8 Best Indoor Cycling Shoes for Your Spin Class (Buying Guide)

Are you thinking of getting into indoor cycling? Good! A lot of people are starting to realize that you don’t always have to go through dust, dirt, gravel, and mud, to get a good workout from cycling.

Sometimes, you can do it on your own at home or a cycling studio, and the best part is that you can choose whether to do it alone or with a group of people.

With that said, anyone who’s ever had a couple of indoor cycling classes knows that those rentable cycling shoes aren’t exactly of the highest quality.

That and the thought of sharing a pair of shoes with possibly hundreds if not thousands of other people doesn’t exactly make you look forward to every class.

With that said, if you’ve gone through a couple of spin classes already, then it’s high time that you consider investing in a good pair of cycling shoes.

Guaranteed to provide you a comfortable and supportive fit, having the right pair of cycling shoes will make a huge difference in your spin class and make you feel the benefits more. But, because they’re not cheap, it’s not recommended to just dive in headfirst and buy the first pair of cycling shoes that you see.

To help you make the most out of this big investment, we’ve rounded up some of the best cycling shoes for your spin class that’s available on the market today.

 

1. TIEM Slipstream

First up on our list is a cycling shoe that doesn’t look like any other cycling shoe. Instead, the TIEM Slipstream is a cycling shoe that looks like any other regular shoe. This is one of the biggest advantages of these shoes as it makes it easier to wear outside of the spin class so you don’t have to bring extra to wear to-and-fro.

Aesthetics are just part of the story though. The Slipstream is also designed for superior performance and comfort. The combination of engineered mesh materials and athletic textile upper gives your feet plenty of room to breathe while you exercise.

Meanwhile, it comes with a recessed SPD cleat assembly that works with the rubber outsole for superior walking comfort.

Speaking of comfort, the Slipstream is also very convenient. All you have to do is to slip it on and that’s it. This single-strap cycling shoe is easy to wear and easy to fit in any setting, making it an unusually fashionable pair of cycling shoes.

Pros:

• Supreme comfort and breathability

• Doesn’t look like a standard cycling shoe

• Easy to wear

• Comfortable to walk on

Cons:

• Clips sold separately

• Women’s sizing only

 

2. Santic Cycling Shoes

Most quality cycling shoes are sold at relatively high price points. The Santic Cycling Shoes is one of the few exceptions.

Priced below most cycling shoes, this versatile product from Santic punches well above its weight, and then some. Although we don’t recommend it to experts with highly specific needs, beginners and avid cyclists who want something affordable and compatible with numerous pedal and cleat types will love what this cycling shoe has to offer.

What makes these cycling shoes unique is that it has a precision buckle, as well as Velcro straps for better security and fit. At the same time, you can use both adjust the fit according to what you prefer. Then, on top of it all, these cycling shoes were designed to have perforated holes throughout for better ventilation.

Pros:

• Affordable

• Anti-slip and wear-resistant

• Compatible with most types of cleats and pedals

Cons:

• Takes a while to break-in

 

3. Shimano IC5 Indoor Cycling Shoes

Shimano is one of the leading companies in the cycling industry. They manufacture components used some of the top cyclists in the world. Naturally, they have a product built specifically to address the needs of indoor cyclists, which in this case, is the Shimano IC5 Indoor Cycling Shoes.

Regardless of whether you go to your spin classes regularly or recently invested in an at-home set-up, these indoor cycling shoes will transform your experience and take it to the next level. The stiff sole is designed to provide added leverage to help improve power and efficiency with each pedal.

Thanks to its BOA closure system and design that mimics that of typical socks, these shoes hug your feet tightly to provide a close fit while also giving your foot enough room to breathe.

Pros:

• Micro-adjustable and secure fitting

• Best for women

• No-slip soles

Cons:

• A bit on the heavy side

 

4. Pearl Izumi All-Road V4

The Pearl Izumi All-Road V4 is as tough as they come. Although you don’t think that you’ll be needing such a sturdy shoes since you’ll be doing most of your cycling indoors, the fact remains that having more durability never hurt anyone.

This is especially since the design lends to making these shoes feel nearly like a traditional shoes, especially when you’re walking in them.

Designed with a third strap located close to the ankle, the wider design gives a good and locked feel that lets you pedal with the comfort of knowing that your cycling shoes aren’t going anywhere.

Speaking of comfort, these cycling shoes are also available in men’s and women’s sizes. This guarantees that you’re wearing shoes that provide a good feel depending on your gender.

