Wearing the right shoes while you’re cycling is very important to keep your performance elevated and prevent injury.
However, not everyone wants to wear cycling shoes around work or for their everyday life, and carrying a pair of shoes around in your bag all day is plain inconvenient.
So, if you’re looking for a pair of shoes that you can wear while cycling that hasn’t actually been created for cycling, look no further. We’ve found the five best pairs of non cycling shoes that you can wear confidently both on your bike and off.
As kids, we never wore shiny new cycling shoes for when we went out with our friends, so why as we got older did we have to begin investing in all of this fancy equipment and attire?
Cycling shoes are expensive, and we don’t want to have to pay for them.
That’s where the shoes that we’ve found come in! You no longer have to feel guilty about buying an incredibly expensive pair of shoes that you’ll only wear for an hour out of your day during a bike ride.
You can wear all of the shoes that we’ve picked out throughout the entire day!
In a hurry?
We know that trying to find cycling shoes can be frustrating when you don’t know where to look.
We bet that you’ve been trying to find some high-quality non cycling shoes for cycling for hours with no luck. Fortunately for you, we feel your pain and have fast-tracked you to the front of the line.
Our favorite non cycling shoes for cycling are the Adidas Performance Men's Samba Classic Indoor Shoes.
OUR TOP PICK
These leather shoes from Adidas are durable, breathable, and come with high-quality rubber soles.
Adidas is one of the leading shoe brands in the world, so you know that you’ll be receiving some of the most popular shoes on the market.
While these are indoor soccer shoes, they also work exceptionally well for cycling.
The rubber soles are stiff and therefore mimic the feel of a real cycling shoe. The lip of the shoe is long and therefore allows you to tuck your laces behind it.
The laces will remain safely behind the lip and out of the way of your bike chain or spokes.
Adidas creates durable shoes that can be used for a number of different activities, day in and day out. The Samba Classic shoes are no different and are sure to last you for a long time after purchase.
Choose between three neutral colors with plenty of sizes designed to help you find your perfect fit.
Pros:
- Well known and trusted brand.
- Stiff soles much like a cycling shoe.
- Plenty of uses.
- Neutral color options.
- You can tuck your laces safely away.
Cons:
- Leather is not as durable as other materials.
EDITORS CHOICE
Sneakers are certainly the most common shoes to wear by cyclists that aren’t specifically made for cycling.
Moreover, sneakers are commonly worn by all sorts of people on an everyday basis, so you wouldn’t look out of place wearing them anywhere you go.
These Nike sneakers are comfortable and breathable, so your feet won’t overheat during your journey.
The Flymesh ensures that your feet remain cool and that your shoes won’t smell after a long day of cycling. The heel is also padded to avoid rubbing and blisters.
The soles are made from durable rubber and come with an interesting tread to ensure excellent traction with the pedals.
Your feet won’t slip off easily and you shouldn’t have to worry about injury.
There are 32 colors to choose from and the sizes come in normal as well as extra wide.
Pros:
- Ideal for wearing both on and off the bike.
- Breathable and comfortable shoes.
- Plenty of color choice to choose from.
Cons:
- The laces might need to be replaced.
BEST VALUE
Vans is another well-known shoe brand that specializes in sneakers.
They are made from breathable canvas with rubber soles. Vans traditionally create skate shoes which can be seen from the waffle design on the soles.
These will prevent your feet from slipping on the pedals and allow you to have a more enjoyable ride. Vans has been known for its durability and therefore you can expect these shoes to last you a long time.
The shoe does have laces but these can easily be tied up and tucked underneath your foot to avoid accidents.
These shoes are unisex and come in plenty of men and women sizes.
Choose between plenty of designs such as a solid black design, the classic checkered design, or colored versions.
Vans are so commonly worn nowadays that no one will ever think that you’re wearing your cycling shoes.
Pros:
- Durable soles with excellent grip.
- You can tuck the laces away discreetly.
- Plenty of designs to choose from.
Cons:
- A few customers found issues with quality control.
RUNNER UP
If you’re in the market for some basic shoes that can be worn anywhere and everywhere, the Etnies Marana Skate Shoes might be the ideal choice for you.
They are simple yet effective with a tacky sole that is perfect for remaining on your pedals throughout your journey.
These skate shoes are made from both leather and textile and there are hidden loops for you to tuck your laces away.
The lip of the shoe is padded and therefore will keep the laces out of reach from the bike chain, keeping you safer throughout your commute.
The customization of these shoes might surprise you, with over 60 color options to choose from.
No matter what vision you had in mind, Etnies is sure to have the perfect color combination for you.
The toe caps are also made from rubber to avoid premature scuffing.
Pros:
- Great grip on the sole.
- Hide your laces easily.
- Over 60 color options to choose from.
Cons:
- The fabric upper is not waterproof.
RUNNER UP
Last but not least we have another pair of indoor soccer shoes from Diadora.
These shoes have a gum rubber sole that is stiff enough for you to be able to control your pedals effectively.
The grip is sufficient enough to ensure that your feet remain safely on the pedals at all times without having to spend too much money on cycling shoes.
The upper is made from synthetic materials, leaving you with a durable and breathable shoe.
You would be able to cycle for hours with these shoes without your feet overheating, meaning that you’ll feel comfortable for longer.
The midsole is shock-absorbent EVA foam so you can feel comfortable throughout the day.
Choose between four color options and plenty of sizes.
These shoes look more like soccer shoes than cycling shoes although they can be worn anywhere without drawing attention.
Pros:
- Stiff soles made from gum rubber.
- Breathable and comfortable shoes.
- Can be worn for multiple activities.
Cons:
- They’re not made from a well-known brand.
