Last modified on March 12th, 2022 at 10:18 am
Best Urban Cycling Shoes
Buyer's Guide Table of Contents
Choosing Urban Cycling Shoes
You wouldn’t run a marathon in socks and sandals. If you own a commuter bike, it is likely you have been in a similar situation by ruining a pair of shoes that weren’t right for the job. It might be best to invest in a good pair of urban cycling shoes.
Shoes designed for casual cycling stand at an intersection in the spectrum of footwear. They need to endure more strain than everyday wear and therefore are made of more durable materials, but aren’t subject to the same demands as shoes designed for high end road bikes. Striking the right balance between the two poles of street shoes and athletic equipment is the key for any good pair of casual cycling shoes. Below are three shoes at very different points in this spectrum.
Shoes | Summary |
|---|---|
Chrome Industries Truk Pro  | Overall Rating - 4/5 A casual shoe that has a big cycling influence. These high quality shoes have a stiffer style for great power transfer. |
Teva Roller Suede  | Overall Rating - 4.5/5 Another casual shoe option, the Teva Roller Suede. The aesthetic of the shoe lends itself to a more casual look, but the features are designed specifically for cycling. |
Scott CRUS-R  | Overall Rating - 3.5/5 The Scott CRUS-R Bike Shoes is a bit more of an athletic look. These shoes are made out of fiberglass reinforced Nylon, making them great for road-bike commuters or mounter bike riders. |
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
It is incredible durable, nearly stain-proof shoe. It comes in half sizes so most commuter cyclists will find the fit that is right for them | As far as style goes, these are pretty bland. They are just under $100, making them more expensive than other shoes in the same category. |
Chrome has established itself as a strong purveyor of commuter cycling gear, much of it designed for durability. This intention shows itself in the unadorned aesthetic of the Truk Pro, which bears resemblance to the KEDs of the late seventies and eighties. Like them, the shoe is made for all –day wear, with recessed clips to prevent damage to floors; for flatter surfaces, the shoes come with additional sole plugs.
The Truk Pro comes in either black or grey, with reflective material added to the back of the shoes for night time riding. The fit of the shoe is Chrome’s patented FlexPlate™ technology, designed for both cycling and pedestrian use.
The fabric is 1000 count Denier Cordura, which provides for an unusually resilient shoe material. Combined with the dark coloration of the Truk Pro, the shoes are nearly stain proof. The Truk Pro comes in half sizes between U.S. 4.5 to 11.5, and whole sizes up to U.S. 14.
Like with all shoes –and especially cycling shoes – it is important to get a good fit. Users have voiced concerns about the roominess of the shoes, suggesting going a half size down. The durability of the Truk Pro remains a point of popularity among commuter cyclists, which cannot be overstated: when it comes to the design challenge of making a resilient cycling shoe, the Truk Pro passes with flying colors.
Of smaller importance is the style of the shoes, which may be a dealmaker/breaker for some. The argument comes down to a matter of individual taste: because it is less flashy than other modern shoes, it has been described as either “unembellished” or “orthopedic”. Your style, your rules.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
It definitely a good looking shoe. The suede material gives it a sleek look/feel. The pricing varies dependent on the specific model, but are very competitive for the most part. | These shoes are meant to be bike friendly, not specifically bike designed. They will work great for shorter commutes, but are not meant for long daily rides. |
On the other end of the commuter shoe spectrum is the Teva Roller Suede, designed not so much as a biking shoe but as a bike friendly shoe. The difference is key, and is apparent in the major selling point of the Teva Roller being made from suede.
The interior lining is polyester mesh and comes with significant arch support, putting it slightly at odds with other cycling shoes that emphasize a pointed toe. The suede exterior holds a surprising stiffness for the material, though not as abrasion resistant as the fabric weaves which have become the market standard.
Though not possessing a tapered sole, the outsole is designed to balance on bike pedals, and the treading of the sole is aggressively patterned to maintain contact with the metal and reduce slippage.
The shoe comes in half sizes from U.S men’s 7 to 12.5 and whole sizes from 13 to 15.
As stated above, what separates the Tiva Roller Suede from other cycling shoes is that it is bike friendly, not bike designed. Teva openly states that it is intended more for quick runs to the store than outings to the bike park. This is an important distinction that should be addressed when you buy: will this be used for an everyday commute, or a weekly joy-ride? The Tiva Roller Suede, while stylish, certainly tends to the latter.
Scott CRUS-R
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
The CRUS-R Bike Shoes is a solid brand when it comes to cycling gear, so you know you are getting a quality product. They are a casual looking shoe that also provides great power transfer. | They probably won't hold up too well in wet weather. |
The Scott CRUS-R is the in-house brand of Scott Sports, one of the giants of the cycling and other sports industry. Being known globally, it is no surprise that their footwear products cater towards high end, professional oriented offerings.
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The CRUS-R as one reviewer puts it, “the sensible school shoes" of a market that turns increasingly towards trail-wear.
It is made to be very durable and light at the same time, giving you enough flexibility and comfort to do outdoor sports.
While most nonprofessional cycling shoes exist on the spectrum between informal wear and athletic gear, the CRUS-R hovers somewhere between athletic gear and hiking equipment. As such, the demographic that would seem to benefit the most from it would be mountain bikers and cyclists that often encounter hills and varying terrain.
One point against its otherwise impeccable ruggedness is its weakness to wet weather. Given that the shoe was made to operate in the great outdoors, this seems like an issue that will eventually have to be confronted by any wearer.
Choosing The Right Urban Cycling Shoes For You
One of the most important points when choosing a pair of urban cycling shoes is under what conditions are you going to use them?
Will you be using these for city commutes or suburban? How long do you plan to be off the bike, and how often do you expect to use them? Those factors are what will dictate the performance of any pair you decide to buy; simply put, there are no universal cycling shoes. With this being said, the market for cycling shoes certainly has something for any set of conditions you might require.
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