Cycling shoes are one of the three crucial interfaces between rider and bicycle. Locating the correct pair and getting them well set up is essential if you want to be both comfortable and fast.
Yet, if our decisions when hunting down new shoes were guided solely by utility and ergonomics, all cycling shoes would be easy-to-clean black. And once we’d found the right brand, we’d stick with it for life.
But let’s face it – style matters as much as substance, and we’re only truly satisfied if they look great, too. With an ever-expanding range of options, choosing cycling shoes can feel overwhelming. In the past decade alone, the market has evolved dramatically, making it tricky to settle on the right pair, especially for those newer to cycling.
To help, we’ve compiled a selection of top road cycling shoes, each one thoroughly tried and tested by one of the Rouleur team.
In some of our articles you will find links to buy products from various external retailers. These links contain an affiliate code, and it means that Rouleur may receive a small percentage of the money you spend if you choose to buy that product via the link. This does not affect the amount you pay. All products are independently reviewed and selected on our judgement of them, not on whether they offer us affiliate revenue.
S-Works Torch
The latest flagship model in Specialized's shoe line-up, the S-Works Torch shoes are stiffer, lighter, wider and more comfortable than the old S-Works 7

Released by Specialized midway through 2022, the S-Works Torch is the latest in the brand’s range of racy, premium road shoe options. Specialized marketed the shoe as an improved version of the S-Works 7, with the S-Works Torch seeing a range of new features including a new carbon base plate, heel cup and upper, as well as the removal of the Velcro strap and new Boa cable routing. I did see a marked improvement when switching from the S-Works 7 to the S-Works Torch, and they’ve been my go-to road shoe ever since.
Like most people, it took me a while to get used to the S-Works 7 shoes, but I didn’t have the same problem with the S-Works Torch, and I found them comfortable almost straight away. I put this largely down to the repositioning of the Boas. They have now been shifted downwards, ensuring that the shoe gives no pressure over the dorsal bump on the foot and they are now angled to prevent the ball of the foot lifting out of the shoe when putting the pressure on or getting out of the saddle. With this, there is no need for the Velcro strap over the toes like we see on the S-Works 7 shoes.
Specialized has also made a change to the material used in the tongue. Now a much softer, flexible material, it doesn’t dig into the front of the ankle or hold odour as it did in the S-Works 7 version. The stiffness feels similar to the S-Works 7 versions, but I’d say the Torch shoes are a real upgrade in terms of comfort. They're still priced high, as you'd expect.
Pros:
- 20 grams lighter than that in the S-Works 7
- More comfortable due to improved Boa cabling
- Improved aerodynamics with removal of velcro strap
Cons:
- High price point
Buy now at Specialized
Reviewed by Rachel Jary
Read our full review of the Specialized S-Works Torch
LIV MACHA PRO
Liv’s flagship road shoe is at home with the best on the market when it comes to high-performance, with an aggressive fit and high level of stiffness

