7 Best Women Sneakers For Spin Class
Our Picks of Best Women’s Workout Sneakers for Indoor Cycling
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by Your Exercise Bike • Updated: February 22, 2021
When it comes to best spinning shoes for women, there are several various options to choose from. Women sneakers for spin class are divided into two general categories; “spinning shoes without clips” and “indoor spinning shoes with clips”.
We already reviewed the women’s best clip-in spin shoes but this article is going to focus on the women indoor cycling sneakers without clips. Our indoor cycling experts have picked women’s best sneakers for spinning that don’t require clipping.
If you are wondering what are the benefits of wearing gym, tennis, or running shoe for indoor cycling and why they might be a better option (for some users) compared to specific women indoor cycling shoes with clip, make sure to scroll down our best sneakers for indoor cycling review and read the “Cycling Shoe Types” section.
Note: Using a pair of regular gym shoes for indoor cycling bikes is an option, but it is not the best option for everyone. If you are planning to mix spinning with weightlifting and other exercises, go for a pair of running regular shoes for indoor cycling. But if you are planning to do a straight 40-60 minutes spin workout, I highly suggest you go for specific indoor cycle shoes for women. They clip into pedals which make them safer and more efficient.
With no further ado, here is the list of the best indoor cycling sneakers for women. To make it easy for you to navigate through our spin bike sneakers for women, we have added a table of content down blow.
Best Women Sneakers For Cycling Price Comparison
My Favorite Best Spinning Class Sneakers:
- ASICS Women’s GEL-Venture 5 Sneaker Shoes for Exercise
- PUMA Women’s Tazon 6 WN’s FM Cross-Trainer Shoe
- Adidas Women’s Cloudfoam Pure Workout Sneakers
- Reebok Women’s CROSSFIT Nano 6.0 Cross Trainer
- New Balance Women’s FuelCore Nergize V1 Cross Trainer
- Nike Women’s Free Rn Flyknit Exercise Shoe For Spinning
- FLARUT Women’s Casual Sport Sneakers For Cycling
#1 ASICS Women’s GEL-Venture 5 Sneaker Shoes for Exercise
ASICS G-V 5 would make great ladies spinning trainers, thanks to its breathable mesh-top, rubber sole. But what puts these exercise bike footgear on top of our list is its Gel cushioning system.
They provide enough cushion for you to participate in activities like spinning, weight lifting, running, and walking. Additionally, ASICS spin shoes without clips come with removable foam sock-liner that accommodates orthotics.
Thanks to their multi-surface traction and high-abrasion rubber, these indoor cycling shoes without clips can provide comfortable support on the bike. Last, but not least, the ASICS trainers for indoor cycling are available in several colors so you can get a pair that matches your outfit.
#2 PUMA Women’s Tazon 6 WN’s FM Cross-Trainer Shoe
Designed and made by the word’s one of the top shoe brands, the PUMA 6 WN FM gym shoes are good for indoor biking and CrossFit. They are made of 100% Synthetic leather and have rubber soles.
Due to the nature of CrossFit which is what they are originally made for, these shoes have thick and a bit harder soles compared to a few other trainers that we featured in this pin class rubber-soled shoe review.
The shoe soles are also grippy which prevents sliding off the pedals during intense rides. Other features that put the PUMA in our pinning casual sneakers review are; breathable ecoorthoLite cycling sock liner for optimum fit and comfort and TPU shank for increased stability.
#3 Adidas Women’s Cloudfoam Pure Workout Sneakers
What makes Adidas Cloudfoam Pure one of the best cycling shoes is the memory foam and multi-purpose nature of these shoes: it can be worn for running, weight lifting, indoor cycling as well as commuting. And it looks pretty amazing too.
Thanks to their highly breathable 100% textile materials, these trainers are great for spinning. They can keep your feet fresh while providing optimal support for indoor cycling rides.
All in all these Adidas spinning shoes can provide a comfortable ride for individuals who prefer riding without clips. Adidas casual sneaker shoes for cycling indoor are available in several colors to let you match your footwear with the rest of your clothing.
