, so it can be hard to know what’s best. Fortunately, you have come to the right place.
We’ve put in the miles, so you can find the best cycling shoes for your performance requirements, riding style and budget.
If you need something to clip into, check out our guide to the best road bike pedals. If road cycling isn’t your only riding discipline, or you prefer SPD vs SPD-SL pedals, check out our buyer’s guides to the best mountain bike shoes, best gravel bike shoes and best mountain bike pedals.
Once you’ve considered all of the options, keep reading to the end for our buyer’s guide to road cycling shoes.
Best cycling shoes in 2024, as rated and reviewed by our expert testers
With so many cycling shoes on the market and so much choice, we’ve split our pick of the best cycling shoes into different price categories, from performance-oriented shoes that cost around £400 to budget-friendly shoes under £100.
Keep scrolling to see all the shoes or click on the links below to skip to the different price points:
- Best cycling shoes for £100
- Best cycling shoes for £150
- Best cycling shoes for £200
- Best cycling shoes for £300
- Best cycling shoes for £400
Best cycling shoes for £100
Boardman Carbon
- £80 as tested
- Great value
- Stiff soles and two-dial adjustment
For £80, the Boardman Carbon shoe offers great features, including an all-carbon sole and twin Atop dial adjustment – a cheaper equivalent of the Boa system that works just as well. You even get a replaceable heel bumper.
Internal padding through the majority of the upper adds comfort and there’s plenty of venting to keep your feet cool, while good toe box width provides a bit of extra space compared to many cycling shoes.
Bont Motion
- £80 as tested
- Very stiff soles
- Heavier than the competition
The Motion shoe brings Bont’s signature stiffness to a lower price point, thanks to the fibreglass sole.
The shoe is heavier than similarly priced competitors. This is likely attributed to the fibreglass sole but some will find this weight penalty worth bearing for the shoe’s stiffness.
The Motion is built around Bont’s anatomic last. While this leads to a less sleek-looking shoe than some other brands, it does create a slightly wider – and more comfortable – fit.
Dials might be preferable to the Motion’s Velcro straps, but this does keep the cost down, and there’s no getting away from the fact this shoe offers a lot of value for money.
dhb Aeron Carbon Road Dial
- £74 as tested
- A great-quality shoe with a carbon sole
- Sizing comes up small
The Aeron Carbon Road Dial shoe from dhb is one of the least expensive carbon-soled shoes currently on the market.
The sole provides plenty of stiffness and an efficient pedalling platform, but it did scuff easily in testing.
The shoe closes with Velcro straps and dhb’s Atop dial, which works a lot like a Boa, and remained consistently snug. Do watch out for the sizing, though – we recommend going down a size.
Comfort is good and the synthetic uppers were more padded than many other road cycling shoes, even if they weren’t quite as breathable.
Van Rysel RoadR 900 Full Carbon
- £120 / $199 / €135 / AU$199 as tested
- Brilliant value
- Toe protector on the small side
As the name suggests, the Van Rysel RoadR 900 Full Carbon has a carbon sole, which, along with a supportive insole and two dials to adjust tension, comprises a stellar spec for the money.
The Van Rysel RoadR 900 Full Carbon is as good to ride in as these features suggest. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better road cycling shoe at this price.
The only downside is that some riders may want more reinforcement in the toe area.
Bontrager Solstice
- £100 / $85 / €105 / AU$105 as tested
- Compatible with SPD-SL and SPD cleats
- Minimal ventilation
The Bontrager Solstice is an uncomplicated road cycling shoe that punches above its reasonable price.
Since it has Velcro closure straps, a moderately stiff nylon sole and is compatible with SPD-SL and SPD cleats, the Solstice could suit riders who are new to clipless pedals. Unfortunately, the two-bolt cleat adaptor is not included.
The weight per shoe of 227g in EU42 is competitive, but ventilation might be inadequate for riding in hot weather.
