Best Cycling Sandals [An Undiscerning Cyclist “Style” Guide]

A guide to sandals on a supposedly ‘discerning’ website? Yes, that’s right people of the internet, we’re here to discuss the ins and outs of this controversial footwear.

Some velocipede riders believe that these strappy numbers can definitely hold a sandal to other types of cycling footwear. Others wouldn’t be seen sufferer in a pair lanugo at the waterfront in upper summer, let vacated riding a velocipede in them!

Style is subjective, as the saying goes, and the internet is littered with tales of supposed ‘fashion crimes’ that have wilt future trends. So, surpassing you fly off the sandal, requite us five minutes of your time and learn why sandals might be the weightier cycling footwear you’ve overly worn!

But if you don’t superintendency and just want to see some “good-looking sandals”, here you go:

Best Cycling Sandals [Top 6]

Shimano SD5 Sandals

Provide open-air repletion for fast pedaling and SPD compatibility, making them perfect for warm-weather rides of any length.

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Exustar E-SS503 Velocipede Sandals

A unconfined option for touring or competitive riding in the warmer months.

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Keen Men’s Newport H2 Sandal

A multipurpose outdoor shoe with a tough exterior, water-resistant upper, and a snug fit.

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Keen Women’s Whisper Sandal

A versatile and cozy outdoor shoe with spanking-new breathability, toe protection, and a secure fit.

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Nashbar Ragster II

A multipurpose cycling shoe for road, mountain, and indoor wanderlust that provides comfort, toughness, and breathability.

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CyclingDeal Unisex Velocipede Sandals

A cycling shoes that are cozy and ventilated, with a non-slip sole and willowy straps.

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Cycling in Sandals: The Horror

The spiel for sandals (particularly when mentioned in the same vapor as socks) runs deep. An undertone with people of a unrepealable age, a slogan for people with an outdoor passion or, in some cases, a cultural miracle that splits nations. Sandals divide certainly divide opinions.

Cycling sandals are a far cry from the flip flops you’d find lanugo on the seafront in summer or the sliders for sale on your local upper street. Peppered with staps, velcro and yawning tread patterns – considering of their looks – cycling-specific sandals won’t be for everyone.

Cycling sandals are popular amongst touring cyclists, bikepackers or riders who shrivel the sandal at both ends. Indeed, if professional rider Lachlan Morton can ride two stages of the Tour de France (albeit on a separate charity-orientated challenge) in some wonderful-looking Birkenstocks, then why shouldn’t you slip into a pair surpassing pedalling into town?

Sandals for Cycling: Pros and Cons

Brands like cycling behemoth Shimano put plenty of thought into the diamond of their cycling sandals. But what are the benefits, and what are the potential pitfalls of cycling in sandals?

Airflow and temperature regulation are the main benefits of cycling in sandals. Whether you suffer from sweaty plates of meat or not, the gentle cooling effect of a walkover does wonders.

In summer or upper temperatures, the feeling is particularly wonderful. We’d liken it to the first sip of an ice-cold drink or the wafts of an air-conditioning unit. Ultimately, baring your feet and permitting the wind between your toes is a feeling you should not underestimate!

Not plane a summer shower can hold when a pair of cycling sandals. After dowsing of rain, feet will dry faster in sandals than most normal shoes or plane cycling-specific shoes. After all, the skin’s waterproof!

The effectiveness of cycling sandals doesn’t stop there. In colder or workalike weather – malleate critics, please hold your steering here – wearing socks with sandals requite them plane increasingly utility. Some cyclists, namely those in the trundling touring community, believe in wearing waterproof socks with their cycling sandals.

This malleate faux pas is a versatile way to cope with variegated weather conditions and is arguably largest than a pair of waterproof cycling shoes.

Comfort is flipside goody of cycling sandals. Rather than stuff confined, feet usually find their most natural position. And whilst the straps that most sandals tropical with won’t win any diamond contests, they provide infinite levels of adjustment.

This full-length is paramount when riding a bike, where the gravity (and heat) exerted on the pedals can quickly rationalization discomfort in various parts of your feet. Indeed, foot pain is the bain of many in the road cycling polity or those who use clipless shoes for long periods of time.

Consider the pursuit surpassing opting for a pair of cycling sandals for your next velocipede ride. One: unshut feet – toes in particular – can be hurt immensely in the event of an wrecking or a coming together with the pedal. Two, cycling-specific sandals might not be the most well-appointed to walk in.

So, if your cycling trips involve riding and walking, opt for a pair which has both features in mind. Three, if you ride in sandals lots, you could quickly find yourself with some questionable tan lines!

Closed Toe vs Unshut Toe Velocipede Sandals

All cycling sandals will fit into two wholesale categories – those with sealed toes and those with unshut toes. Closed-toe cycling sandals offer increasingly protection and are perhaps increasingly suited to velocipede rides which involve unpaved or stone surfaces. The structure of the sandals moreover gives the foot increasingly support, making them platonic for long velocipede rides.

