Adventure Cycling Association Forum
Bicycle Travel => Gear Talk => Topic started by: Saburo on November 11, 2020, 11:20:46 am
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Anyone out there have recommendations for off the bike shoes for touring?
I use SPD shoes to ride but like to change into different shoes for walking around camp or off days. I don't really like the non-SPD shoes for riding so just wearing regular shoes for both riding and off the bike won't work. Any thoughts on packable, comfortable off the bike shoes?
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On long tours, I carry two pairs:
- Normal cycling shoes with recessed cleats, which is okay for the walking you do during the day.
- A pair of crocs for mornings and evenings. The main reason for crocs is they are lightweight and waterproof. But they are certainly less than ideal if you want to take a 10-mile hike, and they can be slippery in wet conditions.
On shorter tours, I have taken just one pair, which is a compromise. They are essentially running shoes with a recessed cleat: Pearl Izumi X-Road Fuel III.
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I ride in MTB shoes, so I can get off the bike for short periods during the day while remaining sure-footed.
When the day's ride is done, I'll put on some lightweight Teva sandals. Shower in them, walk around town or camp in them, even do some short walks (up to a few miles, maybe). Put on some heavy wool socks and they're good down to frosty (if it's not raining).
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I use Shimano double sided pedals and carry two pair of shoes. Bike shoes with cleats which clip into the pedals for the vast majority of the riding and a pair of Teva sandals for walking and for rides usually around campgrounds or towns. The Tevas work well walking around town and on short hikes and for short rides. A bit of a hassle to change shoes sometimes but I do like the to be clipped in when I ride. Seems to work OK.
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Crocs. Very light weight, good enough to walk, not hike, in. Ugly, but so what?
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I understand the appeal of crocs and wear them around the house and yard a lot. The problem with them though, is what you pointed out. They are just not good for walking long distances especially on rough terrain. I do usually take a pair when backkpacking as they make great camp shoes and work well for moderate stream crossings.
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Dissenting opinion. In the interest of minimizing weight and bulk, I only take one pair of shoes, recessed cleat MTB shoes. Good for cycling and walking. Leaving them loose is comfy for use in camp. Though I might take a pair of flexible boat shoes for swimming in rocky water.
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Well, that may be the difference: at 68 years old I don't do a lot of walking after getting into camp.
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Same age, same idea, but I occasionally need to walk somewhere for food, to see something interesting, or to wear on the train going to and fro.
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For me it depends on the trip.
- If I don't plan huge amounts of hiking I may sometimes take only my on bike SPD shoes.
- If I want to do some light hiking or decide I want something to slip into in camp I might take crocs or flip flops
- If there will be a lot of serious hiking I may take trail runners. I have done this for just a one week section of a long tour, like while visiting the Yosemite Valley.
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I use Shimano Outdoor bike shoes. These are good for Performance Tour and last for a comfortable fit on and off the bike. You may check here:-https://bikesreviewed.com/gear/best-bike-shoes/ (https://bikesreviewed.com/gear/best-bike-shoes/)
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What about just regular running/tennis shoes? I rode a lot as a teenager with toe clips, then did not ride for like 30 years. Just getting back into riding, I naturally went with toe clips and have never used clipless pedals. I like the flexibility of micro-adjustments of foot position in my toe clips, and I don't think I am losing much power compared to clipless. My regular shoes are comfortable on and off the bike. I hope you don't think I am an abhorrent savage! :)
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What about just regular running/tennis shoes? I rode a lot as a teenager with toe clips, then did not ride for like 30 years. Just getting back into riding, I naturally went with toe clips and have never used clipless pedals. I like the flexibility of micro-adjustments of foot position in my toe clips, and I don't think I am losing much power compared to clipless. My regular shoes are comfortable on and off the bike. I hope you don't think I am an abhorrent savage! :)
If they work for you, great. The advantage of having a comfortable off bike shoe on is a nice plus.
On the other hand, I don't think I'd ever go back to clips and straps. I felt that I needed to yank the strap tight enough that they were hard to get out of before they did any good. I was an early adopter of SPD in mountain biking when SPD was introduced and used Look pedals on my road bike in those days and I was delighted to be rid of clips and straps. I had been toying with putting Looks on my MTB so I was delighted when the SPDs were released and managed to get an SPD setup shipped to me before they were available in my state. People complained about forgetting to clip out, but I immediately found it easier than loosening tight straps and found loose straps useless.
I also felt like clipless made me automatically put my foot in the correct position (assuming I did a correct setup). The 3 degrees of float was plenty. Clips and straps only locked in your position when used with racing shoes that had a cleat with a groove that engaged the pedal cage.
BTW, some folks here like to use those half clips with no straps. More power to them, but to me that is just a annoying appendage that adds no additional value. Folks who use them and like them can and should continue to use them if they like them, but I don't get it.
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What about just regular running/tennis shoes? I rode a lot as a teenager with toe clips, then did not ride for like 30 years. Just getting back into riding, I naturally went with toe clips and have never used clipless pedals. I like the flexibility of micro-adjustments of foot position in my toe clips, and I don't think I am losing much power compared to clipless. My regular shoes are comfortable on and off the bike. I hope you don't think I am an abhorrent savage! :)
Nope. You're not alone! :D
I've toured all over Europe in sandals. In cooler weather I've a pair of very good merino socks.
There's something so juvenile and enjoyable about cycling through a puddle and feeling the water on my toes!
Relatively recently I added toeclips to my flat pedals, but that was because I found on damp, dewy mornings my feet would slip off.
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Bedrock sandals and a pair of split toe socks.