Triban GRVL 500
- £50 as tested
- Great value lace-up SPD shoe
- Heel raise could limit performance
The lace-up Triban GRVL 500 shoe comes in at a super-low price, but it still has a host of features.
The shoe has a nylon sole with fibreglass reinforcement. The sole is compatible with SPD cleats and has deep rubber sections for grip and walking.
The GRVL 500 provides excellent comfort on day-long rides, and while the sole is reasonably stiff, it doesn’t feel punishing.
You might find the shoe leads to your heel rising slightly when walking or riding hard, but overall there are no obvious drawbacks to this shoe.
It’s are a good budget option for all sorts of riding, from commuting to more challenging off-road rides.
Best cycling shoes for £150
Udog Tensione
- £130 / $170 / €175 / AU$225 as tested
- Understated appearance
- A comfortable fit
The Udog Tensione shoes use a carbon composite / nylon blend outsole with twin inverted V-shaped ribbons either side of the mid-foot and laces to offer a comfortable yet close fit.
They were warm enough for spring rides in all weathers and not overly hot on summer days. The sole is superb on the road, offering efficiency and all-day comfort.
Being only available online, you can't try the shoes before you buy though.
Best cycling shoes for £200
Fizik Vento Omna
- £170 / $170 / €165 / AU$273 as tested
- Admirable performance without carbon
- Sparse ventilated
If a carbon outsole isn't essential for you, the Fizik Vento Omna could be a great shoe for most types of road cycling.
The nylon-composite sole is stiff enough for hard efforts. The padded heel, spacious toe box and supple upper provide plenty of comfort for longer rides.
In hot conditions, you might want more ventilation but you usually have to spend more for a warm-weather road cycling shoe.
Shimano RC7
- £189.99 / €199.99 / $240 as tested
- Very versatile
- Good value
The Shimano RC7 goes toe to toe with the brand's priciest shoe, the S-Phyre RC902, delivering fantastic performance for much less money.
Compared to the RC902, the RC7 is a touch heavier and the sole is carbon fibre composite not full carbon. The slight flex it gives is probably the best bet for the majority of your riding.
The shoe's upper feels nice, with a similar wraparound strap to the RC902, and dual Boa dials ensure an adjustable, secure fit.
Ventilation could be better, so the RC7 isn't ideal for warm-weather riding.
Best cycling shoes for £300
Specialized S-Works 7 Lace
- £300 / €325 / $325 as tested
- Classic looks
- Cutting-edge performance
The Specialized S-Works 7 Lace is the best lace-up shoe you can buy, in our opinion.
Lighter than many high-end shoes, the S-Works 7 Lace is also exceptionally stiff. But it remains sufficiently comfortable and ventilated to ride all day.
Although the laces preclude on-the-go adjustment, they contribute to an aerodynamic and stylish design.
Giant Surge Pro
- £299.99 / €360 / $399 as tested
- Brilliant performance
- Versatile
The Giant Surge Pro is the shoe worn at the WorldTour by Giant-sponsored Team BikeExchange.
As you'd expect from a dedicated race shoe, the sole doesn't flinch under the force of big efforts.
There are no pinch points in the well-ventilated polyurethane upper. Two unidirectional Boa dials and a Velcro strap allow you to tweak tension.
Our testing found the Surge Pro's premier price to be largely justified. Handy extras such as adjustable arch supports and insoles are thrown in.
Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon
- £279 / €290 / $299.99 as tested
- Flawless comfort
- Stiff soles
The Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon blends comfort, performance and ventilation in an admittedly premium package.
The sole is formidably stiff, which gives the impression of efficiency without causing your feet to ache.
The light, perforated upper and vents in the sole permit air flow.
The minimalist Tempo Decos Carbon's single Boa dial turns both ways and distributes tension through the shoe.
DMT KR3
- £236 as tested
- Incredibly comfortable
- Not great in the wet
DMT was the original innovator of full-knit uppers and the DMT KR3 shoe uses the technology to create a gloriously comfortable shoe.
