Flat Pedal Shoes - Worth it?

   My current commute is about 12 miles one way, and I prefer to ride on flat pedals for the commute. Yes, I'm familiar with the benefits of riding clipless. I enjoy my speedplay pedals and Northwave shoes on a nice ride, but not for commuting.

   Are specialized flat pedal shoes worth it? There have been a few reviews of DZRs (here, here, and here) and I know of several other companies making flat pedal shoes - Fiveten, Chrome, Giro, Specialized. But, but it isn't clear to me if the shoes are any stiffer than say Vans or Converse. Do I spend the money on another pair of shoes (we all have that N+1 syndrome) or just keep wearing "stiffer" normal shoes. 

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 12, 2017 at 3:56am

I just use mountain bike shoes or bike sandals without any cleats installed. They're easy to walk in but provide enough extra stiffness to make my feet happier.

For the bike sandals, I've been happy with both Keen and Lake.

Permalink Reply by JMinHP on April 12, 2017 at 4:01am

Thanks, Anne. Do the mountain bike shoe's lugged soles create any problems on flat pedals?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 12, 2017 at 9:17am

I've never had any issues.

Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on April 12, 2017 at 6:44am

I rode the vast majority of my 11,000+ miles last year wearing Keen sandals. They are plenty stiff, designed to handle the wet, are machine-washable, and just ROCK.

Permalink Reply by V W on April 12, 2017 at 11:13am
I wear Keanes as well when it's not too cold. I get the stripey tan lines on my feet as well as a result.
Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on April 30, 2019 at 1:48pm

curt(is), based on your response and V W's comment, I picked up some Keen sandals and a pair of Keen hiking shoes on eBay.  The quality is outstanding.  They should do me for a long time.

Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on May 2, 2019 at 7:12am

Excellent.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 2, 2019 at 7:24am

Mine lasted a long time. I hope you get lots of good use out of yours.

Permalink Reply by Chris Dryjanski on April 20, 2017 at 9:19am

I will say my 5/10's are more comfortable than vans. The sole is a bit stiffer, but not rigid.   They are also quite comfortable off the bike. 

Permalink Reply by Barry Valdivia on April 16, 2019 at 11:51pm

You should try this website "Runnerscan - https://runnerscan.com"To find the right footwear for your needs – shoes that can stand in for long periods of time for people have flat feet or shin splits troubles, or if you looking just for a good pair of sneakers for sports activities, like indoor soccer. And with so many different brands and models out there, it might be pretty hard for the rookies in the world of shoes to select a pair that will suit the feet most.

Permalink Reply by David P. on April 17, 2019 at 3:42am

For me, no. I love BMX pedals (either plain, or with SPDs on one side) for everyday riding because the large platform makes it comfortable on virtually any shoe. I have two or three pair of SPDs for riding clipless, but for platform pedals I ride whatever normal shoe I feel like wearing (e.g. boat shoes, not exactly known for stiffness), which seems to me part of the point of riding flat pedals. 

Permalink Reply by ad on April 17, 2019 at 11:17am

I've ridden in Chrome shoes without cleats, and I do think they're stiffer than just typical Vans and Converse shoes.  They're also constructed in a way that makes them handle the wear of cycling a little better IMHO.  There's enough variations in flat pedals, though, that I'd bet your mileage in terms of stiffness will vary a lot compared to others on different set ups.  

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