Finding a comfortable high-quality mountain bike shoe is a feat; for women it is even harder. Most bike product manufacturers simply do not offer the same quality in women specific gear as they do for men. And a shoe is one area where a men’s version just doesn't size up. In my search for the perfect shoe, I purchased a pair of Specialized Pro Women’s Mountain Bike Shoes.
In the past, I’ve worn the Sidi Women’s Dominaotor 5. These shoes were comfortable enough, but I didn't like that the mountain bike version did not offer a carbon sole. I’ve also worn the Shimano M225 shoes for three seasons. The Shimano shoes have a nice stiff carbon sole, but they weren't offered in a women’s specific model and were quite wide for a woman's narrow foot. I would have to crank the velcro toe straps around to get a secure fit and then cut off the excess. I’ve also had my share of foot problems. In 2008 I suffered from sesmoiditis, which was quite painful and required holes cut in the footbed of my shoes to relieve pressure. More recently, I sprained my foot in cyclocross and a comfortable shoe became imperative.
For that reason I started my mission to find a new shoe for 2010. After some Internet research, I settled on the Specialized shoe. Kudos to Specialized for actually making a high-end women’s specific shoe. I like that the shoe has a carbon sole, good tread for those dreaded hike-a-bike sections, a narrow fit and a fully adjustable ankle strap. The shoe is available in half sizes to ensure a perfect fit. Advertised weight: 640 gram/pair.
I rode these shoes for several weekends of binge mountain biking in St. George, Utah. The shoes were a snug fit and more than comfortable enough to not irritate my sprained foot while being incredibly stiff - just the feel I like when pedaling.
My favorite feature about the Specialized shoe was that they were narrow enough for my long, skinny feet. Even the insole, which advertises a varus wedge, metatarsal button, and longitudinal arch support, was quite comfortable for an out-of-the box insole. The only thing I did not love about these shoes was the stiff plastic ankle strap that puts some pressure on the anterior ankle when walking. I think the shoe would have been even more comfortable if there were a bit of padding on the strap, but then again that would increase the weight. If I continue to find this irritating, I plan to cut the strap back a bit. Actual weight for these shoes was more like 718 grams, however this is still lighter than my Shimano M225 which weigh 882 grams.
Overall, if you’re a serious female mountain biker and willing to shell out some cash ($260) for a high quality and comfortable shoe, the Specialized Pro Women’s MTB shoe may be for you.