[Q] Which SPD shoes?

rtorbs
rtorbs Posts: 94
edited January 2011 in MTB beginners
Hi peeps,

Im looking for my first pair of SPD shoes and dont know what I want/need

Im not looking to break the bank with this pair in case i dont take to them but has anyone got any suggestions....?

The DHB M1s would have been ideal but 'appear' to have been discontinued in 42 (and others) so unless i cut my toes off im screwed there.....

Budget?.... say around or less than £70/£80

Cheers
Custom Blue Pig MKII

Comments

  • idiotdogbrain
    idiotdogbrain Posts: 181
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=7610

    Shimano MP66 - pretty much every other pic I see in a magazine has someone wearing them...
    ::'11 Pitch Pro::
  • rtorbs
    rtorbs Posts: 94
    idiotdogbrain wrote:
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7610

    Shimano MP66 - pretty much every other pic I see in a magazine has someone wearing them...

    Ok sweet....whats the diff though between that sort of style and the DHB M1 type....other than the way they look obviously?
    Custom Blue Pig MKII
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Or the new AM45. MP66 are ace though.
  • rtorbs
    rtorbs Posts: 94
    Chunkers1980 wrote:
    Or the new AM45. MP66 are ace though.

    Can someone confirm what pedals id need for this type of shoe....? I read you need a DX type?

    Answered my own question...it says DX on the toe lol....errrr so that'll be a yes then!!
    Custom Blue Pig MKII
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Eh?

    You asked about SPD shoes! So an SPD pedal - an M520 can't be beaten in value terms.

    Cleats come with new Shimano pedals, they fit to shoes, shoes then fit pedals.
  • rtorbs
    rtorbs Posts: 94
    Chunkers1980 wrote:
    Eh?

    You asked about SPD shoes! So an SPD pedal - an M520 can't be beaten in value terms.

    Cleats come with new Shimano pedals, they fit to shoes, shoes then fit pedals.

    Sorry mate....new and all that!

    When looking at the MP66 shoes on the link, some guy commented on DX pedals saying they make a good combo which threw me....

    Take for instance Shimano DX M647 Pedals arent they SPD and DX? I just thought that this style of chunkier shoe was more for the flat type pedals....?!

    Im now more confused....

    But if your saying they work with M520 then thats cool.....i just thought id have to swap pedals too ?
    Custom Blue Pig MKII
  • mossmotorsport
    mossmotorsport Posts: 356
    I have the MP66 shoes - and I hate them.

    They look awesome, but I'm a size 12 and because they're pretty wide (trainer style) they wear off the paint from the cranks so easily on mine. Maybe its just because of the size of my feet, not sure.

    My Fiance got me some Specialized ones (not sure on model - £49.99 from a concept store), and they feel so much more comfortable and are not as wide. My Specialized ones also have a bit more rubber surrounding the cleat, which makes walking a lot easier, I felt the cleats with every step before. Just my opinion, but maybe see if you can try some at a LBS first?
    Specialized FSR XC Expert 2010
  • rtorbs
    rtorbs Posts: 94
    mossmotorsport wrote:
    I have the MP66 shoes - and I hate them.

    They look awesome, but I'm a size 12 and because they're pretty wide (trainer style) they wear off the paint from the cranks so easily on mine. Maybe its just because of the size of my feet, not sure.

    My Fiance got me some Specialized ones (not sure on model - £49.99 from a concept store), and they feel so much more comfortable and are not as wide. My Specialized ones also have a bit more rubber surrounding the cleat, which makes walking a lot easier, I felt the cleats with every step before. Just my opinion, but maybe see if you can try some at a LBS first?

    BG primo ?

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/bg-primo-shoe-ec019812?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

    Cheers for the alternative options.....I think I need to try some on now I guess
    Custom Blue Pig MKII
  • nickel
    nickel Posts: 476
    I have Shimano MT22s, they're great. Comfortable, dry quickly and I've even worn them around uni for 8 hours at a time when I can't be bothered to switch my pedals around, no less comfortable than ordinary shoes :D

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=46594
  • mossmotorsport
    mossmotorsport Posts: 356
    rtorbs wrote:
    mossmotorsport wrote:
    I have the MP66 shoes - and I hate them.

    They look awesome, but I'm a size 12 and because they're pretty wide (trainer style) they wear off the paint from the cranks so easily on mine. Maybe its just because of the size of my feet, not sure.

    My Fiance got me some Specialized ones (not sure on model - £49.99 from a concept store), and they feel so much more comfortable and are not as wide. My Specialized ones also have a bit more rubber surrounding the cleat, which makes walking a lot easier, I felt the cleats with every step before. Just my opinion, but maybe see if you can try some at a LBS first?

    BG primo ?

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/bg-primo-shoe-ec019812?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

    Cheers for the alternative options.....I think I need to try some on now I guess

    Those are the ones, I belive even the description states that they have been designed so they are a little easier to walk in. Not used my Shimano shoes since, still in the garage caked in mud!
    Specialized FSR XC Expert 2010
  • rtorbs
    rtorbs Posts: 94
    mossmotorsport wrote:
    Those are the ones, I belive even the description states that they have been designed so they are a little easier to walk in. Not used my Shimano shoes since, still in the garage caked in mud!

    Cool......going back to your OP though, Im on the lighter side and quite slim so was concious of looking like a 3wood in the MP66's lol cos they are huge, Speshs look a lot slimmer.....

    Still need to try them all on for fit and that so will see....