#4 Reebok Women’s CROSSFIT Nano 6.0 Cross Trainer
Reebok Nano 6.0 is one of my favorite CrossFit shoes for indoor cycling. They come with super grippy soles that are nor too hard neither too soft which makes them one of the best womens spin shoes.
Made of textile and synthetic, they are also highly breathable. But what makes them stand out is the Tri-blend FoamFusion technology midsole that helps to provide the needed support for off and on the bike exercises.
A few other good features of these shoes include upper infused with Kevlar which helps provide durability and lightweight strength, anatomical shaped fit, and piston technology lugged outsole.
#5 New Balance Women’s FuelCore Nergize V1 Cross Trainer
I have been using New Balance athletic shoes for running, gym, and spinning for years. They’re lightweight, cushioned, fit perfectly, and look really good so you can wear them outdoor for walking, hiking, etc.
What stands out about these cycling shoes for stationary bikes is the unique NB (New Balance) “Memory Sole Comfort” insert, Revlite midsole foam, and removable insert design.
Plus, they are breathable so your feet can stay fresh during indoor cycling rides. They are also available in many colors and designs. Overall, they are perfect for gym workouts, running, indoor cycling, and many other activities.
#6 Nike Women’s Free Rn Flyknit Exercise Shoe For Spinning
Made in the USA, the Nike Rn Flyknit is with no doubts one of the highest-quality exercise shoes on the market. They are made for running for but thanks to their versatile design, you can use them for pretty much any type of exercise.
The rubber soles provide relatively comfortable support for spin workouts. It is also available in many different colors and designs so there is a big chance you find something that fits the rest of your cycling clothes.
Note: These Nike spinning shoes are M (standard width) so they fit most users. Last but not least these Nike shoes are sold by “Awesomely Fulfilled” and you can rest assured they are 100% Nike factory direct original.
#7 FLARUT Women’s Casual Sport Sneakers For Cycling
Wouldn’t be my first or even second choice (which is why they listed 7th in this gym shoes for spin class review), the Flarut is a very budget-friendly option for running, gym, and spinning.
Featuring non-slip flexible leather/rubber sole and cushioning heel, this Flarut women’s cycling sneakers enhance comfort and safety. They have breathable and durable upper mesh material that makes your feet feel cool and fresh.
Additionally, Flarut women’s casual cycling sneakers are made with a breathable fabric lining for a great comfortable in-shoe feel. You can use them for running, walking, jogging, gym workout, and indoor cycling.
Spinning Sneaker Buying Guide:
Spin Bike Sneaker Size
The most important factor to pay attention when buying the best women’s spin shoes is the size. Unlike clip-in cycling shoes for spin class, when purchasing regular athletic cycling shoes for spinning class, you don’t need to pick one size larger.
So, if you end up buying spin class cycling shoes from the list above, make sure to buy the same size as your running trainers. Note: However, if you ever decide to go with clip-in indoor cycling shoes for women, make sure to go half a size or even one size up.
Bike Shoe Sole Material
Cycling sneakers without clips has to have the following two features: First, because these shoes don’t clip into the pedal, they need to have grippy soles so your feet don’t slide off the pedals.
Second, the sole of cycling shoes for spin class (with clips or without clips) has to be firm. Otherwise because of the extra soft layer the full energy won’t transfer into the pedals. Also, I personally experienced that bike shoes for spinning that come with harder soles are more comfortable (once you get used to them).
Breathable Cycling Shoes
Indoor cycling comes with lots of sweating and heat. So, you have to make sure all your clothing, from spinning headbands all the way to your shoes (head to toe) allows airflow. This way you can enjoy your spinning workout without getting overheated and exhausted quickly.
Thankfully no matter where you find the best spinning shoes for women (online or physical stores), it is easy to figure out breathablity. All you need is to look for mesh parts, usually on the side and upper part of the shoes for spin class.
Color
When searching for the best shoes for spinning, often we forget to consider the color of the trainers for spin class. Like everything else, the color of women’s spinning shoes is better when it matches the rest of your outfit.