The fit is excellent. The knitted design matches the shape of your foot superbly and the Boa dial deals with tension across the forefoot.
The carbon sole provides excellent stability and is plenty stiff.
It’s worth noting these are definitely shoes for summer riding. They're breathable and well-ventilated.
While there is a polymer material fused to the main knitted fabric for protection against the elements, we wouldn’t recommend the KR3 for rainy conditions.
Best cycling shoes for £400
Specialized S-Works Torch Lace
- £300 / $350 / €340 / AU$550
- Light, comfortable and stiff
- Laces cover form and function
The Specialized S-Works Torch Lace shoes excel across all types of road riding: they're comfortable and airy enough for long, hot rides and sufficiently stiff for full-gas efforts.
When you're going uphill, the S-Works Torch Lace's dainty weight (465g in EU45) can't hurt either.
The well-designed laces contribute to this weight saving and stay fastened while lying flat to the instep. Fans of lace-up styling will appreciate the sleek looks too.
Shimano S-Phyre RC902
- £320 / $425 / AU$549 / €360 as tested
- Stiff and efficient
- Narrow
Shimano’s new top-flight S-Phyre RC902 road shoe builds on the success of the previous RC901 model and delivers across the board, with a stiff and efficient carbon sole and a good level of ventilation.
Adjustable cleat bolt holes allow you to set up your cleat just as you like. There are high-quality insoles with interchangeable arch supports included.
Shimano has updated the fit of the shoe from the previous model. While the wraparound upper and Boa dials make for a highly tuneable fit and heel retention is great too, we did find the forefoot of the shoe to be a bit narrow.
The wide version could be worth trying if you have broader feet or prefer a roomier fit.
Sidi Shot 2S
- £425 / €419
- Fantastic ventilation and stiffness
- Weighty and not immediately comfy
The Sidi Shot 2S are very impressive and very expensive road cycling shoes. The carbon sole blends stiffness and comfort, while the ventilation is superb.
After bedding them in, the Shot 2S proved comfortable on extremely long rides. A dial on the heel enables you to fine-tune the fit.
Several parts of the Sidi Shot 2S are replaceable, so the shoes should provide many miles for your money.
Bont Vaypor S Hologram
- £325 as tested
- Ultra-thin, ultra-stiff carbon construction
- Heat-mouldable upper offers customisable fit
The Bont Vaypor S Hologram is a premium-priced option but if the overall shape works for you – the arch is relatively high – it offers outstanding foot retention and stability.
The 'bathtub' carbon construction is super-stiff and the heat-mouldable upper can be remoulded an unlimited number of times to tweak the fit.
This 'hologram' version isn't for shy, retiring types, but it adds useful visibility and helps justify the slightly alarming price tag.
DMT KRSL
- £330 as tested
- Ultra-light and breathable
- Stunningly comfortable
Tadej Pogačar’s secret weapon, the DMT KRSL's 3D knitted shoe upper is matched with an all-new carbon sole. There are four large, meshed vents for added breathability and these help to bring the weight down.
The shoes are ultra-comfortable and the stiffness and comfort is perfectly balanced. The fit is so snug that the laces seem as if they are a secondary security measure.
The heel bumper is replaceable and even on the hottest days, there wasn't a hint of sweat on our tester's feet. The downside is, the shoes can be somewhat chilly on cooler days.
Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2
- £330 / $350 / €350 as tested
- Impressively lightweight, stiff and comfortable
- Expensive
The Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2 adapts the design of Fizik's pro-level R1 shoe to create a lightweight and comfortable shoe.
The upper is made from a lightweight and pliable Microtex fabric.
A band across the middle of the upper closes with a micro-adjustment Boa dial.
Together, these spread pressure evenly across the foot.
The carbon sole flexes laterally to prevent any cramping or discomfort. But a 'spine' runs from the cleat area to the heal providing stiffness.
