Flat pedals and cleat-free shoes have been quieting the bike shop floor in recent years and for good reason. Folks are tossing themselves and their uber-capable bikes down steeper shoots and off larger hips, and want to be able to throw a foot out whenever they like. Riders often cite an appreciation for the skills required to ride with flats as a reason to stick with the pins, even if they also use clipless pedals and shoes occasionally.
In our recent podcast with pro rider and former observed trials champ, Jeff Lenosky, he mentioned that he rides clipless on the trail, and flats when it’s time to perform some legit tricks. Between Lenosky and the reigning EWS champ Sam Hill there is certainly some legitimacy to riding unclipped.
This list of flat pedal kicks will lay out some defining features of each pair, and will include weight, price, and links to additional information. Some designers in the flat pedal shoe market seem to be focused on maintaining a particular aesthetic, while others are more focused on the technical and functional aspects of footwear. We have organized the shoes according to several factors including ankle height, gender, and closure system to make the pile easier to sort through.
| Brand | Model | Weight | Price (USD)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bontrager | Flatline | 430g (size 46) | $129 |
| Bontrager | Flatline | $129 | |
| Chrome | Truk | $75 | |
| DZR | Sense | $79 | |
| Five Ten | Freerider Pro | 338g | $150 |
| Five Ten | Sam Hill 3 | 549g | $160 |
| Five Ten | Impact High | 586g | $160 |
| FiveTen | Impact Pro | 493g | $160 |
| Giro | Riddance Mid | 445g (size 43) | |
| Giro | Riddance | 430g (size 43) | |
| Giro | Jacket II | 415g (size 43) | $90 |
| ION | Raid Amp II | $150 | |
| ION | Raid II | $115 | |
| Mavic | Deemax Pro Flat | $200 | |
| Mavic | Deemax Elite | $140 | |
| Northwave | Tribe | $100 | |
| Northwave | Clan | $150 | |
| O’Neal | Pinned Pro | $90 | |
| Pearl Izumi | X Alp launch W | 295g | $150 |
| Pearl Izumi | X Alp Launch | 340g | $150 |
| Ride Concepts | Livewire | 455g | $100 |
| Ride Concepts | Session Hellion | 421g | $130 |
| Ride Concepts | Skyline | $150 | |
| Ride Concepts | Wildcat | 482g | $120 |
| Ride Concepts | TNT | $160 | |
| SCG | Sound | $70 | |
| Shimano | GR5 | 400g (size 42) | $100 |
| Shimano | GR9 | 365g (size:42) | $140 |
| Shimano | GR7 | 366g (size:42) | $130 |
| Specialized | 2FO Flat 2.0 | 347g (1/2 pair, Size 42) | $170 |
| Specialized | 2FO Flat 1.0 | 315g (1/2 pair, Size 42) | $120 |
| Vaude | Moab Mid STX AM | $200 |
*Claimed weights are per shoe, and come from manufacturers’ provided info. The size of the shoe that was weighed is listed below if available.
**Prices may differ depending on retailer and currency.
Lace lowtops
Bontrager Flatline has a durable synthetic leather upper. $130 USD.
- Men’s Shoe available at Trek Bicycles | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at Trek Bicycles | Compare
Five Ten Freerider Pro One of the most popular flat pedal shoes recently received a few updates. Claimed weight 338g. $150 USD. “Freerider Pro touts superior toe protection and is quicker drying than its predecessor and utilizes a fully dotty Stealth® S1™outsole for proven grip and durability.” Claimed weight 289g. $150 USD.
- Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at Amazon | Compare
Five Ten Impact Pro The Impact pro is a fast-drying shoe with a synthetic upper and thick, shock-absorbent sole. Claimed weight 439g. $160 USD.
- Men’s Shoe available at Adidas | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
Five Ten Sam Hill Named after the formidable EWS Champ, these shoes are designed to stomp stages. The soles are so thick they look like short hiking boots from a distance and are likely just as durable. Claimed weight 549g. $160 USD.
- Men’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare
Giro Riddance The water-resistant upper is molded to a sole touted as “best in class” for vibration damping. Claimed weight 430g in size 43. $130 USD.
- Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
- Read Our Review | Women’s Shoe available at evo.com | Compare
ION RAID AMP II The Amp II sole features dedicated pedal and walking zones. Claimed weight 440g in size 42. €130.
- Available at Backcountry.com | Compare
ION RAID II A stylish, flat-pedal shoe with classic lace closure. €100.
- Available at Backcountry.com | Compare
Mavic Deemax Elite “Spider sole design allows you to easily move your foot on the pedal while riding and keeping close control of your bike.” €120.
- Available at Backcountry.com | Compare
Mavic Deemax Pro Similar to the Deemax Elite, with added height around the ankle for increased protection. €170.
