9 Best women’s cycling shoes
- Finding the ideal pair of women's road shoes can be challenging, especially since feet come in a wide range of sizes and shapes in addition to having a generally distinct form from men's feet. Women's particular footwear will be made using a "foot last" (the mould around which shoes are formed) that is tailored ergonomically to fit women's feet and takes into account the differences in foot anatomy between the sexes.
- Finding the best women's cycling shoes for you can be difficult with the wide variety of bike shoes available. A women's specialised alternative might be the best choice for you because it is built around a female "foot last" and has the ultimate objective of giving you a comfortable and effective base from which to power the pedal stroke.
- We've compiled our top picks for the best women's cycling shoes for road use and addressed some frequently asked questions at the bottom of this article to make the process easier for you. Comparing materials, arch heights, widths, closure systems, and price (often hand in hand) can be quite a minefield.
Best women's road shoes all round
1- GIRO W EMPIRE WOMEN'S CYCLING SHOES
SPECIFICATIONS
- Closure: laces
- Colours: Black, White
- Sizes: EU36-43 (inc. half sizes)
pros
- Good-looking
- Narrow-fitting
- Adjustability
- Replacement parts
- Reasonably lightweight
- Stiff
- Male-specific version available
cons
- Near impossible to adjust on the move
- Expensive
- Limited colour range compared to men's range
- These are an excellent alternative for all types of road riding because they incorporate all the finest features of the ACC that we examined and polish them up with a low 6.5mm stack without sacrificing comfort for pure performance.
- For riders who prefer a precise fit, the main benefit of lace-up shoes is the option to customise the fit, making them more like a traditional trainer.
- The female-specific Empire shoes from Giro have a slim ankle, carbon sole, and movable arch support. The upper has plenty of ventilation and a wipe-clean surface for simple cleaning.
Best women's Cycling Shoes Designed for performance and breathability
2- Scott Road Comp Boa Lady Shoe
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 581g (size 39 with cleats)
- Colours: Gloss White/Turquoise Blue
- Sizes: UK 3.5-8
pros
- Comfortable and supportive fit
- Lots of ventilation points
- Supportive insole with metatarsal button
- Decent power transfer
- Excellent value for money
cons
- Boa dial only turns in one direction
- A bit of a mouthful, the Scott Road Comp Boa Lady Shoe is an excellent alternative for any woman who is just starting out in road cycling and wants to learn about the benefits of clipping in with stiff soles and effective power transfer.
- Thanks to the numerous ventilation points, which leave your feet feeling light and cool on descents, they are excellent summer shoes. They are a wonderful choice for the turbo trainer in the winter because of their breathability and capacity to shed heat.
3- SPECIALIZED S-WORKS 7 CYCLING SHOES
SPECIFICATIONS
- Closure : Alloy Boa® S3-Snap dials
- Colours : Black, white, red, red/blue, metallic black
- Sizes: EU 35 -50
pros
- Exceptional performance and power output
- Very secure fit on foot
- Highly ventilated to keep feet cool
cons
- Need to spend some time to break in
- Sole incredibly stiff, too stiff for many riders needs
- two perfectly fitting A perfect fit is produced by alloy Boa® S3-Snap dials, and Specialized uses its Body Geometry foot bed to improve performance and reduce damage. This racing shoe has a power transfer that is noticeably rigid and quick-feeling.
- Unlike earlier models, such as the S-Works 6, these are only available in a "unisex fit." Specialized used to base its women's shoes on a female foot last, but now they think it's not essential. However, these start at a size 36, which is a UK 3.5.
Best women's cycling shoes for long fast rides
4- GIRO REGIME WOMEN'S ROAD CYCLING SHOES
SPECIFICATIONS
- Closure: Boa® L6 dials
- Colours: White, black
- Size: EU36- 43
pros
- Sole that strikes a good balance between stiffness and comfort
- Comfortable fit throughout
- Really durable upper when put to the test
cons
- Could be more breathable
- The Giro Regime Women's Road Cycling Shoes bridge the gap between brittle, high-end performance footwear (think sprinters) and more cushy all-day footwear (think Audax). While a pair like the Specialized S-Work 7 performance pair make it clear that it's all about performance, the Giro Regime's balances the comfort with a removable footbed. The hard snappy sole provides a fantastic foot-to-bike connection.
- With every pedal revolution propelling you forward, they are a fantastic choice for anyone looking to perform over a long distance, especially if climbing is involved. If you're going outside on a hot day, make sure to wear light socks because these aren't the most breathable shoes available.
