Best gravel shoes: Top options for whatever gravel means to you

Gravel shoes are now a well-established segment; long gone are the days of putting up with footwear designed for MTB. The best gravel shoes take the majority of their design notes from the best road bike shoes but are overbuilt to some degree to take on the varying challenges that gravel riding offers. Given how diverse gravel riding has become, encompassing everything from what is basically road racing through to carrying your bike up a mountain, it's no surprise to see that diversity is now reflected in the available options on the market, almost mirroring the best gravel tyres for diversity. 

I've done my best to collect, test, and collate a genuinely useful list of the very best of each category and at various price points too. It's meant some uncomfortable rides at times over the past few months of testing, but also some truly sublime experiences too. I've learned a fair bit about what works and what doesn't, not just for specific models but in general, so as well as specific product recommendations I'll try and share what I've picked up in general terms along the way too.

As for any burning questions you may have, your best bet is to head to the bottom where I've answered what I think is probably on your mind when you're looking to make a purchase. 

Quick list

The best gravel shoes you can buy today

The best budget gravel shoes

You may be surprised to see the second-cheapest shoe on the list being given the nod for Best Overall. Yes, the more premium shoes below do offer better performance, but from the point of view of the generalist the Giro Privateer represents a very very good option at an affordable price. 

The sole is composite, but unless you're regularly riding at maximum effort that's no real drawback, and it's great for extended hike-a-bike along with the grippy outsole. While they're not super racy I did race cross in a previous iteration of them and they were perfectly adequate; I don't think better shoes would really have moved me up from my mid-pack finishes. 

The comfort factor from the laces is excellent, along with ample ankle padding that comes into play over rougher terrain and proved decent heel retention as a bonus. The extra padding and the mostly non-perforated nature of the outer does mean they get a bit hot in high summer, but the flip side is that I have been able to use these year-round, just by adding some of the best winter cycling socks. The lack of perforations means it's harder for water to get in on wet rides. The upside of them being at the cheaper end of the spectrum too is that if you do use them over winter and trash them you're less concerned; you can focus on the riding and not worry about your fancy summer slippers getting tatty.

In short, if you need one shoe to do it all then the Privateer is a perfect starting point if you're unsure which direction to take, and given that and the price that's why I think they're the best option for most people. Want the same features but more of a race focussed option, go for the Empire VR90.

The fit is narrow, but not compared to something like the Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon. If you really can't stand the idea of laces then the Giro Rincon offers similar things at a similar price, but in a package with a BOA dial and a Velcro strap, however I found the Velcro strap to be essentially pointless, and despite the more breathable exterior I'd opt for the Privateer given the choice. 

In all honesty, I was torn for a time as to whether to award these the overall. They fill much the same function as the Giro Privateers, at a similar price point. The Privateers however do a better job of trickle-down performance. If you're not after laces though and want a great pair of gravel shoes with a dial closure then the Escapes are hard to beat, especially as a first option. 

The single dial, a non-BOA option, is the same as the two found on the more premium Gran Tourer CX model. As per the road model of the same shoe I've also had on test the closure is perhaps the best of any single-dial shoe I've tried. Often one dial will mean the upper foot fits but the forefoot is a bit floppy, but that's not the case here. The dial itself doesn't feel as good as a BOA-branded one, even the lower-end dials, but it works nonetheless.

The fit is similar to the Privateer; relatively narrow, but with a soft enough exterior to allow the foot to expand over the edge of the sole if they aren't optimal. Shoes at this price point don't come in multiple widths sadly. They are noticeably less padded than the Privateers too; less comfy over properly rough terrain and a little less insulated for winter use, but on the flipside they feel a little more connected.

Heel retention was also excellent, though the heel lining annoyingly doesn't extend far enough around the entry to the shoe. This means there's a transition between padded and unpadded that sits just forward of the ankle and did provide a bit of irritation. Never painful, just noticeable when zoning out, but something that could easily be fixed by moving the transition forward of the tongue. 

