14 of the Best Trail-Ready Mountain Bike Shoes

best mountain bike shoes

Updated 10/11/21

When you first start mountain biking, an ordinary pair of running or hiking shoes will probably do you just fine. But once you’ve decided this is the sport for you, a more specific shoe can definitely help improve your performance.

What you go for will depend on the type of riding you do, the weather conditions you ride in, and your budget.

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Best Cycling Gloves: Protect Your Mitts!

Your cycling gloves may be the smallest item in your cycling wardrobe, but they have a vital role to play in helping you cycle in comfort for longer.

In winter, you’re unlikely to consider leaving the house for a ride without pulling on a pair of warm gloves. Your hands can quickly get cold and trying to shift gears and operate brake levers with numb fingers isn’t anyone’s idea of fun, whether it’s from hand fatigue or the elements.

But in summer, when temperatures are balmy or even hot, you may be tempted to leave your gloves at home. Rookie error… You see, gloves aren’t just designed to keep your hands warm. They wick away sweat and improve your grip on the bars, as well as cushioning your palms to help prevent chafing. And if you do take an unexpected tumble, they’ll protect your hands from grit rash.

Cycling gloves are a personal choice. What fits one person may not suit another. But with that in mind, we’ve rounded up ten of the best cycling gloves on the market.

Up Front Best Cycling Gloves

  1. Louis Garneau Vorttice Glove: Best Overall
  2. Pearly Izumi Pro Aero Gloves: Best for Road Cycling on a Hot Weather
  3. Pearl Izumi Select Gloves: Best for Hand Numbness
  4. INBIKE 5mm Gel Padded Cycling Gloves: Budget Pick
  5. Scott Endurance SF Glove: Best for Long Rides
  6. Sportful R&D Cima Gloves: Best Summer Cycling Gloves
  7. Leatt DBX 4.0 Lite: Best Mountain Biking Gloves
  8. Castelli Estremo Gloves: Best Winter Cycling Gloves
  9. Giro Women’s Tessa Glove: Best Women-Specific Cycling Gloves
  10. Louis Garneau Rafale 2 Glove: Best for Cool Weather riding

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13 Best Shred-Worthy Mountain Bike Gloves

best mountain bike gloves

Whether you’re a dirt-jumper or an 80km cross-country rider, your mountain bike gloves are likely to be dear to your heart. This humble piece of kit has to meet many needs: protecting your knuckles, letting your hands breathe, and helping avoid the dreaded numbness. Once you find your perfect pair, you’ll never want to let them go.

There are so many styles and makes of gloves out there that it can be hard to know where to start looking. And let’s face it – we’re all different. What works for me, may not be the best choice for you. So we’ve reviewed the most popular mountain bike gloves on the market to find the perfect glove to suit every rider and every budget.

Here are our personal picks for the best mountain bike gloves. Keep reading for our reviews and recommendations.

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What’s the Best Fat Bike Tire for Your Big Wheeled Adventure?

Best Fat Bike Tire

One man’s meat is another man’s poison. But we’re not just talking about food…

If you’ve ever asked your mates for their opinion on the best bike tires, you’ll know that there’s no “one size fits all”. Tires are a very personal choice, and the best tires for you will depend on your riding style and what type of terrain you cover.

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In-Depth Stages Gen 3 Power Meter Review + Power Meter Buying Guide

Stages power meters are known for two things: bringing power meters into the budget range of the everyday cyclist, and gracing Team Sky’s Tour de France winning bikes.

But despite their endorsement from the pros, Stages haven’t totally dominated the power meter market. Issues with the reliability and accuracy of data, plus the waterproofing (or lack of) of the casing plagued earlier generations of meters, issues which Stages claim to have fixed with this year’s Gen 3 range.

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Best MTB Hydration Packs: The Definitive Guide

Mountain biking is thirsty work and it’s important to stay hydrated. Hydration packs have a number of advantages over water bottles for mountain biking:

  • Hands-free drinking means you can sip water as you go along
  • You can carry more water for long rides
  • No need to worry about drinking from dirty water bottles
  • Some packs offer protection for your back in case of a fall

In this article we cover what you need to know when buying a hydration pack, plus our pick of the best packs for different riders.

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The Best Cycling Base Layer for Every Season: The Ultimate Guide

Best Cycling Base Layer

A good base layer will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. It adds comfort, especially under bib-shorts, and can help you regulate your body temperature by wicking away sweat. Plus, it provides an extra layer of protection from road rash if you take a spill.

In this buyer’s guide we cover:

  • What to consider when buying a base layer
  • How to care for your base layer
  • Our favorite base layers for all seasons

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Definitive Guide to the Best Electric Bikes + 11 Top Bikes

Electric bikes have become more common over the past few years, particularly in Europe. In Holland, arguably the cycling capital of the world, more people ride electric bikes than non-electric bikes.

But the US is catching up and with more models coming out every year, there’s never been more choices in the electric bike market. Buying an electric bike can be a bit more complicated than getting a regular bike and it’s worth doing your research before you go shopping.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the pros and cons of electric bikes and everything you need to know to inform your buying decision, including the legal aspects of e-bike use in different states.

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Best Road Cycling Shoes: Definitive Guide

In 2021, looks are vying with functionality on the cycling shoe catwalk. Bling is back, with shiny metallic uppers, funky colors and ‘oil-slick’ (i.e. bright and shiny) soles. Taking the Bling Beauty Queen title is the Gaerne G. Stardust, a shoe which arguably looks more at home at a 70s disco than pedaling up a mountain pass.

While we’re waiting for some of these shoes to hit the market, we’ve been looking at some of our favorite tried-and-tested models. (And yes, many are pretty as well as functional.) While we may not balk at spending thousands of dollars on our bikes and associated components, when it comes to shoes, our wallets often win the battle with our hearts (or feet).

But cycling shoes aren’t just something to keep your feet cool and dry. They can directly impact your performance, both by transferring power efficiently from your legs through to the pedals and by being comfortable enough to allow you to keep that power transfer up hour after hour. An ill-fitting pair of shoes will make cycling a misery and you may be surprised at just how much faster you can go with a stiff, well-designed shoe.

Your perfect shoe will depend on a number of factors including the shape of your foot, the type of cycling you’re doing and the level of performance you’re aiming for. In this article, we’ll be looking at shoes that are designed for clipless pedals. If you’re used to flat pedals and are looking to upgrade, check out this article for tips on getting started with clipless pedals.

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Best Backpacks for Bike Commuting: 5 Stealth Packs to Survive any Commute

Best Backpacks for Bike Commuting - 5 Stealth Packs to Survive any Commute

If you use your bike for commuting, you’ve got two options when it comes to lugging your kit to and from work: panniers or a backpack. While panniers are your best bet for heavier loads, many people prefer the simplicity and convenience of a backpack. And if your bike isn’t set up to carry panniers, then a backpack’s your only option!

There are plenty of backpacks to choose from, including models specifically designed for bike commuting and packs with multiple uses. Some backpacks are functional, but quite frankly, pretty ugly, while others are equally at home in the office as on the street. In this article, we cover some of the key features to look out for when shopping for a new backpack and give our recommendations for the best backpacks for different commuters.

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