Best triathlon bike shoes for racing in 2025

The big question you’re probably asking yourself is – is it worth investing in triathlon bike shoes, or can road bike shoes do the job just as well? In this article, we’ll lay out the key benefits of triathlon bike shoes and our favourite tried and tested models.

There are plenty of reasons to purchase triathlon bike shoes, even if you aren’t going to perform a perfect flying mount any time soon (we can always hope, though).

Firstly, triathlon bike shoes are often better ventilated. This is useful if you’re racing in the heat of summer and want to stay cool from head to toe before dismounting and taking on a sweltering run.

The best triathlon bike shoes will also have strategically-placed mesh and even technology that helps the shoe dry quickly when mounting your bike with wet feet after the swim.

Road shoes aren’t designed to dry from the inside, and you don’t want to risk having soggy feet and shoes for the entire bike leg! Read up on the other differences between road and triathlon bike shoes here.

Of course, if you’re looking to shave seconds off your transition, then you’ll be interested in the classic triathlon shoe features, including: a wider opening for getting your feet in, heel loops to pull your shoes on and off, and venting holes in the sole for breathability. We get into this more in our full buying guide at the end of this article.

But for now, let’s get into the triathlon bike shoe reviews and the best models available today…

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Best triathlon bike shoes in 2025

1. Shimano TR9 SPD-SL

Price	$260 / £199.99
Weight	8oz / 230g (EU42)
Sizing	EU36-50
Features	Carbon composite sole, strap and Boa dial closure, rubber heel tab, breathable mesh upper

If you like the eye-catching metallic blue colourway then you can take advantage of the TR9’s supremely comfortable upper, quality carbon composite sole and nifty tri-specific features.

The straps close inwards, wrapping perfectly around the foot with no overhang, allowing you to get lots of tension, almost akin to a fully-fledged road shoe.

There’s plenty of venting throughout, and the breathable 3D mesh helps the shoe to dry extra quickly.

A heavy-duty rubber heel tab at the back is a cut above the others on test, a welcome addition when you want to pull your shoes on quickly in T1.

2. Fizik Transiro Hydra Aeroweave Carbon

Price	$299.99 / £289.99
Weight	8oz / 228g (size 40.5)
Sizing	EU36-48
Features	Heel bumper, heel loop, Velcro strap closure, carbon outsole, breathable upper

The Fizik Transiro Hydra Aeroweave Carbon is a bit of a mouthful to say, but it has a lot going for it.

You get a heel bumper for jogging in transition, that all-important heel loop and a reverse Velcro strap closure.

The latter helps if you intend to leave your shoe clipped into your pedal before mounting it by keeping it away from the drivetrain.

The fit felt great for this tester, even if worn with socks in training, while the shoe feels exceptional without them too.

Airflow channels and a breathable upper help keep things cool, while the carbon outsole has the stiffest rating that Fizik offers and delivers excellent power transfer.

Read our full Fizik Transiro Hydra Aeroweave Carbon review for more.

3. DMT KT1 Tri Shoes

Price	$374.99 / £249.99
Weight	8.5oz / 240g (EU44.5)
Sizing	EU37-48
Features	Single Boa dial, carbon sole, mesh upper, heel tab

Combine the KT1’s carbon sole with the knitted upper and you get a 240g shoe (EU44.5) that’s impressively light yet plenty stiff enough for triathlon.

The lightness doesn’t equal a lack of support, as the upper hugs your foot tightly.

The form-fitting construction means a single BOA dial is plenty for tightening the shoe, but a lack of straps means it’s a bit trickier to get on at speed, so we see this as more of a long-course shoe.

The upper dries quickly, making the KT1 among the most breathable and comfortable shoes we’ve ever tested. An excellent choice.

Read our full DMT KT1 Tri review for more.

4. Mavic Ultimate Tri

Price	$404 / £385
Weight	7.4oz / 210g (EU42)
Sizing	EU36-48
Features	Velcro strap, lightweight upper, carbon sole

Mavic’s top-of-the-range Ultimate Tri has a price tag befitting of its name, promising cutting-edge materials and superior performance to justify it.

The upper is a polyamide and Kevlar weave with strategic vents for extra airflow, and the low stack height with a super stiff carbon sole should lead to maximum power transfer.

There’s nothing overcomplicated with the closure system, consisting of one sturdy strap on each shoe, and that’s fine by us.

You can get plenty of tension, it’s easy to get on and off aided by a pull tab, and the strap can be cut to your preference.