Aesthetics matter too, and these are a lovely-looking pair of shoes, especially in the lovely deep yellow. It doesn't affect performance, but it makes me want to use them more than many others. 

I did also test the new Gran Tourer XC from Quoc, but you'll notice it is conspicuously absent from the guide. I couldn't notice any realistic improvements, and I actually found them less of a joy to wear. The ankle cup was stiffer, but with no real improvement in heel retention, and as the dials aren't as accurate as BOA options I found having two meant I genuinely couldn't get as good a fit compared to that which I could achieve with the single dial Escape, I think because, spread out over the whole shoe, the reduced dial accuracy is negated against a pair of dials only tweaking the upper/forefoot individually. The Gran Tourers are also heavier, with the same outsole, and a midsole that feels no stiffer. The only improvement was a slight reduction in the rubbing issue from the heel pad, though it did still occur. Save the £90 difference and spend it on something else. 

Likewise, I also tested the Sidi Dus; a single dial, composite soled option. It was more flexible and didn't close as well, with a dial that was more of a pain to use. The RRP is more, and while you can pick up a pair on sale for a similar price to the Escape, the only reason to do so, in my opinion, would be if you have extremely narrow feet, or you just want to wear Sidis because of the brand name or aesthetics.

There is a distinction between "good value" and "cheap", though the two are often conflated. The Privateers represent good value, while the dhb Dorica MTB shoes are cheap. They are, however, perfectly acceptable gravel shoes for the price. They're not as well made as more premium models, and not as appealing to behold (though this may be brand snobbery at play), but they do their job adequately. Given you can pick up a pair for under £50 when they are on sale, which they are regularly, I can see why they're often of interest.

They are quite a roomy shoe in terms of volume. For my size, there's a lot more room for the upper foot to move around. You could potentially size down, but then you'd be risking squishing your toes, so it's best to just do your best with the laces. on the flat, it doesn't make a huge difference, to be honest, and the heel performed fairly, but out of the saddle, the forefoot can lift off the sole as the bike moves side to side, not helped by the less than stiff exterior fabric. I also found the base of the tongue pressed on my toes a little. 

My other bugbear was the rubber outsole is made of an extremely hard plastic, without any tack at all, meaning it's very slippery on rocks. On soft ground, it won't trouble you, though.

All in all, considering the low RRP, these perform pretty well. There is a certain amount of "you get what you pay for", but the biggest leap in performance is from these to the mid-range options, rather than mid- to high-end. If you're just starting out riding gravel or can't afford a more expensive option then these aren't going to hold you back unduly or make you miserable, which is pretty remarkable if you get them at a sale price. 

The best gravel shoes for racing

If the Giro Privateers are a reasonably priced generalist, the Specialized S-Works Recon exist at the other end of several spectrums. They are an out-and-out, unapologetically racy gravel shoe, but despite this, they are also one of the more comfortable options on the list. If you want a pair the main drawback is going to be the price, so let's be upfront: These are the most expensive shoes of the bunch, a full £60 more than the next most expensive, the Bont Vaypor G. What do you get for that high retail price, then?

The fit is truly sublime. The heel cup is tenacious, the forefoot wider than previous generations, and the dual Boa closure means you get a shoe that feels more of an extension of your body than any other I've tried. Heel cups on Specialized shoes, especially top-end options, are always good, but also made of very stiff material that doesn't always play nicely with ankles. Here the dropped outer ankle area keeps things comfortable when you're throwing the bike from side to side, or over rough ground. 

They're also the lightest pair of shoes on test, thanks to a light carbon sole but primarily thanks to eschewing any real interior padding and being constructed from a rather stiff (and fortunately durable feeling), outer, with just a ridge of firm foam around the rim of the ankle to hold things in place. Don't mistake this for a lack of comfort though, the Recons were some of the most comfy on test.

