What is the best tri-shoe for the money and what is the best shoe at the lowest price?
TIA,
Alex
Way too many variables per individual.
Opinion though: Specialized tri vent would get my nod (and I don’t wear them)
The one that fits. You really need to try on a bunch to see. What should is the best will depend on how wide your foot is, how high your arch is, whether you pedal barefoot or with socks, etc.
Victor
Ditto on the Tri Vents. So comfy, even barefoot. Nice airflow throughout.
I purchased the Shimano Tri shoe last year and I think it’s a great shoe for the price point…
I switched from Carnacs for their price point seems to continue to climb…
A couple of points on the shimano shoe.
-
Larger toe box area then any carnac’s that I ever tried. (Maybe a little to large, but for someone who’s been dealing with metatarsal pain for a year, a welcomed relief.)
-
Very good air flow intakes.
-
Great looking carbon sole, but will scuff very quickly.
-
The single velcro stap, which does tighten in the right direction if you were to leave your shoes attached to the pedals, catches on somthing, which prevents the strap from being tightend properly with a single upward pull. (Not all the time, just some times)
Overall, I’m happy about the shoe… I also have found that it’s a much better winter riding shoe due to the wider toe box. (I’m able to wear a pair of thicker wool socks without cutting off the blood flow to my toes.
#3 for the tri-vents. I wasn’t even looking for a carbon sole but for $150 (when I got them 2 yrs ago) they’re a great deal. Very comfortable and breathable. Liked them so much I bought a pair of the road version.
just my $0.02
EDIT - I also liked the two strap shoe over the single large strap. So for me it came down to the sidi shoe or the tri-vent. That feature may have changed on some new shoes, but if so; not many.
Barry
Louis Garneau Carbon TriAir – this shoe is stiff as hell and comfy. One velcro strap for easy transition.
I bought a pair brand new on Fleabay for $40.
If you have a high arch and narrow feet, Sidi T2s are good shoes. I found a past year pair for under $90
#4 for the Tri-Vents. Most comfortable shoe I’ve worn barefoot.
Trivent is our most popular tri shoe, followed by the SIDI series of tri shoes. Older versions of Carnacs used to be very popular. Not sure why, but for people with neuromas the Pearl tri shoes have worked very well. We’re starting to more with their tri shoes as a result.
A second vote for Louis Garneau Carbon TriAir. There is also a non-carbon version that’s a bit less expensive. But, I agree with the others - try a bunch on and find the one that works for you.
I bought a pair of Sidi T2s from i think totalcycling.com for 100 dollars canadian and they are by far the best cycling shoe I have ever worn. I guess it all varies by individual but when I wear them my feet fit so perfectly it feels like im not wearing shoes at all. I have a pair of carnacs that were over two times as expensive that I barely ever use as the sidi ones are just way more comfy.
I agree with what others say, the shoe has to fit *your *foot. I used to work in a shop so I’ve been able to get great deals on all the major brands and have liked the Sidi T-1’s and the Specialized Tri-Vents the best. Carnac didn’t really fit my foot well but they were very popular. Shimano’s had a toe box that was a little too wide for me. I would’ve really liked the Nike T-Speeds but I got the wrong size. The Pearl Izumi tri shoe had a funky strap and wasn’t easy to me to get onto my foot. Vittoria’s tri-shoe worked for me and is a good choice for people with narrow/low volume feet. The Time shoe fit nice but felt heavy. The Northwave was a good fit but the leather on the upper seemed very stiff, not like the buttery soft feel of the Sidi.
Basically everyone’s foot is different and you gotta try different shoes on to see which one is going to work best for you. Good luck and make sure the sole is compatible with whatever pedal system you plan on using.
A good quality carbon soled shoe that fits you. They may seem expensive but thay can last for years (I wore my Sidi T1’s for 5 years and would still be wearing them except for I wanted to upgrade to a carbon sole.). Compare their lifetime cost with the number of runner shoes you would buy over the same time period.
My last three pairs of tri shoes have been Carnac’s (5,7,9) Great shoes that work well, especially for getting in and out of if you leave shoes attached to pedals when you race.