Cycling shoes should be lightweight and comfortable. Unless the biker is relaxed. He won't be able to enjoy the bike ride and chances are that they he might get tired soon.

One should also look out for the sole material. It is this part of the shoes that eases out the major pressure points. If the outer body of the sole is thicker on the edges and thinner towards the center. It will reduce the weight to a large extent and also help in transferring power. Leather and nylon are the most commonly used sole materials.

If a mesh is provided on the upper part of the shoes. It will help the shoe and foot to breathe. Air can easily flow in and out. Thereby reducing the sweat produced inside the shoes.

Grip is another area that differentiates better shoes from good ones. Spikes and anti-slip pads help in maintaining firm hold of the pedal.

Always go for shoes with good straps and laces. Loose straps and wobbly laces can break the rhythm of the ride. Nothing like a self-locking strap.

As the shoes will be used at other times also when a person is not biking. One can look out for rubber caps on the toes and heels. Which will protect the sole when a person is walking.

Even when looking for a shoes whose technical specification makes it a perfect wear. One shouldn't forget about the color and style. Although these come secondary. But it is always nice to have a pair of shoes that matches the bike color and adds a zing to the overall look.

Cycling shoes come in four basic variants:

1. Road racing shoes
2. Touring cycling shoes
3. Off-road or mountain biking
4. Spinning shoes

Shoes for road cycling have an extremely smooth, rigid and inflexible sole, bent slightly at the ball of the foot to allow power to be transferred and focused at that point. The quality of the shoe depends on the rigidity and durability of the sole, breathability, and overall weight of the shoe (the lighter the better). Road shoes normally have no treads, and a protruding cleat for attaching to the clipless pedal which makes them unsuitable for walking.

Touring shoes sacrifice some rigidity for traction and add treads and a recessed cleat, so that the rider can both walk and cycle effectively. Most touring shoes have ribbed or textured soles to hold your feet firmly onthe pedals as you ride. On weekend cycling trips, if you spend as much time walking around as you do riding, get the more flexible sole. If you ride more, choose the stiffer one.

Mountain biking shoes have a recessed cleat and studs along the sole so that riders can negotiate difficult terrain off their bikes. Mountain-style cleats are generally smaller than road-specific cleats. Mountain bike shoes should not have laces that can become wrapped up in the bike chain, should allow extra room for swelling feet, and, most importantly, they should be comfortable.

Spinning shoes, a recent development, are a hybrid of road and touring shoes, with a firm sole and limited traction. The material of the spinning shoe is lighter and thinner, to maximize comfort, coolness and breathability.

Modern cycling shoes are designed to work as part of clipless pedal systems. Such systems directly attach the shoe to the pedal for maximal efficiency of power-transfer, using a cleat on the bottom of each shoe and a matched fitting on the pedal. Several manufacturers produce these systems; consequently, modern shoes usually have threaded holes in the sole in various arrangements to attach cleats from different manufacturers.