These are a race shoe though, essentially a gravel copy of the S-Works Torch, and that distinction is more important off-road than it would be on the tarmac; I wouldn't want to walk off-road for extended periods in these any more than I'd want to walk for ages in road cleats. The outsole is essentially there to allow you to walk to and from your bike. If you want a race-facing shoe that you can actually walk in go for the Empire VR90, or the Vento Ferox carbon if you've got dead narrow feet. 

Just a warning when purchasing: The old MTB shoes and these new gravel shoes are both named the Recon, so make sure you're getting the right ones.

Nominally the Recon ADV is Specialized's 'adventure shoe', sadly another victim of the great gravel vowel shortage. In reality, given the sole isn't a great deal more chunky than that of the S-Works Recon I wouldn't want to yomp for miles in these, but the coverage to protect the carbon is at least substantially more comprehensive. 

In my opinion, these sit alongside the Empire VR90 as a high-performance generalist with the offer of a lace closure. As with the Empires, you get that highly tunable fit, but here it falls alongside a more secure heel cup, utilising the same style of padded upper ridge as per the Recons, but more so. On the flip side, the sole isn't as grippy, and it cannot accept toe spikes, so definitely gravel only. 

What I initially assumed was a marketing gimmick was the fact the carbon sole thins forward of the cleat plate, allowing it to flex more if you are walking. Sadly the cynic in me has to admit that it is noticeably better, though not substantially. I think this tech with a better outsole would render a truly fantastic bike-packing shoe for all terrains. As it is though they're still a brilliant option, with the stiff rear sole all you really feel. 

There's very little to choose between these and the Empires. For summer use I'd take the Recon ADV, if I had a pair of the best winter cycling shoes to fall back on, but for all-round use, or riding in wet conditions I'd take the Giro option. 

It may just be because the Empires have been around for years now and the Recons are new, but the Recon ADV are a more attractive shoe, though the wider spacing of the side panels across the upper foot does have the effect of making your foot look a little more chunky.

The best gravel shoes for adventure

Gravel shoes, on the whole, take their design language from road shoes. The Fizik Terra Atlas to me seems like it's come more from an MTB standpoint. It's bulkier than other Fizik options, and though it's wider for sure than the Vento Ferox Carbon (I can actually get my feet in these), it's still narrow. There's a clear focus on 'adventure riding', with a fully rubberised sole heel to toe, with substantial cleats, and greater reinforcements around the lower of the upper fabric too.

The single dial does an admirable job of keeping the foot retained across the whole length, on a par with the Quoc Escape, but here at least there is a BOA-branded dial closure. It's still a lower-end model, so if you want to release the tension you do have to pop it open and then start from scratch, but in my opinion, that's less of a drawback with single-dial shoes as at least you've only got the one dial to fiddle with.

Heel retention is decent, and while the little plastic dots are well-intentioned I found them more of an irritant than any help to actually keeping my heel down. The same rings true for any heel texture; no grippy materials can replace a good fit, unless your socks are actually glued to your foot too. 

Despite not fitting me perfectly they did feel like a very supportive gravel shoe. Sturdy, well made, padded enough to feel like you're protected, but not enough to make them feel wallowy. Not a race shoe, definitely more attuned to those of you that feel MTB curious. To be honest you could probably use these for MTB quite happily too, if you need a do-it-all option. 

The fit of the Rapha Powerweave is very similar to that of the S-Works Recon, especially in the heel. The twin BOA dials do a great job of properly ensconcing the foot, particularly at the upper portion, and the heel is a similarly unpadded unit with a retention ridge at the upper reach. The ankle is higher, and given the stiffness of the heel cup and the lack of padding this may be uncomfortable for some, but I never found it an issue even over full days out. 

The toe box is very pointed though, much like the Vento Ferox Carbons, so if you have a squarer toe profile you may find like me that a couple of your little piggies get distracted from having their roast beef and instead just press on the toe box.

