Looking for New MTB Shoes

Discussion in 'Shoes' started by Runs with Scissors, Nov 15, 2016.


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  1. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    When I got back into riding 4 years ago my brother gave me a pair of Shimano mtb shoes. They're pretty well worn out so I'm looking to replace them.

    I have Shimano SPD pedals and may switch to something with less of a death grip on my foot, but still clipless.

    Like anyone else I want light, cheap, and durable. :geek:

    Any recommendations as to brand? Stories about how much hell you've put yours through and they still work?

    Go.
     
  2. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Cornholio and Runs with Scissors like this.
  3. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    I will say that I am not all too happy with my Shimano shoes.

    I spent 15 years running Sidi's and last year make the move back to Shimano.

    The rubber lugs on the soles began pulling off within a few weeks. At ten months I blew out the seam next to my big toe on both shoes. Shimano warrantied them in Late April. I was looking at them over the weekend, and the same exact seams are starting to tear open. Not acceptable for a $200 shoe.

    I'm gonna give Pearl Izumi a try this next time.
     
  4. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    You know the kind of adventures I go on, wilderness plus rides where I don't know if I'm climbing a cliff, hiking a ravine, or screaming down a cow trail, my Shimano SH-M200 have kicked azz! They just came out with a new updated model that @Voodoo Tom was telling me about. I will definitely get them again...:thumbsup:

    Note: Gonna move this to the Shoes Forum....:)
     
    Voodoo Tom likes this.
  5. littlewave

    littlewave Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Newport Beach
    Name:
    Brett
    Current Bike:
    GG Smash (Alu)
    kioti and Runs with Scissors like this.
  6. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    We just got these for my wife a few weeks back.

    Shimano SH-089

    They consider them their mid priced Enduro shoe:

    15mo89blkshoesbiig.jpg
     
    UPSed, Runs with Scissors and Mikie like this.
  7. Makoto

    Makoto Member

    Location:
    Costa Mesa
    Name:
    Mike
  8. Voodoo Tom

    Voodoo Tom MTB Addict

    Location:
    Castaic
    Name:
    Tom Kokkinakis
    Current Bike:
    Mango one, black one, Ti one
    Yep the Shimano me7 shoes. Will be getting a pair soon...
    max_ME7_730595.jpg
     
    dustyyoungblood, scan, UPSed and 2 others like this.
  9. doublewide

    doublewide iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Mark
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Tallcan
    I'm a big fan of these... But I also wear spandex with pads and a full face helmet on the Floop....

    sd60.jpg
     
    wheezy, Torrent77, herzalot and 12 others like this.
  10. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Hmmmm.... They even come in my colors! I'm in!
     
  11. Redman

    Redman iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Henderson, Nv
    Name:
    Kevin
    Current Bike:
    SC OG Hightower 29'r
    been running these for a few months now. very happy with them so far. they run small, so order one size up if you go with them.

    mavic-crossmax-shoe.jpg
     
    Mikie and Runs with Scissors like this.
  12. noLungs

    noLungs Member

    Location:
    West Covina
    Name:
    Robert
    Current Bike:
    About to flip a coin
    Sidi dragon mega if you have hoofs for feet like me
     
    UPSed, Mikie and Runs with Scissors like this.
  13. bvader

    bvader iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    HB
    Name:
    Mr. Brown
    Mikie and Runs with Scissors like this.
  14. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
  15. Danmtchl

    Danmtchl iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Bakersfield
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
    Runs with Scissors and Mikie like this.
  16. konakc

    konakc iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    kc
    About the death grip.. you can loosen the SPDs to a point where the shoes comes off w/ no effort.. then I'd tighten a little bit, just enough so that it won't come off while pedaling... or flying down something... (just do both sides...)
     
  17. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
    For all around riding I use the Shimano XM7. Goretex and vibram. Sort if like a low rise spd hiking boot. Nasty weather gets the MW81 full on gore tex boot.
    I got tired of the ballet slipper feel of some of the other top brands. I likes to wiggle my toes once in a while.
     
  18. RS VR6

    RS VR6 Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Valencia/Simi
    Name:
    Lee
    Current Bike:
    Banshee Shartfire/Chiner 29r
    I've always liked the traditional "XC" type of shoes.

    Wearing the Northwave Strikers for the last two years. About to put the Sidi Dominator Fit to use this weekend. The Sidi ratchets feel the best out of all the shoes I've had. They've been sitting on the shelf for almost two years. :rolleyes:

    I like shoes with a relatively firm sole. If it's too flexy...I'll find my arches to be sore the next day.


