Non-bike-specifc shoes?

jimothy78

Hi all, this may seems like an odd question, but do any of you flat-pedal users wear shoes that aren't bike specific.

All the bike shoes I've seen recommended for flats tend to look either like plastic-coated football boots or "trendy" skate shoes. I'm not overly enamoured by either look and would prefer something that resembles a normal walking shoe/boot or similar. Obviously, though, finding one with suitable soles is going to be the limiting factor.

Any suggestions?

waby1234

I wear a trainer/walking boot type shoe. Not designed for riding specifically but works fine as is very grippy.

I think it's a cheap Karrimor one like http://www.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-su ... e=18317322

Doesn't matter if it gets filthy or trashed!

ride_whenever

Either 5:10 shoes, not too skatey and very tough.

Personally I use a decent pair of gore-tex merrels as they're very warm and properly tough; with a decent grippy sole.

ianm7222

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-50-s ... 26482.html

dirt cheap, grippy and warm, not too watertight but okay for year round riding.

I'm all for a low budget!

The Rookie

The daughter uses Airwalks on flats, always has, trainer style, grip just fine, can be had in moderately weather proof styles.

jimothy78

Thanks for all the replies so far. All the 5:tens and airwalks fall into the "trendy skaterboy" category, as far as I'm concerned, though. The others look much more like what I had in mind, although I do wonder if the large-lugged soles will really give me the grip I'm looking for on the pins.

@ Ian and Waby - what kind of riding do you do, and do you find your feet stay put on the pedals?

cooldad

I just wear normal (old) trainers. Work fine for me. Anything with fairly flat soles will work with pinned flats. I avoid chunky hiking type soles.
Remember in the midst of all this hightech jabber, you are riding a bicycle.

Ouija

Running shoes or climbing shoes (with the little suction cups on the soles) are a good alternative as they tend to have soft rubber soles (avoid hard plastics and rubbers if you want grip). Look at companies like Merrell. Avoid anything with mesh on it (hard to clean) and go for smooth surfaces like leather (not suede, cloth or canvas like materials).

cooldad

I don't mind mesh. They dry quickly and I don't bother cleaning them, mine are held together by mud and various forms of animal sh1t.

waby1234

jimothy78 wrote:

Thanks for all the replies so far. All the 5:tens and airwalks fall into the "trendy skaterboy" category, as far as I'm concerned, though. The others look much more like what I had in mind, although I do wonder if the large-lugged soles will really give me the grip I'm looking for on the pins.

@ Ian and Waby - what kind of riding do you do, and do you find your feet stay put on the pedals?

I ride XC with a the occasional trip to Cannock and Shropshire thrown in. I have DMR flats and very rarely lose footing. The soles of my trainers are actually quite soft so the pins tend to dig in and grip without issue. Hope that helps anyway!

rockmonkeysc

I use La Sportiva mountaineering approach shoes. I bought them for about £50 when I was doing a lot of climbing. They have mega grippy soles, similar to the rubber used by five ten (they started with climbing shoes before cycling). For me they work as well as my old Five Ten freeriders but last better and are more comfortable to walk in.
I use the for DH racing and have no issues with grip.
http://www.planetfear.com/item/Brand_La ... ef=froogle

jimothy78

waby1234 wrote:

I ride XC with a the occasional trip to Cannock and Shropshire thrown in. I have DMR flats and very rarely lose footing. The soles of my trainers are actually quite soft so the pins tend to dig in and grip without issue. Hope that helps anyway!

That's what i wanted to hear - thanks.

ianm7222

I ride Malvern, FOD Hopton, cannock, Wales occasional DH uplift days - on a cube stereo - never had any issues with the decathlon boots on my DMR flats. I like getting a bit of air and never leave the pedals. if anything I used to bang my ankles every now and then, nut the ankle boot padding has stopped that. Hope this helps.

mac_man

I used to have a pair of skate shoes and they provided plenty enough gripp on flat pedals. I'm now using a pair of hi-tech walking shoes. Grip seems the same even though the soles are not as flat. I think the rubber has more to do with it and the way the soles are designed. Anything with large wide ridges will mean the pins have less to grip on and edge-to-edge ridges could mean your shoes slide sideways off the pins.

I also like the fact they are more water resistant than my old skate shoes and the ankle padding is a bonus.

And they were fairly cheap.

But those Decathlon shoes... assuming they're reasonably well put together, look a steal.