So long as you’re okay with the limited ventilation, the Pearl Izumi All-Road V4 has minimal to no noticeable faults.

Pros:

• Feels almost like traditional shoes to walk in

• Wide and locked-in fit

• Sturdy

Cons:

• Lacks ventilation

• Not for people with wider feet

 

5. Louis Garneau Multi Air Flex

The Louis Garneau Multi Air Flex has everything that you’ll need in cycling shoes. It’s well ventilated with tons of breathability and are far more level than most cycling shoes. It also hugs your feet tightly, thanks to the Velcro straps and the plush tongue, while the padded heel collars help lock your foot firmly in place so there’s minimal slippage while pedaling if any at all.

One thing that you’ll noticed with these indoor cycling shoes is how flexible they feel. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, in our opinion.

As a matter of fact, it only helps make riding using these shoes feel better as it made each pedal stroke feel a lot more forgiving.

Pros:

• Well-ventilated

• Breathable

• Zero slippage while pedaling

• Stylish

Cons:

• Not built for walking long distances

• Small sizing

 

6. Fizik Tempo Powerstrap R5

If we were to single out a phrase to describe what the Fizik Tempo Powerstrap R5 is, it’d be “premium quality without the premium pricing”.

While other more affordable offerings force you to make a number of compromises, this one doesn’t. In fact, it might even fit you better than its more-expensive competition.

This is mostly thanks to what Fizik refers to as the “Powerstrap”, which consists of two Velcro tension straps that work in unison to help you tighten the shoes evenly around your instep and midfoot.

In addition to a good fit, the Powerstrap R5 also has a carbon-reinforced nylon outsole for just the right combination of light weight and durability. Meanwhile, inside its heel cup, you’ll find silicone dots designed to minimize any slipping and pinching that might happen as you pedal.

For penny pinchers who are sticklers for quality, the Powerstrap R5 is an excellent choice.

Pros:

• Feels a lot more expensive than its price suggests

• “Powerstrap” design

• Lightweight

Cons:

• Might take a while to figure out how to make it fit well on your feet

 

7. Giro Empire E70 Knit Shoes

There are two types of premium-priced products: the ones that make you swear that you find the same quality in cheaper competition and the others that are worth every extra penny you spent on them.

The Giro Empire E70 Knit Shoes is a good example of the latter.

Designed for superior cooling and airflow, the E70 uses a laced closure with a supple Xnetic knit fabric that lets it provide a comfortable yet tight fit without affecting breathtability.

More importantly, to make the E70 feel less like a pair of socks and more like actual shoes, it’s fitted with an internal TPU skeleton for better structural integrity.

The EC70 carbon sole might only be considered as “second-tier” as far as Giro’s line of products go, but then again, the stiffness is more than adequate enough to maintain form even after many hours of pedaling and riding.

As an bonus, Giro makes the E70 in both men’s and women’s versions.

Pros:

• Stiff and comfortable carbon soles

• Superior breathability

• Snug fit without feeling like socks

Cons:

• Expensive

 

8. Nike SuperRep Cycle

The Nike SuperRep Cycle uses what Nike refers to as a “translucid mesh upper” that they paired with a “perforated sock liner”, as well as vents found on the bottom of the plate to help improve airflow around the toes.

So, basically, they just described in a very complex way that these cycling shoes are very breathable, and we’re inclined to agree. Although this isn’t to say that these shoes are functional, because they are. But, rather, we’re saying that the fabric mesh and venting channels work together to make these shoes very comfortable to wear even after long hours of pedaling.

As for the performance, the SuperRep uses what nike refers to as a heat-moulded nylon plastic half-sole. This is found on the forefoot area. It doesn’t provide nearly as much stiffness as, let’s say, a carbon-fiber outsole, but it’s good enough to be used for intense sessions of indoor cycling.

Pros:

• Highly breathable

• Compatible with most 2- and 3-bolt cleat systems

Cons:

• Lacks stiffness

 

Conclusion

Whether you have a lot of money to throw around or you’re looking for something budget-friendly or you simply prefer to get the most out of your money, we made sure that our list of cycling shoes for spin class cater to a variety of needs, preferences, and budgets.

With that said, just in case you didn’t notice, one thing that all these cycling shoes have in common is that they’re all designed with efficiency, power transfer, and ventilation with just the right amount flex in mind.

Just to what degree depends on which of these cycling shoes you choose for your spin class.

So, regardless of which of these you end up choosing, you’re guaranteed to have quality indoor cycling shoes.

 

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