My 6 Best Cycling Sandals

CYCLING SANDALS COMPARISON

BEST CYCLING SANDALS REVIEWS

Shimano SD5

Best All-around SPD Shoe Sandal

PROS: – Quick to install SPD cleats – No pressure points – Very sturdy sole – Enough room in the toes – Good heel retention – As comfortable on rides around the block as on long rides – Easy to walk in – Stable

CONS: – Closures too short for high arches

Exustar E-SS503

Best for Super Wide Feet

PROS: – Made for people with super fat feet – Stiff and sturdy – Extremely comfortable – Well-priced – Excellent to tropical climate – Soles are easy to dislodge from the cleat sets

CONS: – The elastic under the Velcro straps may feel too tight for people with high arches – Sole is not rubbery enough to grip into pedal pins – Few ventilation slots along the bottom may make your feet feel hot – Heavy

KEEN Rose

Best Lightweight Cycling Sandal

PROS: – Great support – Very comfortable – Durable – Dries quickly – No rubbing – Anti-odor – Lightweight and flexible – Felt broke in a soon as I put them on – Great toe protection

CONS: – The back of the toe area has very limited space for mid to high arches – Not cushy enough for people with Plantar fasciitis

KEEN Whisper

Minimal-to-Zero Break-in Time Sandal

PROS: – Comfortable and supportive – Take quite a while to dry keeps your feet cool in the heat – Breathable – Do not smell even on bare feet – True to size – Good arch support – Comfortable toe protection – Completely enclosed lace system eliminate the risk of anything winding around your pedals – Easy to wash or put on – Web of straps feel very secure

CONS: – Not durable for lots of walking or hiking – More than one buyer experienced material ripping at the side of the heel – Many old owners said that Keens used to produce long-lasting products but last years shoe quality have deteriorated

KEEN Newport H2

Best Large Toe-box and Quick-drying Sandal

PROS: – Versatile – Very comfortable – Excellent fit – Feel solid and sturdy – Easy to put on or tighten up – Large toebox – Supportive sole & footbed – Easy to clean – Very good for wet and dry conditions – Great wet traction – Quick-drying

CONS: – A little heavy for a sandal

Teva Terra Fi 5 Universal

Best Minimalist Design Cycling Sandal

PROS: – Comfortable – Good fit – Great grip on all surfaces – Durable construction – Easy to put on due to the plenty of slack in ankle closure – Neoprene straps help keep down any chafing – Provide support for very high arch

CONS: – Limited color choices and patterns – May be expensive for some

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CYCLING SANDAL

CYCLING SANDALS VS CYCLING SHOES

What makes cycling sandals favorable than cycling shoes is the fact that they are versatile, meaning you can wear them with thermal socks if it’s cold, or simply when you need more comfort or protection.

Compared to cycling shoes, they are also good at avoiding having sweaty feet by having ventilation that cools them.

The last advantage of cycling in sandals is that they dry quickly if they get wet.

FEATURES TO LOOK AT

UPPER

The common materials for cycling sandals are leather or synthetic, both have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s not a question of what is the best but what is best for you.

• Leather:

Leather upper cycling sandals can last for years because it’s durable and taking the shape of the foot over time makes it also comfortable.

Leather is stable, supportive, and relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.

On the other side, leather is heavier, needs time to break in, and is not fast at drying.

• Synthetic:

What makes synthetic cycling sandals upper win over leather ones is that they are lightweight, quick to dry, breathable, and do not need time to break in.

Like leather, synthetic has also had its share of disadvantages like its limited stability and support, and not being durable as leather.

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FOOTBED

The second thing you should look at is the footbed because it offers good arch support and stability when it’s flexible and lightly cushioned.

A flexible and a little bit on the harder side footbed is what is good for cycling.

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MIDSOLE

The midsole is the part underneath the footbed but not what is touching the ground.

• EVA:

EVA midsoles are lightweight, very flexible, absorb shocks, and durable.

With all of these advantages, EVA remains less supportive and tends to compress over time.

• PU:

PU midsoles are durable, offer good support when you are out of your bike, and resist compression.

On the other side, PU is heavier, feels stiff when is still new, and may not distribute weight to feet well.

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OUTSOLE

Generally speaking, rubber outsole cycling sandals are durable and offer excellent grip.

• Hard rubber:

Hard rubber outsole cycling sandals are durable and offer more protection to the feet.

On the other side, hard rubber is heavier and does not stick on the pedal.

• Soft rubber:

I prefer soft rubber outsole sandals because they stick well to the pedal and are lighter. But they are less durable and do not perform well in mud.

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TOE AREA

SIZING

The great thing about cycling sandals is that even if you get a little off sizing, you still have straps for added adjustability.

ODOR-RESISTANCE

Two things I recommend cyclers with sweaty feet is to look for sandals with odor-resistant insoles or antimicrobial linings that are designed to fight the growth of odor-causing bacteria.

CLEAT

Some cycling sandals have a recess for SPD cleats that let the sandal clip into compatible pedals to not lose grip even in wet conditions.

Shimano SPD cleats are found in nearly any cycling bike, they are small, easy to operate, and have a long-lasting performance.

Using cleats is very beneficial if you want to transfer power from your body to the pedal efficiently.

COMFORT

Like with any new footwear, you need to break in your cycling sandal off your bike by walking in them and also on your bike by wearing them and taking tours on your bike.

WEATHER

What I like about cycling sandals is that they are versatile for multiple weather conditions, like in a cool climate, you can pair them with socks, and this relieves you from carrying an additional pair of shoes.

One thing I want you to be aware of is that you should not forget to apply sunscreen on your feet in order to protect them from the hot sun.

TIPS TO GET THE PERFECT FIT

In order to have higher chances of getting the perfect fit, follow these tips:

• Go shop in the afternoon or evening because its the period when the your feet get slightly larger.
• Test fit sandals with socks even if you are less likely to wear them.
• Have extra space for your toes, especially with closed-toe sandals.

FAQs

IS IT OK IF I GET USED CYCLING SANDALS?

If they are gently used, properly cleaned, deodorized, and you do not have any reduced ability to fight off infections, you can wear them without any problem.

You should be proud of that because you are saving the environment by lowering the market demand and you are saving yourself some money.

ARE CYCLING SANDALS GOOD FOR ALL WEATHERS?

Yes.

What I like about cycling sandals is that with a pair of thermal socks, waterproof socks, or overshoes, they are appropriate in cold weather as in hot weather.

Another benefit of using them is that they dry quickly than cycling shoes, meaning you are more likely to wear fresh footwear the next day.

HOW LONG DO CYCLING SANDALS LAST?

There is no definite answer to this question because it depends on many things like how often you wear them, how hard or them you are, and the quality of every pair.

But my opinion is that in normal cases, a pair of cycling sandals should last at least two years of their quality is decent.

You can have a friend with a 10-year-old pair of cycling shoes that are still functioning, this can be true but not with newly produced models because, unfortunately, many known brands lowered the quality of their products in the last years.

IS IT RISKY IF I WALK CLEAT CYCLING SANDALS?

Yes, especially on rocks or hard surfaces and wet ground because their metal makes them slippery.

Updated on September 10, 2021 by Ben