- Men’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare
Northwave Clan The mesh tongue provides padding and breathability in one. $150 USD.
- Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Chain Reaction Cycles | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at Chain Reaction Cycles | Compare
O’Neal Pinned Pro The Pinned Pro includes a removable and interchangeable footbed. €80.
- Read Our Review | Available at Amazon.com | Compare
Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch 350g claimed weight, $150 USD.
- Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
Ride Concepts Hellion Another sweet flat pedal shoe with very few stitches to wear out, and some solid vibration dampening. Claimed weight 421g. $130.
- Men’s Shoe available at Backcountry.com | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare
Ride Concepts Livewire Weight is 535g in size 12. $100 USD.
- Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
- Read Our Review | Women’s Shoe available at evo.com | Compare
Ride Concepts Powerline The Powerline takes all the cool features of the Hellion and adds some ankle protection. $150 USD.
- Available at Jenson USA | Compare
Ride Concepts Skyline The Skyline is the burlier low-top offering from Ride Concepts, with a higher medial collar. $150 USD.
- Read Our Review | Available at Jenson USA | Compare
Shimano GR5 Available in sizes all the way up to 48, this is an affordable option with some sweet features. Claimed weight 400g in size 42. $100 USD.
- Men’s Shoe available at Amazon.com | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at REI.com | Compare
Shimano GR7 This shoe has a cool stretch-mesh ankle collar that keeps debris out of the shoe. Claimed weight 366g in size 42. $130 USD.
- Men’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at Backcountry.com | Compare
Shimano GR9 The GR9 has an armored lace shield that provides protection from debris, and the synthetic upper dries super fast after wet rides. Claimed weight 365g in size 42. $150 USD.
- Available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
Specialized 2Fo Flat 1.0 SlipNot 2.0 rubber compound is the softest and tackiest Specialized has made to date, guaranteeing good grip on the pedals. Claimed weight 315g in size 42. $120 USD.
- Available at Backcountry.com | Compare
Specialized 2FO Flat 2.0 Air mesh on the tongue and uppers provides protection, while most of the stitching on the shoe is hidden beneath a protective layer of rubber. Claimed weight 347g in size 42. $150 USD.
- Men’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare
- Read Our Review | Women’s Shoe available at Specialized.com | Compare
Lace-Plus Lowtops
These are shoes that use a strap or BOA closure in addition to laces.
Ride Concepts TNT Ride Concepts’ mid-height, flat pedal offering with an ankle strap for on the fly adjustments. $160 USD.
Fly Lowtops
The shoes below have a decided emphasis on aesthetics, often with functional elements below the surface.
Afton Keegan “Mono-directional interior shank supports your foot on the pedal during impacts, assists in energy transfer when pedaling, and reduces vibration yet flexes to allow normal walking.” $99 USD.
- Available at Amazon.com | Compare
Chrome Truk The Truk’s nylon upper is reportedly 25 times stronger than canvas. $75 USD.
- Available at Backcountry.com | Compare
Giro Jacket II The Jacket II uses a Vibram Ecostep rubber sole, specifically designed for flat pedals. Claimed weight 415g in size 43. $90 USD.
- Available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
Northwave Tribe “Reinforcements with abrasion-resistant rubber prints on the toe and heel, and a reinforced toecap.” $99 USD
- Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Backcountry.com | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at Backcountry.com | Compare
SCG Sound SCG Sound shoes are handcrafted in Colombia and packed with hidden features like top protection under the first leather layer. $70 USD.
- Available at SCG Sound Co
Hightops and mid-tops
Five Ten Impact High These are the taller version of the Sam Hill kicks, offering the most ankle support Five Ten has offered to date. Claimed weight 586g. $160 USD.
- Available at Worldwide Cyclery | Compare
Giro Riddance Mid Riddance uses the same Vibram sole as many of the other Giro shoes, but in a high-top format with a large ankle-strap to keep them snug. Claimed weight 445g in size 43. €140.
Ride Concepts Wildcat “Featuring cranked-up stability and ankle protection, it’s a mid-height, sticky-soled, flat pedal brawler.” The Wildcat are somewhere between a mid-height and high-top shoe, with a small ankle strap for adjustments on the go. Claimed weight 482g. $120 USD.
- Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
- Women’s Shoe available at REI.com | Compare
Vaude Mid STX AM Like all Vaude products, these are environmentally friendly and fair-trade manufactured. Claimed weight 880g. €175.
- Available at Amazon.com | Compare
Looking for more information to help you make your mountain bike shoe buying decision? Check out this article on choosing the right MTB shoes.
Do you have a favorite pair of mountain bike specific flats that are not included here? Let us know in the comments and we will periodically add new kicks to this list.
