The best spinning shoes come in a variety of styles with many different features. It can be tough to figure out which ones are the best for your spinning shoe needs.
Let us look at the different aspects of spinning shoes so you can find the perfect pair for you.
Cleat Holes
Depending on the type of clip on the bike, you will need an indoor cycling shoe that will match with it to secure your foot in place. There are two styles: MTB shoes (aka mountain biking) and road bike shoes.
MTB shoes have two holes on the bottom which connect to the cleats. They are adjustable to ensure proper foot alignment on the pedal and prevent injury.
Also, they are good for walking around your spinning studio as they got a bit more traction and the cleat are protected by a grippy rubber area (aka recessed).
Road shoes are extremely light and feature a 3-hole cleat receiver. The soles are firm and slick, so it is tough to walk around the spinning studio in them. Also, because the cleat is not protected by rubber, walking around in them could damage both the cleat and floor surface.
Cleats attach to the bottom of your indoor cycling shoes and clip to the bike pedals. They hold your foot on the pedal to help you stay steady as the speed increases.
Properly fitted cleats also provide you with optimal foot alignment, which prevents injury. When optimally installed, the cleats and clips will hold your foot in a natural position without straining your ankles, knees, or hips.
Shimano
Shimano is known for its presence in the cycling industry. From brakes to gears and loads of cycling accessories, Shimano products are known for their quality and effectiveness.
They also make numerous cycling shoes suitable for both indoor and outdoor cycling use. The commonality with all of them is the SPD cleat compatibility.
SPD cleats come in fixed and floating versions depending on your preference. The version linked here does not come with a quick-release since spinning classes typically do not involve bike wrecks or flying over the handlebars.
They are also perfect for the standing hill climbs so commonly used throughout a spin class.
Closure
Walking, running and hiking shoes use laces to close around your feet. Spinning and cycling shoes, however, use ratchets or buckles to achieve a snugger fit.
The newest closure technology in spinning shoes is called a boa. Basically, they combine laces and ratchets into a shoe closure system that adjusts by turning one knob. Pretty cool, huh?
Fit
Spinning shoes should be comfortable and snug, but not tight. Frequently, they are half to a full size larger than your everyday footwear.
To check the fit of your cycling shoes, be sure you can wiggle your toes. The retaining system should be adjusted snugly around the arch of your foot, but not so tightly that your foot falls asleep while you are spinning!
Socks
Okay, so socks are not technically part of any indoor cycling shoe, but they Are often the key to a comfortable ride. Purchasing socks made from moisture-wicking fabric will keep your feet dry and protect them from blisters and other sores.
Clipless
This system of cleats that lock into pedals is called clipless. The system provides room for a large amount of customization to maximize comfort and efficiency. The cleat system is newer than clip pedals, but the advances that come with it are well worth the investment.
Best Spinning Shoes: Our Top 10
Giro
The Giro shoes are available for men and women. Both are a wonderful combination of performance and comfort.
They are lightweight and powerful, but also comfortable and feature a replaceable heel pad to prevent an early demise due to wear and tear.
The reinforced toe and hook-and-loop ratchet securely hold the foot without impacting the comfort level. Certainly, these shoes promise loads of power with durable comfort and they deliver in spades.
Promising a comfortable and supportive fit and easy fit adjustment, the Giro shoes are a great candidate for the best spinning shoes!
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Giro Manta Best Spinning Shoes
The Giro Manta is a fantastic MTB cycling shoe for women. Although the aggressive treads are not needed for indoor cycling or spinning classes, they do not hurt either.
Unlike many MTB shoes, the Mantas have a uniquely breathable upper microfiber that prevents hot, sweaty feet and the antimicrobial coating really keeps down the odor.
This is a versatile MTB cycling shoe suitable for spinning (purchase cleats separately) and outdoor use. They stand up to the hardest pedaling and work for any spinner or cyclist looking for a quality MTB shoe.
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Giro Terraduro
The Giro’s Terraduro is a great combination of spinning shoes for men. Featuring Vibram soles, they are incredibly comfortable and durable with just the right amount of flex.
