Trying to pick a new bike helmet when there are hundreds of options can be a daunting task. And while all bike helmets—including road, gravel, and mountain biking—have to meet the same safety standards, that doesn’t mean all helmets are created equal. From fit to durability, weight, ventilation, and protection, there are multiple factors to consider to determine what your next purchase might look like.

Our testers donned 20 helmets for various road, gravel, and mountain biking adventures over the course of four months. After putting in thousands of collective miles, these are the bike helmets that won them over. And good news: many of our top picks are currently on sale, so you can score top-of-the-line protection for a sweet deal.

At a Glance

Mountain Bike Helmets

• Best All-Around:
• Best Value:
• Best Fit:
• Best Protection:
• Best for Large Heads:

Road/Gravel Helmets

• Best All-Around:
• Best Value:
• Lowest-Profile Aero Helmet:
• Most Luxurious:
• Best Gravel-Specific Option:
• Most Euro Road Helmet:
• Buying Advice
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Best Overall Mountain Bike Helmet

Giro Merit Spherical

Weight: 360 g
Size Range: S-L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Comfortable fit
⊕ Adjustable visor
⊗ Price

The Giro Merit Spherical is a pleasant visual throwback: it’s got all the tech of Giro’s Spherical design powered by MIPs technology to reduce rotational impacts, but without the particular sci-fi look of their top shelf Manifest helmet. Our top priorities in a helmet are high-end comfort and safety features, and the Merit is the ideal blend of both.

Testers found that the wind tunnel vents circulated plenty of fresh, cooling air on the steeper climbs. Additionally, the thoughtful gripper rubber bits helped us keep glasses and goggles securely in place. Last, the Roc Loc fit system keeps the Merit snug with an easy to use dial. “I really enjoyed how the Merit clung to my skull without any pressure points,” commented one tester.

Best Value Mountain Bike Helmet

Troy Lee Designs Flowline

Weight: 320 g
Size Range: Youth, XS/S-XL/2XL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Comfortable fit with extended rear coverage
⊕ Wide range of color options
⊗ Middle-of-the-road ventilation
⊗ Big profile on small heads

The Flowline is a newer entry-point helmet from Troy Lee Designs that impressed us with its reasonable price and plethora of features. The helmet includes a MIPS B32 liner, an adjustable, three-position visor, a Fidlock magnetic buckle, and a Five star Virginia Tech Rating (including the e-bike standard).

The helmet has deep coverage and a cushy liner for maximum comfort with a retention dial that was easy to adjust on the fly. Airflow was not quite up to par with the Giro Merit or Fox Racing Speedframe helmets, but it was was sufficient enough for our testers on warm days.

While the A3 remains the top-tier Troy Lee Designs helmet, riders will find the price point and overall features of the Flowline more than satisfactory.“The Flowline carries on the tradition of comfort that the A1 kicked off when it debuted a decade ago. The price and weight are all reasonable, and the wide variety of color options makes it easy to find the ideal match for a rider’s tastes,” said Pinkbike managing tech editor Mike Kazimer.

Best Fitting Mountain Bike Helmet

Smith Engage MIPS

Weight: 350 g
Size Range: S-XL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Integrated glasses holder
⊕ Sleek design
⊗ Adjustable visor isn’t really that adjustable
⊗ Not as breathable as the top shelf Forefront 2

First things first: the Engage MIPS helmet is a steal. No, it’s not as well ventilated as some premium options, and the two-position visor is a bit simplistic. But testers found that the über-comfortable fit is next level. Plus, it stayed put no matter how rowdy the trail was thanks to an easy spin of Smith’s adjustment dial in the back.

No, the helmet doesn’t have technology throughout the entire structure, but it’s present where it matters most: the forehead and temples. That, combined with the extended coverage, kept us confident and focused no matter how aggressive the trail became.

Best Protection

POC Kortal Race MIPS

Weight: 390 g
Size Range: XS/S-XL/XXL

Pros and Cons
⊕ All the key safety features, plus more
⊕ E-bike rated safety certification
⊗ Expensive

The Kortal Race MIPS helmet is one of the most protective half-shell helmets on the market, and testers felt exceptionally safe while riding with it on. It meets the usual safety certifications along with the new e-bike standard certification as well. It has extended coverage on the back of the head and temples, plus high-end safety technology like Integra, RECCO, and an EPS liner.

Testers appreciated the excellent ventilation and an easily adjustable visor on sunny test rides in Hood River, Oregon last fall. If you like to wear goggles with your helmet, POC specifically designed the Kortal Race MIPS so that the strap won’t cover any ventilation holes.

Testers found that this helmet best fits an oval-shaped head and does not integrate well with other brands of riding glasses that aren’t POC. While the price tag is a little steep, you will be paying for the most up-to-date safety features and also look stylish out on the trails.

Best Mountain Bike Helmet for Large Heads

Fox Racing Speedframe Pro

Weight: 401 g
Size Range: S-L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Decent ventilation
⊕ Removable and adjustable visor with three positions
⊗ No storage for glasses
⊗ Does not integrate well with large frame riding glasses

Fox’s Speedframe Pro is another top-tier half-shell mountain bike helmet packed with market-leading safety features. This MIPs-equipped lid has a five star Virginia tech rating, a 3-position visor, a 360-degree Fit system, and offers exacting comfort optimized for a wide range of trail riders.