    Cheers pal
    Custom Blue Pig MKII
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    Size 42 (size 8 uk) specialists here, you've just missed out on the £15 specials :cry: These are more road and riding then pure MTB shoes, but still a good bargain.

    http://www.lesports.co.uk/c-294-cycling.aspx

    Be careful you get the SPD ones as there's some Roadie specific cleated shoes in there.
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • crazy88
    crazy88 Posts: 560
    I just got some bontrager ones from Evans cycles. Can't remember the code, think it was Bontrager RL. They're on sale for 69.99 at the moment and I'm very impressed with them. Have a ratchet fastner and carbon (at least part) sole too so nice and rigid.

    They're an MTB shoe but I use them mainly on my commuting road bike.
    Out with the old, in with the new here.
  • Treguard
    Treguard Posts: 27
    idiotdogbrain wrote:
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7610

    Shimano MP66 - pretty much every other pic I see in a magazine has someone wearing them...

    I've got a pair of these and can highly recommend them. Pretty comfy
  • tenfoot
    tenfoot Posts: 226
    I have a pair of Specialized BG shoes. They are very comfortable and have a good amount of grip on the soles for walking / scrambling.

    My previous pair of Spesh shoes lasted about 10 years, so I'm hoping the BGs will be as long lasting.
  • mossmotorsport
    mossmotorsport Posts: 356
    Just got back from Chicksands bike park where it was proper muddy all day. With the Specialized shoes they were fine clipping in and out. The Shimano ones I had before wouldn't have been that good, and would have struggled walking back up some of the steeper hills too.
    Specialized FSR XC Expert 2010
  • Hothouse
    Hothouse Posts: 27
    Specialised Tahoe are mega comfy and a lot easier on the feet if you have to hike a bike at any time. The stiffer xc type shoes are more effective for getting the power down but when your off and walking/pushing a softer trainer type are a better all round bet.
  • starkee
    starkee Posts: 143
    I bought the Dhb M1 shoes as my 'first' spd's . had them a few years now and still wear them.( when my others are drying ) They are comfy in use , but the air vents do let water in on occasions. Last year i bought the Shimano MP66 shoes and have worn them continually since ( for riding :roll: ) They are extremely comfy in use and have managed to keep a fair bit of water out recently. I do agree about them being a touch on the wide side compared to the more 'race' style shoes. Like another poster mentioned every time i read a MTB mag someone is wearing them..... took that as a reasonable endorsement of the product ?! :wink:
  • miss notax
    miss notax Posts: 2,572
    I find personally the less comfy the shoe to walk in (because it's stiffer), the better it is on the bike. I have some old trainer style spd shoes before I moved onto a much stiffer, racier pair, and the old ones feel awful now... The shoe flexes when I pedal and it's really not nice.

    So in my book, comfy to walk in = bad riding shoe, uncomfy to walk in = good riding shoe (and just ride everything and don't walk!)!
    Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away....

    Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!

    Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
  • mossmotorsport
    mossmotorsport Posts: 356
    miss notax wrote:
    I find personally the less comfy the shoe to walk in (because it's stiffer), the better it is on the bike. I have some old trainer style spd shoes before I moved onto a much stiffer, racier pair, and the old ones feel awful now... The shoe flexes when I pedal and it's really not nice.

    So in my book, comfy to walk in = bad riding shoe, uncomfy to walk in = good riding shoe (and just ride everything and don't walk!)!

    I guess it's all personal preference. I find my new Specialized shoes much more comfortable to ride in than my Shimano MP66's - yet the Specialized shoes are much easier to walk in. Not sure if there is definitely any correlation between how comfy the shoe is both on and off the bike :?
    Specialized FSR XC Expert 2010
  • donkykong
    donkykong Posts: 160
    buy a pair of sidi's and you,ll never look back
  • fungus_the_muffin_man
    fungus_the_muffin_man Posts: 1,608
    rtorbs wrote:
    Hi peeps,

    Im looking for my first pair of SPD shoes and dont know what I want/need

    Im not looking to break the bank with this pair in case i dont take to them but has anyone got any suggestions....?

    The DHB M1s would have been ideal but 'appear' to have been discontinued in 42 (and others) so unless i cut my toes off im screwed there.....

    Budget?.... say around or less than £70/£80

    Cheers

    Have you emailed wiggle and asked them if they have a new version of the dhb M1 ready to be sold once stocks of the older version have run down stocks?

    If so they could be worth the wait. I love my M1's they are excellent shoes for the price
    Bianchi. There are no alternatives only compromises!
    I RIDE A KONA CADABRA -would you like to come and have a play with my magic link?
  • alisdairh
    alisdairh Posts: 44
    rtorbs wrote:
    Chunkers1980 wrote:
    Eh?

    You asked about SPD shoes! So an SPD pedal - an M520 can't be beaten in value terms.

    Cleats come with new Shimano pedals, they fit to shoes, shoes then fit pedals.

    Sorry mate....new and all that!

    When looking at the MP66 shoes on the link, some guy commented on DX pedals saying they make a good combo which threw me....

    Take for instance Shimano DX M647 Pedals arent they SPD and DX? I just thought that this style of chunkier shoe was more for the flat type pedals....?!

    Im now more confused....

    But if your saying they work with M520 then thats cool.....i just thought id have to swap pedals too ?
    I'm not sure that anyone has answered your question here so I'll try to. Basically if you want to switch to SPD all you need is some SPD pedals and then an SPD compatible shoe (i.e. it has the fittings to be able to screw SPD cleats into.) It's true that some shoes may fit a little better on flat style pedals but that does not mean that they will not work with all types of SPD pedal.
    Like some of the others have said, go and have a look in your local bike shop and see which ones you'd be most comfortable with. Then all you need to do is get used to falling off a few times while you get used to being clipped in!

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