Best women’s cycling shoes 2024 - Comfort and ride performance from the ground up (2024)

With your feet doing most of the work on the bike, a comfortable set of kicks can make or break your ride. If your feet aren’t comfortable, nothing will be, so the best women's cycling shoes should not only fit well but deliver efficient power transfer so that your energy isn't wasted. That's why it's important to invest in the best cycling shoes for your budget, and to consider women's specific shoes if you find that unisex ones don't offer the comfort you need.

Choosing the perfect pair of women's road shoes can be a tricky thing, especially since feet come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention the fact that women's feet on average tend to be shaped slightly differently from men's. Women's specific shoes will be constructed around a women's specific 'foot last' (the mould around which shoes are shaped), which takes into account the variation in foot anatomy between the sexes and ergonomically tailors the shoes to fit better to women’s feet.

Comparing materials, arch heights, widths and closure systems can be quite a minefield, only then to also factor in weight and price (often hand in hand), so to make this process easier for you, we've rounded up our picks of the best women's cycling shoes for road use and answered some FAQs at the bottom of this article.

Best women’s cycling shoes you can buy today

The Scott Road Comp Boa Lady Shoe may be a bit of a mouthful but it's a great option for any woman who's just getting into road cycling and wants to explore the advantages of clipping in with stiff soles and efficient power transfer.

They make great summer shoes, thanks to the myriad of ventilation points, leaving your feet feeling airy and cool on descents. Their breathability and heat-shedding also makes them a great option for the turbo trainer in winter.

We found these shoes to be super versatile, comfortable, effective and user-friendly, plus they're excellent value for money.

Read more about why we rated the Scott Road Comp Boa Lady Shoe 4.5 stars.

Bont is undoubtedly the shoe of choice for wide-footed riders in the pro ranks. The shoe has an unyielding sole, arguably the stiffest on the market, and it extends in length to form part of the heel cup, creating a mono piece that holds its shape.

The shoe comes in five width options including wide and double-wide. At first the upper might feel cumbersome, but it’s designed to be heat-moulded around your foot so you have all the benefits of the stiff upper without any of the painful complications that come with it.

All Bont shoes are handmade, as a bit of a warning, meaning there can be small size discrepancies and setting up cleats from one pair to another can take some extra time.

One of our male reviewers tested the Bont Vaypor S and came away thoroughly impressed by what it offers as a complete shoe.

Shimano has created a shoe that fits almost everybody with its RC3. The stiff fibreglass sole and very tight heel cup with anti-slip liner mean a lot of extra drive and power on the upstroke.

The centrally placed Boa offers a system with a single ratchet that covers the entire shoe. The cleat plate offers a large range of adjustability for placement, and the synthetic leather upper doesn’t stretch too much.

For the narrow-footed, the Shimano RC3 may be a little too wide in the mid-section, but they should be a great fit for anyone with a standard to almost-wide foot shape.

Read what our male reviewer thought of the Shimano RC3 road shoes.

Fizik delivers again on the Infinito R1 knit, the fabric version of its much loved Infinito R1. We found the woven material to be really comfortable after a few rides to break it in, allowing for maximum flexibility and breathability in the front areas of the foot.

The area on the top of the foot and the double Boa closures create the support system needed, whilst an ultra-rigid heel cup holds everything in place. The sole is highly stiff, unidirectional and full carbon. The only downsides were they run on the narrower side and the cleat holes are positioned further forward than most, but it's a great option for slender-footed individuals. The inset around the front of the ankle takes some breaking in as well.

These shoes are built to be a performance racing shoe, and a great option for those who ride in hot summer weather.

Read the full lowdown about what makes the Fizik Infinito R1 Knit road shoes such a good option.

Bontrager, Trek’s in-house components and finishings brand delivers great value for money with the Velocis. One of our favourite aspects of the shoe was the combination of one Boa with one velcro strap, giving the advantages of the Boa system, with the price point of a velcro system.

The material is easy to clean, and the carbon / fibreglass composite sole offers a good range of adjustability with cleat placement. We did find that they fit a tiny bit on the snug side through the met-head area (where the toes start) so if you have wider feet, go up a half-size. The toe box was round and spacious though, letting our little ones have a wiggle even after getting hot.

The Velocis are a great mid-range option if you’re looking for the benefits of the Boa system without breaking the bank.

For some true classic styling, look no further than the Giro Empire women’s shoes. This lace-up shoe pairs a retro feel with a super soft and supple upper, which although leather-like, is fully microfibre and lightweight.

These shoes are fully comfortable from the first ride, a somewhat rare occurrence as normally it takes a few weeks to break in shoes. A great feature we noticed is they come with three different instep and arch support inserts that fit under the insole. Having a low, medium and high arch support insert means that no custom footbeds are required, and everything you need is in the box.

The shoe is quite flat across the sole, so your toes aren’t lifted and you can achieve a great pedal stroke with power through the whole rotation. The Giro Empire is a great choice if you have a bit of patience. Compared to similar shoes, they take longer to put on and properly tighten up.Alternatively, if you want to try Giro shoes with a Boa system, opt for the Regime, which shares all of these fit features but forgoes laces for the ratchet system.

Northwave crafts shoes with over 20 years’ experience, which is why we trusted it with a true entry-level road shoe. The Jet 2 Shoe offers the versatility of a road pedal (three-bolt) and MTB (two-bolt) systems.

They are a good option for wider feet and designed for comfort and breathability. While they might sacrifice a bit on the performance side, the two velcro straps ensure a snug fit.

It may not be as elegant or micro-adjustable as a Boa or ratchet system, but a great option for those just starting in road cycling and wanting to try cleat shoes without a massive investment.

Expect only the best from Specialized in its S-Works line. The S-Works 7 shoe is a full performance road shoe built from top to tail with ergonomics, power and comfort in mind.

The stiff sole features a very straight mid-line to the tip,which immediately gives the feeling of better and more direct power transfer. This is the direction modern shoe design is going in. Because the sole is straight through the middle of the foot, less of the arch hangs over it, offering great support and meaning the upper takes on less of the support role.

We found the shoe thoroughly supportive, with a toe box that was just big enough. If you have larger toes for your foot size, check out the wide-fit option, although the space through the met head was generous. With Specialized’s proprietary Boa system the dual-way dial tightens and loosens with the same type of movement.

We found these shoes to be smooth and efficient from the first wear, with Specialized living up to its reputation of top-quality products.

How to choose the best women’s cycling shoes