The carbon sole is as stiff as you'd ever really want for a gravel shoe, even for racing, but the real party piece for me is the outsole. Most shoes in this list, whether they accept toe spikes or not, feature a couple of serrated or smooth blocks on either side of the cleat (so as to effectively recess it), and some toe lugs. For the Explore Powerweave, Rapha has added an unbroken tread from the midfoot all the way to the toe, meaning there's no clunk halfway through each stride as you transition from cleat lug to toe lug. It's a minor detail but it's certainly effective, and in combo with the race fit these are what I'd take if I were ever to combine high-tempo riding with a lot of walking; I'm thinking bike-packing races, primarily. 

They're better to walk in than the Recon ADV, even without a more flexible toe, but definitely a more race-oriented shoe by the fit and profile. The Powerweave outer fabric also accommodates my wider forefoot adequately, but good grief are they hard to clean. With something like the Empire VR90 you need a wet cloth and you're done, but here thanks to the textured nature of the outer, you're better off leaving them to dry and going at them with a stiff brush.

The best gravel shoes for custom fit

If, like me, you have a wide forefoot and you are yet to try a shoe that truly allows your foot to achieve its full width unimpeded by the confines of the shoe then I urge you to try a pair of Lakes. I use the standard width of the MX238 Gravel, and they are wide enough, though they come in a wider version too, so for narrow-footed riders, you will likely find them cavernous, but if you're like me and blessed with flippers they may be transformative. Just to illustrate the difference in width, these are around 15mm wider than the Vento Ferox Carbons. 

Comfort is the name of the game, being constructed in this case from a delightful, extremely supple black suede that certainly looks good against the gum outsole. Even if you do somehow find your forefoot coming up against the sides of the shoe the exterior is not only soft enough to not hem your foot in, but it'll also give with time, at least in the suede option; I cannot speak for the microfibre options I'm afraid. 

The dual BOA closure allows for an adequate fit, but the older generation dials feel dated now compared to those in use on the Rapha Powerweave, S-Works Recon etc, especially at this price. While these aren't the same kind of shoe as the Bont Vaypor G, they do both share a very roomy toe box. It takes a bit of getting used to, having never really had it in other shoes to this extent before, and while I don't think it's as important as an appropriate width shoe it certainly makes for a more comfortable setup on longer rides. 

If weight is an issue then these aren't the shoe for you, unless they're a perfect fit. Suede isn't a light material, and they're generously padded, making them the second most hefty on test, if you exclude the Quoc Chelsea.

My main issues with the MX238 Gravel come at the rear end of the shoe. The heel cup is wider than many, mirroring the fore of the shoe, resulting in (for me at least) not the best heel retention. Certainly not the worst on test by any means, and nothing to cause me concern for general riding at all, but noticeable against narrower options. The ankle cut-outs too were oddly shaped, with the low point situated very far rearward of my ankle bone protrusions. This resulted in the side of the ankle digging into my foot when pedalling out of the saddle. This will be alleviated to some degree if your cycling with your toes particularly pointed, but that tends to be a sign that your saddle is too high too.

Full disclosure time: I haven't tested these myself. Every other shoe I have ridden in order to compare and contrast, but these Fizik's were simply too narrow for my feet. Fortunately, though my colleague Josh Ross has already given us a full review of them, and having gone through his guide to the best road shoes recently we have very similar opinions on footwear, even if our feet are very different, so I will summarise from his work in this case:

As you've gathered already, the fit is narrow. The one Powerstrap up top is wide and comfortable, and strong enough to retain the foot even at full power. It's quick to adjust on the fly, thanks to its size, but rarely is the upper foot the bit that needs adjustment mid-ride. This is why it's a Velcro closure that I can actually get on board with for gravel use, as you're unlikely to actually expose the inner hooks and loops to grime that frequently. 

At the forefoot, the single BOA dial, a dual-direction model, takes care of smaller adjustments with ease, for the part of your foot that actually swells over the course of the day. 

