Giro Riddance Cycling Shoe - Women's

Clipless shoes may have their place on the trail, but that place isn't on your feet. You prefer having extra mobility, freedom, and comfort when you hop off and shoulder your bike through overgrown sections of backcountry dirt, and we don't blame you. Designers at Giro seem to understand as well, which is why they crafted the Riddance Women's Cycling Shoes. These sleek flats pack in ultra tacky Vibram Megagrip ISR rubber to keep you glued to the pedals when you hammer through rugged rock gardens, and EVA to soak up some of the rough trail vibrations as you charge further down the trail.

The Riddance shoes feature synthetic uppers with plenty of perforation to let fresh air in to keep you cool, and water-resistant protection to keep your flippers dry through the muddiest corners. Inside Giro aims to support your arches with an EVA footbed that dampens pedal strikes and brake bumps. But the star of the show isn't the upper, instead its the newly developed Vibram Megagrip ISR rubber outsole. This rubber was designed with input from Giro to land you with total grip that sticks to your pedals through jarring corners and tire-gobbling technical sections, while adding an additional layer of vibration damping to keep you comfortable through all day rides deep into the backwoods, diving into the trails less traveled.

Scott MTB RC Lady Cycling Shoe - Women's

Whether your ride of the day includes epic high desert singletrack, grunting up a steep, barrier-laden run-up, or heading out for a jaunt on your favorite local trail, the Scott Women's MTB RC Lady Shoes are up to the challenge. No frills, no pink (ok, just a little pink), just trail-rocking style with a heap of technology to support your feet while they drive your ride.

Scott utilizes a strategic mix of lightweight microfiber and 3D nylon mesh to construct the MTB RC's upper, and it incorporates Wrap Fit technology in the construction for a snug fit. Wrap Fit is essentially an internal layer of synthetic leather that provides extra support while conforming to your foot shape to reduce pressure points and increase comfort. A BOA IP1 strap closure system spans the top of the shoe, and two hook-and-loop straps across the midfoot make for a secure fit and easy adjustments on the fly. Inside, Scott's Adjustable ErgoLogic removable insole boasts a customizable arch for additional tweaks to the fit.

Underfoot, Scott incorporates a light and stiff HMX carbon fiber sole for efficient power transfer. A lugged, X Traction outsole sits over the carbon to protect it from rocks and provide excellent grip when you're off the bike and climbing over obstacles. The shoes are finished with threading for two toe spikes for additional traction on muddy trails or steep inclines.

Pearl Izumi SELECT Road V5 Cycling Shoe - Women's

Minimalist, but not lacking, the Pearl Izumi Women's Road V5 Cycling Shoes make for the perfect partner on all-day weekend cruises, and after work group rides alike. That's because they pack a good punch in their simple profile, with three hook-and-loop straps to enclose your foot with a customized fit, and synthetic uppers that support you through the longest miles. The sole might flex a touch more than the Road Race model, but they still push forward with a good degree of stiffness thanks to a composite matrix reinforced with nylon, landing it right in the middle of Pearl's stiffness scale, so you have a little forgiveness when you head for your first century, when comfort is a bit more important than pedaling efficiency. The sole is finished with traction at the heel and toe to help you keep upright when those long days in the saddle are punctuated by refueling stops at convenience stores with slippery linoleum floors.

Five Ten Freerider Cycling Shoe - Women's

The Five Ten Women's Freerider Shoes add subtle styling to technological features made to shred the gnarliest of trails. In a world of neon trimmings and flashy personalities, these shoes are a contrast of muted colors that let your riding skills take center stage.

Five Ten's non-marking Stealth Phantom rubber was developed for rock climbing shoes. As such, it has excellent grip, which makes it super easy to keep your feet on the pedals. Just think, no shinburger for dinner... again. It's also super durable, which isn't a surprise since the climbing shoes it was first developed for had to suffer the wear and tear of hard granite cliffs for hours on end.

