And you’ll probably want to – the Rally is pretty good for cold-weather riding because of that durable upper material. There are an incredible 13 sizes to choose from, with half sizes populating the middle spread, so everyone will be able to get a great fit. It’s important to make sure all your parts have the same pattern – 2-bolt or 3-bolt – or they won’t be able to work together.

They're more usual on dedicated budget cycling shoes but could be an option on cycling shoes for commuting. That said, the Hellion Elites are most definitely worth considering over Five Tens – especially if you find the shape of modern Adidas-era Five Tens a bit too narrow fitting. To stop it getting bounced off pedals, there’s plenty of flex in the sole and it’s also wider than most.The way the flap across the top of the shoe limits the adjustability by hitting the lower BOA dial eventually didn't help. This stops your ankle contacting the crank arm when you’re leaning into a corner, or those times when you have to unclip inwards. But the wide platform of the cleat provides better power transfer and improved pressure distribution across the sole of your foot for less hot spots. The sole is a 10/10 stiffness on the Fizik scale, though there are stiffer soles out there, and there's a large vent at the front.

Dial in the comfort with single or double micro-adjustable Boa® closures, or tighten your Powerstrap to evenly distribute force across the entire foot. It has an excellent sole, but it is a tall shoe, especially in the heel, so off the bike it’s not the most stable. A wider toe box will lead to more comfort and many mountain bike shoes will have toe reinforcement to protect your toes, which can also be helpful fo the commuter. For some, the over-the-ankle look may be a bit polarizing, but we think Five Ten pulled it off better than most with a sleek, modern hiking shoe-like upper.Brands making the lightest shoes available tend to have different closure solutions, and for Fizik that means the Powerstrap system. With the flat shoes, the main driver is grip, so we measured the rubber compound on every shoe with a durometer. And, of course, if you're also in the market for a set of pedals to match your shoes, we've a guide t o the best commuter bikes pedals as well.

The BOA dial is mounted high up out of the way of stumps and rocks, and interlocks the lace with the gusseted tongue so it stays centred. It’s sticky but not quite as good as FiveTen’s famous Stealth S1 Dotty rubber that adheres to the Freerider Pro. The overall fit is slim and the shoe in general is sleek and noticeably less clumpy than the other shoes here.

The sole is an ultra-stiff carbon design perfect for all-day riding and has a two-bolt cleat mount with tread for walking. The cleat setback of 10 millimeters is especially intriguing—essentially, it’s the positioning of a flat-pedal shoe combined with the power of a clipless connection, resulting in less foot fatigue and better control on technical terrain. See the Men's Five Ten Freerider See the Women's Five Ten Freerider Best Clipless Mountain Bike Shoe 2. I find there is something really wonderful about not feeling the weight of your shoe as you move and the numbers can be significant.