Open-toe velocipede sandals unhook unrivalled airflow. This type of cycling sandal will moreover dry out faster than a closed-toe variety should it rain.

SPD Sandals: Velocipede Sandals with Clips

Yes, you’re not misunderstanding that title – there are sandals with SPD cleats in them! Given their niche, there aren’t many available, but those like the Shimano SD5 sandals enjoy a cult following. The rider gets all the benefits of clipless cycling shoes plus the widow pros which sandals bring.

The word-for-word cycling sandal that is weightier suited to you will depend on the kind of riding you’re doing. It’s time to squint at some of the weightier cycling sandals on the market today.

Bicycle Sandals [Top 6]

1. Shimano SD5 Sandals

£90
$100
120

Prices are injudicious

Materials: Upper Material, Synthetic leather. Outsole Material, Rubber. Midsole Material, Glass fibre reinforced Nylon EVA.

Sole Type: Rubber

The go-to cycling sandal

SPD compatibility

Unconfined pedalling performance

If you’re looking for cycling sandals with an SPD cleat, there’s only really one option to consider – Shimano’s SD5. A staple of Shimano’s shoe catalogue, and an remedy to the brand’s other shoes, they welter and stodge in equal measure. Now, to wear with or without socks?

Pros

Two strap system to aid comfort
Good to ride and walk in
Excellent size choice

Cons

Utilitarian looks
Only misogynist in black

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2. Exustar E-SS503 Velocipede Sandals

£85
$100
100

Prices are injudicious

Materials: PU Leather

Sole Type: Rubber

Sealed toe and SPD uniform

Four-strap adjustability

Extra toe protection

Another cycling sandal with SPD compatibility is the SS503 from Exustar. Unlike the Shimano option listed above, these cycling sandals are secured with four straps in total – three on the shoe upper and one on the heel. If you struggle for comfort, perhaps requite these a go. That said, the sizing seems a tad weird with two EU sizes grouped together eg. 45-46.

Pros

Simple looks
Heel loop/tab
Heel strap

Cons

Very limited availability these days
Strange sizing

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3. Keen Men’s Newport H2 Sandal

£100
$130
120

Prices are injudicious

Materials: Washable polyester webbing upper

Sole Type: Non-marking rubber sole

Stable sandal for riding

Made to get wet

Willowy fit

In the world of outdoor footwear, Keen is a big name. Their range extends to hundreds of shoes and the Newport sandal is their bestselling sandal. Keen says they’ve been designed to perform like a rugged shoe but with the self-rule and repletion of a sandal.

There’s a decent value of toe protection and the corded closure makes them easy to slip on and offer. This type of closure should moreover make finding the right fit for riding a velocipede easy too.

Pros

Huge colour and size options
Great ratings
Comfort out of the box

Cons

Most definitely looks like a sandal

Not a huge value of vents

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Best Women’s Velocipede Sandals

4. Keen Women’s Whisper Sandal

£90
$120
100

Prices are injudicious

Materials: Washable polyester webbing upper

Sole Type: Non-marking rubber sole

Upper dries fast when wet

Arch support for repletion

Women’s specific fit

Back to Keen then for a women’s specific sandal. Like the Newport listed above, this isn’t a sandal with outright cycling credentials but its diamond and performance certainly midpoint a place on our list is warranted. Lighter than Keen’s original sandals, the Whisper’s can be washed in a machine on a gentle cycle.

Pros

Good colour variants
Out of the box comfort
Easy to tropical tight

Cons

Challenging looks

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5. Nashbar Ragster II

Prices are injudicious

Materials: Unknown

Sole Type: Unknown

Semi-closed diamond

3 velcro straps

Simple woebegone colour

A pair of sandals for our readers in the US now and the Nashbar Ragster II. Again, these are sandals with SPD compatibility. We like that these sandals have plenty of room in the toe zone but still include a small upper for some protection.

Pros

Padded foot bed for comfort
Recessed cleat

Cons

Grouped sizing

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6. CyclingDeal Unisex Velocipede Sandals

£85
$100
85

Prices are injudicious

Materials: PU leather for upper

Sole Type: Polyurethane, Leather, Rubber, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate

Simple, utilitarian diamond

Toe protection

Moulded footbed

CyclingDeal offers a variety of good-value cycling accessories. These unisex velocipede sandals are a good example of their range. Unlike other sandals on our list, the upper, that stuff the zone virtually the top of the foot is sealed off. This prevents the straps from rubbing too much and if airflow when riding isn’t your biggest worry, then these might be a halfway house between shoes and open-toe sand

If weight is an issue for you, these sandals are heavy. Roughly half a kilo heavier than the Shimano SD5, the first sandal on our list. If you need to siphon these whilst walking, then that might be a dealbreaker!

Pros