“It’s a light, well-ventilated helmet that offers excellent comfort, good visibility and tends to fit a larger head,” noted one tester. The helmet is also quite long from front to back and fit our testers with oval-shaped heads best. Fit aside, the Speedframe is slightly heavier than all the other options, but 20 grams wasn’t enough of a dealbreaker for our testers.

Best Overall Road Helmet

Lazer Z1 KinetiCore

Weight: 220 g
Size Range: S-L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Good ventilation
⊗ Inconsistent fit

An early adopter of protective headgear in cycling, Lazer has a proven track record of thoughtful designs. The latest update to their flagship Z1 helmet incorporates KinetiCore technology—strategically placed crumple zones made up of foam blocks that divert both direct and rotational energy away from a rider’s head in the event of a crash. While KinetiCore was initially released early in 2022, the latest update to the Z1 finally brings technology to a high-performance, 220-gram helmet.

We put in over 2,500 miles with the Z1, including a week-long block of riding around the rolling hills and gravel farm roads in Northern California; it soon became a go-to for warm-weather riding thanks to 31 strategically placed vents that make it feel particularly light and airy.

However, the retention system was hit or miss for our test riders, with some commenting they couldn’t achieve sufficient tightness, while others found the slightly oval mold of the helmet fit just right.

Best Value Road/Gravel Helmet

Giro Cielo MIPS

Weight: 305 g
Size Range: S-L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Solid cooling
⊕ Fair price for feature set
⊗ Lack of padding on retention claw

Giro has made a name for itself by pushing the limits of safety, comfort, and style since it released the first-ever EPS-foam helmet, the Prolite, in 1986. The Cielo is the latest helmet to join Giro’s storied catalog, and it does so with a superb mix of value and performance.

At just 305 grams, the Cielo offers a solid weight-to-cost ratio with its $200 price tag. Twenty-two vents provide ample cooling, and smart eyewear docking holds glasses steady. We knocked out just shy of 1,000 miles with the Cielo and were pleased with the ventilation performance on warm days.

Some of our testers complained about the lack of padding on the retention system, but the plastic surface didn’t bother most. Equipped with the MIPS Evolve Core rotation management system, the Cielo checks all the safety and function boxes we look for in a helmet.

Lowest Profile Aero Helmet

Abus Gamechanger 2.0

Weight: 295 g
Size Range: S-L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Low-profile
⊗ Poor eyewear docking

Aero helmets have come a long way over the last ten years, and the Abus Gamechanger 2.0 is an excellent example. While the success of its predecessor in the WorldTour and Unbound 200 gravel race speaks for itself, the Gamechanger 2.0 has been updated with a slew of improvements, including the new MIPS Air Node system, which is thinner and less noticeable than the original MIPS.

At 295 grams, it’s lighter than most other aero helmets and explains the $300 price tag. During long five-hour-plus days of road and gravel riding, we noted impressive airflow thanks to a newly added frontal vent. Abus describes the mold of the helmet as low-profile with a more oval than round shape, which we found to be true.

One ding: Our testers noted some trouble fitting sunglasses into the intended eyewear docks, though this is a common issue across the subcategory. Also available with MIPS for $330.

Most Luxurious Road/Gravel Helmet

Kask Elemento

Weight: 260 g
Size Range: S-M

Pros and Cons
⊕ Breathable design
⊕ Thick padding
⊗ Crazy expensive

The “Made in Italy” label is synonymous with quality craftsmanship and luxurious design, which is no better exemplified in the helmet world than by Kask. The Elemento impressed us with its premium feature set, including 3D-printed central padding and thick, airy forehead padding.

Worth noting: We found that the glue holding the 3D-printed padding in place lost its effectiveness after a few months of use, which was a letdown for a $400 helmet. However, the helmet’s superior performance had us taping the padding back into place and riding on.

At the Tour de Tucson, a four-hour day which saw a 30-degree temperature change between the start and the finish, the Elemento kept us cool with above-average airflow and a comfortable, lightweight fit. Kask’s retention system underwent a redesign to better accommodate riders with longer hair and got the thumbs up from our testers. The Elemento tips the scales at 260 grams, which is on the higher side of aero helmets, but not by much.

Best Gravel Helmet

Fox Crossframe Pro

Weight: 355 g
Size Range: S-L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Extra protection for off-road riding
⊗ Not well-vented

Fox might not be a familiar name in the drop-bar world since the California-based brand is best known for its visor-clad, full-face mountain bike offerings. But Fox is now entering the gravel world with the Crossframe Pro, its first visorless helmet directed toward gravel and cross-country riders.

While it may be better suited toward Fox’s loyal XC contingent, there are plenty of features that transfer over for more aggressive gravel riders: a magnetic Fidlock strap and an easy-to-adjust Boa system make dialing in the proper fit simple, and TPU eyewear docking offers grip to hold your glasses in place.

At 355 grams, the Crossframe is on the heavier side of the spectrum, but much of the weight comes from the added coverage of the rear shell. One complaint was that despite all of the vents, airflow was minimal, leaving much to be desired in terms of heat dissipation on warmer days. This is more of a problem on slow, steep gravel climbs, but the trade-off may be worth it for those looking for added protection.

