The Best Gravel Bike Shoes of 2026

Crankbrothers is better known for its mountain bike components and tools, but in recent years, the brand has been growing its gravel lineup. The Crankbrothers Candy Lace ($170) shoes launched in the spring of 2024 and are a very impressive effort for the brand’s first gravel and XC shoe. We got our hands on a pair just after they came out and quickly set about testing them on both gravel and XC rides.

One of the first things that stands out about the Candy shoes is how good they look. Style isn’t everything, but these are some seriously classy-looking shoes. They look nearly identical to the Giro Empire XC, but cost $200 less. We especially liked the black color we tested with the contrasting gum soles — and the lace closure — that gives them a timeless appeal. They also come in blue and white.

Our size 43.5 (10 US) test pair fits perfectly true to size with a nice, snug fit for our tester’s relatively low-volume feet. Slipping into these shoes is super easy with the laces loose and a tongue that opens up nice and wide. While laces are a little more cumbersome to deal with than BOA dials, they are comfortable and make it easy to get perfect tension over the top of the foot. An elastic lace retainer also keeps the ends tidy while you ride.

The fiber-reinforced nylon midsole is stiff enough for just about any type of riding short of professional-level racing. It doesn’t feel like any energy is wasted through sole flex, yet it is a bit more forgiving to the feet on longer or rougher rides. Other than the cleat box, the entirety of the sole is covered in Crankbrothers’ MC1 rubber with fairly aggressive tread lugs. This rubber is relatively soft and provides a touch of cushion when you walk and a great grip on rocks or loose dirt.

The synthetic uppers are heavily perforated over the toes, sides of the foot, and the tongue, and the Candy shoes breathe better than expected. The front of the toebox and the heel cup are also nicely reinforced for added protection.

So, while the new Candy Lace shoes aren’t the absolute stiffest or lightest, they happen to be the least expensive and arguably the best-looking shoes we tested. If you’re looking for comfortable, versatile, and affordable all-around gravel shoes, look no further.

The Empire VR90 was a staple in Giro’s off-road shoe lineup for years and gained somewhat of a cult following among gravel riders. The updated Giro Empire XC ($375) builds on that legacy and continues to deliver top-tier performance and impressive comfort on par with its predecessor.

Giro didn’t stray too far from the formula that made the Empire VR90 an iconic gravel and cross-country mountain bike shoe. That starts with the uppers. Built with a one-piece Teijin Evofiber synthetic leather material, the Empire XC is supple and supportive. These shoes are comfortable out of the box, and after a few rides, they conform perfectly to your feet. Still, they provide excellent lateral support and overall stability when mashing on the pedals.

Although BOA closures may be dominating the high-end of the cycling shoe market, laces still work well and appeal to many riders. Not only do they give the shoes some retro vibes, but they also happen to look classy and timeless. Aesthetics aside, laces are also super comfortable. We found it easy to get even tension over the top of the feet with no hot spots or pressure points. They may lack the on-the-fly adjustability of BOA, but we were too comfortable to care.

Our size 43.5 test pair fit true to size, with a relatively average width and volume that is perhaps a touch more accommodating than the previous version. Inside, Giro’s excellent SuperNatural footbed comes with three levels of arch inserts to optimize the support and the fit even further. This level of customization is appreciated, but also expected in a high-end shoe.

The carbon composite plate provides race-ready stiffness but miraculously avoids feeling punishing underfoot. When combined with the secure uppers, these soles provide excellent pedaling efficiency for your next race or long-distance ride. A Sensor rubber tread has been co-molded to the carbon plate, providing ample traction and respectable walkability for such a stiff shoe.

The one-piece uppers are very comfortable, surprisingly tough, and super easy to clean, but they aren’t the most breathable. You’ll want to look at other shoes if airflow is high on your list of priorities. At 720 g for the pair (size 43.5), they’re also around 100 g heavier than many similarly priced shoes.

The Empire XC continues to prove that laces will never go out of style and that comfort and performance are not mutually exclusive. From race day to daily training rides or your next gravel fondo, these shoes look good, feel great, and perform alongside the best of ’em.

Hear us out. The Pearl Izumi Expedition PRO ($285) shoes aren’t the least expensive shoes around, but we feel they are an excellent value for the level of performance they deliver. In a market where top-of-the-line carbon-soled shoes often break the $400 mark, the price tag of these shoes bucks the trend while still delivering in pretty much every department.