The shoe offers almost perfect comfort and performance at a high price tag.
Fizik Vento Stabilita Carbon
- £375 / $400 / €400 as tested
- Stiff with an adaptable fit
- Pricey
The Vento Stabilita Carbon shoe uses Fizik’s Dynamic Arch Support (2.0).
The result is a shoe with plenty of comfort and adaptability in the fit.
Despite the cutaway section, the sole is still stiff. Overall the shoe performs tremendously well.
The Vento Stabilita Carbon will suit riders putting out big watts, or anyone who values close-fitting comfort.
Northwave Veloce Extreme
- £359.99 / $429 / €399.99 as tested
- Stiff and comfortable
- Very expensive
On the whole, the performance of the Northwave Veloce Extreme matches the shoes' high price tag. To sweeten the pill, they come with two sets of inner soles.
Since Northwave has prioritised comfort and efficiency over low weight, the Veloce Extreme shoes are fairly heavy (673g in EU45).
The Veloce Extreme use Northwave's own adjustment dials. These aren't as good as other systems, such as Boa dials.
But the Veloce Extreme shoes remain a good premium option if stiffness and comfort trump low weight for you.
Buyer’s guide to cycling shoes: what to look for
Shopping for cycling shoes can be a bit of a nightmare with so many options, and your local shop probably doesn’t stock everything you might want to try on.
Once you’ve been cycling for a while, you might have an idea of what works for you, but if you’re just starting out it can be daunting. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a short buyer’s guide to help you get to grips with the basics.
Fit
Cycling shoes, like any other shoes, are built around what’s called a ‘last’. This is essentially a mould, shaped like a foot, that brands use to shape their shoes.
Every brand has a different last, based on their own fit philosophy. Finding a shape that works for you is obviously very important, but the only way to find out is really to try shoes on. We've got a guide to wide cycling shoes too.
So make sure you either go in to a shop in person or buy from an online retailer with a good returns policy.
Sole
As with most things bike-related, carbon is the material du jour when looking at cycling shoe soles. It does make sense though; prized for its ability to be stiff yet lightweight, carbon really is an ideal material for making cycling shoe soles.
The downside is, of course, cost. Entry-level shoes tend to use nylon or glass fibre composite soles in a bid to save money. These are likely to be slightly more flexible than full-carbon soles, but will still be streets ahead of standard training shoes, so it’s certainly not a huge loss if your budget doesn’t stretch to carbon.
Closure system
There are three main closure systems in use today. The most popular are Velcro straps or wire laces with micro-adjustable dials (Boa and similar).
Occasionally, you even get a combination of both. Velcro straps have the advantage of being cheap, effective and easy to use, so you’ll often find these on lower-end shoes. On higher-end shoes, Boa and other similar dial systems tend to dominate due to their ability to precisely control fit.
Traditional laces have also had a bit of a renaissance in the last few years, so if you like a classic look you’ll have a few more options now. Just remember you won’t be able to adjust your shoes on the bike.
Other features
It’s always worth considering what type of riding your shoes are designed for. A lot of road cycling shoes are designed to be ridden in hot weather, for example, meaning they’re very breathable and won’t offer much protection from the elements.
If you live somewhere where the weather is invariably cold and wet, it’s worth considering whether those sorts of shoes are really the right choice, or if you’d be better off with something more robust.
Do cycling shoes make a difference?
Cycling shoes and clipless pedals are the biggest upgrade you can make when you're new to road cycling.
They are designed to have little flex so the force can be transferred into the pedals.
As a result, you'll find your average speed will increase because your foot is locked into place, saving you effort and any needless fatigue.
They are also typically lighter than running or recreational shoes and offer improved ventilation.
However, road cycling shoes can quickly escalate in price.
If you're starting out cycling on a budget, you don't need to spend the earth and an entry-level shoe will have most of the key features you need to get you out on the road.
In fact, in a test we carried out, we're not sure cycling shoe stiffness actually matters.