Most Euro Road Helmet

Ekoi Aerodinamica

Weight: 320 g
Size Range: S-L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Deep channels to promote airflow
⊗ Bigger-profile

Since 2001, little-known Ekoi, a France-based direct-to-consumer brand, has gained traction for its competitive prices and performance. Using its multiple partners in the professional peloton along with Italian design house Pininfarina, Ekoi developed the Aerodinamica. The French- Italian collab is just so Euro, we couldn’t resist testing it.

Koroyd, a honeycomb structure, is used throughout the EPS shell to reduce impact forces to the rider’s head in a shearing manner similar to MIPS. On the scales, the Aerodinamica hit 320 grams, which makes it a bit heavier than other aero options, but not so heavy that it’s a deal-breaker. Three forward-facing vents are paired with internal channels that promote airflow in and out of the helmet for adequate cooling. This, in turn, raises the helmet, giving it a more bulbous profile.

During a long 80-mile day climbing and cruising through the canyons of California’s Santa Monica Mountains, we were impressed with the helmet’s overall ventilation even on slow, steep slogs. At $355, the helmet is on the pricier side, but Ekoi often runs sales, and we’ve seen it listed below $250.

Bike Helmet Buying Advice

Buy New

Rule number one when buying a new bike helmet? Don’t buy used, no matter how “lightly-used” the previous owner is claiming it to be. You just never know if one minor crash or hit to the pavement compromised the helmet to the point where it’s not safe to wear anymore.

Consider Use Case and Features

Consider the type of terrain you’ll be biking on to help you prioritize which features you need. Will you be doing a lot of uphill? Make sure your helmet of choice has enough ventilation; one trend we’re fans of is the use of internal channeling to promote airflow. Other premium features to look for: a compatible spot to hold your eyewear when not in use, and a magnetic buckle. If you’re planning to bomb laps at the bike park, you might want to opt for a full-face helmet. If you’re still not sure which type and fit is the best for you, head to your local bike shop and they’ll point you in the right direction.

Budget vs. Safety Considerations

How much is your head worth? At first glance, a two-hundred-dollar price tag might seem excessive, but once you’re riding regularly, you’ll realize a quality helmet is worth every penny.

Across all categories (road, gravel, and mountain biking), we primarily considered fully-featured helmets that come with industry-leading protection technology, such as Mips. Many modern helmets use a rotational impact reduction system like Mips to dissipate the forces applied to the rider’s head during a crash. We believe that helmets featuring Mips or comparable impact protection, while pricier, are a worthy investment because they tend to offer better protection in the event of a crash.

What Are Aerodynamic (Aka “Aero”) Helmets?

Modern cycling helmets come in two general categories: traditional multi-vent designs and more optimized aerodynamic options. Traditional shells provide many vents to promote heat dissipation and a low weight. Aero helmets emphasize aerodynamic properties, often with minimal ventilation. While the aero designs are becoming more mainstream, they still remain a subcategory to lightweight, breathable, high-performance lids.

Sizing and Fit

Consider your head shape when looking for a helmet and try before you buy. Most helmets are designed with either an oval or a round shell. Your local bike shop will have a selection available and a knowledgeable staff to help point you in the right direction.

How We Test

• Number of products tested: 20
• Number of Testers: 9
• Number of miles collectively ridden during testing: 11,000
• Biggest ride: 102 miles

Our group of testers put 20 of the year’s newest road, gravel, and mountain biking helmets to the test on various rides, races, and training schedules. Some testers assessed a helmet’s performance while preparing for marquee road and gravel events, while our mountain bikers pedaled Oregon’s infamous Hood River trails. We graded each helmet we tested on characteristics like ventilation, aesthetics, weight, comfort, and functionality. The helmets on this list impressed our crew in all departments.

Meet Our Lead Testers

David Kennedy has been riding road and gravel bikes for 15 years and has been writing about the latest tech in the sport since 2017. He’s toed the line at premier road and gravel events nationwide, like the Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego and the Unbound 200. When he’s not writing or riding, he’s pulling apart bikes at his local shop and connecting with the diverse cycling community around his hometown of Los Angeles, California.

Nikki Rohan has been mountain biking for close to 20 years, and testing mountain biking gear for Pinkbike for almost a decade. She resides in Hood River, Oregon with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and a grumpy cat. She spent a chunk of time competing in the pro women category in enduro races in the PNW, as well as events like Trans BC, Trans Provence, Downieville Classic, Grinduro and the occasional CX or gravel race. When she is not working, cooking, or parenting, you will find her on the local trails or exploring the endless forest roads.

The post The Best Helmets for Road, Gravel, and Mountain Biking appeared first on şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online.

The contact points between the rider and a bicycle are some of the most important aspects of riding a two-wheeled steed (think saddle, grips, pedals, and, yes, shoes). The bike footwear category has widened dramatically in the past few years to include everything from the highest-performance road shoes to versatile gravel kicks to flat pedal pumps designed for rugged mountain bike rides. After testing this year’s offerings, we hand-picked the following options that meet the needs of modern riders.