The Expedition PRO is Pearl Izumi’s top-tier off-road shoe made for discerning cross-country and gravel riders and racers. As such, it boasts a stiff 1:1 EX PRO carbon sole that doesn’t flex at all under power. Whether you’re mashing all day in a gravel race or out for a fun journey with friends, your pedaling effort is certainly not being wasted.

Up top, the synthetic leather uppers are quite supple and conform easily to the feet. The dual BOA L6C dials pull tension evenly and allow for independent adjustment over the mid and forefoot. The soft TX laces, lace guides, and padded tongue are also quite comfortable over the tarsal bones.

The tongue is not gusseted, so these shoes are incredibly easy to put on and take off, but they can drift a bit from side to side. We never had issues while testing, but depending on how tightly you wear your shoes, the tongue has the potential to move around a bit.

We found the fit to be true to size in length, with an average but accommodating width in the forefoot. Lots of smaller perforations in the uppers provide respectable airflow, especially above the toes. A hefty toe bumper and reinforced heel offer a good level of foot protection for such a light and stiff shoe of this style.

Off the bike, the Expedition PRO performs much like similarly stiff gravel shoes. TPU rubber lugs at the toes, heel, and around the cleat box provide respectable traction. Still, these shoes are super stiff, so walking isn’t their forte, but they get the job done. The exposed carbon on the sole is also prone to scratching, so you’ll want to be careful when walking around in rocky terrain.

Our only other complaint about these shoes is that the heel cup is quite firm initially, and it took a couple of rides to break in for our sensitive heels. Beyond that, we were impressed by the top-level performance of these mid-priced shoes. If the price of other race-ready gravel bike shoes is tough to stomach, check out the Expedition PRO.

Okay, so the Shimano S-Phyre XC9 ($480) shoes are technically made for cross-country mountain bike racing, but that’s exactly what makes them our top choice for gravel racing, too. They are super lightweight, very stiff, well-ventilated, and fit like a glove. They are also very expensive but potentially worth the asking price for high-performance riders and racers seeking maximum efficiency and marginal gains.

The foundation of the S-Phyre XC9 shoes is the super-stiff carbon midsole. These soles don’t flex (like at all), so all of your precious pedaling power goes straight into the cranks. The synthetic uppers conform very nicely to the feet with a wrap-style tongue and dual BOA Li2 closure that hugs snugly but doesn’t constrict.

In the well-shaped heel pocket, a textured material helps prevent any unwanted heel movement when you’re laying down surges of power. Hundreds of perforations in the uppers also allow air to move around the foot and breathe in warm conditions and during high-intensity rides.

On the bottom of the shoes, Shimano’s ULTREAD XC rubber covers nearly all of the carbon fiber except for the cleat mount area. If and when you’re forced off the bike and need to walk or hike the bike, the carbon won’t get all scratched up, and the grippy rubber lugs provide great traction.

They also accept toe spikes and are a popular choice among cyclocross riders for racing in muddy conditions. While the soles provide good grip, the midsoles are super stiff, so walking or hiking in these for an extended period isn’t the most pleasant experience.

Our test pair fit perfectly true to size in length. The uppers have some give, and they break in over the first few rides, but they are pretty low-volume in the standard width. Fortunately, Shimano also makes a wide version of the S-Phyre XC9. At 616 g for the pair in size 43.5, these are some of the lightest shoes we tested, which almost seems surprising given how stiff and comfortable they are.

At $480, the Shimano S-Phyre XC9 shoes are a significant investment in race day and training speed. They’re definitely not the right choice for everyone, but if you’re seeking to maximize your efforts and shave some seconds off the clock, this is our recommendation. You can learn more about them in Zach’s review.

Rapha may be better known for its high-end cycling apparel, but it’s been making some of the best shoes on the market for several years. The Pro Team Powerweave Gravel ($580) is its top-tier off-road shoe with the price tag to match. This shoe recently got a complete redesign, improving on its predecessor in several ways. It looks nearly identical to Rapha’s Pro Team road shoes, but with some gravel-specific features.

The namesake 3D woven upper, or Powerweave, is at the core of these shoes. This woven synthetic material not only looks great, in a unique kind of way, but it also helps make these shoes incredibly breathable. Not only that, but they are impressively comfortable as well since the woven material easily conforms to the shape of your foot.

The only obvious drawback we can see is that the rigors of off-road riding may impact its longevity. We experienced some early fraying in the previous version, so we were happy to see the addition of 40% TPU yarn to the weave to boost durability. Still, the texture of the material does tend to hang onto dust, dirt, and mud a bit more than smoother uppers.