The uppers are a wonderful breathable material with reinforced toe boxes and sidewalls to extend their life. The medium height arch support is comfortable for most feet and helps keep your feet snugly in the shoe.
Some cyclists feel these take a bit of time to break in so you may want to get them earlier than you need them.
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Giro Treble Best Spinning Shoes
The Treble is a sleek, sexy men’s spinning shoe. It accommodates both 2- and 3-hole cleat styles, making it a great choice for beginners or people who spin at more than one location with different bikes.
The lace-less closure is easy to cinch down and holds snugly and firmly. The high Velcro strap and sleek design mean these shoes tend to be better for people with narrow feet.
They feature stiffer soles, which is great for road biking or indoor cyclists looking to emulate that feeling on their feet. You cannot get a better shoe in this price bracket.
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Privateer
If you are looking for an MTB spinning shoe that can really take a beating, look no further than Giro’s Privateer. The outer sole is the stiffest in its class and the micro-ratcheting buckles ensure a precision fit.
Many shoes with stiff outer soles are equally as stiff and uncomfortable inside. Not so with the Privateers. Wider-width feet are also easily accommodated in these fabulous cycling shoes.
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Best Spinning Shoes: More Choices
Giro SICA Best Spinning Shoes
A comfortable and rugged women’s cycling shoe, the Giro Sica fits snugly but quickly wicks moisture away.
The hook-and-loop and ratcheting closures can be adjusted from the saddle and easily accommodates a variety of arch heights with the SuperNatural Fit Kit.
The soles are stiff enough to provide loads of traction, but also soft and grippy enough to keep your fit comfortably in position on those fast, hard spinning climbs.
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Giro Apeckx
Sleek and eye-catching, these cycling shoes offer the perfect fit for men with wider feet. The durable materials stand up to high use and are so comfortable you will not mind wearing them for long periods.
The cleats are inset so you will be able to walk around the spinning studio without concern. The soles are stiff without being uncomfortable.
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Louis Garneau Best Spinning Shoes
These sleek cycling shoes by Louis Garneau are compatible with 3-hole cleats. They are light, fast, and designed to maximize the transfer of your muscle power to the pedals they are attached to.
The single rail attachment method is fast and easy to do on the fly. So, when the spinning instructor calls out a command and you get the pinch because your shoe is too tight, you can quickly adjust it and continue pedaling without missing a beat.
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Pearl Izumi Men’s X-Alp Enduro III
They look like a low-top hiking boot, but fit and feel like a cycling shoe. The Pearl Izumi shoes are perfect for indoor cycling and walking around the spinning studio.
They pair with SPD cleats and are great for MTB enthusiasts as well as indoor cyclists with a slightly stiff sole and comfortable footbed.
The Velcro and ratchet closures are easy and comfortable. They are super ventilated so your feet will not get over-heated.
However, if you are spinning somewhere with really cold air conditioning, you may want a slightly thicker pair of socks!
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Best Spinning Shoes: Honorable Mention
Mavic Crossmax
These shoes deserve a mention. A few cyclists have found the soles flex too much, but overall, they are quite popular.
The buckle system is a huge win for keeping feet snug. They are durable and affordable, making them a huge win for beginners and more experienced spinners.
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Alternative to Best Spinning Shoes
If you are strictly sticking to spinning, cyclocross shoes may be a little over-kill for your needs. However, if you are considering branching out to racing on a variety of surfaces including grass, dirt, mud, sand, and gravel, a good pair of cyclocross shoes can be a worthwhile investment.
Wearing them during spin classes gives you chance to break them in and get comfortable wearing and using them.
Cyclocross shoes are similar to MTB shoes, but sometimes have different treads to accommodate the varying surfaces encountered during a cyclocross race.
If you are looking for a good MTB spinning shoe and keep running across a cyclocross shoe that catches your eye, go for it!
Assuming the shoe is comfortable on your feet and pairs with the cleats that are used on your spin bike, there is no reason to stay away from them.
There are many other spinning shoe brands and alternatives out there. Ultimately, the ones you wear will have to meet your needs and suit your life and workout styles.
We hope the ones listed here give you a starting point and provide you with the information you need to choose the best spinning shoes that are perfect for you.