At A Glance

Gravel Shoes

• Best All-Day Shoe: Udog Distanza ($200)
• Most Versatile: Specialized Recon ADV ($225)
• Most Accommodating Fit: Shimano RX801 ($275)
• Best Race Shoe: DMT KM0 ($520)

Road Shoes

• Best Value: Specialized Torch 2.0 ($180)
• Best for Everyday Use: Shimano RC903S ($475)
• Best Performance: Giant Surge Pro ($399)

Mountain Bike Shoes

• Most Versatile: Five Ten Freerider Pro ($160)
• Best Lightweight Shoe: Giro WMS Latch ($150)
• Best Protection: Fox Union Canvas ($120)
• Best Grip: Specialized Roost 2FO Flat Syn ($120)
• Most Comfortable: Ride Concepts Flume BOA Flat ($200)
• Most Streamlined: Shimano GF6 ($160)
• Most Stylish: Crankbrothers Stamp BOA Flat ($180)
• Best Clipless Shoe: Fox Racing Union BOA ($250)
• Most Waterproof: Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Gore-Tex ($220)
• How to Choose Bike Shoes
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Best All-Day Gravel Shoe

Udog Distanza

Retention system: Laces
Available sizes: 38-48

Pros and Cons
⊕ Compliant, durable sole
⊗ Not easily adjustable while riding

While Italian-based Udog’s home base might be an ocean away from the birthplace of modern gravel cycling, its design team is leading the way in performance and comfort-focused creations. The Distanza is built to meet the demands of the all-day aspect of today’s gravel events with a compliant, walkable sole and highly breathable knit upper.

Design elements like 100-percent recycled polyester laces and a grippy rubber outsole distinguish the Distanza when a gravel ride becomes a hike-a-bike. The laces are routed through metatarsal support straps that aid in creating even tension along the foot, which reduces the hot spots that many standard lace-up shoes create.

We broke in the shoes for a few weeks before a 10-hour day on the bike at the Rock Cobbler gravel race. The 110-mile course with 10,000 feet of elevation and more than its fair share of muddy hiking is on the extreme side of our test rides, however, the Distanzas proved both durable and comfortable, with their flexible soles reducing foot fatigue.

Laces aren’t for everyone, and it’s worth noting the shoes run a bit big, so be sure to review the size guide to get the right fit. On the scales, our size 43s topped out at 702 grams, leaving our gram-conscious testers wishing for a bit of weight savings.

Most Versatile

Specialized Recon ADV

Retention system: Laces
Available sizes: 36-49

Pros and Cons
⊕ Stiff yet walkable carbon soles
⊗ Laces work well for some, but aren’t for everyone

The Specialized Recon ADV is designed for cranking out long miles on gravel roads. This lace-up model takes cues from the company’s Recon line of mountain bike shoes with its sleek look, but adds a splash of color and a stiffer carbon midsole with a bit of engineered flex in the forefoot. This forefoot flex makes the Recon ADV more walkable for mid-ride coffee stops and nature breaks.

Most Accommodating Fit

Shimano RX801

Retention system: BOA dial and Velcro strap
Available sizes: 38-48 EU (half sizes from 41-45.5, wider width from 40-46)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Stiff carbon soles
⊕ Great fit
⊕ Easy to adjust while riding
⊗ Less walkable than others

Shimano has been a leader in the gravel race shoe category, and the RX801 only builds upon that legacy. The Japanese component brand recently gave these popular gravel kicks a makeover with improved ventilation, fit, and adjustability.

The synthetic upper is heavily perforated to increase airflow. Shimano also made the toe box wider and included heel stabilizers to keep the foot in place for greater control through the pedal stroke. A surround-wrapping upper hugs the foot for a close fit, while a rubberized Boa Li2 dial allows for micro-adjustments on the fly, which prevents the upper from getting too constrictive over the course of a long ride.

Have wide feet? No worries—the RX801 is available in a wide version in sizes 41-47.

Best Gravel Race Shoe

DMT KM0

Retention system: Dual Boa Li2 dials
Available sizes: 37-47

Pros and Cons
⊕ Glove-like fit
⊗ Weak tread

DMT footwear is most recognizable attached to Tour de France powerhouse Tadej Pogacar. Now, the brand’s ingenuity and performance-oriented designs that earned two yellow jerseys on the road have made their way over to the gravel side of the sport.

A minimalistic knit upper and a shapely carbon sole are paired in the DMT KM0 for a glove-like fit with a focus on maximal stiffness (rated 10/10 by testers). During our first few rides, we noted the Michelin tread was extra grippy on short rough walks, however, after a few hundred miles of testing, a mile-long hike-a-bike wore the tread pretty quickly, leaving us slipping. At 542 grams (size 42), the KM0s are on the lighter side of the gravel shoe market.

Best Value Road Shoe

Specialized Torch 2.0

Retention system: Single Boa dial and toe strap
Available sizes: 36-49

Pros and Cons
⊕ A smart balance of performance and comfort
⊗ Minimal retention personalization

For riders looking for a performance road shoe but hesitant about diving head first into the high-end shoe market, the Torch 2.0 is a competitive option at the sub-$200 price point.

Though they’re designed for the recreational cyclist, our tester said he’d feel confident wearing them for a race. “They deliver an effective balance between comfort and performance,” he noted. “I do lengthy rides, often spending five or more hours in the saddle, and these shoes deliver comfort with minimal compromise in power transfer.”

The shoe has a fully perforated, single-layer synthetic and seamless upper with internal toe and heel reinforcement. This gives the Torch 2.0 a fairly supple fit with built-in, long-term shoe protection. A toe strap is paired with a single Boa dial. While we’d prefer a dual Boa dial to allow micro adjustments for a more personalized fit, the Torch 2.0’s configuration makes on-the-road adjustments possible. Our size 43s tipped the scales at 549 grams, a fair weight in this class of shoe.