Fit-wise, the supple Powerweave uppers are very accommodating to varying foot shapes and widths. The width and volume are pretty average, but the material has a bit of give to it. The stock footbed also has adjustable arch support, so you can further customize the fit. It is worth mentioning that Rapha states the shoes run small and suggests going up a half size. Our size 44 test pair fits just a tiny bit longer than a typical 43.5 in most other brands.

While many companies use a single-dial system to “lace” the shoe shut, the Explore Powerweave uses BOA’s incremental Li2 dial platform. The two-dial system creates a custom fit around both the forefoot and instep. Combined with the Powerweave uppers’ sock-like fit, these shoes essentially become an extension of your foot. We took them straight from the box for a 40-mile ride and had no issues whatsoever.

The carbon midsole is stiff and felt plenty efficient on the pedals. We never noticed any flex under power, yet the soles didn’t feel harsh underfoot. These shoes could mix it up in a long-distance bike race one day and embark on a multi-day bikepack tour the next. At the same time, they walk pretty well. Thankfully, the tread is toned down a bit compared to the previous version, but the Vibram Megagrip rubber still provides plenty of off-the-bike traction.

At $580, the Pro Team Powerweave Gravel Shoes are undoubtedly a splurge. But if money is no object and you want shoes that look, feel, and perform fantastically across the board, these are certainly worth checking out. We’ve got more details here.

Specialized makes some of the best products in the industry across all genres of cycling. The Specialized S-Works Recon ($500) is one of its top-of-the-line shoes designed for XC and gravel riding and racing. Of all the shoes we tested, these are the most like their road bike sibling.

They are essentially the S-Works Torch road bike shoes with some more aggressive toe/heel lugs and “pontoons” around the cleat box. In most ways, that’s a good thing, but it does have its downsides.

When Specialized launched the redesigned S-Works Recon shoes in early 2023, they didn’t just update the shoe. They completely overhauled it. Lots of changes were made with the goal of creating an ultra-high-performance off-road shoe — but one of the biggest was the fit.

While the previous version was quite narrow, the current version has a significantly wider forefoot that should work well for many more riders. The narrow-footed among us, however, might find them a bit roomy.

Specialized also ditched the Velcro strap by the toes and now uses two BOA S3 dials to pull tension evenly over the foot. This system cinches the sleek-looking seamless synthetic uppers nicely around the feet and only adds to their classy (read: expensive) looks. What Specialized hasn’t done away with is its Body Geometry technology. While it may sound like a gimmick, it does work to align the foot and lower leg more naturally.

The midsole is a super-thin and super-stiff carbon plate that’s borrowed directly from Specialized’s top-shelf road racing shoes. This gives the Recon some of the stiffest soles you can imagine, and there’s absolutely no wasted pedaling power when these puppies are on your feet. It also means that they aren’t the most forgiving, a tradeoff for their ruthless efficiency.

Specialized tried to “off-road” the soles of these shoes by adding some toe and heel lugs as well as “pontoons” that border the cleat. While they are okay for walking around on flat surfaces, they are not great for hiking, and the exposed carbon on the soles gets scratched easily when you come anywhere near sharp rocks.

At 590 g for the pair in size 43.5, the S-Works Recon are some of the lightest off-road shoes we’ve tested. They’re also one of the stiffest and a great choice for performance-oriented riders and racers who want to look fancy, especially if you have wider-than-average feet. We’ve got more info in our launch coverage.

Sidi enjoyed many years as one of the premier cycling shoe brands in the industry. In recent years, however, they’ve been surpassed by numerous competitors, but Sidi is staging a comeback. The new Sidi Dominator X ($370) is a great example of the brand’s recent efforts to win back some market share. This shoe builds on the legacy of the iconic Dominator shoes of our youth, but with an improved fit, modern materials, and the same performance that made them legendary.

Sidi’s older shoes took a bit of time to properly break in, and even then, their fit was polarizing to say the least. With its latest road and off-road shoes, Sidi has moved to what they’re calling a Millennium Fit. This is based on a revised last with a slightly shorter and wider toe box for a generally roomier and more accommodating fit. The goal is to fit more riders comfortably without sacrificing performance, along with a better fit straight out of the box.

Having used Sidi shoes extensively in the past, we can honestly say the Millennium fit is a drastic improvement. They fit more naturally and comfortably immediately, and didn’t require weeks of break-in to mold to our feet. That’s also a testament to the shape of the footbed and sole underfoot, as well as the WYVE uppers. The WYVE fabric has a tough and somewhat structured feel, yet it conforms nicely to the feet.

