Best Bike Cleats for Road, Gravel and Mountain Bike Riders

Once upon a time, when you were looking for bike cleats, you only had a few options: Look, Time, or Shimano. But over the years, the options have proliferated and while many clipless pedals have their own proprietary cleats, there are also some options that can save you some cash, or cost you more money but save you some grams. Read on to discover the best bike cleats for a secure and comfortable ride, no matter your preferred riding style.

The Best Bike Cleats

What to Consider

There are two main categories of shoes and cleats: those with three mounting points and those with two mounting points.

Shoes and cleats with three mounting point are best for road riders and racers, while those with two are more generally for mountain bikers, gravel riders, and more casual riders. This is also evident in how the shoes are designed. Cleats with two mounting points are generally designed to recess into the sole of the shoe, making it easier to transition from riding to walking. Cleats with three mounting points are designed for shoes with hard soles with walking as almost an afterthought. These are the clacking, duck-walking shoes spandex-clad road warriors wear.

You can use the two-slot type cleats for road riding, particularly if you’re a more casual rider. But using the three-slot type of cleat and shoe for mountain biking isn’t recommended in case you ever have to get off the bike and hike up or down a steep mountainside or trudge through mud. Beyond that, much of your decision is based on personal preference and need.

Compatibility

The differences between road and mountain bike cleats, in general, is obvious. The nuances between manufacturers’ cleat styles and compatibility is less so. When you buy pedals, cleats, or both, make sure the models you choose are compatible with each other. For instance, a Shimano SPD (Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) cleat won’t work with a Time ATAC or CrankBrothers Mallet pedal.

Materials

Most mountain bike or SPD-style cleats are made of metal—usually steel or brass. Some are made of titanium.

Most road or three-slot cleats are made of nylon or other plastics. This is to help reduce weight.

Size and shape

Mountain bike cleats are smaller than road bike cleats. While most mountain bike cleats are squarer in shape, road bike cleats are generally triangular in shape and spread out more across the ball of the foot for greater stability and connection with the pedal.

Float

Depending on the pedal type and the interface, the amount of float in a pedal—the ability to angle your foot in or out before unclipping from the pedal—is sometimes controlled by the shape of the cleat. In other instances it is controlled by tension in the pedal itself.

Release Angle

This is the angle at which the mechanism that holds the cleat in the pedal releases. In some cases this a function of the cleat design. In others it is a part of the pedal design. In many clipless pedals, the tension on the pedal is also adjustable. While tension doesn’t impact the release angle, it can make it harder or easier to release the cleat itself.

Under the guise that zero equals the most powerful connection between rider and bike, many professional riders have opted for zero-float pedals in the past. However, that is being rethought as engineers consider body dynamics in how people ride, and what micro movements are most important to power and comfort when riding. More float is more forgiving on joints and bones and better for riders who experience discomfort with the mono-planer movement of cycling. Too much float, however, makes it harder to disengage from the pedals. So the most float a clipless system is set to allow is generally 9 degrees.

Replacement

Cleats are generally less expensive than pedals, which is good. While cleats are designed to withstand hundreds of miles of pedaling and walking, they wear down faster than pedals in most instances. If your foot is slipping out of the pedals more than expected, it’s time to check your cleats out and, if worn, replace them.

How We Selected

We selected cycling cleats for the most popular models of clipless pedals. We looked at all models of cleats, including those that allow more or less float while clipped in, and made our choices based on evaluations of the technology as well as based on the opinions of expert reviewers and customers. We often chose models with at least some float, because they allow for greater range of motion and will be comfortable for more riders.

For more great cycling gear to add to your arsenal, check out our picks for the best bike jerseys, bike shorts, and comfortable cycling shoes.