Best Everyday Road Shoe

Shimano RC903S

Retention system: Dual Boa Li2 Metal Dials
Available sizes: 38-47

Pros and Cons
⊕ Supple, form-fitting upper
⊗ Hard to keep clean

Shozaburo Shimano would be proud to know the freewheel company he started in 1921 has grown to showcase a wide range of cycling components and gear for competitive and recreational riders alike, including high-performance cycling shoes like the RC903S, which falls within Shimano’s S-Phyre line.

Dual Boa metal dials lock a rider’s foot into the anti-twist heel cup with the help of the wrap-around upper and six points of retention over the front end of the foot. The carbon sole is strategically reinforced around the cleat for added power transfer while remaining compliant toward the heel for optimal stiffness—rated as 8/10 by our test team who altogether put more than 4,000 miles of riding in these shoes.

Perforated vents allow for sufficient heat dissipation through the upper’s thin material, and a pair of size 44 hit the scales at a meager 502 grams. On a warm, five hour day at the Mammoth Gran Fondo, the mix of engineered breathability and overall stiffness made for a positive experience.

Best Performance Road Shoe

Giant Surge Pro

Retention system: Dual Boa Li2 dials and toe strap
Available sizes: 40-48

Pros and Cons
⊕ Stiff, performance-focused sole
⊗ Sole is too stiff for longer rides

As the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world, Giant has played a formative role in the modern cycling industry and always seems to be a step ahead of its competitors design-wise in just about every sector of the market. The Surge Pro, Giant’s flagship footwear offering, is just one example.

These shoes feature a three-point retention system, a unique carbon sole, and a weight of only 510 grams (size 43), making them an attractive option for performance-focused riders. A channel runs heel to toe along the sole, maximizing stiffness where it’s needed at the cleat—testers gave the shoes a 10/10 stiffness rating—delivering enhanced power transfer and cutting out excess carbon to save weight.

These were a top-rated shoe for high-intensity, hour-long criterium races, but on longer five-plus hour days, our feet needed relief from the extreme stiffness rating.

Most Versatile MTB Shoe

Five Ten Freerider Pro

Retention system: Laces
Available sizes:Ěý6-14.5 (men’s), 5-11 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Easy-to-clean synthetic material
⊕ Stiff for optimized pedal performance
⊗ Lace capture causes laces to lay across the shoe
⊗ Tread pattern tends to retain mud

There’s a reason the Freerider Pro is the benchmark for all other flat-pedal mountain bike shoes. First, the wide toe box and cozy heel cup fit a wide range of feet, including my exceptionally fickle ones. More importantly, we’re huge fans of Five Ten’s famously grippy Stealth S1 Dotty rubber outsole—it keeps us solidly placed on the pedals on even the rainiest fays.

The Freerider Pro also shines with a stiff sole that leaves us feeling one with the pedal, resulting in excellent efficiency on longer rides. Lastly, the synthetic upper is durable and easy to clean when things get muddy. One tester loved them so much, she said the Freerider Pro is “still the master performance mountain bike flat pedal shoe that pedals all bikes and holds up throughout the season.”

Best Lightweight MTB Shoe

Giro Latch

Retention system: Laces
Available sizes: 38-50 (men’s), 36-43 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Very grippy
⊕ Lightest shoe in the lineup
⊕ More molded protection over toe box
⊗ Lace capture is flimsy
⊗ Slightly wider in heel

Giro’s Latch shoe fits, feels, and pedals a lot like the Five Ten Freerider Pro because of the stiff, flat sole that brings the foot closer to the pedal. Giro’s Tack Rubber and the irregular tread felt like it had the tackiest rubber of all the options we tested, and it shed mud more consistently than other tread patterns. The Latch’s quick-drying microfiber uppers were ideal for fall riding conditions, too.

At the end of the day, the Latch competes with the big guns in pretty much every metric of flat shoe performance. Plus, fashionable tester Megan Barton gives the Latch extra points for style.

Best Protection

Fox Union Canvas

Retention system: Laces
Available sizes:Ěý37-47 (unisex)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Robust and sturdy
⊕ Reinforced toe box
⊗ Heavy
⊗ Canvas was hard to clean

The Fox Union Canvas flat pedal riding shoe combines off-bike street style with solid on-bike performance. While we did not find the Ultratac rubber on the sole quite as grippy as Giro’s and FiveTen’s, it wasn’t far behind and still imparted a sense of durability while thrashing through local rock gardens in Hood River. The polyester canvas material also was not our favorite to clean, but it did provide robust weather protection during rainy, cold rides.

We liked how the shoe felt super stiff for pedal grip, but we would recommend it for shorter rides because we started to experience some foot fatigue around mile ten. Overall, this shoe has a nice low-profile design that we loved and excellent grip, and it would thrive from a short ride to a pub crawl.

Best Grip

Specialized 2FO Roost Flat Syn Shoe

Retention system: Laces
Available sizes:Ěý36-49 (unisex)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Matches grip with Stealth rubber
⊕ Stiff enough for long rides
⊗ Doesn’t feel as light as advertised

The 2FO Roost delivers top-notch grip, breathability, and comfort, making it one of our favorite flat pedal shoes in the Specialized line-up. The SlipNot ST rubber easily competes with the Five Ten’s Stealth rubber and seems to offer better grip in cold weather, especially when we needed to constantly transfer our power on the burliest, most technical trails.

