Shimano RT5 SPD Touring Shoes

There are two different ways to attach cleats to your shoes and it is important that you choose the correct ones to work with your pedals.

Today two-bolt SPD pedals are mostly used for mountain biking, touring and commuting. That said, SPD pedals are also a good option for road riders who are new to clipless pedals and want to be able to clip in and out easily. SPD cleats are often recessed into the sole of the shoe, so you can still walk relatively normally in these shoes.

There are many other types of pedal that are compatible with the Shimano two-bolt SPD fitting system. SPD compatible shoes are also suitable for use with MTB pedals that use a two-bolt cleat, including those from top brands like Crank Brothers, HT, Time and Look to name a few.

As well as Shimano, three-bolt SPD-SL shoes are compatible with road bike pedals from brands including Look, HT, Garmin and Wellgo amongst others. The one exception to this are Speedplay pedals that use a four-bolt system, although these are often supplied with adaptors for fitting to three-bolt shoes.

A lace up system without the laces, BOA uses steel laces with nylon guides and a dial for easy closure and adjustment. The main advantage of the BOA closure system is its ability to equalize pressure evenly across the foot for a very snug fit that is also comfortable. BOA is micro adjustable, so you can fine tune the fit more closely than a ratchet. Two-way BOA dials make it very easy to adjust the fit during a ride.