mountain bike shoe recommendations

[moondoggie]

Looking to replace my Look shoes. Presently road biking with frogs. Getting hot foot alot. Thinking i should get a carbon sole. Could really use some recs.
thank you!

[Irulan]

Personally, I prefer the non-carbon type. I'm currently in a Specialized Taho. It has more of a traditional sneaker-like "tacky" sole. I've had very bad experiences losing traction when putting a foot down with stiff/hard soled MTB shoes. They can be very skittery for hike-a-bike on rocky terrain, and they slip when walking on Anything but dirt. For hot feet, you might look into improving the fit with a footbed.

[Irulan]

My recommendation is for mountain biking, that IS what you needed a recommendation for?

[zoom-zoom]

I love love LOVE my Louis Garneau T-Flex 300s. They are quite stiff, except from the ball of the toes forward (hence the flex). They are fabulous for cyclocross and hiking my mtn. bike as needed. They have good traction and heat-moldable (in the oven) uppers.

[Artista]

I've had very bad experiences losing traction when putting a foot down with stiff/hard soled MTB shoes. They can be very skittery for hike-a-bike on rocky terrain, and they slip when walking on Anything but dirt.
I 100% agree with Irulan. I broke the bones on both sides of my ankle when my hard soled mtn bike shoe slipped. Now I wear only sticky bottom shoes similar to the pair that Irulan linked to. I use them for both mtn and road biking.

[Maye]

I currently use the Mavic Scorpio 2012 MTB shoes with my road bike and so far I like them. Before them I was using a pair of MTB shoes with rubber sole and had hot foot issues even before hitting 10 miles!! My pedals are Shimano the double platform ones. With the Mavic shoes, so far I haven't had any hot foot issues but I have been using them for almost a month. I can also walk short distances with them and they have a good grip. They are my "training" shoes/pedals since I was having a hard time clipping in/out. Once I get better, then I'll consider changing the pedals to road ones.

For now I hope this shoes work for me since I can't keep buying shoes or more pedals :eek:

[Catrin]

I use Frogs on the road and also use Mavic Scorpio shoes (2011). Awesome combination on the road and the lugs on the sole are rubber - not hard plastic (though quite firm). My old Bontrager mtb shoes would slip when I went to stop on pavement :eek: these do not do that, and no hot foot issues, at least for me.

[Maye]

I use Frogs on the road and also use Mavic Scorpio shoes (2011). Awesome combination on the road and the lugs on the sole are rubber - not hard plastic (though quite firm). My old Bontrager mtb shoes would slip when I went to stop on pavement :eek: these do not do that, and no hot foot issues, at least for me.

Thanks for adding the info about the lugs. And also, they are cute shoes!

[Catrin]

Thanks for adding the info about the lugs. And also, they are cute shoes!

Yes they are :) I just wish they weren't white, but I don't buy them for the color.

[Artista]

I've never experienced any benefit from lugged soles. I'm much more sure-footed with sticky-bottom shoes.

[pll]

Just a thought: maybe it's not the shoe. I would try some insoles before going to different shoes. Specialized sells some, I use eSoles.

[moondoggie]

thanks ladies! i was looking at the mavic, giro and shimanos. Correct, inserts may be of help as well....pll could you tell me which one you use?

[roguedog]

Agree w/ pll. Check for other soles and maybe cleat placement. Have you had a fitter take a look at your cleats?

That said if you still are on the mtb path..I really like my specialized divas and pros. The pros have carbon. Nice wide toe box for me. Not sure how your feet are. People love sidis but they didn't fit me quite right.

Good luck

[pll]

thanks ladies! i was looking at the mavic, giro and shimanos. Correct, inserts may be of help as well....pll could you tell me which one you use?

I use eSoles (http://www.amazon.com/eSoles-Super-Dynamic-Modular-Insoles/dp/B002N71PB6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337358832&sr=8-2)- a bit more expensive, but you can play with the level of support and they seem lighter, more breathable, to me than the Specialized (which I have in another pair of shoes).

[Anelia]

The most comfortable shoes I've ever tried are SIDIs. But they are very expensive. If you don't have this issue, go for SIDIs.
I have Five tens for platforms. they are on sale now here (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=63978) and I should say that they are very comfortable for walking too and also they stick to the pedal very firmly.
For clipless I ride something like these Diadoras (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55920) but even if they are exacly my number, I feel them too small. I am ok for shorter rides but I could not afford to be in them longer than 2-3 hours. Especially in hot weather when my feet bloat.