Looking for a good touring shoe.

[hawkhero]

Hi, I have a road bike and ride with road shoes right now.( LOOK pedals) I am getting a Surly LHT to do some touring and wonder what type of shoes to use for touring? Looks like lots of people use SPD's. What do you use?

[DaveB]

I use Shimano Deore XT MTB pedals (PD-M780) on my road bikes along with Shimano "Touring" shoes ( mine are the older SH-T090. The current version is SH-RT82).   

The pedals are double sided and reasonably light at 340 gms/pair.   The shoes take the standard recessed Shimano SPD cleat but have flat soles without the typical MTB lugs and allow comfortable walking but are stiff enough for good pedaling efficiency.   Shimano also make a couple of "Trekking" shoes that are more conventionally styled but also take SPD cleats.

[RussSeaton]

About half my bikes, including the touring bike, have Shimano SPD pedals using the two bolt cleat.  The other half of the bikes have Shimano SPD-SL pedals using the Look style three bolt triangle cleat.  The SPD pedals are the lower priced Shimano pedals, two sided, no cage for sneaker shoes.  You can find the lower priced Shimano brand SPD pedals for about $30 to $50 online.  For shoes I use sandals with the SPD pedals.  Lake or Shimano sandals.  Unfortunately I don't think the Lake sandals are made anymore.  The sandals will work as your off bike, walk around town shoe too.  No need to bring a pair of sneakers for non riding days.  Still need a pair of flip flops for showers.

http://www.shimano-lifestylegear.com/us/fw/products/tour/003sh_sd66.php?pSccontentsPro

[aggie]

I use both either Keen sandals or Specialized Taho Mtb shoes.  Both use the SPD cleats and I use them as regular off bike shoes.  If it going to be warm I use the sandals, otherwise I use the mtb shoes.  Both are easy to walk in.  If I use the sandals I don't take flip flops

[staehpj1]

I really like the lower end Sidi MTB shoes.  The ones I have now are the Giau model.  I use them with 2 bolt SPD cleat pedals  They last a long time, dry very quickly, and are comfortable on the bike.  Depending on how much hiking I plan to do I may or may not take a second pair of shoes for off bike use.  If I plan to do a lot of long hikes I might take my trail runners.  I have gone as far as to buy a pair of trail runners when I stopped to spend a week hiking and sightseeing in the Yosemite Valley.  I considered mailing them home when we left the Valley, but our trip was only going to Reno so I carried them for the remaining 5 days of the tour.

I have carried Crocs on some trips to wear around camp and they worked out well, but lately have not bothered with them.

[bogiesan]

SPD is usually recommended because you can get them everywhere.
I use a mtn style shoe because touring involves walking. (I don't do self-supported rides but I do not enjoy watching the roadies stumble around in their hard shoes. Looks dangerous and uncomfortable.)
I get my bike shoes at REI garage sales because they're broken in and stupid cheap.
I wear a Giro left and a Shimano right. Due to some weird physical differences between my feet, out of four pairs of shoes, those are the two happen to fit perfectly.

The particular shoe(s) you end up with is a very personal choice. Closure sytem, fit, open or closed, color, brand, flexibility of sole, adjustability of closure (can you wear extra heavy sox), cleat placement, type of insole material, and price are all factors we can't decide for you. I have, however, determined higher price does not directly relate to longer life or better fit.

Whatever you buy, you will want several hundred miles on them, in varying conditions, before you start your adventure.

[staehpj1]

Whatever you buy, you will want several hundred miles on them, in varying conditions, before you start your adventure.

I have not found that to be an issue for me.  I guess it depends on the person, the shoe, and the fit.  I have found that bike shoes are like running shoes in that, if I have the shoe that fits me properly, they are comfortable from the start.  If they weren't I'd keep shopping for something else that was.

[bogiesan]

You are unusual, yes. It's not just the fit that one needs to be happy with. Some folks go home and discover the color doesn't quite go with their bike or they don't have a jersey that goes with their new shoes. That's a disaster for lots of folks.
The reason I have mismatched shoes is an indiscernible calcium ridge. It gets bloody hot after about forty miles in one shoe but not ever in another. You can't tell that by walking around the store. You can't judge  if your heel slop can be trapped by the closure without reducing circulation or with heavy winter sox. You can't tell if you like Velcro or laces or both until you've tried to put your shoes on in differnt types of weather or need a wide range of adjustments. Is the cleat cavity deep enough?

[DaveB]

  I have found that bike shoes are like running shoes in that, if I have the shoe that fits me properly, they are comfortable from the start.  If they weren't I'd keep shopping for something else that was.

I agree and i've found the same thing.  Modern running and biking shoes with synthetic uppers and soles don't "break in" and mold to fit your foot the way leather shoes do (did?).  If they aren't comfortable right from the start they won't be later either.   

[BikeFreak]

I use normal everyday shoes and not SPD or something similar. I once met a guy who toured with those modern clogs.
I clock around 125 mi pr day.

Lucas

[DaveB]

I use normal everyday shoes and not SPD or something similar. I once met a guy who toured with those modern clogs.
I clock around 125 mi pr day.

Lucas

OK, but I know of a guy who would run marathons in combat boots.  I guess it worked for him but most of us used something we found worked better. 

[indyfabz]

I have a pair of Shimano MT-33L touring shoes. Bought them around 2011. Tour and commute with them. Thousands of miles in all sorts of conditions. The soles and uppers show little wear.  Descent to walk in, and they have laces, which I like. They have been discontinued, but you can still find some on eBay and Amazon.

[Pat Lamb]

I think the key to the pedal/shoe system is that the lugs on the shoes let you walk (instead of slide) when you're off the bike.  The two bolt MTB "standard" does that pretty well, choose whatever footwear you want and whatever pedals you want.

Speedplay Frogs are my preferred pedals, although I've had little problems with Eggbeaters.  After Specialized shoes and Keen sandals, I've bought an extra pair of Sidi MTB shoes for whenever my current pair wears out.

[jrswenberger]

For touring on our LHT's...flat pedals and Salomon trail running shoes. The shoes have a stiffer midsole than road running shoes and this is plenty stiff enough for touring and designed for bipedal locomotion. Choose the outsole tread model that fits your needs. Gore-tex layer means no worries about covering shoes until REALLY heavy rains. Pedals can be cheapies or the most expensive out there, your choice. If touring where big bike shops are rare, pedal replacements are easily found.

I use and recommend clipless pedals on my road and mountain bikes but have never found an advantage when touring on the LHT. We tour on the LHT on all but the craziest single-track as well as dirt/gravel and pavement.  If I were touring on a mountain bike, in the backcountry and looking for single-track, yes I'd be using a clipless system as well, but I'd also be carrying less gear and traveling lighter and searching out those single-track routes.

As always, YMMV but that's how we've done it for a long time.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay
Peterberger Adventures

[staehpj1]

I've bought an extra pair of Sidi MTB shoes for whenever my current pair wears out.

I really like my sidis and considered doing the same, but find they last me so long that my current pair may just outlive me.  After the Trans America mine were still pretty much like brand new even though I and them and had used them on and off road in all weather for a while before the trip.  That was 2007 and I am sure they would still be going strong if my dog had not chewed them up when she was a puppy.  The pair that replaced them has crossed the US on the ST and done a bunch of other longish tours as well as being used around town for several years and is still pretty much like new other than the nubs on the sole being just a little worn.