The Freerider Shoes may just have a tougher job. They have to endure the prodding from the metal spikes on your pedals all day, but the Stealth Rubber can take it. Five Ten Stealth Rubber soles will outlast the gum rubber sole on a conventional skate shoe every time and stick better to your pedals.

The Women's Freerider Shoes have all the style that you want and the bomber sole that you need to land big tricks without blowing your feet. The uppers are made of brushed leather and mesh panels, and the toe box is reinforced to provide added protection if you lose it in mid-air.

Giro Sica Techlace Cycling Shoe - Women's

It's been all too long that we ladies have been put on the backburner by brands in the biking world. Fortunately, it does seem that slowly (but surely) slack is being picked up, and we are being offered gear that's built for those of us reaching for podiums, pushing ourselves to the limit and charging into terrain that the world of shrink-it-and-pink-it doesn't dare to dream of. The Giro Sica Techlace, while offering a pink option, isn't one to fall into soft and frilly category, and certainly doesn't treat us like delicate little flowers. These shoes are made to be tough, with stiff carbon soles that commit maximum power to your cranks, and rugged vibram lugs for charging up the mountain with a bike over-shoulder.

The Sica Techlace Shoe is built just as burly as its male counterpart, the Giro Code, featuring the same Evofiber Microfiber uppers that wrap your foot in snugly, and wick away perspiration through perforations throughout the entire shoe. The toe and heel are reinforced with rubber for protection against chunky rock gardens and trail debris, with a stretch paneling through the arch to shield you from unwieldy cranks.

The enclosure system includes an L6 Boa dial, which offers micro-adjustments in 1mm increments, and two Techlace straps that provide an enhanced, supple feel across the forefoot. Inside, the shoe features Giro's SuperNatural FitKit with adjustable arch support, and Aegis odor-fighting fiber. This insole molds to your foot with a series of inserts for enhancing comfort whether you're flat-footed or have arches steeper than the mountains around you.

The soles of the Sica Techlace feature Easton's EC70 carbon fiber for ultimate stiffness and power, eliminating flex that can cost you watts when you're fighting for a virtual QOM or an actual podium on race day. This ultra-stiff sole is backed up with Vibram rubber, known for its tacky grip and durability, with aggressive, directional lugs that keep your footing sure if an off-bike section is a must. The sole has a mid-foot scuff guard for on-foot protection, and a recessed 2-bolt cleat mount for clipping into your favorite mountain pedals.

Giro Solara II Cycling Shoe - Women's

Pro-level shoes aren't always practical, especially if you take part in multiple disciplines or are just getting into cycling. Or maybe, like many of us, you're more interested in kit that just works rather than the Latest & Greatest™. Giro understands this, so it took features from its high-end models and adapted them to a shoe that won't take up your entire budget for the season just because some pro with a funny haircut and lively social media account wears it, too.

Giro constructs the shoes with a smooth, vented microfiber upper for a contoured fit around your foot. The Solara II features welded and bonded uppers that limit the number of traditionally sewn seams to reduce the likelihood of hot spots and blisters. While some entry-level cycling shoes receive little to no midsole treatment, Giro adds a molded EVA footbed to the Solara IIs to provide efficiency-improving arch support throughout your pedal stroke.

The footbed is treated with an Aegis antimicrobial coating to keep it smelling fresh, while a DuPont Zytel nylon outsole provides reliable power transfer from your legs to the pedals. When you're getting ready to ride, take advantage of the option to fine-tune the fit of the shoes at three points across the top of your foot to avoid numbness and hot spots. Giro includes two hook-and-loop straps across the instep and a micro-adjustable N-1 ratcheting buckle at the top.

Shimano SH-MT5 Cycling Shoe - Women's

If you're looking for a cycling shoe that's just as capable off the bike as on, have a look at Shimano's SH-MT5 Cycling Shoe. It's outdoor-inspired look isn't just for show, it offers excellent off the bike walkability and cleat-compatibility so you can pack light on those bikepacking trips and still scramble around the campsite without the need of additional footwear. It uses a glass fiber reinforced shank plate that gets a stiffness rating of four on the Shimano scale meaning it's still efficient for pedaling but not overly stiff either. The outsole is covered with EVA rubber providing traction over rocks, roots, and through creek beds. Additionally, its built on a women's last for more comfort and a better fit.