The stiffness is spot on for fast-paced riding and racing. Stiff enough to be optimal, not so stiff as to be uncomfortable when you're taking it easy. The other good thing about the midsole to is the cleat plate. The slots are extremely long, allowing tonnes of fore/aft adjustment, meaning if you're into slamming your cleats to the midfoot then you're in luck. 

As for downsides... well that extremely pretty exterior that does kind of put me in mind of early 90's graphic design isn't hugely breathable, and while the toe isn't flimsy, it doesn't have the same protection from toe rub as the other models, so if you do slam our cleats back just bear that in mind. 

Carbon-soled cycling shoes, whether gravel, road or MTB, are usually constructed around a flat carbon leaf sole. Bont, on the other hand, uses a 'bathtub' option, whereby the sole extends up the sides to encase the foot entirely in a carbon hull. This has the effect of making a shoe that is mind-bogglingly stiff; think on how a steel sheet is always going to be more floppy than a steel I-beam. They are so stiff I honestly cannot fathom walking in them, stiffer than any other shoe I have used by a noticeable margin. The experience is similar to wearing mountaineering boots with fully rigid soles designed to accept crampons.

Given the bathtub construction, the heat moulding process is paramount to make sure you avoid any pressure points. Twenty minutes in the oven at 70 degrees is enough to render the soles pliable, enough for a few millimetres of adjustment in any case. Bont does offer four different width options, and choosing the correct one is key because, try as you might with the butt end of a screwdriver, if your feet are too wide for the bathtub there is nowhere for them to go. No soft material, just hard, immovable carbon fibre. 

Sadly I was just a hair too wide for the regular width so I didn't have the most comfortable experience, but I did tune the fit enough to learn that if you want a shoe that gives you the feeling of total power transfer then it's hard to find anything that touches the Vaypor G. Given the stiffness they are rather unforgiving over particularly rough ground, but as a race shoe they'd rival the S-Works option and even beat it I'd say if you can get the fit spot on. 

The closure system makes for a comfy upper even if the sole is hard going, with a wide flap meaning no pressure points occur even when cranked up for an all-out effort. The toe box, too, is wide like that of the Lakes, so your little piggies can move around happily. As per the S-Works then, a race shoe only, not for walking, despite the appearance of the aggressively lugged outsole. 

We've got a full review of these already if you need a bit more info.

The best gravel shoes for everyday

If you've been riding gravel for even a short term you'll probably have heard the phrase "The Spirit of Gravel". This nebulous beast means many things to almost as many people. To me it means "Wearing sexy gear while messing about in the sunshine", and no shoe better encapsulates that to me than the Café du Cycliste Outlands.

I'd have loved to be in the meeting where someone proposed styling a performance cycling shoe after a vintage set of hiking boots; I presume it occurred after a boozy lunch with lots of rich cheeses and dried meats. 

These aren't the best gravel shoe for anything really. The heel retention isn't great, despite the best efforts of the cat's tongue fabric on the inside. The laces too sometimes slip when you're trying to tie them up and slip in the eyelets, so getting the perfect fit is hard, and making a shoe with leather, metal eyelets and a full gum rubber outsole makes them the heaviest 'proper' gravel shoe of the bunch. 

I don't care though, because they're beautiful. They smell great too, for now, and are ageing well. They're an expensive affectation, but they make me feel a million dollars when I do wear them. For general riding, they're perfectly adequate from a performance standpoint, and I'm also a big proponent of the fact that looking good makes you feel better and ride better. 

They are also extremely well made and feel luxurious, more so than the more expensive shoes on the list. The full gum outsole is also second only to the Explore Powerweave in terms of ease of walking, only detracted from by the slight heel lift with each step.

These are a shoe to buy if I'm being totally honest, just because you want them, and that's fine. There's space for that alongside more pragmatic choices, but please still bear considerations such as fit in mind as I go into later in the FAQ's.  

Many people opt for a gravel bike as a do-it-all wagon. Something that can handle road, gravel, and also commuting duties. Well, makes sense to include an option for those going to and from an office then, right?