Best women's cycling shoes for comfort and performance
5- GIRO ESPADA BOA WOMEN'S CYCLING SHOES
SPECIFICATIONS
- Closure: BOA® L6 dial and strap
- Colours: White/ navy blue
- Sizes: EU36-43
Pros
- Solid carbon sole
- Comfortable upper
- Lots of support
cons
- Some riders may not enjoy added bulk of padding
- These shoes, described by Giro as "racing capable mid-level carbon soled shoes," have an Easton E70 carbon sole and a Boa dial and velcro closure at the toes. The Giro Espada Boa cycling shoes have a race-ready sole, but they also include certain comfort features that you won't find in high-end models, such additional padding around the ankles. Parts made of mesh will also disperse heat.
Best high-end women's cycling shoes for wide feet
6- Bont Vaypor S
- Weight: 230g
- Colours: Black, White, Hologram
- Sizes: EU 36-50 plus 5 widths
Pros
- Wide sizing available
- Heat-moulding for a comfortable fit
- Stiff sole offers great power transfer
Cons
- Very expensive
- Wide-footed cyclists in the pro ranks clearly choose Bont shoes. The shoe has a rigid sole that extends past the heel cup to form a single piece that maintains its shape. This sole is likely the stiffest on the market.
- There are five different width possibilities for the shoe, including broad and double-wide. The upper may appear heavy at first, but it is made to be heat-moulded around your foot, giving you all the advantages of a stiff upper without any of the unpleasant side effects.
Best women's road bike shoes for carbon sole on a budget
7- DHB DORICA CARBON CYCLING SHOES
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- Closure: Laces
- Colours: White
- Sizes: EU39 - EU48
Pros
- Very stiff full carbon sole
- Highly adjustable laces closures
- Extremely comfortable when riding
- The great price point for performance shoes
Cons
- Could do with a tighter heel cup for a perfect fit/
- Only white colour choice
- Sizes only down to EU39
Due to the rigid carbon sole, we found that the dhb Dorica Carbon cycling shoes delivered excellent value-for-money performance throughout testing. These can also be perfectly tightened by borrowing the lacing system from the Giro W Empire women's cycling shoes.
Although the dhb is a unisex shoe, similar to the Specialized S-Works 7 cycling shoes, the smallest size is just a EU39, which may be too large compared to the rest of the best women's dedicated cycling shoes.
BEST WOMEN'S INDOOR CYCLING SHOES
Best women's cycling shoe for sweaty indoor sessions
8- SHIMANO IC5 WOMEN'S CYCLING SHOES
- Sole: Glass fibre reinforced Nylon
- Closure : BOA®L6 dial
- Colours: White, Red, Black, Purple
- Sizes: EU36 - 44
Pros
- Highly breathable and well ventilated
- Comfortable and secure micro-adjust fit
- No slip sole, ideal for slippery pools of sweat post-ride
- Small size options available
Cons
- The weight of the shoe might be a surprise to riders used to outdoor road shoes.
- Higher than traditional road bike shoe sole flex
With its optimum breathability and strengthened plate in the sole for stable power transfer during strenuous efforts, Shimano's IC5 indoor cycling shoe is made exclusively for spin and indoor riding.
The SPD-compatible indoor shoe weighs just 292g and has a breathable, cosy sock mesh fabric to keep you cool throughout strenuous activities (size 40).
A BOA dial makes tightening easy and guarantees that your foot will remain firmly in place no matter how hard you try.
Reliable entry-level shoe at a great price point
9- Shimano RC3
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- Weight: 226g
- Colours: Black, White
- Sizes: EU 35-44
Pros
- Good value for money
- Lightweight at 226g
- Poor ventilation at the rear
With the RC3, Shimano has produced a shoe that nearly everyone can wear. There is a significant increase in drive and power on the upstroke thanks to the strong fibreglass sole and extremely tight heel cup with anti-slip liner.
A system with a single ratchet that covers the whole shoe is provided by the centrally located Boa. The synthetic leather top doesn't stretch out too far, and the cleat plate allows for wide placement adjustment.
The Shimano RC3 should fit well for anyone with a standard to the almost-wide foot shape, but they may be a little too wide in the middle for those with tiny feet.
10- Bontrager Velocis Women's
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 231g
- Colours: White, Sky Blue, Black, Radioactive Orange
- Sizes: EU 36-43
Pros
- Lightweight at 231g
- Thin sole for a responsive ride feel
- Easy-clean material
Cons
- Fits a bit snug to size
- A bit of toe lift
With the Velocis, Bontrager, Trek's in-house components and finishings brand, offers excellent value. One of the features of the shoe that we liked best was how it combined a velcro strap with a Boa system, delivering the benefits of both at a lower cost.