Our test pair fit true to size in length, and the Millenium fit is about average in terms of width. The roomier and more accommodating fit doesn’t mean they are higher in volume, though, as these fit our tester’s low-volume feet without issue. The tongue design is fairly traditional with light padding and perforation for ventilation.

Sidi uses its own NUUN dials for the closure system, with one for the lower and midfoot, and another for the broad instep strap across the upper foot. This wide strap can be adjusted side to side to optimize its position on the foot, and it works very well to distribute pressure and tension over the upper foot and tendons, where wires can often dig in. This closure makes it easy to lock our feet into these shoes

With an 8 of 12 on Sidi’s sole stiffness scale, we expected to notice a tiny bit of flex under big power, but that has not been the case. The XC33 carbon composite sole feels rock-solid and efficient on the pedals. The cleat adjustment range is ample, and most gravel and XC riders should be able to find a suitable position. The aggressive lugs on the outsole provide lots of traction on loose surfaces, and a bit of rocker in the sole allows for a reasonable gait, despite the stiff soles.

We think the Dominator X is a big step forward for Sidi, but these shoes are not without fault. The NUUN dials work well, but they are a bit less user-friendly than BOA Fit Systems. You need to flip them up to turn them and down for riding, plus you need to press a small tab to release. Adjusting them on the fly isn’t quite as straightforward, and it takes two hands to loosen them when taking the shoes off. At 410 grams per shoe (size 43.5), they’re also a bit heavier than most shoes in the price range.

Still, these shoes are quite comfortable, efficient, and they look pretty good, too. We think it’s a step in the right direction that will help put Sidi back on people’s radar. You can learn more about them here.

The problem with most cycling shoes is, well, they feel like cycling shoes. Somewhere, somebody thought that in order to eke out the watts, feet should be locked inside a coffin. To maximize power, it’s not uncommon for cycling shoes to squeeze into a stiff, narrow fit that runs long for some amount of comfort.

Why do we love the Quoc’s Gran Tourer XC Lace ($290)? They feel normal. The width is natural, the length is appropriate, and the heel stays locked in place. This fit is most noticeable on all-day tours where every other part of the body is begging for mercy. And when you finally pull into the coffee shop, the Gran Tourer is classy enough to brush off the pain in style.

A traditional lace-up cycling shoe, Quoc’s Gran Tourer might look too nice to dirty up. But when the weather is in full mud season, this is the shoe we reach for first. Encased in a protective TPU rand, the synthetic upper is waterproof (up to the rand) and incredibly durable. And if you prefer the convenience of BOA closures, Quoc also makes the Gran Tourer XC ($310).

We wore them on a late-winter 50-miler where the gravel turned to mud, and the mud turned to ice. We rode, we grunted, and we walked a lot. At the end of the day, the shoes were caked in mud, but our feet remained dry. Back home, we rinsed them under the hose, and they washed off looking unscathed.

Flip them over, and the sole is a great combination of durability and protection. The rubber sole wraps the entire bottom of the shoe. The traction is soft enough to walk in, yet they still show little evidence of the miles we’ve put on ours.

The Gran Tourer XC Lace isn’t the stiffest of the bunch, but if you aren’t overly concerned with watts and KOMs, they hit the sweet spot of pedaling efficiency and comfort. And for most riders, that’s exactly what they want and need. At $290, they’re a little spendy but not over the top. You can easily drop $400 on carbon platform racing shoes, but they probably won’t last as long as Quocs.

One of the lightest shoes we tested, Shimano’s RX8 ($300), at 265 g per shoe, has a killer price-to-weight ratio. Shockingly, these shoes are lighter than the Shimano XC9 and $180 less expensive. They also happen to fit like a glove, have soles stiff enough for racing, and do pretty well when you’re forced off the bike and have to walk.

There isn’t really a huge difference between these shoes and Shimano’s models marketed as cross-country mountain bike shoes. The primary differentiation is honestly the colors and “graphics” on the uppers. And that’s not a bad thing, given that the brand’s XC shoes are some of the best in the business.

The RX8 has supple synthetic uppers and a BOA Li2 dial that tightens nicely over the instep. Down by the toes, a small Velcro strap aims to add some tension over the forefoot.

The carbon composite soles are plenty stiff — a hair less stiff than the XC9 — with a stiffness rating of 10 on Shimano’s scale. You’d be hard-pressed to notice a difference between the two, and they certainly don’t lack in pedaling efficiency.

A lugged outsole covers the carbon midsole for durability and off-the-bike traction. These shoes walk and hike reasonably well for what they are. They also happen to be relatively well-ventilated with ample perforations in the uppers to let the feet get some air.