This way, you will be able to burn calories and pump those muscles in style. The majority of women’s footgear for spin class that we reviewed in this buying guide are available in several colors. So, hopefully, you will be able to pick a pair of ladies spinning shoes that fit your outfit.
Spinning Shoe Price
When it comes to best women’s spinning shoes, you get what you pay for, unlike a few other things we have reviewed on this exercise bike website. There are sneaker shoes for spin bikes for as little as $20 but they don’t last much, especially for spinning exercise.
Some of the shoes we picked for spin bike class preparation are a bit more expensive but they have excellent quality and offer a great deal of comfort. We personally used the New Balance, Adidas, Puma, and Nike cycling shoes for spinning, they last long, fit good and provide the support needed.
Return and Refund
Being able to return is extremely important when searching for shoes for spinning class. Indoor cycling clothing can always go a size up or down. So, if you are stuck between two different pairs of spin shoes and can’t make a decision, look for the one that offers free return and refund.
Some of the best women’s indoor cycling shoes that we featured in this review and buying guide include a 30-day money-back and free return policies. I suggest you opt for those shoes for spinning as you never know
Warranty and Shipping
This is not a deal-breaker but something to consider when it gets too difficult to choose between two different pairs of best cycling shoes for spin class.
So, if you are in a situation that you are not sure which spinning cycling shoes to buy, check and see which shoes for spinning bike come with a better warranty and shipping rates. Note: Spin class shoes on Amazon often come with free shipping but on other websites, you might need to pay for shipping.
Additional Tips
Always for spin class, even if you do it at home make sure to stretch before spin class/workout starts, wear the right womens shorts for spin class, and even consider buying a gel seat for spin class. If you are not comfortable, no matter how committed you are, there is a big chance you will give up the workout.
Aside from wearing the best cycle shoes for spinning, I recommend you wear the best spinning shirts and headbands. The more equipped for the ride, the better and more comfortable you feel. Also, don’t forget to stay entertained during the workout. If you are not following a spin class or listening to music, perhaps watching your favorite Netflix show is a good option.
Types of Womens Sneakers for Cycling:
Regular Sneaker for Spinning:
Using a pair of regular athletic shoes have several benefits. If you decide to use your running/gym sneaker casual shoes for spin class, you don’t have to spend money to buy clip-in spinning shoes.
Additionally, you don’t have to replace pedals because most spin bike pedals come with cage. So, they are only compatible with your regular gym shoes but they are not compatible with clip-in shoes for indoor cycling.
Aside from financial benefits, gym rubber-soled shoes for spin class can be used for multi-tasking. If you are wearing casual sneakers for indoor cycling, you can dismount the cycle and do CrossFit training or weight lifting without changing shoes.
You can also use the same shoes for basketball, running, and tennis. The major disadvantages of the gym, running, tennis shoes for spin class are the soft soles and low-safety.
They don’t have cleats to lock into the pedals so there is a chance (very little) that your feet slide off and hurt your shin. And because running/gym shoes have soft soles, they don’t transfer 100% of the power to the pedals.
- Pros:
- They are great if you want to do multiple exercises without changing shoes;
- Sneakers are more budget-friendly because you don’t need to buy cleats and pedals;
- You can use your running shoes and forget about buying special indoor bike shoes;
- Cons:
- Regular gym shoes don’t clip into the pedals so they are less safe compared to clip-in pedals;
- Sneakers often come with soft soles which don’t allow the full power transfer to pedals;
SPD Shoes for Spinning:
Also known as MTB shoes, they are good for indoor cycling (as long as they have breathable meshes). The benefit of using SPD cycling shoes for spinning is better power transfer and extra safety because they lock into the pedals.
There are a couple of disadvantaged to SPD shoes for indoor spinning: You won’t be able to use them comfortably off the bike which means if you want to mix strength workouts with spinning, they are not a good option.
Another major disadvantage of using SPD shoes for spinning is the size of cleats. SPD cleats for spin class also known as two-bolt cleats and MTB cleats are very small.
So, all the power that you create will be transferred to the pedal through one square inch cleat which is nor comfortable neither efficient. On top of that, if you decide to buy SPD cycle shoes for spinning, you will have to replace one-sided toe-caged pedals and buy cleats which can cost up to $100.
