How to Choose Spinning Shoes

Making any important purchase requires trained knowledge. Choosing spinning shoes is no exception. Spinning shoes are a very specialized purchase. For starters, I suggest shopping at a bike shop that specializes in fitting biking shoes. Store employees should be well versed on fitting techniques and proper fit. It’s nowhere near as simple as going in to buy a pair of tennis shoe. A trained employee is valuable. Considering the amount of days you will spend in your spinning shoes, it's well worth it to ensure you get a proper fit.
Just like buying dress shoes or any other shoe, you’ll end up trying on quite a few pairs of spin shoes before you end up with one that feels just right for you. Some are thin, some are wide, some fit too loosely, some run very large or small, etc. In this respect, it is just like buying other pairs of shoes. They all differ slightly.
Bring socks with you that would be just like the socks you’ll wear when when at your spin workout. Don’t try to fit spinning shoes with your dress socks or any other sock that wouldn’t be the socks you'll be spinning with. This may seem very basic, but you would be surprised how many people take back biking shoes because they say they don’t fit like they did when they tried them on. In most cases, they bought biking shoes without wearing socks they would wear for spinning. If you are just getting started and are not exactly sure what socks you’ll wear, I would suggest getting a moisture wicking sock. You can purchase those at most sports retailers. They might cost more money, but are worth the extra investment.
As a first word of advice, get spin shoes with Velcro closers. I know, your initial thought is that it looks like something a child would wear. For bikers and spinners, there is practical function to this however. As you pedal, shoes strings can easily get wrapped around the pedals or caught in a sprocket or belt. You really don't want to know what happens what a string gets caught while you are spinning. Select Velcro.
Spinning shoes will feel odd when you try them on. They have a rigid layer towards the balls of your feet where you will be applying pressure while pedaling. Don't be concerned. This is normal. While standing still, they’ll feel normal. When walking, they’ll feel a bit clumsy. Spin shoes are not meant for running and I wouldn’t suggest trying it. You’ll be fine walking around in them however when you are not on the spin bike. They’ll be just fine for working out with weight machines. Stay off the treadmills and other machines requiring impact with your feet.
Do not buy a spinning shoe without a rigid toe area. Some expert biking shoes will not have a rigid toe. For the every day spinner, you’ll want to avoid advanced shoes.
You’ll also notice that some spinning shoes look very much like regular hiking or workout shoes and some look unusual with the toe area slick and smooth. There really is no good reason to get the slick toe area. Get the shoes that look like regular shoes. The spin shoes with the slick toe area can only be used on your spinning bike. The shoes that look normal have the cleat slightly recessed and work well for other exercises in the gym and walking around in general. The people I know who purchased the slick toes regret their selection. Select the ones that look like normal shoes.
Next time you go to your spin class, ask your teachers what types of cleats are necessary for the bikes in your class. Nearly all bikes anymore use SPD cleats but there are exceptions. This is a critical item. You will have to get shoes that are compatible with cleats that will work with the cycles in your gym.
When you try on spin shoes, pay close attention to heal slippage. If the heal doesn’t stay firmly planted in to the shoe, you’ll end up with blisters. You’ll obviously be abandoning your shoes quickly if you develop blisters.
Getting good spinning shoes is not particularly difficult but it should be taken as seriously as purchasing any specialty shoe. You’ll spend tons of hours on a cycle with your spin shoes. A proper fit is critical.

J Patton is the contributor to Spinning Shoes and All Things Spinning, a web page dedicated to covering all topics related to spinning. www.healthandspinning.com can help you to choose spinning shoes and with many other topics related to spinning.

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