The Shimano RX8 is a staff favorite and our go-to shoe for fast rides and races where stiffness and low weight are the priority. They strike a strong balance of comfort, stiffness, performance, and durability. Now, if we could only get Shimano to put a second BOA over the toes.

We feel the Fizik Terra Atlas ($180) strikes a nice middle ground between comfort, versatility, and performance at a more approachable price point. It doesn’t deliver the race-focused feel of some higher-end models, but its balanced ride quality makes it a solid option for a wide range of disciplines, from casual XC rides to gravel adventures and bikepacking trips. Riders chasing podiums will want to look elsewhere, but for others, the Terra Atlas is easy to live with.

Underfoot, a nylon shank provides pedaling support, and Fizik rates the sole stiffness at 5 out of 10. Compared to the ultra-rigid Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon, the Terra Atlas definitely flexes more under hard efforts. Still, it never felt overly soft or inefficient, and we didn’t experience the foot or lower-leg fatigue that can sometimes come with overly flexible soles.

That added flex pays off when it’s time to hike or walk. The forefoot bends naturally, making off-bike movement feel much less awkward than in stiffer shoes, while the rubber outsole grips well across a variety of terrain. The cleat track also provides plenty of fore-aft adjustment to suit different fit preferences and riding styles.

Right out of the box, the supple uppers impressed with their comfort. The fit feels true to size in terms of length, while the overall shape is slightly roomier than some other Fizik models — but not venturing into wide territory. A single BOA dial tightens the asymmetrical upper and tongue, drawing tension from the top of the foot down toward the forefoot.

We found this closure system works reasonably well, though dialing in perfectly even tension can take some fiddling, particularly near the toes. The overlapping wire routing occasionally catches on itself, making micro-adjustments less smooth than we’d prefer. And while the soft upper material is undeniably comfortable, it doesn’t provide the best lateral support.

Ventilation is solid thanks to extensive perforations throughout the upper and tongue. Like similar shoes, however, foot protection is fairly minimal, so you’ll want to watch those pinky toes when tackling rough or technical terrain.

The Terra Atlas delivers a comfortable, adaptable ride for non-competitive cyclists. If your rides lean toward the more casual and/or adventurous side of the gravel spectrum, they’re definitely worth a look.

The Five Ten Kestrel BOA ($230) represents a significant departure from the brand’s more gravity-oriented mountain bike shoe line. Known more for its legendary flat pedal shoes, this is the first stiff-soled cross-country/gravel shoe that the brand has made. We’ve been riding in a pair off and on for the past year, and it turns out that they’re a great pair of shoes that’s plenty stiff and offers a bit more foot protection than most.

Unlike more expensive shoes that typically use carbon fiber, the Kestrel BOA uses a glass fiber midsole that’s plenty stiff and helps to keep the price down. It might be a touch less stiff, but we never noticed a lack of pedaling efficiency or support or felt the soles flexing under power.

Five Ten also added some serious lugs to the sole made from Stealth Marathon rubber. While this is one of the firmer compounds they make, there’s no lack of walking/hiking traction due in large part to the aggressive toe and heel lugs.

The upper is comprised of a couple of different synthetic materials. A tough, Cordura-like fabric wraps around the whole shoe and allows for decent breathability over the toes and sides of the midfoot.

That’s wrapped in an abrasion-resistant material around the toes and capped with a thick rubber toe bumper to provide some serious rock strike protection. The heel also has a healthy amount of reinforcement along with padding around the ankle cuff, making these shoes more protective of the feet than others on this list.

Five Ten chose to use a BOA dial to tighten the shoes over the upper foot and two Velcro straps to secure them over the mid and forefoot. This system is quick and easy to use and allows you to snug the shoes around the whole foot. The Velcro straps do make us a little wary, however, as they tend to wear out more quickly than other closures — ours are still fine after a year, though.

It’s also worth noting that the fit of the Kestrel BOA is more voluminous than others. They aren’t too wide, necessarily — there’s just quite a bit of volume. We found that replacing the thin stock footbed with a thicker aftermarket option helped tremendously to dial in the fit for our lower-volume feet.

Beyond that, the Five Ten Kestrel BOA shoes are an excellent first XC/gravel effort from the brand. These rugged shoes are quite versatile, with uses spanning from trail and cross-country mountain biking to long and adventurous days on the gravel bike. Anyone with somewhat higher-volume feet seeking something a bit more protective than typical gravel shoes will find a lot to like here.