The Best Women’s Mountain Bike Shoes of 2024

Giro has been making cycling shoes for many years but until recently, their flat pedals shoes were pretty lackluster compared to the competition. That all changed when they launched the Latch Women’s flat pedal shoes a couple years ago, a move that catapulted them to the top of many “best of” lists, including this one.

Straight out of the box, the Giro Latch looks great with relatively traditional flat pedal shoe styling, and they come in three color options including the Harbor Blue/Sandstone (greenish) color we tested. We found them to be immediately comfortable with no break-in required thanks to a true-to-size fit, crowd-pleasing medium volume, and a nicely shaped heel cup that grabs your ankle and keeps your heels locked down. Traditional laces do a great job of drawing tension evenly over the top of the foot with an elastic retainer to keep them tidy while you ride. The lightweight Microfiber upper material is fairly weather-resistant but respectably breathable on hot days due to a large number of perforations above the toes, sides, and even the heels of the shoes. Coming in at just over 319 grams at size 42 (9.5 US W’s), they are super lightweight for their category of shoe.

More importantly, they perform very well on the bike. While the soles feel fairly stiff initially, they’ve got a nicely balanced flex that’s stiff and supportive enough to feel efficient while pedaling while flexing just enough to maintain a good pedal feel. The Mute Foam midsole is noticeably damp, providing comfort on the pedals through the chunky descents and resisting getting bounced while remaining thin enough to feel the pedal underfoot for a strong grip on the pins. Giro’s proprietary Tack Rubber outsole is also nice and tacky to maintain grip when you need it, but the fairly shallow Gamma tread design allows for predictable foot mobility when necessary. Off the bike, the Latch is comfortable and easy to walk in although the shallow tread can be a little slippery in mud or snow.

During testing, the Giro Latch Women’s quickly became the go-to flat pedal shoe of the test group. Despite lots of abuse, the uppers are still in great shape and have proven to be super durable. The soles continue to offer an ideal blend of grip and predictable mobility and the Tack rubber barely shows any signs of wear after months of use. That durability along with a great performance, competitive price, and a one-year warranty make these shoes money well spent.

Ride Concepts made waves when the brand launched a few years back and they continue to be one of the dominant mountain bike shoe brands, especially when it comes to flat pedals. The Livewire Women’s was one of their original models, and it remains in the lineup and has become quite popular given that it’s one of the most affordable models on the market. It has seen some minor changes over time, most recently the move to the Max Grip outsole that has improved its grip on the pedals.

The Livewire has a snugger fit than any of the other flat shoes tested. They are made with RC’s Low Volume last that “is designed for an athletic fit” and intended to provide support and security without the need to crank the laces super tight. As such, they work best for those with low to medium-volume feet, and even then, the toe box can feel a bit cramped which can be relieved by sizing up which Ride Concepts suggests anyway. The tighter toe is due to the custom molded TPU toe protection that does not stretch over time, and while it does provide great toe protection, it won’t really break in and give you more space.

The uppers are constructed of synthetic panels on the sides with “abrasion-resistant mesh” that allows for pretty good breathability on hot days but offers very little in the way of weather resistance. These shoes will get wet on rainy days, stream crossings, and hiking through snow patches. Simple laces effectively snug up the shoes as needed with an elastic lace tuck to keep them in line. The Livewire has a gusseted tongue that helps keep it lined up, provides a snug and secure fit, and also works to keep dirt and debris from entering your shoes. The heel cup is nicely padded to keep the heel in place and provide a little extra protection, and the aforementioned molded TPU around the toes helps keep them well-protected too.

The soles have a flex level 3 on RC’s scale of 1-5, providing a good middle-of-the-road stiffness that works well across most riding styles. They feel efficient and supportive enough to prevent foot and calf fatigue on long pedaling missions and chunky descents while still providing ample feedback from the pedals. The outsole is made of Ride Concept’s tackiest Max Grip rubber with a hexagonal dot tread pattern that we feel rivals the best grip of any model tested and these shoes cling well to the pedal pins. Off the bike, they walk fairly well, but we’ve found they tend to slip around a bit in loose dirt, mud, and snow during hike-a-bikes.