A weight of just 210g per shoe paired with the superbly breathable upper means we forgot we were wearing these shoes, and the heel cup has some extra padding to keep your foot in place.

This is a wonderfully stiff and breathable triathlon shoe for any distance, but the price will be hard to justify for many of us.

5. Sidi Tri-Sixty

Price	$399.99 / £360
Sizing	EU38-48
Features	Tecno-3 push dials, carbon sole, breathable upper

Sidi’s latest top-level triathlon shoe features the Italian brand’s Tecno-3 push dial system, promising quick transitions and superior tension along the whole length of the foot.

For the price tag we expected great things, and the Tri-Sixty mostly delivers with a supremely stiff carbon sole, great quality construction and plenty of comfort.

Sidi’s TechPro mesh is very breathable, and there’s some nice extra padding over the dial system to protect the midfoot.

While the closure system allows you to accurately tighten the shoes, with impressive levels of tension indistinguishable from road shoes, it did take us a few goes to master getting them off.

You first push the button, then click at the top and wind back… which could be too complicated for shorter course triathlon, when you want to spend as little time fiddling with your shoes as possible.

For long-course, where these milliseconds matter less, the Tri-Sixty is fantastic if you can afford it.

6. Mavic Cosmic Elite Tri

Price	$173 / £165
Weight	8oz / 250g (EU42)
Sizing	EU36-48
Features	Strap closure, composite sole

The Cosmic Elite Tri is less than half the price of Mavic’s top-end tri shoe, yet delivers performance that will be perfectly adequate for the vast majority of us.

The shoe is the same comfortable shape, the closure system is identical and you get a nice big pull tab for fast transitions.

What’s different is the Energy Comp outsole, which is more forgiving than the full carbon version, and the upper, which forgoes the fancy polyamide/Kevlar upper on the ultimate for a beefier synthetic construction.

We found it wasn’t quite as breathable as uppers on most higher end triathlon shoes, but there is still plenty of venting to prevent your feet from getting too hot.

The Ortholite insole provides a comfortable bed for the foot, and the stack height is low enough that you feel connected to the bike and able to put out just as much power as if you were wearing shoes twice the price.

7. Scott Road Sprint Tri Shoe

Price	$141/ £139.99
Weight	10.5oz / 296g
Sizing	EU38-48
Features	Multiple footbeds, fibreglass outsole, single strap

The Road Sprint Tri Shoe, weighing 10.5oz/296g, has one huge strap that makes it easy to get your foot in when mounting the bike in T1.

However, we had to pull the strap really tight to get the same tension as some other shoes on test. Scott’s ErgoLogic insole is a great addition, with three optional arch support pieces supplied depending on whether you have a high, medium or low arch.

Perforated parts of the upper and a large mesh section give you plenty of breathability and it’s quick-drying, while the nylon glass fibre composite sole provides reasonable stiffness without being too harsh.

8. Van Rysel Aptonia

Price	$119 / £79.99
Sizing	EU36-46
Features	Fibreglass sole, heel tab, Atop dial and strap

Decathlon’s in-house bike brand Van Rysel has broken the mould with the upper on its wallet-friendly Aptonia, replacing straps with a zipper and adding an Atop dial on top for extra security.

The soft upper with mesh is very comfortable against the foot for sockless riding, and the fibreglass sole provides middling levels of stiffness.

Although we appreciate innovation, we struggled with the zipper, as we found it very difficult to zip and unzip the shoe during transition mock-ups.

Van Rysel says the shoe was tested in ‘several triathlons’, and we’re surprised that athletes giving feedback were able to operate the zipper at speed; we think a tough toggle on the zip could potentially fix this.

As far as transitions go, things are better at the rear, as the sizeable heel tab is easy to grab. Our test pair also came up quite small, so we’d advise sizing up, especially if you’re in between sizes.

9. Fizik R3 Transiro

The R3 Transiro comes with a BOA dial, unidirectional carbon sole and polyurethane-laminated mesh upper. It’s the most expensive on test, but offers plenty of support in the upper and a super stiff sole.

The upper and strap are quite rigid, meaning the shoe doesn’t open as wide as Shimano’s TR9 and Scott’s Road Sprint, but a quick T1 is doable with practice.

There’s plenty of ventilation and mesh across the upper for quick-drying and breathability on hot days, and large heel tab at the rear helps with transition. It isn’t the lightest though, at 300g per shoe.

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How we tested tri bike shoes

The shoes tested here have been reviewed by experienced triathletes with decades of experience of kit testing.

To feature on this page, each shoe has gone through a sustained period of testing in both simulated and realistic race environments.

