Historically, cycling companies have made the top women’s product in a given line a step below the top men’s counterpart. Thankfully, that’s started to change, and the best bike shoes of 2016 show that. Example: Specialized, which makes the new S-Works 6 road shoe on a women’s specific Body Geometry last while retaining all the elements of the men’s shoe: FACT Powerline carbon outsole with extra fore-aft cleat adjustment, Dyneema non-stretch upper panel, and double Boa-dial reel closure system. Specialized Women's S-Works 6 Classic lace-up style road shoes are all the rage right now, but many of them come with premium price tags. Not Garneau's LA84, which offers a stylish, perforated, seamless synthetic-leather upper on this sub-$100 cycling shoe. The nylon outsole isn't as stiff as carbon fiber, but it's compatible with both three-bolt style pedals and two-bolt systems. Sidi’s mountain bike shoes get high marks for durability, but they’ve traditionally skewed more to the XC-style look and feel.

The SD15 is definitely aimed at trail riders, with a full-coverage rubber outsole (rather than sections of cleat blocks) for great grip. The Techno3 buckle used on the brand’s higher-end race shoes holds the foot securely, and the synthetic leather upper offers the long-wearing life Sidis are known for. Giant is known for making some of the best values in bikes, but the brand is steadily expanding into other categories, including footwear; already, it's making some of the best bike shoes of 2016. In its women’s Liv line, the top-line Tesca features a carbon sole with a stiff, crossed-beam construction called ExoBeam that improves torsional rigidity, with a flex zone at the toe for walkability. The soft, comfy microfiber upper features mesh panels for ventilation, a roomy toebox with a reinforced bumper, and dual Boa reel closures. Northwave enlisted its impressive roster of pro Enduro riders, including Cedric Gracia, to create the new Enduro Mid. The Mid starts with a dual-zone outsole developed with Michelin that uses softer rubber in the center for a surer grip on pedals.

The thermowelded upper features a reel-style “speed lace” closure, ventilated mesh panels, a high, padded zone to protect the ankle, and a reinforced toe area to protect against rock strikes. Some companies hedge on reel-style closures, pairing them with traditional straps. Mavic goes all in, with two Ergo Dial closures on a superlight synthetic leather and mesh upper, bonded to reduce stitch seams. best shoes for tennis 2012The carbon fiber outsole is further vented, but should continue Mavic’s rep for making some of the stiffest road bike shoes available. mens tennis shoes casualAnd borrowing from its new clothing and glove line, Mavic puts Ortholite foam in the insole for long-lasting comfort. puma sports shoes sale online

The Cosmic Ultimate weighs just 240g (claimed) in a 41. Related: Editors' Choice 2015: The Best Lightweight Road Shoes Giro Apeckx II/Solara II Giro might have easily just called this shoe the Sweet Spot. It’s a reasonably priced performance road shoe that fits a ton of people. The microfiber and mesh upper ventilates well (although it’s a bit chilly for shoulder season) and gets two straps and one buckle to securely hold your fit, while the DuPont Zytel sole is stiff enough for efficient power transfer but won’t cause hot spots. best looking soccer shoes 2014But our favorite feature is the fit range: Giro offers it in half sizes from 39-47 and whole sizes up to 50; mountain bike shoes for road ridingthere’s an HV (for high volume) version as well with the same size run; mens best workout shoes

and Giro makes a nearly identical shoe, called the Solara II, on a women’s last, in sizes down to 36. If you’ve had fit issues with other shoes, give these a try—there’s even a 60-day fit guarantee. Related: How to Buy a Cycling Shoe that Fits On any adventure ride, you’re never sure what lies ahead on the trail, and you need a shoe that can handle it. Lake’s new MX180 features a grippy, rugged outsole for those inevitable bushwhacks, a waterproof liner for stream crossings, and an armored toe for rock strikes. A high cuff offers ankle support and the side-mounted Boa reel closure keeps things snugged down. Related: Lake's New Cycling Shoes Are Unlike Any We've Seen Pearl Izumi Pro Leader III You’d be hard-pressed to find a road shoe that gives you more performance-per-dollar than Shimano’s new RP3, one of 18 (yes, 18) new shoes from Shimano this year. The upper is a synthetic leather/mesh blend with two offset straps and a midfoot ratchet buckle for secure closure, while the sole is a stiff, glass-fiber reinforced nylon.

It fits both 3-bolt and 2-bolt cleat systems so it’s versatile enough for spin classes with SPD-style pedals. And the men’s comes in a huge size range, from 36-52, while the RP3 women’s version, with a different last, is offered from 35-44. Related: Meet Shimano's 18 New Shoes for 2016 Five Ten Freerider Contact Even five years ago, the Wølfgar, which looks like a snowboard boot, might have seemed like a joke. But with the growing popularity of fat biking,  a double-layer, SPD-compatible boot that’s good down to -25 degrees F is plausible, even though its use is extremely specific. The (replaceable) felted wool liner sits inside a Primaloft-insulated shell, with Aerogel insulation on top of the carbon fiber midsole to further protect from cold transmitted by cleats and pedals. The Vibram outsole accepts studs for icy conditions and the high cuff and ankle strap offer support for the inevitable postholing hike-a-bike session. The Wølfgar is a ridiculous shoe in many respects: a dedicated, sub-zero winter riding shoe that retails for a luxury car payment.

But if you’re among the truly committed winter riders, it might be an investment you want to make. These classic skate-style shoes hide a secret. Lift up the sole and you’ll see a removable plate that lets them accept two-bolt clipless cleats, with a stiff midsole shank to keep your feet from wrapping around the pedals. The synthetic leather and canvas upper lets them fit in with any casual wardrobe, while the gum rubber sole offers a bit of contrast and long-wearing grip. Related: Awesome Cycling Shoes That Double as Street Shoes You might know Nalini more for its clothing, but the company also has a line of shoes that includes the impressive Snake, which may be the least-expensive road shoe we know of that’s made in Italy. The mesh and microfiber upper gets a twist-style reel closure, and at a price level you rarely see. The nylon outsole works with three-bolt cleats and two-bolt SPD-style systems, and has a stabilizing rib under the midfoot to improve torsional stiffness.