Overall, we feel the Livewire Women’s is a great shoe for any rider, whether you’re just getting into the sport or are an experienced rider who just wants a reasonably priced shoe that will last. These shoes perform nearly on par with more expensive options and are versatile enough to work well for everything from pedal-heavy trail rides to long days lapping the bike park. Ride Concepts also makes a Youth and Men’s version of this shoe, so you can get the whole family matching out on the trail if that’s your thing.

The Five Ten Freerider Pro set the benchmark for flat pedal shoes years ago and it continues to be one of the most popular models on the market. It has enjoyed a very long run of dominance, but recently it has seen some stronger competition. Still, it is one of the best all-around models there is, with grippy Stealth Rubber soles and a design that hasn’t made any significant changes over the years because it hasn’t needed to.

Overall, the Freerider Pro has a comfortable and crowd-pleasing fit, but we found they run a bit larger size-wise than other models and we sized down a half-size to get the right fit. Even then, the toe box is a bit roomier, allowing a bit more movement of the toes and making them more accommodating for those with above-average width feet. That said, riders with narrower feet might find them to be a bit too roomy. Standard laces tighten the shoes over the mid-foot although the lack of a specific lace retainer means you have to use the tongue holder to pin them down while riding.

The synthetic leather upper material breaks in nicely after a few rides while feeling quite durable and weather-resistant. Ventilation perforations through the uppers are limited to the area above the toes, however, the larger diameter of the holes still provides reasonable breathability. They also have a stiff, abrasion-resistant layer around the heel cup and toe, extra padding on the medial ankle for support, and a reinforced toe box to ward off rock strikes and the like.

On the bike, the soles provide great support for the feet with a sole stiffness that lends itself well to long trail rides or days at the bike park alike. They don’t provide the most pedal feedback, but once the feet are planted on the pedals, they tend to stay put. One of the primary reasons for this is Five Ten’s Stealth S1 Rubber outsole with the classic raised dot tread design which is sticky and grabs hold of the pedal pins for a tenacious grip. The tradeoff for that grip is that we found the soles tend to show wear a bit more quickly than other shoes we tested, but the grip remains solid even as they wear. Off the bike, they are comfortable to walk around in, but the flat sole and shallow tread don’t provide the best traction when hiking in loose or slippery conditions.

The Freerider Pro Women’s has a classic look and comes in a range of color options to suit varying tastes, including the Taupe/Purple we tested, as well as a Canvas version that is made partially from recycled ocean plastic. They also have a great size range, going all the way up to 10.5 and 11 for women. While the Freerider Pro may have very strong competition these days, it’s still an excellent option for any rider.

The Giro Sector Women’s is a performance-oriented clipless mountain bike shoe that leans well towards the XC side of the shoe spectrum. With stiff soles, a streamlined design, Boa closures, and a super breathable upper, these shoes are a great option for those who prioritize comfort and pedaling efficiency. They’re also quite versatile and can easily span riding styles from pedal-heavy trail rides to XC races and long days out on the gravel bike.

The Sector W’s is made with a super breathable mesh upper material that Giro calls Synchwire. This coarse mesh material has a thermo-bonded exo structure that covers large portions of the Synchwire material, but it is still incredibly porous and allows for very impressive breathability. The airflow in these shoes is incredible and they are great for riding in warm to scorching hot conditions. Additionally, the uppers have a good amount of flexibility and they conform to the feet quite nicely. We found they fit true to size with a snug, performance fit that is enhanced by the dual Boa L6 closure. The Boa dials make it super quick and easy to get these shoes on and off, plus they’re incredibly easy to adjust on the fly to change tension during your ride. Both the toe and heel feature reinforcements to protect them, but otherwise these are a thin and lightweight model that doesn’t offer much foot protection. Regardless, we found them to be super comfortable and secure on the feet.

