The Peloton bike is a stationary bike that allows you to stream live classes from the comfort of your home. It’s extremely popular, with over 10 million users and counting. But it’s not cheap. If you’re thinking about buying one, you may be wondering what shoes are best for the Peloton bike.
There are three main types of shoes you can use with the Peloton bike: spin shoes, cycling shoes and running shoes. You can use any shoe you want as long as it has toe cages that fit over the pedals on your Peloton bike.
The most important thing to consider when choosing your workout shoes is how much support they provide. You’ll need something that offers good arch support so that your feet don’t suffer too much strain while working out on an unforgiving machine like the Peloton bike.
Spin Shoes
Spin shoes are designed specifically for indoor cycling classes like spin class or SoulCycle, but they’re often used by cyclists who prefer more supportive footwear than regular running or cycling shoes offer them. They typically have thicker soles than normal running sneakers because they need extra cushioning when pedaling hard against resistance from heavy flywheels or weighted flywheel arms (referred
Best Shoes For Peloton Bike
Staff, Courtesy of Nike
Spin shoes are essential to having a great ride whether you’re in a studio or on an at-home bike. Over the past two years, the at-home riding experience has taken the world by (pandemic-necessitated) storm with leaders in the industry like Peloton, SoulCycle, and many others releasing new stationary bikes. Whether you’ve invested in your own bike or are back in person at your favorite studio, picking the right spin shoe can be the difference between getting lost in the music and energy of your class or being distracted by a shoe that is not secure to your pedal or a shoe that just doesn’t feel good.
With so many options and styles, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here, we’ve included eight of our top recommendations for men’s and women’s indoor cycling shoes, as well as what you should know before purchasing your next pair.
What to Look for in a Spin Shoe
Although some road cycling shoes are indoor-compatible, spinning shoes are optimized for hot, sweaty workouts devoid of a natural breeze to cool you down. Look for an ultra-breathable shoe with a stiff sole; the stiffer the shoe, the more power you’ll transfer to the pedals to crank up your on-the-bike intensity. For some people, the ideal indoor cycling shoe is more walkable than a traditional outdoor option (think: smaller, inset cleat), so that when you’re moving from bike to locker room (or to your own bathroom at home), you’re not slipping around or risking injury. Some brands make options with more flexible soles (including rubber), but with those, you could lose some of the power transfer on the bike, which is worth keeping in mind.
You should also consider cleat and pedal compatibility. Depending on what bike you’re clipping into, there are two common cleat-pedal combinations: SPD (two-bolt) and Delta (three-bolt). Popular bikes like the Peloton come stock with Delta-compatible clip-in pedals. You could swap the pedals if you’d rather use an SPD-friendly shoe, but that’s another conversation. When shopping for Delta cleats, you should avoid zero-float options. Float allows a little bit of movement when the cleat is clicked into the pedal, which is better for indoor riding especially when clipping in and out of the bike. The float cleats from Look are colored red (good), and the zero-float cleats are black (bad). Most knockoff cleats follow the same color scheme.
Check your bike’s specs before purchasing shoes and cleats, which are not typically included in your shoe purchase. For example, the SoulCycle at-home bike comes stock with one pedal that’s both SPD- and Delta-compatible. Delta cleats are larger and might be harder to walk around in off the bike, whereas SPD cleats are a little smaller and are often inset on the shoe, making them easier to walk on. You can get more info on clipless pedals and cleats here.
A note on sex-specific spin shoes: Some indoor cycling shoes are marketed specifically toward men and women, but in our experience, you can wear any shoe that suits your needs and style. Just be sure to adjust your sizing, especially if the shoe lists European sizing (this handy shoe size calculator can help).
How We Evaluated
As the indoor cycling industry continues to grow at home and in-person, the need for a great spin shoe grows too. The differentiators in shoe quality and shoe type are vast. As an indoor cycling instructor with Mad Dogg, CycleBar, and Spinning certifications, I have worn many spin shoes in assorted styles, with different functionalities, and at various price points. In addition to relying on my personal experiences, I sought recommendations from other instructors, such as Angela Manuel-Davis, co-founder of spinning and fitness studio AARMY, and Katie Breathitt, operations director of Union Three Studio in Tampa, Florida.