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I have carried:
Merrill trail runners, about a pound for the pair. Make passable hiking shoes and are comfy.
A pair of slippers I picked up during a tour at Dollar General. Less than a half pound, I expect. Good to pad around camp.
Cheap foam flip-flops. Just a few ounces.
I've been eyeing the disposable flip-flops they issue after a pedicure. Wouldn't last long and clearly aren't hikable, but weight and packspace would be negligible.
I ride with Shimano MTB SPD shoes. They are comfy on the bike, and theoretically hikable, but i don't want to try it. In the evening my feet want something different.
I like riding in my Shimano SPD sandals and they are super comfy off the bike, but it seems like grit gets under the straps and I fear them for a long ride.
Anybody toured with Power Straps? Seems like that would solve the one-shoe conundrum. I would have a pair but they really price-punish the big-footed.
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Cheap foam flip-flops. Just a few ounces.
I've been eyeing the disposable flip-flops they issue after a pedicure. Wouldn't last long and clearly aren't hikable, but weight and packspace would be negligible.
I have considered trying the "Genesis - Lightweight, Packable, Travel-Friendly Sandal". They look like they would be a pretty light but durable option. They seem to be inspired by huaraches "barefoot" running sandals. They come in at 4.6 ounces for men's size 9. They claim the sole is guaranteed for 5000 miles. https://xeroshoes.com/shop/genesis/genesis-men/
They look interesting enough that I decided to order a pair. It looks like they must be discontinued because most sellers are out of most sizes, but with some searching I found a pair in my size (12).
Also there are lots of YouTube videos for DIY huaraches.
Anybody toured with Power Straps? Seems like that would solve the one-shoe conundrum. I would have a pair but they really price-punish the big-footed.
I didn't like them. Maybe if I had given them more time, but I found them kind of awkward to get into and out of especially with regular running shoes. If they were tight enough to do any good I didn't like the way they squeezed my feet. Not sure if I'd get used to them in time or not, but I don't plan to try. I also like that clipless forces consistent foot placement.
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I bike and walk in the same shoes -- I would recommend Northwave shoes as its best for off biking as well > you can check out more from the list here:-https://bikesreviewed.com/gear/best-winter-cycling-shoes/ (https://bikesreviewed.com/gear/best-winter-cycling-shoes/)
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I have considered trying the "Genesis - Lightweight, Packable, Travel-Friendly Sandal". They look like they would be a pretty light but durable option.
I have received these and worn them around home for a while. They look like the exact model may be discontinued, but some sizes may be available or similar models may be. Any way I think they may be a good match for some users. I plan to carry them on some tours and to wear them in my canoe.
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I tried the two shoe thing, and quite honestly I didn't like the extra weight or space the 2nd pair of shoes took, but that's just me. So I started taking just one pair and it worked out pretty well but the shoes were cheap and didn't last long, so I just bought a pair of Specialized Recon 1.0 and I think their great, I can walk without issues or clanking from the cleat, and clip in with no problems. They also make a Recon 2.0, that one uses a boa system to tighten the shoes instead of velcro straps, otherwise the shoes are identical, quite personally I thought the velcro straps were more comfortable, I could feel the wire going through the tongue of the shoe and pressing into my feet with the boa thing, but that's just me, so for the $50 price difference I got the 1.0.
I do tend to be a tightwad when spending money for stuff, so some of you are probably laughing at $100 pair of shoes, but I had a moderately expensive road shoe and the darn thing only lasted 5 years, so I bought a cheaper set and they're lasting just as long with even a bit more comfort, so money isn't necessarily the dominating rule to getting a better product.
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https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/z-trail-men/
5.4 ounces for size 9. Also good for scuzzy shower use.
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https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/z-trail-men/
5.4 ounces for size 9. Also good for scuzzy shower use.
I'll have to look more into those, interesting to say the least, thanks for sharing the link.
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https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/z-trail-men/
5.4 ounces for size 9. Also good for scuzzy shower use.
I'll have to look more into those, interesting to say the least, thanks for sharing the link.
Yep, they will be a good choice for many. There are also a number of other good choices on that site. I actually like some of the others better, but there is probably something that suits a variety of folks needs. I have the Genesis model and have been wearing them around the neighborhood for a while now and like them. They are a bit less shoe with a thinner sole and roll up real small. They are lighter and a bit cheaper at $39.99 and 4.6 ounces in size 9.
You can choose just how minimal you want to go, but you get out of your bike shoes in several of those models without carrying more than a few ounces and taking up very little baggage space. Mine are very minimal and are good enough that you can hike in them over most terrain that I hike on tour. I wouldn't choose them for peak bagging, but on the several mile hikes to see waterfalls and other attractions they will usually be great.
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I have to be careful not to get an overly flexy shoe because then my feet will ache walking too much in them, which is why I can no longer use tennis shoes for everyday shoe, I've gone to a hiking shoe instead. But the shoe you talked about rolling up would be ok for just lounging around the campsite and not hiking in. Anyway, something I have to think about.
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Depends on what you want to do off the bike.
I've crossed the Grand Canyon a half dozen times -
Hiked the backcountry of Yosemite, Glacier, Banff, and Denali.
So I have moderate hikers.
Most folks probably don't hike the way I do.
YMMV.
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Nothing beats crocs for around the camp site - especially at my age when that 3:00 am nature call wakes you and you can step out of your tent and into your crocs. Light weight, water proof, work in the shower, good for brook crossings, can pedal in them in a pinch, and okay for around town. I have seen people hike 20 miles of the AT in them without complaint. Those are my second shoes for week long adventures. We are planning a TransAm and I am considering bringing another pair of shoes in addition to the crocs for zero days in town.