The midsole features a stiff carbon composite plate that enhances pedaling efficiency. Along with the snug and secure fit of the uppers, the soles feel like they are transferring virtually all of your pedaling energy into forward momentum with plenty of support to keep the feet and calves from getting fatigued on long rides. The outsole consists of a dual-injected rubber tread with large tread blocks under the heel and bordering the cleat box, with some smaller lugs at the toe. This tread provides surprisingly good grip off the bike, but the stiffness of the soles means they still aren’t the best for extended periods of walking. Still, the cleat box is deep enough that the cleats don’t protrude from the sole when walking on rocks or stopping to grab a mid-ride espresso. They are also capable of fitting removable toe spikes should you wish to add them for grip in loose dirt or muddy conditions.

The construction and features of the Sector Women’s sets them apart and they are in a different performance class from all of the other women’s specific shoes we tested. The fit, comfort, breathability, pedaling performance, and even the look of these shoes are a cut above the rest. That is also reflected in the comparatively hefty price tag, but if you’re looking for a high-performance shoe that has you covered for everything from racing to training in warm to hot weather, the Giro Sector is a great option to consider.

The Shimano XC3 Women’s shoes have a high-end look and feel but come at a fraction of the cost of more expensive XC-style models. With a seamless synthetic upper and Boa closure, these shoes provide a glove-like fit and a high level of comfort with a moderately stiff sole that should work well for many riders and types of riding.

The XC3 Women’s shoes have a seamless, perforated upper with an overlapping tongue that provides a comfortable and secure wraparound fit. Shimano says it fits like a glove and we found that they do, which is partly because they have a lower volume fit. In fact, we’d say that Shimano’s Dynalast fit is the lowest volume of all the models we tested, particularly around the toes, yet the “anatomically curved last that eliminates angles and conforms better to the natural contours of your foot” shows in the fit being perfectly snug but not in a bad way. The shoes are cupped in the right places while still allowing our tester’s foot to sit in an athletic position inside.

The synthetic uppers have lots of perforations above the toes to allow them to breathe, but the rest of the shoe can feel a little stuffy. The flip side is that they repel moisture better than similar options. The toes and heels are protected with a bit of reinforcement with an abrasion-resistant coating to protect those high-wear areas. The single Boa L6 dial works well to snug the shoes around the foot, although the placement in the center takes a little getting used to when putting the shoes on and taking them off the first few times.

Moving to the soles, the XC3 has a glass fiber-reinforced nylon midsole with a stiffness rating of 5 on Shimano’s scale of 1 to 11. While that falls around the middle of their stiffness scale, we found they still provide an efficient pedaling experience thanks to the secure fit while avoiding ever feeling like they are too stiff. The “rubber XC racing pattern outsole” tread pattern walks and hikes surprisingly well, it is less aggressive than some while still having plenty of grip. The cleat box has raised lines so the cleats stay put while attaching and adjusting making it easy to match both sides and get a precise cleat placement.

This Shimano XC3 W’s is an affordable cross-country or gravel shoe that has sleek looks and high-end features at a very approachable price. They aren’t the stiffest shoes out there, but they are sure to meet the needs of most non-competitive riders. Whether you’re grinding gravel or heading out for casual XC rides, these are a lightweight, well-priced option to consider.

The Ride Concepts Hellion Clip Women’s is the clipless version of the brand’s popular flat pedal shoe, the Hellion. As such, it looks quite similar with a few different features that are designed to enhance its performance for clipless pedal riders. Most notably, they’ve beefed up the sole stiffness, changed the sole rubber compound, and added a velcro strap at the top of the laces to better lock the heel in place. We feel they’re a good option for everything from aggressive trail riding to sessioning laps at the bike park.

