Flat pedal-specific riding shoes are the latest trend in the mountain bike world. These shoes feature sticky rubber soles (like on climbing shoes) to keep your feet in position. The best soles are found on the Five Ten Impact shoes, which are easily the grippiest available.
However, the Five Tens are performance shoes for experienced riders only, so SixSixOne has come up with a pair of more casual looking shoes that feature similar grippy rubber soles. Thanks to the Dually Taki shoes, a wider range of riders can now have superb grip while using flat pedals.
The Duallys have a three-quarter profile with just enough height to offer protection for the ankles, but not so much that it takes away freedom of movement. The uppers are well padded to ward off knocks and scrapes, and the toe and heel boxes are sturdy enough to envelope your foot properly without you having to do the shoes up ultra tight and cutting off your circulation.
The soles look like regular trainer affairs but they're made from softer 'Taki' compound rubber for better adhesion to the pedals. They're not as grippy as the ultra-sticky Five Tens, but this makes them infinitely more useable on a daily basis for all kinds of flat pedal riders - even dirt jumpers who like to move around on their pedals. Plus, they're probably the best looking riding shoes out there - easily good enough to don with your casual clothes, although we'd recommend changing the original laces to grey ones.