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You’ll want to keep these sweet kicks on long after you’ve racked your ride.

Cycling shoes, for the most part, are decidedly sporty—and specifically designed with road riders and mountain bikers in mind. But with more and more people using bikes in more laid-back settings and as a mode of transportation, shoe manufacturers are responding with less-technical, more casual models that retain some of the qualities of a cycling-specific shoe while infusing them with off-the-bike style and comfort.

The key is pairing a cycling-smart upper—breathable and durable—with a stiff but walkable sole that either has plenty of grip for platform pedals or includes recessed cleats so you’re not forced into the usual clickity-clack, toes-up penguin strut you perform in standard road shoes. Add a pop of streetwise style and you have a comfy commuter shoe that allows you to pedal anywhere and leave the spare pair at home.

See at-a-glance reviews below of five of our top-rated shoes, then scroll deeper for more helpful buying info and full reviews of these and other high-performing options.

Velcro and Boa closure makes for a secure fit.

Minimalist shoe that's great for adventures on and off your bike. 

A super grippy sole that keeps your feet planted on the pedals. 

A classic and affordable shoe that's never out of place or style  

A lightweight shoe with a rugged and burly sole. 

You either want to be clipped in or you don’t. There are pros and cons to each, so consider this.

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Shoes with a two-bolt cleat in the sole can improve your pedaling efficiency. They allow you to pull up on the pedal to maximize your riding motion. The act of clipping in and out can take some getting used to, but once you are comfortable, riding will seem easier—and you might be a little faster. Off the bike, you’ll still have cleats underfoot, but the ones on the shoes included here are recessed, meaning they won’t get in the way of a comfortable walk.

Flats ditch the cleats for a sort of sticky sole that creates some grip on platform pedals but also means you’re not clipped in. So while you might miss that extra power you get when you’re able to pull up on the pedal, you gain confidence knowing that you can bail at will. Easy on, easy off makes for a better stop-and-go commute, especially in traffic where you’ll likely find yourself putting a foot to the ground often.

You’ll find that many of these shoes feature a slightly more relaxed fit than the typical super-snug cycling shoe. Look for closures that allow you to adjust the shoe to hug your feet firmly and comfortably. Popular lace-up cycling shoes work well for most foot shapes. We also like simple Velcro-style straps, which are easy to adjust on the fly but offer slightly less finite adjustability.

Every shoe on this list has been thoroughly evaluated and vetted by our team of test editors. We research the market, survey user reviews, speak with product managers and engineers, and use our own experience riding and commuting in these shoes to determine the best options. Most models have been tested by our staff and those that haven’t have been carefully chosen based on their value, quality, our experience riding similar models, and how the overall package meets the needs of the intended buyer.

Pearl Izumi has been refining its X-Alp mountain bike shoes for over a decade (all of its mountain bike shoes get the X-Alp designation) and this is the best one yet. Built for everyday riding on rough or smooth trails, the Elevate is one of the most comfortable shoes we’ve tested. The Boa dial is located on the top of your foot, which is uncommon, but doesn’t create any unusual pressure points thanks to a little extra padding under the tongue. The big Vibram lugs are great when you’re walking around or hopping over rocks and don’t interfere with clipping into or out of SPD pedals. The shoes are burlier than the sleekest XC models, but lighter than they look. At 405 grams (size 43), a single shoe weighs less than some similar models from other brands. And it comes in versions for men and women.

The Five Ten Kestrel Pro Boa is the second iteration of the original Kestrel Boa. While that first version used only a Boa dial fit system, the newer one also incorporates a Velcro strap to alleviate the issue of hot spots that often accompanies Boa dials. It also features a stiff sole and a Stealth C4 rubber outsole, like the Kestrel Lace. It’s not as stiff as the original Kestrel Boa, but it does offer a great balance of grip, stiffness, and comfort for long days on a mountain bike. In a departure from the Lace, the Pro Boa has a seamless, welded-on toe reinforcement. The Kestrel Pro Boa also features a durable synthetic upper material that sheds moisture and stands up to abrasions. If you weren’t sold already, an additional bonus is the grippy heel cup that prevents heel lift when pedaling. READ FULL REVIEW

The lace-up Rumble VR does double-duty as cycling adventure shoe and walk-around-town, do-anything kinda kick when it’s time to get off the bike and explore a bit. Laces provide an even-pressure fit, a supple mesh upper keeps your feet comfy and cool, and the Vibram rubber sole provides plenty of grip for walking. They’re stylish, too—able to go from group ride to café to bar, and blend in every time. ISO a more cycling look? Go for the black shoe with red laces and a black sole. Is vintage your thing? You can’t go wrong with the dress-blue upper with gum soles and matching laces.

Designed to withstand the daily abuse of bike messengers and hardcore commuters, this city-wise shoe boasts an upper made from 1,000-denier Cordura, a synthetic material prized for its strength and resistance to abrasion. It’s also cozy on the inside and delivers all-day comfort on and off the bike courtesy of Chrome’s FlexPlate technology, which improves walking comfort by giving a little flex through the toe box but still maintains enough stiffness for pedaling performance. However, don’t take these shoes as substitutes for a regular sneaker: while they are comfortable for walking around in short spurts, the additional stiffness in the sole compared to a standard walking shoe makes them feel a bit stiff after walking for some time.

Our testers are fans of Five Ten shoes for their grippy soles and comfortable fit. The Sleuth DLX takes the elements we love and packages them into a slick, everyday sneaker for women. The suede upper gives the shoe a decidedly casual aesthetic, which hides the stiff midsole for pedaling efficiency, and the Stealth Phantom rubber outsole to keep a firm grip on the pedals.

Etnies has a long history with skateboarders, and now it’s grabbing a piece of the mountain bike footwear category. Together with pro freerider Brandon Semenuk, Etnies created the signature Mid Crank, its first mountain bike offering. The Marana Crank is part of the expanded Crank Collection. It combines a skate influence with a stiffer midsole that still has enough flex for a good amount of pedal feel and comfort when walking. The outsole is made with Michelin rubber to be long-lasting and grippy on the pedals, and a durable upper is ideal for mountain biking or commuting. Just like Semenuk’s riding style, the Marana Crank is clean, effortlessly cool, and well-suited to days on and off the bike.

The X-Alp Flow uses a contact pad in the middle of the sole that has a different pattern from the toe and heel area. The chevron pattern at the toe and heel is constructed of a more durable rubber that will withstand walking rough trails, while the softer, grippier rubber under the ball of the foot provides optimum grip on your pedal. An EVA midsole works as a shock absorber to protect you from hard impacts. The seamless upper keeps the shoe light and protects from the elements. The look is casual, so you’ll need to bring only one pair of shoes if you plan to spend some time with friends after the ride.

If you’ve gotten this far into the article, odds are you’ve been doing your homework trying to find the best shoes for riding. While there are shoes of almost any variety and style to suit every ride you’re likely to do, it can be easy to forget that you don’t always need a high-tech, cycling-specific shoe to have fun on a bike. These Vans aren’t specifically a cycling shoe, but they have one of the most important attributes of any shoe meant to work well on flat pedals: a soft, grippy sole that won’t easily slip. The canvas and suede upper is durable enough to handle even light-duty trail rides, and best of all, these shoes don’t cost a small fortune. These kicks are great for urban commuting and casual rides down the rail trail, and they’re also a great option for riders who are new to road and trail riding and aren’t comfortable being clipped in.