- Pros:
- Two-bolt (SPD) shoes clip into the pedals so there is less chance that your feet slide off the pedals;
- Often you don’t need to replace pedals because many spin bikes including the Keiser M3i come with SPD pedals;
- Once you get used to it, SPD spinning shoes are more comfortable than regular gym shoes;
- Best SPD shoes for indoor cycling come with rigged soles for better power transfer;
- Cons:
- You can’t use women’s SPD spinning shoes for multiple exercises (running, gym, etc) comfortably because of the cleats;
- The surface of SPD cleats are too small which means there is very little connection between your feet and pedals (not very comfortable);
- Buying a decent pair of cleats and SPD special shoes for spin class costs up to $150 which is avoidable if you use your running sneakers for spinning;
SPD-SL Road Shoes for Spinning: (Our Favorite)
Our most favorite type of cycling shoes for spinning workouts is the SPD-SL, also known as road bike shoes and three-bolt shoes. They have large cleats that offer excellent support for long indoor rides.
Some of the best SPD-SL spin shoes have 5 to 7 holes on the sole (not 3 holes). They are designed to be compatible with all the cleats and spin bike pedals on the market. So, if you end up buying a pair of these spin bike shoes which I highly recommend, you can use them with all types of spin bike pedals (Spd, Spd-Sl, and Look Delta).
The main downside to SPD-SL women’s spinning shoes are the large size of the cleats that don’t allow you to use the spin cycle shoes for any other sport other than cycling.
Another disadvantage is that almost 90% of the times spin bikes either come with SPD pedals (which is not compatible with 3-bolt SPD-SL) or they come with toe-cage pedals. So, you would need to replace the pedals ($40 min), buy clips for spin shoes ($10 min), and buy a pair of decent spinning bike shoes ($100 min).
- Pros:
- Some SPD-SL best indoor cycle shoes have 7 holes on the sole so they can accommodate all cleats and pedals;
- SPD-SL cleats are wider than SPD cleats so there is a better connection between your feet and pedal (more comfortable);
- Unlike gym sneakers, best indoor spin shoes with SPD-SL have more rigid sole for better power transfer;
- SPD-SL women’s indoor cycling shoes are safe because they clip into the pedals;
- There are several types of cleats with a different floating degree are available for SPD-SL shoes;
- Cons:
- SPD-SL cleats are wide which makes it very difficult to walk when you wear them (can’t use them for running, CrossFit, etc);
- Often you will have to buy pedals because most spin bikes are not equipped with SPD-SL pedals;
- Decent SPD-SL compatible cycling shoes, pedals, and cleats can cost up to $150;
Conclusion:
The best sneaker cycling shoes will make riding a more pleasurable experience, regardless of your fitness level or type of ride. Although, I personally suggest you consider buying dedicated shoes for cycling because they clip into the pedals and improve efficiency as you turn the cranks.
However, if you don’t want to spend extra and wear cleats for spinning or simply want to mix spinning with other exercises, it is better that you consider the best trainers for spinning that don’t clip-in. Using sneakers for cycling allow you to easily get off the bike and comfortably walk, run, lift, etc.
We have already picked and reviewed the best cycling shoes that provide comfort and enable you to ride for longer without any chafing. But if you still have a hard time deciding which womens indoor cycling shoes are for you (gym sneakers, SPD or SPD-SL), leave us a comment down below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Hi there, I'm Sayed Hamed Hosseiny, the founder and one of the authors at yourexercisebike.com (YEB). I am a former indoor cycling instructor and personal trainer with nearly 20 years of experience. With a passion for indoor cycling, I have spent years designing cycling parts, repairing, and importing exercise bikes. All the articles, tips, guides, reviews, and comparisons on YourExerciseBike.com (YEB) reflect my personal opinion and expertise in the field. I'm excited to share my knowledge with fellow exercise bike enthusiasts and help people find reliable indoor cycling information and the best exercise bike for their needs. If you have any questions or suggestion, you can contact me at sayed@yourexercisebike.com.