The Liv Macha Pro shoes are women’s-specific, coming with a narrower heel cup and different colour options than the Giant’s Surge Pro men’s equivalent. Made for racing and high-performance, the Macha Pros shoes are already proven in the women’s WorldTour.
The Macha Pros aim to balance low weight, stiffness and comfort with a range of technical features. An ExoBeam outsole with a dual-beam carbon fibre plate is said to reduce overall weight, a greater toe-heel stiffness aims to improve power transfer, while the brand’s Motion Efficiency system should encourage a smoother pedal stroke and balance throughout the foot.
When it comes to comfort, they have a removable sock liner with tunable arch support so each rider can dial in their specific fit. This is combined with a grippy SharkSkin material on the heel of the Macha Pro to ensure that the foot stays firmly in place, and a double Li2 Boa ExoWrap closure system to distribute pressure evenly across the foot. These features are all packaged up within the polyurethane coated mesh wrap-around upper of the shoe, which features laser cut micro-perforations aiming to achieve both ventilation and durability.
As a race shoe, they have a tight, locked-in fit. The toe box is quite narrow, but I didn’t have any issues with rubbing or numbness. I liked the feel of security without being restrictive, especially when doing sprints or harder efforts.
Boa placement is arguably the most crucial element, and I found that the Liv Macha Pro shoes tick this box. The routing system means that there aren’t any pressure points on the foot, while the Boa Li2 system is easy to adjust on the go. Overall, the Macha Pros are a great investment, especially if you have a narrow foot and enjoy a stiff, tight, race-ready fit.
Buy now at Liv
Reviewed by Rachel Jary
Read our full review of the Liv Macha Pro shoes
Sidi Shot 2
The Sidi Shot 2 shoes are Sidi’s high-end performance shoes. Beautifully crafted, the super-stiff sole and expert fit adjustment will suit racers looking for excellent power transfer
The Sidi Shot 2 is a thoroughbred race shoe, and are an ideal choice for anyone looking for a high-quality build with a performance feel. For the day-to-day rider or those heading out on the weekends, these may take some getting used to and while their superior stiffness is great for big efforts, it can be tough on your feet over long rides if you aren’t used to it.
Nevertheless, the Shot 2 shoes are built to perform and there’s some neat touches included in the design to aid that. The multiple vents mean there’s little chance you’ll overheat, and the dual tongue dials paired with the heel retention tool really enables you to find the perfect fit.
They’ll be on the narrow side for those with wide feet and the inability to loosen them in micro adjustments on the fly is a bugbear, but all in all these are as good as any of the top racing shoes you’ll find on the market. Of course, that means they aren’t cheap. However, since Sidi has now launched the Shot 2S, it's possible to find some excellent deals if you shop around. Originally over £400, you can find them for around half that.
Pros:
- Great power transfer via stiff sole
- Excellent fit adjustment
- Well ventilated
Cons:
- Tough to loosen on the move
- Need getting used to for longer rides
Reviewed by: Richard Windsor
Read our full review of the Sidi Shot 2 shoes
Giro Empire SLX
Some of the lightest shoes on the market, the Giro Empire SLX shoes not only boast great performance, but also incredible comfort

The Giro Empire SLX shoes are billed as pro-level kicks paired with comfort out of the box you won’t find with other shoes. They are undoubtedly lightweight thanks to their mesh upper paired with laces closure, which also provides excellent breathability and zero hot spots on the top of the foot. These are certainly the most comfortable shoes I’ve used from ride one, experiencing no issues at all even on initial long rides with lots of climbing. They may not have a sole which feels as pure in stiffness as perhaps the S-Works Torch or the Sidi Shot 2 shoes do, but they still provide great power transfer that feels more usable on endurance rides thanks to the extra comfort.
The drawback of this thin ‘second skin’ upper is that these shoes won’t be the best for winter riding, and really thrive in warmer climes. I did wear them in the rain and the upper tried much quicker than the Empire SLX version that preceded these, but in the cold I can't see these offering too much protection. The laces won’t be for everyone, particularly if you regularly need to make adjustments while riding, but they keep these as some of the lightest road shoes on the market. With a price of £300+, these are priced at the top of the market but do come in slightly cheaper than the likes of the S-Works Torch and Sidi Shot 2 shoes.
Pros:
- Ultra-light
- Superb breathability
- Supremely comfortable
Cons:
- Not ideal for winter use in colder countries
Buy now at Sigma Sports
Reviewed by Richard Windsor
Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2
Pro-level shoes that are worn in the WorldTour but which have a comfortably shaped sole making them more suitable for everyday riding than some racing models
The Vento Infinito Carbon 2 is Fizik’s premium road shoe, made for high-performance and with a focus on stiffness for optimum power transfer and often seen on the feet of the best in the WorldTour peloton.
I went for my usual size, but I did find the Fiziks a little roomier than shoes of the same size from other brands – I’d probably go down half a size if I was to reorder them.
You can really feel how the bottom of the shoe is moulded to the shape of the foot and this adds a huge amount of additional comfort out of the saddle on climbs and when sprinting. I also found it helped keep my foot flat, improving pedalling efficiency. Fizik names this its Dynamic Arch Support 2.0 – it's tailored to the fit of the plantar arch.
My favourite feature was the Z-like cable routing system that keeps them incredibly secure when the two Boa Li2 dials are closed tightly. Not only does this structure eliminate any bunching or tight spots, it also means that the shoes cater for a wide range of foot widths and sizes.
The perforated Microtex upper of the shoes and venting on the front of the carbon soles means they have been breathable enough with never any of that burning feeling. The black, thicker Microtex flap at the top of the shoe is another safety layer holding things in place, making sure my foot stayed snug inside the shoes even when I was out of the saddle on climbs or sprinting.
The Fiziks aren’t quite as stiff as the S-Works Torch. Whether or not this is an issue for you depends on what you plan to use the shoes for, if it’s high-performance racing, then maybe it’s something to consider, but if it’s for a mix of training, long rides and racing, this may be better from a comfort perspective.
Buy now from Fizik
Reviewed by Rachel Jary
Read our full review of the Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2
Rapha Pro Team
The Rapha Pro Team shoes are a stylish and thoughtfully designed set of shoes with a carbon sole stiff enough to rival the more established shoe brands. With a few minor tweaks, the Pro Teams would be almost perfect