In terms of stiffness, as a trail shoe it handled long descents like a champ with zero foot fatigue. The heel cup was nice, deep, and comfortably retentive, ensuring our heels stayed in place on rougher trails. Our only real complaint is that the shoe lacks protective padding in the toe box, which resulted in a few jammed toes.

This isn’t the best pick for those with narrow feet, but it’s a competitively priced top contender shoe for riders who like to punish themselves on epic missions.

Most Comfortable MTB Shoe

Ride Concepts Flume BOA Flat Shoe

Retention system: BOA
Available sizes:Ěý5-10 (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Super grippy
⊕ Exceptionally comfortable
⊕ BOA allows for easy micro-adjustments mid-ride
⊗ Balancing mid-shoe and heel tension a slight challenge

The Ride Concepts Flume BOA Flat is an easily adjustable and well-crafted shoe that feels like a slipper. Their Max Grip rubber sole offered exceptional grip—we felt comfortably glued to our pedals at all times, even on extremely technical and rooty trails.

Moreover, the toe and heel have hexagonal treads for confident hike-a-biking traction in slippery mud. The spacious toe box is comfortable, while the midsole support adds an overall feeling of being one with the pedals. “I loved how protected and secure I felt in these shoes,” said tester Annick Chalier. Our only gripe is that it was slightly challenging to get the tension with the BOA just right for our heels to be secure without the mid-shoe being too tight.

Most Streamlined

Shimano GF6

Retention system: Laces
Available sizes:Ěý38-48 (unisex)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Matches grip with Five Ten’s Stealth rubber
⊕ Stiff enough for long trail rides
⊗ Not quite burly enough for pure park riding

Featuring Shimano’s Ultread GF rubber, a torsional midsole that Shimano calls their Torbal 2.0 midsole, and trail-ready design, the GF6 is their premier flat pedal shoe. While the shoe has minimal padding compared to others we tested, there is enough to handle the accidental rock kicks and moderate impacts.

Fitwise, it had good heel retention both on and off the bike. More importantly, we found the grip on par with the Five Ten’s, and they’re stiff enough to handle long rides without undue foot fatigue. Shimano footwear tends to fly under the radar for some reason, but they make an excellent product, and we’d love to see them out on the trails more. The fit and features make this my go-to flat pedal shoe.

Most Stylish MTB Shoe

Crankbrothers Stamp BOA Flat

Retention system:Ěýµţ°ż´ˇ
Available sizes: 5-14 (unisex)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Easy walking off the bike
⊕ Stiff enough for long rides
⊗ Match MC2 rubber not as grippy as others

The Stamp BOA Flat is a stylish option that features a BOA dial, Velcro power strap, Match MC2 rubber, and a relatively stiff sole for power transfer. The Stamp BOA is stiff, but not too stiff; there’s just enough flex for easy walking—although they did feel a hair tight in the forefoot for a couple testers.

The Match MC2 rubber was grippy, though it’s not Stealth grippy, so if you’re going to be riding on wet days or have trouble locking to your pedals, look elsewhere. We’re not 100 percent sold on BOA systems in terms of fit, but we do relish the ability to securely snug up shoes without the litter of laces.

Best Clipless MTB Shoe

Fox Racing Union BOA

Retention system: Boa Li2
Available sizes: 37-47

Pros and Cons
⊕ Great in-between profile
⊗ Spendy

Best known for helmets, body armor, and apparel, Fox Racing recently entered the mountain bike footwear market and the Union BOA is the brand’s premier clipless mountain bike shoe, designed for trail riding and enduro racing.

It utilizes a pair of BOA Li2 dials to adjust the fit tension and a lightweight nylon shank to stiffen the sole while pedaling. At 221 grams per shoe (size 42), the Union BOA is lighter than similar “skate-style” mountain bike shoes, but heavier than svelte shoes designed for cross-country racing. On the trail, we found it provided ample support, and the micro-adjustable dials are handy for on-the-fly adjustments.

Most Waterproof

Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Gore-Tex

Retention system: Laces
Available sizes: M4/W5-M14/W15

Pros and Cons
⊕ Iconic grip
⊕ High cuff keeps out debris
⊗ Water can still come in through the top

Mountain biking can be dirty work. If you’re looking for a shoe to accompany you on wet-weather rides, look no further than Five Ten’s Trailcross Gore-Tex. The shoe’s waterproof upper shrugs off rain and trail spray while Five Ten’s legendary Stealth Phantom Rubber provides extra grip on slippery trails.

Like other waterproof mountain bike shoes, this model is not impervious to water running down your leg, into your sock, and then getting trapped within, so it’s best to pair them with water-resistant pants when riding in sloppy conditions.

How To Choose Bike Shoes

Cycling shoes can be segmented into categories based on their intended use and cleat interface.

Cleats/Clipless Shoes

Road cycling shoes are typically compatible with composite-based, three-bolt style cleats like Shimano’s SPD-SL and Look Delta/Keo. These cleats offer a high amount of retention and have a greater surface area to maximize stability and power transfer per pedal stroke, which is ideal for road cycling. However, the cleats are often exposed and provide poor walkability.