The Hellion Clip has a low-volume fit that, not surprisingly, works well for low to medium-volume feet. The fit is quite snug and secure and the lace closure allows you to get a custom fit around the mid and upper foot. The Velcro strap at the top of the tongue adds a bit of additional security to lock the heel down into the heel pocket for pulling up on the pedals while climbing or sprinting and to keep the feet feeling secure over rough terrain on the descents. The microfiber uppers feel a little stiff out of the box and take a few rides to break in and they’ve proven to be quite durable and weather-resistant, but they can feel a bit warm on hot days even though they have quite a few perforations to allow some breathability. That said, they are quite protective with a stout feel, a medium level of padding throughout, and TPU abrasion resistance around the toe and heel with substantial internal reinforcement for the toes.

The EVA midsole works well to mute vibration while the RC Powerdrive shank adds some stiffness and support to give the shoes a flex rating of 5 on Ride Concept’s scale of 1 to 5. While they are noticeably less stiff than the XC-oriented Giro Sector, for example, they provide a reasonable level of stiffness for a shoe of this style. The slight flex in the soles combined with their heavier weight doesn’t make them feel like the most efficient shoes, a tradeoff for their foot protection and downhill-oriented performance, but they work well enough to get you to the top and then shine on the descents. The outsole consists of Ride Concept’s Clip Grip rubber with a raised hexagonal tread. The long cleat box with 42mm of adjustment range means there are plenty of options for cleat placement and clipping in and out with these shoes is a breeze. They are fairly easy to walk around in, but like flat pedal shoes with similar sole designs, they don’t provide a ton of traction in loose conditions.

The Ride Concepts Hellion Clip Women’s is a beefy all-mountain shoe that caters more towards riders with a focus on the descents. They provide good foot protection, a durable construction, and styling reminiscent of your favorite flat pedal shoes in a clipless package. They aren’t the lightest or the stiffest, but they work well for their intended purpose of dropping your heels and descending with confidence and style.

The Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit is a unique clipless model that combines medium sole stiffness with a lugged Vibram outsole to create a shoe that performs relatively well on the bike and better than most off the bike. We found they are best for casual-paced, adventurous rides where the terrain might force you off the bike and onto your feet regularly.

The X-Alp Summit Shoes have a seamless, perforated synthetic upper that is secured over the foot by a single Boa L6 dial and a velcro strap to pull some tension over the forefoot. They have a fairly roomy fit, especially in the forefoot, that will work best for those with medium to above-average-width feet. This reviewer has a lower volume foot, and while they felt relatively good initially, the higher volume of these shoes became more apparent as they broke in. That said, they are quite comfortable and the single Boa dial works well to tension the shoe over the upper and mid-foot. The Velcro strap, however, doesn’t do much to snug the shoe around the forefoot, unfortunately. Depending on the volume of your feet, this could provide an excellent fit or result in a bit of movement and potentially a slight reduction in control. The X-Alp Summit is also well-ventilated with ample perforations above the toes and along the sides of the foot, as well as a then mesh tongue that helps keep the feet cool on hot days. Light reinforcement of the toes and generous padding around the ankle pocket provide a bit of additional protection for the feet.

The X-Alp Summit has a nylon composite sole that Pearl Izumi claims balances pedaling efficiency with walkability. The flex of the sole most certainly benefits their walkability and gives them a very natural walking feel with flex through the toes, and the lugged Vibram ECOSTEP outsole provides confident traction more akin to a hiking shoe when you’re pushing your bike up or down a steep section or walking out to a rocky vista point. On the pedals, however, they are by far the softest flexing of the clipless models we tested and you can definitely feel that in comparison. Still, they provide adequate support underfoot for more leisurely riders who aren’t as concerned with maximizing their power or toeing the line at races. A large adjustment range in the cleat box provides the option to find your ideal cleat placement.

While we certainly wouldn’t call these the highest-performance shoes around, the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit Women’s delivers on the goal of creating an adventure-ready shoe that performs nearly as well off the bike as they do on. If you’re more focused on fun and adventure and prefer comfort over power, these shoes might be the perfect match.

The Scott MTB Comp Boa Women’s is one of several women’s mountain bike shoe models in their line and the least expensive with a price of just $120 at retail. It’s got similar looks and some of the features of its higher-end siblings, just in a slightly relaxed package that should suit more casual riders a bit better.