The SH-MT5's durable synthetic upper receives mesh panels to exhaust heat, and its fashioned as one piece for an improved fit, better durability, and lighter weight. Its speed-lace system spans the top of the shoe for easy adjustments and a customized fit, while a hook-and-loop strap across the top of the foot holds the laces in place and provides an extra bit of support.

Louis Garneau Mica II Cycling Shoe - Women's

Louis Garneau's Mica II Cycling Shoe goes a long way to dispel the notion that you have to spend a fortune on riding shoes in order to keep your feet happy. As a good option for everything from big cross country rides to everyday trail riding, the Mica II keeps your feet comfortable on long rides while helping you put power to the pedals efficiently. And while they may be on the more budget-friendly side of the spectrum, these shoes don't skip out on features or quality, as they come with Garneau's award-winning X-Comfort Zone technology trickled down from top-tier models.

When cycling, feet tend to swell due to the increase in blood flow to the muscles. This can lead to numbness and hot spots that could potentially cut your ride short. Garneau addresses this issue with their X-Comfort Zone technology, an integrated stretch panel on the outside of the toe box that allows the foot to swell up to 5mm while riding, thus eliminating hot spots and discomfort. It also allows the shoes to comfortably fit riders with average and above average forefoot widths, taking some of the guesswork out of shoe selection.

Sidi Drako SRS Push Cycling Shoe - Women's

The Sidi women's Drako SRS Push Shoes aren't for most cyclists. Hell, they're not even for most racers. They're for the competitive ladies whose engines outstrip virtually every other shoes on the market, the cyclists who want to have the same confidence in their gear as they do in their legs. The women's Drako SRS is built on the same platform that first made its name under the likes of Absalon in the men's racing world. The only difference is that the last in the women's version is sized down to fit more slender feet. In short, when you're ready to race at the highest level of competition, the women's Drako SRS Push will be ready to accompany you.

The shoes feature Sidi's newly improved Tecno 3 Push fastener. Like its predecessor, the Tecno 3 Push system involves two ratcheting dials, Sidi's proprietary, non-stretch wire, and a customizable fit at the instep and forefoot. The Push in the shoes' title refers to the incorporation of a red button on the buckles' faces that releases the ratchet's lever for quick adjustment, saving you the onerous task of flipping the lever up yourself. At ride's end, pinching two release buttons on either side of the dial loosens the wire. As with all of Sidi's fastening hardware, you can easily fiddle with the Tecno 3 Push buckles in the saddle.

The Drako's SRS Carbon Ground Sole and replaceable cleat wear plate return unchanged. This sole shaves 100 grams off its predecessor's weight without sacrificing comfort, efficiency, or durability. The sole comprises a medium-modulus carbon body supplemented with SRS tread blocks and a cleat wear plate, the latter two of which are replaceable. Using a medium-modulus carbon as the base provides a slight flex along the length of the foot with no compromise to the overall rigidity of the sole, a delicate but necessary balance for top-level off-road shoes.

Sidi's Heel Security System (HSS) also makes an encore appearance, using an adjustable, rigid composite band that closes the shoe more securely over your heel to anchor it in place around your Achilles. No matter how much power you're pouring into the pedals, your heel will stay in place inside the shoe, even if you leave a bit of slack in the Tecno-3 lines in order to alleviate pressure across your metatarsals. The shoes are finished with Sidi's synthetic Lorica uppers inset with ballistic mesh panels and capped with a rubberized toe shield.

Pearl Izumi X-ALP Elevate Cycling Shoe - Women's

When you're down to ride anything, having a shoe that's only up for XC laps, or heavy-duty downhill days can be limiting at best. Instead of making-do, set yourself up with a shoe that has a sense of adventure with the Pearl Izumi X-ALP Elevate Mountain Bike Shoe for Women. These shoes combine a 3-layer, foot-hugging upper for support when you're blasting berms, with rugged lugged Vibram soles to grab the trail on foot when you're scoping new lines, or hiking a bike as you bushwhack through an overgrown section of trail.