The material is simple to clean, and the carbon/fibreglass composite sole allows for optimum cleat location adjustment. If you have broader feet, go up a half-size because we did find that they fit a little bit snugly through the met-head area (where the toes start). However, the toe box was round and roomy, allowing our small ones to move even when they became hot.
WHY ARE WOMEN'S CYCLING SHOES DIFFERENT?
- The framework on which shoes are constructed is known as the "last." A women last is often smaller at the ankle and lower in volume, making it more likely that the shoe will comfortably fit the average woman's foot.
- Fit at the ankle is essential for cycling shoes; you want to feel the heel cup embrace the rear of your foot so that it feels secure but not compressed. Similar to the finest women's road bikes, women often have smaller feet than men, so for many the main difference is that they come in much smaller sizes, meaning you are receiving the best women's cycling shoe to fit you.
- Remember that a women's particular "last" is based on averages, so there's no need to change your ways if you've always found the best cycling shoes to be from the men's or unisex range.
- It's important to keep in mind that the sizing is not exactly the same between men's and women's cycling shoes if you're considering switching from ill-fitting men's cycling shoes to better-fitting women's versions.
- Similar to the greatest women's cycling shorts, the small will be fundamentally different from a pair for men.
How to find the best women's cycling shoe?
soles of Cycling shoes
- Carbon soles are a feature of top-tier women's cycling shoes. The rigid basis provided by carbon allows for the best power transfer. Depending on the type of carbon utilised, how rigid it is will vary. Mid-range cycling shoes come with composites, which are frequently reinforced with carbon, while less expensive models have bottoms made of nylon or fibreglass.
- If you want to use the shoes for extended periods of time off your bike, softer materials—ideally with rubber grips—might be a better choice. If not, it all depends on how much money you have to spend.
Closure System of Cycling shoes:
- The most affordable cycling shoes will have a Velcro fastening method, while some very light, "climbing-specific," cycling shoes also employ Velcro because of their minimal weight. While Velcro has a good grip, it doesn't always provide the tightest fit; as a result, you may occasionally have a protruding piece of exposed material that is prone to fluffing up or luring insects.
- The top women's cycling shoes on the market are frequently marked down significantly in price on our cycling shoe bargains page, so it's worth visiting if you're looking for less expensive options without sacrificing performance.
- Most high-end footwear has Boa dials. The most obvious advantage is that they are quite simple to alter on the bike should weather (rain or shine) cause changes in the volume of your foot or the tightness of the cloth.
- Laces are another thing that may be found everywhere. These are regarded as the most aerodynamic choice, and thanks to their numerous adjustment points, they can also be extremely comfortable (as well as carrying a certain vintage charm). The drawback is that laces cannot be quickly adjusted while wet and can stretch.
Cleat Style OF Cycling shoes:
- The majority of road riders will choose a Look, Shimano, or Speedplay three-bolt road cycling cleat. You can use a three-bolt cleat to deliver the cranks with the most power.
- Our video on how to set up cleats on bicycle shoes is a must-watch if you need assistance finding the fit.
- These shoes are perfect for commuters and people who want to move around without waddling like a duck because they have two bolts and an SPD design, which means the cleat is recessed into the sole of the shoe. Additionally, the pedals on the exercise bikes at the gym typically only fit two-bolt SPD cleats.
Are there gender-specific cycling shoes?
- Some brands do offer bike shoes specifically for women, though not always. These are created utilising a "foot last" that is specifically developed for ladies and will be ergonomically shaped for women's foot shapes.
- Despite the fact that everybody is unique, measurement data indicates that generally, women have shorter and narrower feet. They don't always come in smaller sizes with the same proportions because of the subtle variations in their shape.
What kind of material is ideal for cycling shoes?
- Shoes are made of two material families: leather and synthetic leather, occasionally with knit fabric technology thrown in. Choose knit shoes for their excellent breathability and lightness, leather shoes for their ability to naturally conform to your feet, and synthetic leather shoes for their smooth, resilient surfaces that are simple to keep clean.''
What separates the various closure systems?
- The shoe will stay on your foot thanks to the closure mechanism. As you can see from this tutorial, there are a few common alternatives, including laces, velcro, Boa dials, and the Boa-like Sidi system. The best tightness and smallest adjustments will be provided by the Boa, but beware—if they break, they are expensive to replace and may prevent you from wearing shoes for a while. A wonderful low-cost and low-maintenance alternative that provides security and stability without a big price tag is Velcro. Although they can be challenging, the lace-ups found on the Giro Empires (and other dhb shoes) are wonderful for comfort, retro style, and low-profile functionality that never breaks.