Every product has been tested with numerous rides, which have begun with wet or damp feet, as you would have in a race situation.

Ratings of 90% and over represent some of the best triathlon bike shoes that money can buy. Anything over 80% also comes very highly recommended, while a score of 70-80% means the shoes have a lot of pros, but also a few cons.

If a shoe scores below 70%, it still may be worth purchasing based on your needs and budget, but caution is advised to make sure it’s right for you.

Features to look out for in triathlon bike shoes

Bike shoes are imperative for maximising power-transfer gains in a race, and a tri-specific pair will offer even more benefits. Here’s what to look for in a good pair of triathlon-specific bike shoes…

Upper

No matter whether or not you don socks in between the swim and the bike legs, chances are you’re going to have some excess moisture sitting within your shoes.

As such, a ventilated upper is really important, as it’ll help your feet dry out, while it’ll also help you stay cool if racing in hot weather. Look out for sections of mesh, knitted-style uppers or plenty of ventilation holes.

Bumpers

Tri-bike shoes often boast plastic heel and toe bumpers to ease running with your bike in transition and to protect the outsole from damage and scratches.

Straps

Many triathlon bike shoes use reverse main straps – running the opposite way to traditional road bike straps. This is because they allow for a speedier exit and for easier adjustment on the move after T1.

The downside of tri straps is they can catch on the crank if they’re too long. Some triathlon bike shoes may come specced with a Boa rachet.

Carbon sole

A carbon sole will save grammes and enhance the power transfer and pedalling efficiency, but will also add to the price of the shoe.

Heel loop

A heel tab should offer a speedier and easier foot entry in T1. The loops need to be large enough to get your fingers into at speed, but not too sizeable to catch in anything or ruin the aesthetic appeal.

Shoe opening

Also think about how wide or supple the ankle opening is. A wider opening may make it easier to slide your foot into the shoe in a rush.

Which cycling shoe closure is best?

Triathlon cycling shoes come with three main closure systems: laces, Velcro, and Boa dials. Each has its own set of with pros and cons. Laces offer comfort and even tension, but are slow to transition.

While, Velcro is quick and budget-friendly, though less durable and prone to debris.Lastly, Boa dials(preferred by pros) allow fast, on-the-fly adjustments and offer a secure fit with minimal drag, which is ideal for triathlon transitions.

Choosing the right closure can improve performance, comfort, and speed during critical gear changes in your race. Find out more about the best cycling shoe closure systems.

How should triathlon bike shoes fit?

Triathlon bike shoes need a precise fit tailored to the demands of racing, and this is different from road shoes.

You’ll need to take into account how tri shoes should fit, factoring in barefoot use, swelling on long rides, and distance-specific needs.

A snug fit boosts pedal power and prevents blisters, but you’ll want to avoid tight and uncomfortable toe boxes.

Wide-fit options may suit broader feet too, but to get a perfect fit we’d recomend trying your shoe in-store or trying for size within the warranty incase the fit isnt’ optimal.

Once shoe fit is right, cleat set-up is just as critical for comfort, performance, and injury prevention – check out our tips below.

Read more on how triathlon bike shoes should fit.

How to fit new cleats onto bike shoes

Fitting new cleats is a key skill for triathletes, and it’s one you’ll inevitably need at some point. It’s important to understand how to properly fit cleats as poor setup can cause injury, discomfort, and lost power.

To fit your new cleats, mark your old cleat positions, clean the shoe soles, apply thread lock if needed, and tighten bolts to 5–6Nm.

Regularly check for wear, keep cleats them clean, and ideally avoid walking in them (road cleats, not MTB). Replace cleats when they show wear or feel loose. If you’re a keen cyclist, some may need changing in as little as three months!

Find our full guide for fitting cleats onto bike shoes here.

How to clean and maintain your bike cleats

Clipless pedals and cleats enhance efficiency and control for triathletes but must be correctly fitted and maintained.

Cleats come in road and MTB styles, you’ll likely be focussing on road as a triathlete which are road cleats are lighter and stiffer. Meanwhile, MTB cleats are better for walking and off-road use.

Cleat “float” allows side-to-side foot movement and helps prevent injury when you need to clip out of your pedals fast; most riders benefit from 4–6 degrees of float.

Brands like Shimano and Look offer fixed float options. It’s essential to clean cleats regularly, check wear indicators, and replace them when needed for safe, consistent performance. Here’s our guide on how to properly clean and care for your cleats.

Looking for more? Check out our roundup of the best tri-suits to get fully kitted-out for your next race.