The Chelsea, a Chelsea boot with an optional cleat recess in the sole, from Quoc would be my choice. For the summer, if you work somewhere distinctly modern then you could well get away with a pair of Adidas Velosambas, but for something that works on the bike year-round, and doesn't leave you falling foul of draconian dress codes, the Quoc Chelsea is hard to beat. 

While the leather forefoot and suede rear aren't totally impervious to water ingress, it does a great deal better than any other shoe on this list when you fly through a puddle. The sole is stiffer than you're likely expecting, stiffer than some of the composite soled options above, so while it's better for walking in it's not nearly as comfortable as, say, an actual pair of normal Chelsea boots. The flip side of this is that they're surprisingly good for riding in, never floppy, and with surprisingly good heel retention. You can fit a filler block where the cleat recess is, but in my mind, at that point, you may as well get a set of Blundstones. 

While reflective detailing is never a substitute for a set of the best bike lights while riding at night, adding reflectivity to shoes is a good place to do it, as the motion is unnatural to the human eye at night and stands out. The series of dots on the rear add a little bit of extra safety if you're riding to and from work after dark.  

You may notice I have a size smaller here than the other Quoc options, but after testing these are actually a smidge too small, so stick to the sizing for the other pairs if you're in two minds, that being your normal size.

Take a Privateer, slim it down a bit, add an Easton carbon midsole and a Vibram outsole and you have the Empire VR90, the gravel version of the Empire SLX road shoe, which my colleague rated as the best road shoe on the market (something I agree with him on). 

These are a better shoe than the Privateer, so why not rate these the best overall? In my opinion, the improvements over the Privateer aren't enough to warrant spending the extra hundred pounds unless you really want the performance gains, and against the backdrop of the development of the Empire SLX, the VR90 feels somewhat dated. Also, the Empire VR90 sit alongside other high-performance options, where they stand out less. 

That being said, if like me you love the fit on offer from lace-up shoes, and want something stiff, comfortable, durable, and easy to clean then these are the shoe for you. The carbon sole does an effective job of keeping the feet planted but isn't so hellishly stiff that you can't walk about in them. 

Gone is the double reinforced heel of the Privateer, resulting in a sleeker, more aesthetically pleasing exterior, but still with that all-season impervious nature. The outer sole is essentially the same as the Privateer, but with Vibram branding, which doesn't really add much in my opinion except some number to the price. 

I have delicate high arches, so I use aftermarket insoles, but these do come with a customisable set of insoles to tune the fit too, which certainly helps, but I'm yet to find a shoe with sufficient insole support out of the box. 

Of all the shoes these are what I'll probably continue to ride following the culmination of this group test because they fit me very well and aren't so fancy that I'd worry about trashing them. While they used to be a serious contender for the best race shoe, they now feel like a performance generalist. I'd love to see an SLX version in time, like Specialized has done with the Torch/Recon, to add a bit more competition at the top end.

How to choose the best gravel bike shoes for you

As with any purchase, the best way to get what's perfect for you is to start by being honest about your use case. If you don't race, you don't need race shoes, for example. It's so easy to fall into the "ah but what if one day I..." trap, but I implore you to really define what you need now before you hone in on what you may one day need down the line.

Once you're done with the function, the fit is the next key thing to consider (yes, more than closure, sole material or even aesthetics I'm afraid). Footwear is a huge part of one of the main contact points with your bike, and getting the fit wrong can have knock-on implications up the biomechanical chain. More than getting choosing the perfect saddle or the best cargo bib shorts, footwear can play mischief with your tendons rather than your soft tissue. If you don't know how wide your feet are then do some research; I assumed I had the dainty narrow feet of a ballerina, but after getting a bike fit I found out I actually have troll feet, so you may be surprised. 

Then you can think about closure and aesthetics. These are more down to personal preference and don't have any real drastic impacts so you can pick your poison as you please.