The MTB Comp Boa has what Scott refers to as their Sport Fit with a relaxed and larger volume last. This should work well for those with wider and higher volume feet, especially in the forefoot and toe box where the added volume is the most noticeable. Even with lower-volume feet, the Boa L6 dial works well to get them snug around the upper and midfoot while the uniquely angled Velcro strap over the forefoot worked admirably to add a little tension up front. Still, if you don’t have a higher volume foot, there will likely be a bit of wiggle room by the toes. The synthetic uppers are supple out of the box and quite comfortable with a mesh panel over the toes and loads of perforations on the sides of the feet that provide great breathability. The toe box is nicely reinforced to take the sting out of rock strikes and abrasion-resistant material has been added at the toe and heel as well.

The nylon/glass composite sole has a stiffness rating of 6 on Scott’s scale of 1-10, giving them pedaling efficiency that is better than expected for the price. They feel stiff and supportive underfoot, helping transfer your energy directly into the pedals without being punishingly stiff the way some uber-stiff soles can feel. That said, if these shoes are too high volume for your foot, some of your power could be wasted by excessive foot movement. The outsole consists of a number of sole lugs made from Scott’s Sticki Rubber which provide decent off-the-bike grip on most surfaces along with two fixed toe spikes to claw into loose soils or mud. The stiffness of the soles, however, doesn’t lend itself well to prolonged periods of hike-a-bike. The cleat box is a bit longer than average for an XC-style shoe, which makes it easier to find your ideal cleat placement.

If you’ve got wider than average feet and you’re looking for an XC-style mountain bike shoe that provides an efficient pedaling experience and is offered at a very reasonable price, the Scott MTB Comp Boa could be the ideal shoe for you. Whether you’re a trail rider, XC enthusiast, or gravel rider, these shoes perform well, look the part, and won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Shimano makes a handful of women’s mountain bike shoes and the GR5 is their budget-friendly flat pedal model. While they recently added some new models to their line, the GR5 is still widely available and very reasonably priced, especially now that it can be found on sale from most retailers. We found it to be a very comfortable shoe that will work best for those with high-volume feet and who might prefer a sole that is a bit less grippy than the competition and allows for easier foot mobility.

The Shimano Volume Last is on the higher volume and of the spectrum, meaning there is a lot of space around the toes and the upper part of the feet, making them a solid option for those with voluminous or wider feet. That said, the heel cup with the asymmetric cuff provides additional ankle protection and some added security to hold the heel in place even with a medium-volume foot. The durable synthetic upper lined in mesh features a lightly textured toe protection to provide abrasion resistance and there is an added layer of the same textured material stitched around the heel. The upper did stretch and pack out quickly, but the materials seem very durable and the shoes are well made. There are ample perforations above the toes and on the sides of the uppers, allowing for good breathability while remaining fairly weather-resistant.

As expected with a less expensive shoe, the flex is on the softer side but they have a very distinct pedal feel and provide enough midsole support even on long descents. Given the softer flex and thinner midsole, you can feel the pedal pins and there is a high level of feedback. Shimano’s rubber sole is not the grippiest either, so adjusting the foot on the pedals comes easily and you will always know where you are placed on the pedals, but they don’t cling to the pins like other shoes we tested. This can be a pro or a con, depending on what you prefer, as it means your feet can be less planted without proper pressure control. But, if you like it to be easier to move your feet around, these could be a great option. That said, we found that when the rubber got cold, the grip was noticeably reduced. Off the bike, they do hike relatively well for a flat-soled shoe. The softer flexing sole along with the added toe and heel ridges in the outsole seems to work for added grip.

While they aren’t the grippiest shoes around, the Shimano GR5 W’s is a comfortable higher volume model that allows easier foot mobility, looks good, and won’t break the bank. They could be a great option for the rider on a budget, especially for those with wider feet and for whom grip isn’t the highest priority.