Gravel shoes use a two-bolt pattern for use with cleats like Shimano’s SPD. Two-bolt cleats are generally smaller and made of metal, offering greater durability for walking on uneven surfaces.

Flats

More and more mountain bikers are ditching clipless bike shoes in favor of flats, shoes with sticky rubber soles that offer good grip on pedals and don’t require you to clip in/out of pedals. Many experienced riders and downhillers who navigate high-consequence terrain prefer flats because they allow you to bail off your bike more easily.

Flat shoes are also better choices for novice riders, since they don’t come with a learning curve (getting the hang of clipless shoes and cleats can be tricky). The downside to flats is they don’t offer the same power transfer as clipless shoes.

Budget Versus Performance

Don’t disregard your budget. Bike shoes can be exorbitantly expensive, especially on the high-performance end of the spectrum. If you’re looking to get into racing, the higher price tag might be worth it for every additional watt of power. If you’re not racing, we recommend leaning to the more comfortable end of the spectrum, rather than trying to maximize stiffness and performance; these shoes generally come with more palatable price tags.

Materials

Road biking shoes feature lightweight soles made up of carbon or composite materials that blend stiffness and compliance to best suit the rider’s needs. A stiffer sole generally provides higher power transfer; a more compliant shoe flexes more and provides a more comfortable ride, but often equates to more power loss.

Gravel and mountain bike shoes add tread around the sole to improve walkability and stability.

Shoe uppers will consist of a microfiber or knit material with varying amounts of suppleness, ventilation and foot/ankle support. Microfiber uppers tend to provide more durability and support, while knit uppers have a greater amount of ventilation and suppleness.

Fit

Fit is critical in a cycling shoe and directly impacts performance. If you can, try before you buy. Your local bike shop may have a selection of bike shoes and employees with a wealth of experience to help you find the right fit. Call around to see what’s available and visit your local bike shop to get a real feel for the shoes before you commit.

How We Test

• Number of products tested: 21
• Number of Testers: 8
• Number of miles collectively ridden during testing: 12,000
• Biggest ride: 110 miles

Our group of testers, made up of men and women across the country, put 21 pairs of the year’s newest road, gravel, and mountain bike shoes to the test on various rides, races, and trails. Some testers assessed a shoe’s performance while preparing for marquee road and gravel events, while others set out to determine a shoe’s comfort and versatility on their weekly coffee ride. Our primary testing ground for MTB shoes was mountain biking mecca Hood River, Oregon, where we assessed a shoe’s performance on everything from technical, muddy trails to mellow, meandering cruisers. We graded each pair of shoes we tested on characteristics like stiffness, weight, comfort, and functionality. The shoes on this list impressed our crew in all departments.

Meet Our Lead Testers

David Kennedy has been riding road and gravel bikes for 15 years and has been writing about the latest tech in the sport since 2017. He’s toed the line at premier road and gravel events nationwide, including the Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego and the Unbound 200. When he’s not writing or riding, he’s pulling apart bikes at his local shop and connecting with the diverse cycling community around his hometown of Los Angeles.

Nikki Rohan has been mountain biking for close to 20 years, and testing mountain biking gear for Pinkbike for almost a decade. She resides in Hood River, Oregon, with her husband, two teenagers, a 1-year-old, two dogs, and a grumpy cat. When she is not working, cooking, or parenting, you will find her biking on the local trails.

Josh Patterson has been riding and wrenching on bikes for 20 years and, with a master’s degree in journalism, has been writing about the sport for over half of that time. He’s a cycling generalist who finds joy in riding road, gravel, and mountain bikes, which made him the ideal candidate to manage şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř’s Gear Guide bike coverage for the past four years. He grew up in the Flint Hills of Kansas and was an early adopter of gravel racing and participated in the first Unbound 200. He’s now based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The post The Best Bike Shoes for Road, Gravel, and Trail Rides appeared first on şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online.

From mid-ride hydration mixes to ride-saving tools to simple storage solutions, we’ve gathered a selection of the best bike accessory needs and wants to make the most of your next ride. Looking for a new kit that will keep you airy and comfy over hundreds of miles? An activity tracker that delivers real-time ride data? A handheld massage tool for post-ride recovery? You’ve come to the right place.

At a Glance

• and
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Tester

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

SpeedSleev Ranger 2.0 Saddle Bag

Pros and Cons
⊕ Sleek design
⊗ Only space for the essentials

Self-sufficiency on the bike isn’t a must, but we highly suggest riding with enough gear to get you home in the event of a flat tire or worse. SpeedSleev’s Ranger 2.0 saddle bag offers a minimalist approach to carrying just enough gear to get you home in a pinch. With the capacity to fit two tubes, two C02 canisters, an inflator, tire levers, plugs, and a multi-tool, we found ourselves prepared for the all too common roadside tube swap.

Whoop 4.0 Activity Tracker

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Pros and Cons
⊕ Easy-to-use
⊕ Barely there feel
⊗ Inaccurate measurements when not properly fitted

Whoop’s 4.0 band provides an informative look into heart rate data with clear, easy-to-interpret graphs available through the Whoop app. The 4.0 will track heart rate day and night, providing users with valuable data like resting heart rate and heart rate variability to help athletes customize training and recovery routines. Bonus: The Whoop can also pair to a cycling computer via Bluetooth to broadcast live heart rate data on the road.

