The 10 Best Cycling Shoes For Women

Updated January 29, 2020 by Christopher Thomas

This wiki has been updated 17 times since it was first published in October of 2019. Whether you cycle indoors or outdoors, your shoes should fit comfortably and offer secure pedal traction. For spin cycling, you need contoured soles and compatible cleats to keep your feet planted. For track and mountain biking, you'll want thick treads to withstand turbulence. Additional must-have features include adjustable fasteners, soft linings, and breathable panels. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. If you'd like to contribute your own research to Ezvid Wiki, please get started by reviewing this introductory video.

1. Scott MTB RC
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

2. Tommaso Pista Spin Class
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

3. Sidi Dominator 7 SR
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

4. Fizik R5 Road
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

5. Louis Garneau Tri X-Speed III
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

6. Shimano SH-RX800W
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

7. Pearl Izumi IV-W
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

8. Venzo Road Riding
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

9. Giro Empire VR90
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

10. Flywheel Sports Indoor
EBAY
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

Special Honors

Riivo High-priced outdoor designs with embossed, metallic features. Hand-crafted to the foot measurements of each wearer. They do customized molds at their Houston headquarters. If you order their kit, you can send them your self-made mold. Custom colors and orthotics on select models. riivo.com

Rocket7 Hand-made by a team of cobblers in Erie, Colorado. The company sells different colored variations of five basic designs, intended for track cycling, mountain biking, and triathlons. They also do custom-fitting. Their shoes are backed by a conditional one-year warranty. rocket7.com

Editor's Notes

January 26, 2020:

I've changed this list to feature indoor and outdoor cycling shoes. At first, I only included indoor shoes. To make room for the outdoor selections, I removed the unisex Gavin Road SPD because it's primarily for beginning indoor cyclists and you have to purchase the cleats separately. I also removed the Zol White MTB because its clips constantly need retightening. I added four outdoor shoes to the list based on recommendations from leading shoe experts, including the minty microfiber Scott MTB RC and the cushiony, colorful Sidi Dominator 7 SR.

The qualities I looked for in all of these selections are comfort, ventilation, snugness, durability, and traction.

January 19, 2020:

The decision was made to focus on indoor cycling shoes because their design and function are a lot different than their outdoor counterparts. Indoor cycling shoes feature firm, contoured soles, whereas outdoor shoes feature thick, flexible treads. While outdoor shoes are also designed to accommodate walking, indoor cycling shoes are not intended for walking beyond the matting of the gym. Therefore, indoor shoes feature smooth bottoms to prevent scratching of the floor material at gyms. While outdoor cycling shoes can be used for indoor cycling, the reverse is not the case. That said, some cycling shoes like the Louis Garneau Tri X-Speed III are adaptable to both environments.

The list presents a range of popular cycling shoe brands, including expert favorites like Louis Garneau and Pearl Izumi.

Last updated on January 29, 2020 by Christopher Thomas

Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.

Thanks for reading the fine print. About the Wiki: We don't accept sponsorships, free goods, samples, promotional products, or other benefits from any of the product brands featured on this page, except in cases where those brands are manufactured by the retailer to which we are linking. For more information on our rankings, please read about us, linked below. The Wiki is a participant in associate programs from Amazon, Walmart, Ebay, Target, and others, and may earn advertising fees when you use our links to these websites. These fees will not increase your purchase price, which will be the same as any direct visitor to the merchant’s website. If you believe that your product should be included in this review, you may contact us, but we cannot guarantee a response, even if you send us flowers.