9 best women’s cycling sandals, from cleated to open-toed designs

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Supportive, sturdy sandals are the shoes of choice for long-distance cycle tourers and, increasingly, lightweight bikepackers. They handle rain, puddles and the occasional stream crossing better than closed shoes, dry without filling your tent or hotel room with a funky smell, and keep your feet blissfully cool on warm days. But they’re also ideal for commuting: in nice weather, you can wear them straight off the bike and into the office.

We tested some of these sandals on the hardest bike rides in the world: off-road in the foothills of the Pamir mountains in Tajikistan and on the Baja Divide in Mexico. Others we tested with long city commutes and short rides to the park.  

We looked first for a secure fit – testing confirmed to us that flip flops don’t feel safe, and for a really stable ride you need an ankle strap. We also looked for a stiff sole – this helps you transfer power into the pedal – that had enough flex to let you walk around, or push your bike, when needed.

We also looked for sandals with enclosed fastenings – elastic laces with a toggle, for example, or a Velcro strap. Shoelaces seem to have a magnetic attraction to pedals, and it can be difficult to unravel them when you’re on the move.  

We also preferred open-toed shoes, with a couple of exceptions, because the motion of pedalling can run your foot forward on the shoe unless you have excellent form or cleats and a tight fit.

Ultimately the kind of sandal you need will depend on your riding style. If you clip in, Shimano makes the best cleat sandals available. For touring, look for a brand that promises durability: Keen and Teva are our top picks, renowned for hiking sandals.

Once you’re converted to cycling in sandals, you won’t want to go back into full shoes. But luckily you don’t have to: socks with sandals are definitely acceptable in the long-distance cycling world, and if you pair yours with a set of waterproof socks or an overshoe you have a set-up that will carry you through any weather imaginable.

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