CLIPLESS TRAIL SHOES

As your major contact point with the bike, it’s no surprise that a good pair of shoes makes a big difference to your ride. If you use clipless pedals, there’s a huge range of compatible footwear out there, in a range of styles and with all sorts of features, so what should you be looking for?

The truth is that clipless trail shoes are as individual to you as a pair of prescription glasses. What sort of riding do you do? Is it all about powering up hills in the saddle? Or do you venture into the wilds, onto terrain that could have you shouldering the bike? Perhaps you’re an aggressive rider whose front wheel sends up showers of rocks as you muscle your way downhill? Each of these disciplines places different demands on your footwear, so rather than just picking the shoes that you think look the coolest, take a bit of time to think about your requirements.

That first rider who spends long days powering around the trails with little or no deviation onto his/her feet will prioritise power transfer. A stiff midsole will not only make all-day pedalling more efficient, but more comfortable too, placing a nice firm plate between their feet and narrower XC-style pedals. It can also help with close control of the bike, rigidly fixing it to their body.

The rider who ventures off the beaten track with little knowledge of what he/she will come up against will want something with a little more give, greater insole padding to make hiking more comfortable, and a flexible and grippy outsole to prevent slipping. Pure speed and power transfer are secondary.

Aggressive riders need something in between – enough stiffness to help with wrestling the bike around and hammering on the pedals, but some flexibility too, for pushing back up the trail. They’ll also benefit from some padding around the toe and ankle, for protection against flying debris.

There are some features that are advantageous for everyone, such as a closure system that can be tightened evenly with few hotspots, and quick-drying and easily-cleaned materials, for a fast turnaround in the