The Ultimate Flat Pedal Mountain Bike Shoe Guide: Find the Best Kicks for Your Riding Style

Flat pedals and cleat-free shoes have been quieting the bike shop floor in recent years and for good reason. Folks are tossing themselves and their uber-capable bikes down steeper shoots and off larger hips, and want to be able to throw a foot out whenever they like. Riders often cite an appreciation for the skills required to ride with flats as a reason to stick with the pins, even if they also use clipless pedals and shoes occasionally.

In our recent podcast with pro rider and former observed trials champ, Jeff Lenosky, he mentioned that he rides clipless on the trail, and flats when it’s time to perform some legit tricks. Between Lenosky and the reigning EWS champ Sam Hill there is certainly some legitimacy to riding unclipped.

This list of flat pedal kicks will lay out some defining features of each pair, and will include weight, price, and links to additional information. Some designers in the flat pedal shoe market seem to be focused on maintaining a particular aesthetic, while others are more focused on the technical and functional aspects of footwear. We have organized the shoes according to several factors including ankle height, gender, and closure system to make the pile easier to sort through.

Brand	Model	Weight	Price (USD)*
Bontrager	Flatline	430g (size 46)	$129
Bontrager	Flatline		$129
Chrome	Truk		$75
DZR	Sense		$79
Five Ten	Freerider Pro	338g	$150
Five Ten	Sam Hill 3	549g	$160
Five Ten	Impact High	586g	$160
FiveTen	Impact Pro	493g	$160
Giro	Riddance Mid	445g (size 43)
Giro	Riddance	430g (size 43)
Giro	Jacket II	415g (size 43)	$90
ION	Raid Amp II		$150
ION	Raid II		$115
Mavic	Deemax Pro Flat		$200
Mavic	Deemax Elite		$140
Northwave	Tribe		$100
Northwave	Clan		$150
O’Neal	Pinned Pro		$90
Pearl Izumi	X Alp launch W	295g	$150
Pearl Izumi	X Alp Launch	340g	$150
Ride Concepts	Livewire	455g	$100
Ride Concepts	Session Hellion	421g	$130
Ride Concepts	Skyline		$150
Ride Concepts	Wildcat	482g	$120
Ride Concepts	TNT		$160
SCG	Sound		$70
Shimano	GR5	400g (size 42)	$100
Shimano	GR9	365g (size:42)	$140
Shimano	GR7	366g (size:42)	$130
Specialized	2FO Flat 2.0	347g (1/2 pair, Size 42)	$170
Specialized	2FO Flat 1.0	315g (1/2 pair, Size 42)	$120
Vaude	Moab Mid STX AM		$200

*Claimed weights are per shoe, and come from manufacturers’ provided info. The size of the shoe that was weighed is listed below if available.

**Prices may differ depending on retailer and currency.

Lace lowtops

Bontrager Flatline has a durable synthetic leather upper. $130 USD.

• Men’s Shoe available at Trek Bicycles | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at Trek Bicycles | Compare

Five Ten Freerider Pro One of the most popular flat pedal shoes recently received a few updates. Claimed weight 338g. $150 USD. “Freerider Pro touts superior toe protection and is quicker drying than its predecessor and utilizes a fully dotty Stealth® S1™outsole for proven grip and durability.” Claimed weight 289g. $150 USD.

• Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at Amazon | Compare

Five Ten Impact Pro The Impact pro is a fast-drying shoe with a synthetic upper and thick, shock-absorbent sole. Claimed weight 439g. $160 USD.

• Men’s Shoe available at Adidas | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare

Five Ten Sam Hill Named after the formidable EWS Champ, these shoes are designed to stomp stages. The soles are so thick they look like short hiking boots from a distance and are likely just as durable. Claimed weight 549g. $160 USD.

• Men’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare

Giro Riddance The water-resistant upper is molded to a sole touted as “best in class” for vibration damping. Claimed weight 430g in size 43. $130 USD.

• Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
• Read Our Review | Women’s Shoe available at evo.com | Compare

ION RAID AMP II The Amp II sole features dedicated pedal and walking zones. Claimed weight 440g in size 42. €130.

• Available at Backcountry.com | Compare

ION RAID II A stylish, flat-pedal shoe with classic lace closure. €100.

• Available at Backcountry.com | Compare

Mavic Deemax Elite “Spider sole design allows you to easily move your foot on the pedal while riding and keeping close control of your bike.” €120.

• Available at Backcountry.com | Compare

Mavic Deemax Pro Similar to the Deemax Elite, with added height around the ankle for increased protection. €170.

• Men’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare

Northwave Clan The mesh tongue provides padding and breathability in one. $150 USD.

• Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Chain Reaction Cycles | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at Chain Reaction Cycles | Compare

O’Neal Pinned Pro The Pinned Pro includes a removable and interchangeable footbed. €80.

• Read Our Review | Available at Amazon.com | Compare

Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch  350g claimed weight, $150 USD.

• Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare

Ride Concepts Hellion Another sweet flat pedal shoe with very few stitches to wear out, and some solid vibration dampening. Claimed weight 421g. $130.

• Men’s Shoe available at Backcountry.com | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare

Ride Concepts Livewire Weight is 535g in size 12. $100 USD.

• Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
• Read Our Review | Women’s Shoe available at evo.com | Compare

Ride Concepts Powerline The Powerline takes all the cool features of the Hellion and adds some ankle protection.  $150 USD.

• Available at Jenson USA | Compare

Ride Concepts Skyline The Skyline is the burlier low-top offering from Ride Concepts, with a higher medial collar. $150 USD.

• Read Our Review | Available at Jenson USA | Compare

Shimano GR5 Available in sizes all the way up to 48, this is an affordable option with some sweet features. Claimed weight 400g in size 42. $100 USD.

• Men’s Shoe available at Amazon.com | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at REI.com | Compare

Shimano GR7 This shoe has a cool stretch-mesh ankle collar that keeps debris out of the shoe. Claimed weight 366g in size 42. $130 USD.

• Men’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at Backcountry.com | Compare

Shimano GR9 The GR9 has an armored lace shield that provides protection from debris, and the synthetic upper dries super fast after wet rides. Claimed weight 365g in size 42. $150 USD.

• Available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare

Specialized 2Fo Flat 1.0 SlipNot 2.0 rubber compound is the softest and tackiest Specialized has made to date, guaranteeing good grip on the pedals. Claimed weight 315g in size 42. $120 USD.

• Available at Backcountry.com | Compare

Specialized 2FO Flat 2.0 Air mesh on the tongue and uppers provides protection, while most of the stitching on the shoe is hidden beneath a protective layer of rubber. Claimed weight 347g in size 42. $150 USD.

• Men’s Shoe available at Jenson USA | Compare
• Read Our Review | Women’s Shoe available at Specialized.com | Compare

Lace-Plus Lowtops

These are shoes that use a strap or BOA closure in addition to laces.

Ride Concepts TNT Ride Concepts’ mid-height, flat pedal offering with an ankle strap for on the fly adjustments. $160 USD.

• Available at evo.com | Compare

Fly Lowtops

The shoes below have a decided emphasis on aesthetics, often with functional elements below the surface.

Afton Keegan “Mono-directional interior shank supports your foot on the pedal during impacts, assists in energy transfer when pedaling, and reduces vibration yet flexes to allow normal walking.” $99 USD.

• Available at Amazon.com | Compare

Chrome Truk The Truk’s nylon upper is reportedly 25 times stronger than canvas.  $75 USD.

• Available at Backcountry.com | Compare

Giro Jacket II The Jacket II uses a Vibram Ecostep rubber sole, specifically designed for flat pedals. Claimed weight 415g in size 43. $90 USD.

• Available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare

Northwave Tribe “Reinforcements with abrasion-resistant rubber prints on the toe and heel, and a reinforced toecap.” $99 USD

• Read Our Review | Men’s Shoe available at Backcountry.com | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at Backcountry.com | Compare

SCG Sound SCG Sound shoes are handcrafted in Colombia and packed with hidden features like top protection under the first leather layer. $70 USD.

• Available at SCG Sound Co

Hightops and mid-tops

Five Ten Impact High These are the taller version of the Sam Hill kicks, offering the most ankle support Five Ten has offered to date. Claimed weight 586g. $160 USD.

• Available at Worldwide Cyclery | Compare

Giro Riddance Mid Riddance uses the same Vibram sole as many of the other Giro shoes, but in a high-top format with a large ankle-strap to keep them snug. Claimed weight 445g in size 43. €140.

• Available at evo.com | Compare

Ride Concepts Wildcat “Featuring cranked-up stability and ankle protection, it’s a mid-height, sticky-soled, flat pedal brawler.” The Wildcat are somewhere between a mid-height and high-top shoe, with a small ankle strap for adjustments on the go. Claimed weight 482g. $120 USD.

• Men’s Shoe available at Competitive Cyclist | Compare
• Women’s Shoe available at REI.com | Compare

Vaude Mid STX AM Like all Vaude products, these are environmentally friendly and fair-trade manufactured. Claimed weight 880g. €175.

• Available at Amazon.com | Compare

Looking for more information to help you make your mountain bike shoe buying decision? Check out this article on choosing the right MTB shoes.

Do you have a favorite pair of mountain bike specific flats that are not included here? Let us know in the comments and we will periodically add new kicks to this list.