The 10 Best Clipless Mountain Bike Shoes of 2023
By: Colin Edwards: Bike Buyer | June 27, 2023
There are few debates that stir up such deep seated feelings as the clips vs flats conversation in mountain biking. But no matter your pedal of choice, we can all agree that any discussion that just focuses on pedals without taking shoes into account is somewhat irrelevant. There’s a whole spectrum of clipless mountain bike shoes, all with different features, sole stiffnesses, and intended applications, so if you like clipping in, it’s worth giving careful consideration to what you actually want from your shoes. Good clipless shoes will be comfortable, will have the right balance of stiffness and walkability for your rides, and will help each pedal stroke feel more efficient and confident. This list encompases the best clipless mountain bike shoes on the market, for a wide variety of riders. It’s up to you to decide which one meets those goals for you while choosing mtb shoes.
New This Year:
One of the most obvious ways the shoes on this list differ is closure. Some cinch up with traditional laces, others use a Boa cable system, and others use some combination, combined with a velcro strap. Every rider will have their own preferences when it comes to the closure system that works best for them. So think about what kind of rider you are, and more importantly, what kind of rider you want to be, and shop for your new shoes based on those goals.
This Year's Best Clipless Mountain Bike Shoes:
Fox Union Shoes
Fox Racing have been outfitting mountain bikers for decades, but there's always been one conspicuous gap in the lineup: footwear. That all ends with the Fox Union Shoes, and they're not here to just make up the numbers: these things are carefully engineered and trail-tested to within an inch of their life. On top of durable materials and grippy Ultratac™ rubber, they come with a removable insole insert to accomodate both high and low arches for the best possible comfort and response. Make no mistake, the Fox Union Shoes will give your go-to mountain bike shoes a run for their money.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| Laces, Velcro Strap | Eva, Rubber, TPU | $179.95 |
Ride Concepts Tallac Clip BOA Shoes
If you're after the best comfort and performance in the game, you can hold it right there: the Ride Concepts Tallac Clip BOA Shoes are the ones you seek. They're simply fantastic mountain bike shoes, well thought-out and made from rugged materials, and built to fight dirt and gnar all day long. From plush, impact absorbing D30 protection to RC's amazing CLIP GRIP rubber outsole, these clipless wonders are engineered to tackle everything you could possibly encounter on the trail.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| BOA | Cordura, Elastane, Rubber, Synthetic, TPU | $210.00 |
Five Ten Hellcat Shoes
With medium-stiff soles, the Five Ten Hellcat Shoes strike a balance between power transfer and comfort. Their soles are Stealth C4 Rubber, famous for their grip, and are clipless pedal compatible -- great to see in conjunction with a traditional lace closure. Made for enduro racers and those of us who'd like to be, the Hellcats are always a solid choice for gnarly riding.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| Laces, Velcro Strap | Leather, Rubber, Synthetic | $160.00 |
Ride Concepts Hellion Clip Shoes
The comfy mountain-bike aesthetic meets the efficiency of clips in the Ride Concepts Helion Clip Shoes. The top strap and generous 42mm cleat box let you perfectly dial your fit but maintain that flat-pedal feel at the trailhead, so you can truly have the best of both worlds.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| Laces, Velcro Strap | EVA | $150.00 |
Fox Union Boa Shoes
Fox Racing have been outfitting mountain bikers for decades, but there has always been one conspicuous gap in the lineup: footwear. That all ends with the Fox Union Boa Shoes, and they're not here to just make up the numbers: these things are carefully engineered and trail-tested to within an inch of their life. On top of durable materials, convenient BOA closure, and grippy Ultratac™ rubber, they come with a removable insole insert to accomodate both high and low arches for the best possible comfort and response. Make no mistake, the Fox Union Boa Shoes will give your go-to mountain bike shoes a run for their money.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| BOA | EVA, Rubber, TPU | $249.95 |
Five Ten Trailcross Clip-In Shoes
Lock in the adventure with the Five Ten Trailcross Clip-In Shoes. The clipless design provides maximum efficiency on sloggy climbs and freedom to explore off the bike with sneaker comfort. Hike-a-bikes have never been easier - these shoes are ready for the AZT, Baja, and beyond.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| Laces, Velcro Strap | EVA, Mesh, Rubber | $165.00 |
Five Ten Hellcat Pro Shoes
The Five Ten Hellcat Pro Shoes are pure confidence in footwear form. With a stiff midsole, grippy Stealth® Marathon rubber, and super durable construction, they're the ideal choice for your gravity-fueled adventures. Whether you rock flat or clipless pedals, the Hellcat Pros will deliver!