1
Best Overall
SHIMANO SH-RP100
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
- Runs small
Key Specs
- Sizes: 5–12.5
- Closure: Double straps
- Cleat Compatibility: SPD and SPD-SL (3-hole)
If you’re not looking to break the bank on your next pair of shoes, this is a great place to start. Shimano is a quality cycling brand, and reviewers praise the heel cup for its comfortable, secure fit.
2
Best Nike Cycling Shoes
NIKE SUPERREP CYCLE
Pros
- Attractive design
Cons
- Runs small—size up by a half- or full-size
Key Specs
- Sizes: 5–12 (W), 6–14 (M)
- Closure: Double straps
- Cleat Compatibility: SPD and Delta
If you’re a swoosh loyalist, you’ll be excited to try their best indoor-friendly model to date. The SuperRep are available in a handful of colors; we’re partial to the sleek white. Customers report the shoe runs a tad small and suggest sizing up a half- or full-size.
3
Breathable Mesh Construction
SHIMANO IC2 INDOOR CYCLING SHOE
Pros
- Cross-strap design for fast adjustments
Cons
- Minimal style options
Key Specs
- Sizes: EU 36–48
- Closure: Single cross-strap
- Cleat Compatibility: SPD
This Shimano mesh-topped indoor cycling shoe breathes well and conveniently adjusts with its cross-strap closure system. Underfoot, a full-length plate ensures proper power transfer on your rides.
4
Best Dial Fit Spin Shoes
SPECIALIZED TORCH 1.0 ROAD
Pros
- Great quality
- Various color options
Cons
- Runs small
Key Specs
- Sizes: EU 36–49
- Closure: Boa dial with single strap
- Cleat Compatibility: Delta
The Boa lacing system on this shoe guarantees a perfect fit, ideal for both out-of-the-saddle jogs and intense, heavy climbs. Plus, it comes in some funky colorways to suit every style.
5
Best For Beginners
PEARL IZUMI QUEST ROAD
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Sleek look
Cons
- Runs small
Key Specs
- Sizes: EU 36–43 (W), EU 39–52 (M)
- Closure: Triple straps
- Cleat Compatibility: SPD and Delta
If you’re just getting your feet wet with indoor cycling, this is a great shoe for you. The Quest provides simple styling and nothing overdone, so you can strap in and start pedaling. The velcro straps make the fit easily customizable. Plus, the quality shoe comes at a great price point from a leader in the cycling industry. If you decide spinning isn’t your speed, you won’t have invested too much.
6
Multi-Use Spin Shoe
TIEM SLIPSTREAM
Pros
- Stylish
- Can be worn during casual outings
Cons
- Not as stiff as some models for less power transfer on the bike
- Pricey
Key Specs
- Sizes: 6–11
- Closure: Single cross-strap
- Cleat Compatibility: SPD
If you want a cycling shoe that looks identical to your favorite walking shoe, this is it. The women’s-only Slipstream is ideal for someone who travels to and from cycling classes often and doesn’t want to lug around an extra pair of shoes. The downside? They’ll transfer less power than stiffer alternatives and are only compatible with SPD cleats.
7
Best for Peloton Owners
PELOTON CYCLING SHOES
Pros
- Quick ratchet clip allows for quick tightening and micro-adjustments
- Cleats included
Cons
- Pricey
Key Specs
- Sizes: 5–12 in women’s, 7–13.5 in men’s
- Closure: Triple straps
- Cleat Compatibility: Look Delta
With two Velcro straps across the midfoot and a ratchet clip toward the ankle, this Peloton-branded pick will keep your foot in place during fast sprints and steep climbs. These come with cleats, which will usually run you about $15 to $25.
8
Best Lace-Up Spin Shoes
PEARL IZUMI TOUR ROAD
Pros
- Compatible with SPD and Delta cleats
- Breathable upper
Cons
- Pricey
Key Specs
- Sizes: EU 39–49
- Closure: Laces
- Cleat Compatibility: SPD and Delta
This lace-up option is ideal for those looking for a customizable fit (think: wider feet, fallen arches, or even bunions). Featuring a stiff carbon plate at the ball of the foot, you can rely on this shoe to transfer maximum power as the miles tick by.