Securing you in from the top you'll find Pearl's IP1 Boa system that reels in the line, allowing 1-millimeter increments for micro adjustability, and a hook-and-loop strap across the toe box that cinches down to keep you secure. The three-layer uppers are bonded with a seamless construction that allows for all day comfort, and durability to stand the test of time. Mesh panels in the uppers keep breathing a priority, letting fresh air in while perforations in the toe and arch let your sweat escape when the mercury starts to rise, preventing an uncomfortable case of hot-foot.

When you're pushing through long-forgotten sections of trail, laced with fallen trees, you'll be happy to find a stiff nylon-carbon composite shank that maximizes pedaling efficiency for quick power moves up and over logs and roots, and a lightweight EVA midsole that supports you if things get a little too hairy and you've got to hop off the bike and hike through a section. Underneath the EVA, Pearl sets you up with the surefooted grip of a Vibram rubber outsole, featuring Megagrip compound to elevate the traction and durability on rough trails. The aggressive lugs are directional, designed to assist in braking on the heel, and propelling you forward in the toe. The center of the sole is equipped with a recessed SPD cleat mount, allowing you to clip in on the bike, without interfering with your stride when you have to walk.

Scott Elite BOA Lady Cycling Shoe - Women's

You've patiently waited all week for the opportunity to ride across the tacky berms, rock-littered descents, and precipitous drops of your favorite trail. Make every pedal stroke count with the powerful feel and foot-wrapping comfort of the Scott Women's Elite BOA Lady Shoe. This streamlined shoe caters to aggressive ladies sampling a bit of everything at their local network, whether it's the smooth-buffed dirt or the elevated bridges and rock gardens of gravity trails.

The fiberglass-reinforced nylon sole strikes an optimal balance between stiffness and riding comfort, backed by its medium-stiff power rating. Boa IP1 lacing offers precise tightness with its micro-adjsutable dial, complemented by a hook-and-loop strap for extra support. The Boa dial instantly releases with a simply pull upwards, allowing you to instantly bail out after riding. Another stand-out feature, the ErgoLogic footbed customizes its fit to your individual foot shape with an adjustable arch system.

Sidi Dominator 7 SR Cycling Shoe - Women's

Even when you're on a trail where you know you can ride every element, you may have to get off your bike in less than ideal conditions. If a downed tree or an injured rider block your way, you'll be glad to have the confidence of stepping onto the Sidi Dominator 7 SR Mountain Bike Shoe. This shoe features rubber lugs to ensure you can find traction even in muddy conditions, and is even compatible with toe spikes (sold separately) if you need more. On the bike, the Dominator performs equally well with its reinforced nylon sole that efficiently transfers your power to your pedal. EVA padding surrounds your foot to alleviate pressure points, and a reinforced heel maintains your foot's alignment to ensure efficiency. The Soft Instep closure system features a dual-directional ratchet strap (that you can even adjust while riding) as well as two hook-and-loop straps so you can customize the fit to each part of your foot. This women's model features an enhanced taper, narrower heel cup, and lower volume instep to help you find a precise fit.

Mavic Sequence Elite Cycling Shoe - Women's

You've got a new bike, a MIPS helmet, and a closet full of kit, and all you need to live your road riding dreams is a pair of shoes that affordably balances comfort and efficient power transfer. Mavic's Sequence Elite Women's Cycling Shoes tick all those boxes with a streamlined profile that will make any kit look pro. With a carbon reinforced composite sole and supportive, micro-adjustable fit, the Sequence represents a definitive step-up from Mavic's entry-level offerings that still leave room in your cash flow for weekend ride adventures and local race fees.

Dialing in a micro-adjustable fit along the shoe's upper, the Ergo Dial maintains support while its quick-release functionality makes removal a painless affair, which will be much appreciated after a long day in the saddle The Ergo Dial is paired with two Ergo Straps along the mid-foot and lower for easy adjustments on the fly.