Photo: Benedict Campbell
After some tentative incursions into the shoe market, Rapha jumped in fully with its Pro Team Shoes, first released in 2020.
The upper is made of Rapha’s bespoke woven Powerweave fabric which I’ve found malleable and breathable as well as comfortable around the top of the foot. There were no out of the box discomforts from the upper at all and having ridden these in the rain numerous times, the fabric does seem to dry out a lot quicker than other materials. The carbon sole is very stiff and is definitely competitive amongst other top end shoes, and combined with the secure fit provided by the dual Boa dials, the Pro Team shoes are perfect for sprints and big efforts.
From a personal standpoint, the fit isn’t ideal for me as I found them a bit narrow and the arch too high compared to other shoes, so those with wider feet may find some discomfort. However, I’ve grown to use them more and more over years of use. A more general drawback of the Pro Team shoes is the tongue, which I have found struggles to stay in place and can fall to either side while riding. If that minor annoyance was fixed, these shoes would be close to ideal for any type of road riding. They aren’t cheap, but they do price lower than comparable top-end road shoes.
Pros:
- Comfortable and supple upper
- Stiff carbon sole
- Breathable
- Good looks and colours
Cons:
- Tongue moves while riding
- Narrow fit
Buy now at Rapha
Reviewed by Richard Windsor
Quoc M3 Air
These are Quoc’s high-performance road shoe with a focus on breathability and comfort, as seen on the feet of Ineos Grenadiers’ Geraint Thomas

In the new M3 Air shoe, Quoc has done away with the tongue of their previous models of road and off-road shoes, instead opting for an asymmetrical design whereby two sides of the synthetic TPU upper overlap, eliminating a separate tongue. In order to aid ventilation, the new upper also features large cutouts and perforations with a mesh underlayer. Big changes have been made inside the M3 Air too, with Quoc claiming that the model now offers increased support around the ball of the foot, as well as extra space in the toe box.
From the all-white aesthetic, to the focus on stiffness, ventilation and comfort, Quoc has really thrown its hat in the ring for a high-performance shoe to rival some of the biggest brands out there. Geraint Thomas is currently using the shoe to ride three-week Grand Tours, which is perhaps enough of a confirmation that the M3 Air shoes are good enough for the professional peloton, but we can also vouch that they do a fantastic job for the mere mortals among us too.
Priced at over £300, the shoes are expensive but not out of line with the market rate for high-performance road shoes. Quoc could make some improvements with more colour and size options, but if you’re looking for a shoe that looks great and is made for riding long and fast, the M3 Air is a good option.
Pros:
- Extremely breathable
- New upper shape ensures no pressure points
- Classic all-white aesthetic
Cons:
- Limited size and colour options
Buy now at Sigma Sports
Reviewed by: Rachel Jary
Read our full review of the Quoc M3 Air Road shoes