I wore my mtb shoes without clips. I had a traction issue but it was mild. The only REAL problem I had was that I bought the shoes on clearance and one if the cleat covers was loose at one end and the pedal actually wedged into the shoe somehow...so all that worry about being stuck to my bike with the clipless pedals and I managed to do it WITHOUT! I fell over. won't call it a wreck because I was standing still when it happened. didn't get hurt but I put duck tape over them after that. Oh, and within weeks switched to clipless altogether.