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| Laces, Velcro Strap | Rubber, Synthetic, Leather, TPU | $180.00 |
Five Ten Kestrel Boa Shoes
The Five Ten Kestrel Boa Shoes bring classic clipless shoe design to mountain biking for more traditionalist riders. The Boa closure system creates a snug, compressive fit and Stealth Marathon rubber provides grippy security so you can step up that podium with the same confidence you have in the saddle.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| BOA | Rubber | $230.00 |
Five Ten Hellcat Shoes - Women's
With medium-stiff soles, the Five Ten Hellcat Shoes strike a balance between power transfer and comfort. Underfoot are soles made of Stealth C4 Rubber, famous for its grip. These are clipless pedal compatible -- great to see in conjunction with a traditional lace closure. Made for enduro racers and those of us who'd like to be, the Hellcats are always a solid choice for gnarly riding.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| Laces, Velcro Strap | Rubber, Synthetic, Leather | $160.00 |
Giro Manta Lace Bike Shoes - Women's
Need a slim, light and rugged pair of clipless shoes? Then let the Giro Manta Lace Bike Shoes grace your feet. Post cleat equipped with mounts for steel toe spikes, these are a great option for XC and commuting. Meanwhile, a supportive EVA footbed and rubber/nylon outsole keeps the elements at bay.
| Lacing Type | Material | Original Price |
| Laces | Rubber, Nylon, EVA | $140.00 |
Learn More With Our Other Bike Guides:
How to Choose a Mountain Bike
Mountain Bike Sizing and Fit Guide
How to Get Started Mountain Biking
How to Choose a Mountain Bike Wheel Size
Mountain Bike Suspension Basics
Women's Mountain Bike Buyer's Guide
How To Get Started Gravel Biking
Electric Mountain Bike Buyer's Guide
Classes of eBikes
Travel Guides - Where to Mountain Bike
Travel Guides - Where to Ride eBikes
Mountain Bike Cockpit Setup & Seat Height
How to Choose a Mountain Bike Dropper Post
How to Choose Mountain Bike Tires
How to Choose Mountain Bike Handlebars
How to Choose Mountain Bike Pedals
How to Choose Clipless Pedals, Shoes & Cleats
How to Choose a Bike Seat / Saddle
Women's Mountain Bike Gear & Clothing Guide
How to Choose MTB Knee Pads
Bike Helmet Size & Fit Guide
How to Choose Bike Shoes
Shimano Groupset Hierarchy Explained
SRAM Groupset Hierarchy Explained
SRAM vs Shimano Groupsets Compared
What to Bring Mountain Biking
What to Wear Mountain Biking
Mountain Bike Tire Pressure Guide
Mountain Bike Maintenance Schedule
How to Clean a Mountain Bike
How to Change Bike Pedals
How to Bleed SRAM Brakes
How to Bleed Shimano Brakes
How to Convert to Tubeless Tires
How to Replace Internal Cable Housing
How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur
How to Replace a Bike Chain
How to Fix Bike Creaks & Noises
Our bike buyer has an endless amount of knowledge on all things bike stemming from years of experience in the bike industry in tandem with their countless hours out on the dirt, gravel, and tarmac. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Colin Edwards
Meet Colin Edwards, evo's in-house Bike Buyer and mountain biking aficionado. With 15+ years of e-commerce buying experience under his belt, Colin is the go-to guy for all things related to "Riding Dirt." He's worked across various categories, including bike, snowboard, travel, climbing, and surfing, giving him the know-how to recognize and select top-notch mountain biking products for evo's customers.
Colin's been shredding trails since he was a kid, starting on his trusty hardtail Trek 800 Sport. Born and raised in Utah, he recently made the move to Bellingham, WA with his partner, Kenz. Colin's real-world biking experience, combined with his background in product trends, relationship building, and sales analysis, makes him an invaluable asset to the evo team.
When he's not busy handpicking the raddest gear, you'll find Colin ripping through PNW trails or hunting for the world's best dirt. And when the snow falls, he's all about snowboarding. Colin also loves trail running and exploring the PNW's stunning landscape with his two dogs and Kenz.
With Colin's expertise and passion fueling evo's mountain biking selection, you can trust that his recommendations are spot-on and tailored to the evo community's adventurous spirit.
