The Best Mountain Biking Shoes for Every Type of Rider

• Materials: Textile upper with thermo-bonded PU overlays, Tack rubber outsole, dual-layer EVA midsole
• Weight: 11.9 ounces
• Pedal Type: Flat

If you're not clipping in but you still want power and performance, the Tracker is Giro's answer to clipless styles. The shoe has an athletic, skate-shoe vibe, and the grip and fit allow you to rip single track and bomb hills with confidence.The Tracker is built with a flat profile, which allows for more contact with the pedal (which translates to more riding power). The dual-layer EVA midsole offers comfort on and off the bike, and the BOA L6 stainless steel lacing system allows for easy micro-adjustments on the go.

• Materials: Hexagon rubber outsole, anti-bacterial mesh lining, TPU toe and heel protectors, Cordura upper, EVA midsole
• Weight: 1 pound, 1.7 ounces
• Pedal Type: Clipless

My favorite clip/clipless (two different words that confusingly mean the same thing!) shoe is the Ride Concepts Tallac Clip. It's pricey, sure, but it fits great and has a nice burly outsole for battling rocks and logs, plus the inset for the cleat is deep enough that you can walk around in it without sounding like a tap dancer. The Tallac Clip is pretty comfy too — this is actually my go-to shoe riding around town on my fixie.

• Materials: Parley Ocean Plastic and recycled polyester upper, Stealth Phantom rubber outsole, EVA midsole
• Weight: 1 pound, 5.3 ounces
• Pedal Type: Flat

The Sleuth is a dependable and comfortable flat mountain bike shoe that delivers just what it promises: no-nonsense performance. I've worn mine on mellow single-track as well as multi-day bikepacking trips, and I'm always left impressed with the comfort of these kicks both on the bike, and off.

The stand-out feature in my mind is the outsole: aside from the unique polka-dot look, the Stealth Phantom rubber offers high-traction grip on the pedal and off. My feet felt securely locked in when pedaling in this model, in both wet and dry conditions. Best of all, the upper makes use of Parley for the Oceans recycled plastic, pulled right from the ocean.

• Materials: Cordura upper, EVA midsole, TPU toe and heel protection, rubber outsole
• Weight: 12.9 ounces
• Pedal Type: Flat

Ride Concepts makes capable, high-quality mountain bike shoes for men, women and kids, and its female-specific Flume is our number one pick for lady mountain bike shredders. Featuring a breathable and bombproof Cordura upper, Max Grip rubber outsole and reverse hex traction in the toe and heel, the Flume has intense traction and grip both on and off the bike and is constructed with the burliest off-road riding in mind. The shoe is style-forward enough that you can rock it off-bike without missing a step.

I found that the Flume required a longer break-in period than comparable flat mountain bike shoes I've tested, and the toe box in particular was definitely on the snug side. After 4-5 rides these loosened up, but if you're planning any longer or more intense rides and you have a little lead time, I'd recommend breaking these in as much as possible beforehand.

• Materials: Perforated textile upper, rubber outsole
• Weight: 1 pound
• Pedal Type: Flat

My favorite flat pedal shoe is the Endura Hummvee. This skate-style shoe sticks to the pedals quite nicely and has a firm yet comfortable sole for max pedaling efficiency. It also looks great and doubles as an everyday shoe/travel shoe. I find myself using it for everything. Multi-use is the name of the game with these kicks: the StickyFoot Grip rubber compound used in the outsole sticks to pedals but also works great on the trail in a pinch. The quick-dry lining combats weather and sweat and the Flex Profile has been tuned for comfort on and off the bike.

• Materials: Synthetic leather upper, EVA footbed, Shimano rubber outsole
• Weight: 1 pound, 8.8 ounces
• Pedal Type: Clipless
• Shimano has made a name for itself in making top-tier components for mountain road bikes alike, but for the uninitiated, the brand's shoes are also killer.

The ME5 platform is relatively rigid while maintaining comfort on the trail. The synthetic leather upper is light and breathable, and the BOA L6 speed lacing system cuts weight and provides the most accurate fit available in MTB shoes. The ME5 is compatible with a variety of pedal manufacturers, and the reinforced armor provides top-tier protection and durability while riding.

• Materials: Rubber and textile upper, Vibram Ecostep rubber outsole, EVA footbed
• Weight: 1 pound, 7 ounces
• Pedal Type: Clipless

Colorado-based Pearl Izumi knows a thing or two about adventure gear, seeing as it makes some of the best in the business. The clipless X-Alp Summit continues the rugged and ready bar set by the brand and is an ideal shoe for hike-a-bikes and bikepacking thanks to its extra-grippy Vibram Ecostep rubber outsoles that grip on par with the best hiking shoes out there.Along with its burly outsole, the X-Alp Summit also features perforated synthetic leather uppers, which maximize breathability, as well as reinforced toe boxes, 2-bolt SPD-style cleat compatibility (cleats not included) and EVA heel cushioning for extra comfort while hoofing it up hills with your bike. The BOAL6 SpeedFit system rounds out the functional and feature-rich shoe.