    SidiDominator.jpg
    northwave-striker-carbon-5--black-red-zapatos-bicicleta-montaña-foto-58105.jpg




    I also have some Shimano AM45's (really fat shoes) and just bought a pair of Teva Pivots from Jenson for 35 bucks. Jury is still out on the skate shoe looking MTB shoes.

    teva-pivot-mtb-shoe-clipless-222148.jpg
     
    kioti, Mikie, mtnbikej and 2 others like this.
  19. Danmtchl

    Danmtchl iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Bakersfield
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
    I usually use a set of Dominators as my 3 season shoe. But the OP is looking for a cheap pair of shoes and Sidi's aren't cheap especially a pair of Dominators. Now $35 for a set of SPD shoes is cheap. That's a great buy.
     
    herzalot, Mikie, RS VR6 and 2 others like this.
  20. Rumpled

    Rumpled Well-Known Member

    Location:
    OC
    Name:
    Jim Martin
    Current Bike:
    2018 Specialized Epic Carbon C
    I happen to be in the market for new shoes, probably buying just after Xmas 'cuz that's when I'll get some store gift card.
    I've been running low end Shimano shoes recently (M-089 090 ??) and they only lasted a year or year and a half. In between two pieces of pleather the webbing tore. Only noticed when I wore colored socks and saw color showing through.
    I don't ride all that much, usually 3-4 times a week and at least half of that road - I use one pair of shoes for everything; XC, CX and road.

    I tried a pair of Giro's ordered from Active. Waaayy tooo small. Had to return them and return shipping and restocking cost me far too much. I'm only getting shoes I can try on locally from now on.

    I'll probably be limited to just the two big S's - Shimano and Specialized; as that is what is carried where I will have $ to spend.

    I'll keep on eye on this.

    One extra I want is ability to add toe spikes. My plans include CX that could have a lot of weather for these shoes to ride through.
     
  21. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    Light, cheap and durable. Pick any two. :whistling:

    Thanks for all the suggestions and keep 'em coming. I can't imagine buying a pair of shoes without trying then on so I doubt I'll be ordering them online.

    I can see I've got some shopping to do.
     
    Mikie, RS VR6 and Danmtchl like this.
  22. littlewave

    littlewave Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Newport Beach
    Name:
    Brett
    Current Bike:
    GG Smash (Alu)
    Amazon prime!
     
    Mikie likes this.
  23. RS VR6

    RS VR6 Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Valencia/Simi
    Name:
    Lee
    Current Bike:
    Banshee Shartfire/Chiner 29r
    This will be the hard part. The best deals will typically always be found online. I buy all my shoes online and at significant discounts. For the same amount of money, I can buy more shoe online than at my local shop. I pretty much buy previous year models at closeout prices. I usually look for shoes that have an msrp above 150. At that price point...I've found that the comfort and durability are both there. Then again...I got some S-Works Trail shoes just to have crazy hot spots on the sides of my feet.

    Your shoes are probably the most important of all the interfaces on the bike. It all begins at your feet and shoes. I've used some spongy shoes in the past...and after a couple hours of pedaling...my feet were screaming for mercy.

    I can totally understand the trying them on part. Shoe companies all have their own ideas when it comes to shoe sizing.
     
  24. Danmtchl

    Danmtchl iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Bakersfield
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
    Well bring the type of socks you wear while riding and go to a few shops and try on shoes. A lot of shops will carry a brand or two, and limited sizes.
     
    Mikie, Runs with Scissors and RS VR6 like this.
  25. scan

    scan iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    fran allas
    Current Bike:
    Scott Spark
    Mikie, Runs with Scissors and RS VR6 like this.
  26. knucklebuster

    knucklebuster Well-Known Member

    Location:
    34.2295° N, 117.2257° W
    Name:
    Dave
    Current Bike:
    Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail
    Some 3-4 year old 5-10 Maltese and a half a tube of shoe goo. I hate buying new shoes....
     
  27. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    Sidi Dom 5s I got for $135 on sale rack at The Path 4 years ago. But whoever said "pick the pair that fits" couldn't be more right. So hard to find the perfect fit, but if you do - Stasis baby! You never think about 'em again until they stop fastening or they delaminate.
     
  28. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Yup! You would dig 'em! Like a pair of slippers for action!
     
    Cornholio and Runs with Scissors like this.
  29. Makoto

    Makoto Member

    Location:
    Costa Mesa
    Name:
    Mike
  30. Cornholio

    Cornholio iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    B
    Current Bike:
    Huffy
    I've been riding with the M200's for about a year and love em! Wife surprised me with them for Christmas last year, she's rad.
     
    Runs with Scissors likes this.
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As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?