Buyers Guide
Just because you can cycle in non cycling shoes, doesn’t mean you necessarily should. We have compiled a list of important considerations to take into account when choosing your new shoes.
If you’re going to be cycling in them, they still need to be safe enough not to cause any accidents while you’re commuting.
Taking the below factors into consideration while comparing different shoes on the market will allow you to opt for the best pair for your needs.
It’s easy to purchase the nicest shoes you can find, become excited about their arrival, only to realize that they’re terrible for cycling. To avoid disappointment, read and remember our buyers guide.
Type of Shoes
Some shoes are better than others when it comes to cycling. Without knowing the best non cycling shoes for cycling, you might accidentally pick the wrong type of shoe.
For example, boots are not the best shoes to wear while cycling, so steer clear of big platform shoes.
All of the footwear that we mention below look like casual shoes that can be worn anywhere. Instead of having to change your shoes before you get on and off of your bike, you can wear these types of shoes throughout your entire day.
Stiff Soles
Shoes with stiff soles are great for traveling long distances by bike, and they’re even better if they’re flat.
These will prevent your feet from hurting from being driven into tough pedals for a prolonged period of time. Soccer shoes are excellent stiff-soled footwear.
Skate Shoes
Skate shoes have an excellent grip which makes them great for cycling.
Your feet won’t slip off of the pedals thanks to the slightly sticky soles. Skate shoes are very durable and therefore they’ll last for longer if you tend to cycle every day or so.
Sneakers
Sneakers are commonly worn by people on a daily basis and they are the most casual form of footwear on this list.
Sneakers have a great grip, they’re usually very breathable and comfortable, and you can wear them anywhere that you need to go.
Quality
Now that you have a better idea of what type of shoe you’d like to purchase, you need to ensure that they’re high-quality and durable enough to withstand all of your cycling journeys.
There is no use in purchasing a pair of shoes that wear down within a couple of months before being rendered useless.
This is why stiff soles can be very beneficial for cyclists. Cycling shoes are stiff, so you’ll want to find some shoes that mimic this feeling without looking like they were designed only for cycling.
Durability can be measured by impressive stitching, the quality of materials used, and customer reviews of the product.
Comfort
Exercise is sometimes not the most comfortable activity in the world, so you want your gear to make up for this as much as possible. Your performance is going to falter if your shoes are hurting your feet every time you turn the pedals. So, comfort is a must when it comes to your shoes.
Look for padding to prevent the pedals from digging into your feet. The stiff soles that we talked about previously should help you in this respect. Another feature of cycling shoes is good breathability from mesh panels.
The non cycling shoes that you want to use for cycling might not come with mesh panels, but they should be breathable nonetheless.
Breathability can come from the materials used to create shoes and innovative technology. You’ll need breathable shoes to remain comfortable on long cycling commutes. The need for breathability will depend on the distance you cycle on a daily basis.
Materials Used
The soles of the shoes that you pick should be made from rubber or another high-quality, durable material. Rubber is undoubtedly the best choice for the job, but the decision is up to you.
The majority of shoe uppers are made from synthetic materials that are manipulated into being breathable and comfortable. Just make sure that they are durable enough to last you a long time.
You might also want to look for waterproof materials for your shoes. If you cycle every day, perhaps to work or school, you’ll need to cycle in every weather imaginable.
Wearing waterproof shoes will avoid you having to walk around for the rest of the day with dripping wet shoes.
The closure of your shoes is important when it comes to cycling. In an ideal world, you should wear shoes with a Velcro closure rather than laces.
This is because laces have a tendency to get stuck in the chain or spokes of your bike and cause accidents.
However, we know that most non cycling shoes use laces. It would be beneficial if you could tuck them in during your journey.
Look for shoes with laces that can be hidden inside of the shoe, or look for a pair that come with Velcro clasps. They will be more difficult to find but it might be worth it.
Price
Cycling shoes tend to come with a pretty hefty price tag whereas non cycling shoes can vary in price. If you’re looking to spend less on your shoes, you’re in luck as you can find some very impressive budget shoes on the market.
The shoes that we’ve mentioned above are all priced similarly, if not lower, than high-quality cycling shoes on the market. However, if you’re still put off by the price we would remind you that these non cycling shoes are an investment that you can wear on an everyday basis.
Warranty
The best shoes come with a warranty of a money-back guarantee from the manufacturer, informing you that you’d be eligible for a refund if anything were to falter on your shoes within a certain timeframe. We encourage you to look for a money-back guarantee if your shoes are expensive.
Warranties and guarantees show you that the manufacturer believes in their product so much that they’re willing to return your money if something were to go wrong.
Warranties often indicate that the brand believes that the quality is so high that nothing will go wrong in the designated time frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do cyclists wear special shoes?
Cycling shoes have been known to improve a cyclist’s performance when it comes to speed and stamina. The soles are stiff and durable, preventing the feet from feeling the pain too early on in a journey.
They also often have clips that attach right onto the pedal so that the foot doesn’t slip off, potentially causing an injury of the joints.
Cycling shoes allow cyclists to focus only on the most important thing - pedaling. You won’t need to readjust your feet or worry about slipping off the pedals.
A cyclist becomes attached to their bike to make their journey as easy as possible. Or rather, that’s how some cyclists see it.
What shoes should you not wear when cycling?
You should not wear shoes that are too big or too small for your foot.
The former might cause your foot to slip out of the shoe and the latter will make your journey much more uncomfortable than it needs to be. You should also back away from shoes that have thick soles.
Boots are common in the winter as they’re warmer to wear, but the thick soles prevent you from being able to feel the pedal properly.
Boots are also not very breathable and therefore will create an incredibly hot and clammy environment for your feet. This will be uncomfortable and falter your performance.