Feedback Sports Velo Hinge 2.0 Mounting System

Pros and Cons
⊕ Space-saving design
⊕ Simple installation
⊗ Vertical mounting only

Feedback Sports is best known for its array of tools and quality cycling equipment. At $40, the Velo Hinge is the brand’s most affordable wall-mounted bike storage solution, offering multiple vertical hanging positions. Installation is quick; just three screws are needed to mount the system to a stud. It’s proven to be a favorite thanks to its space-saving, compact nature.

Craig’s Tool

Pros and Cons
⊕ Minimalistic design
⊗ Magnetic bits get stuck in bolts

Craig’s Tool is the product of a lifelong industry engineer looking to capitalize on the minimalist desires of gram-conscious cyclists. At 32 grams, the multitool provides the six most common bits (2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, and T25) you’ll need for road and gravel bike adjustments or repairs. Its sleek, high-strength aluminum L-shaped handle and additional tire plugs provide a simple yet effective set of tools that served us well for unexpected roadside stops.

Roll Recovery R8 Plus Deep Tissue Massage Tool

Pros and Cons
⊕ Ideal for big muscles of the leg
⊕ Adjustable pressure
⊗ Springs wear out over time

Like many athletes, cyclists are big on post-ride recovery massages, and the Roll R8 Plus allows us to administer our own deep tissue massage at home with a 360-degree squeezing action. An adjustment knob allows for easy tension selection to dial in various levels of force to target one’s glutes, quads, hamstrings, and more.

Q36.5 Dottore Clima Jersey and Dottore Clima Bib

Pros and Cons
⊕ Highly breathable
⊕ Premium quality chamois
⊗ Delicate

A quality kit can have a seemingly high sticker price, but your body will be grateful for the investment down the road. Produced in Italy, each piece of Q35.6’s Clima collection oozes quality craftsmanship and remarkable breathability. In the jersey, the use of graphene yarn—alongside a blend of 60 percent polyester, 28 percent elastane, and 12 percent polyamide—enhances cooling with its inherent thermoregulating properties. In the bibs, a proprietary chamois provides a highly breathable cushion for the longest rides on your calendar.

We tested the kit over 100 miles at California’s Tour de Palm Springs and were pleased with its all-day comfort, and, after six months of hard riding, it retains much of its original elasticity and grip. Bonus: Q36.5’s warranty policy covers the practical lifetime of the product and offers repair services for a small charge.

Garmin Edge 540 Solar GPS

Pros and Cons
⊕ Great tracking with no battery anxiety
⊗ UI has a steep learning curve

A cycling computer, while not an essential accessory, is one of those nice-to-haves if you’re looking for navigation assistance and extensive data on your rides. The Garmin’s Edge 540 is our favorite thanks to its mid-ride solar charging capabilities which gives it up to a claimed 32 hours of battery life (and 60+ in battery saver mode), making it ideal for an all-day adventure without the worry of battery anxiety.

A multitude of sensors pair with its ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, and multi-band GNSS provides class-leading positioning data.

Oakley Sphaera Sunglasses

Pros and Cons
⊕ Wide coverage
⊗ Expensive

Oakley’s Sphaera is the latest sport-oriented release from the eyewear giant. A lightweight, half-wrap frame and a wide lens pair for a modern fit that falls in line with the oversized glasses trend of recent years. We appreciated the breathable central vent, polarized lenses, and rubber-covered arms that added comfort. For $271, the Sphaera is on the high end of the eyewear price spectrum, but we find Oakley’s consistently high quality helps justify the price tag.

Tailwind Nutrition Rapid Hydration Drink Mix

Pros and Cons
⊕ Light
⊕ Easily digestible
⊗ Not enough calories for long rides

Whether you’re taking a quick spin through the park or spending a day in the mountains, staying fueled is one of the simplest steps any cyclist can take to improve the quality of their ride. Colorado-based Tailwind Nutrition produces a variety of refreshing, easy-to-digest drink mixes, from calorie-packed to calorie-light.

The brand’s 45-calorie Rapid Hydration mix is available in five flavors: orange, strawberry lemonade, lemon lime, raspberry, and berry. Testers found these did the trick for shorter, sub-two-hour rides, but felt the need to fuel with additional carbs for longer days in the saddle.

How We Test

• Number of products tested: 15
• Number of miles collectively ridden during testing: 11,000
• Biggest ride: 102 miles
• Number of Testers: 6

Our group of testers, made up of men and women across the country, put more than a dozen cycling accessories to the test on various rides and races during diverse training schedules. Some were preparing for marquee road and gravel events while others were more concerned about the weekly coffee ride.

Each product we tested earned a grade based on qualitative and quantitative characteristics like functionality, simplicity, and usefulness. The bike gear and gadgets on this list impressed our crew in all departments.

Meet Our Lead Tester

has been riding road and gravel bikes for 15 years and has been writing about the latest tech in the sport since 2017. He’s toed the line at premier road and gravel events nationwide, including the Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego and the Unbound 200. When he’s not writing or riding, he’s pulling apart bikes at his local shop and connecting with the diverse cycling community around his hometown of Los Angeles.

The post The Best Bike Accessories for Road and Gravel Riding (and Racing) appeared first on şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online.