Quote Originally Posted by polly4711 View Post
Very new to mountain biking here and still riding with flats... do you guys find that a specific shoe really helps? I've had some calf pain, possibly from riding in a running shoe? What are other brands to look into?
Five Ten is pretty much the only game in town. And yes, a biking specific flat shoe really helps. The sole is designed to work with the pins in the pedals for secure foot placement. If you are wearing tennies and using the came-with-the-bike beartrap pedals, yes, that may be why you have calf pain. Your foot is not secure on the pedal with a running shoe, and the support needs are different. Your foot placement may be off, too. For flat pedals you want the spindle of the pedal at the arch of your foot, not under the ball of your foot.

p.s. You don't need to ever justify riding with flats. I've been biking for over twenty years and switched to flats several years ago and will never go back to clipless for mountain biking.