I finally found a flattering cycling shoe! I had been using my Keen Womens Commuter III cycling sandals for a number of years, but I was never entirely happy with their appearance. Keens are super durable but their shape is quite a wide, clunky one – and this was not the look I wanted. Enter the Exustar E-SM822 Mountain Bike Shoes
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Yes – mountain bike shoes. Who knew these would be THE ONE! I don’t usually associate mountain bike gear with fashion, but these shoes deliver.

These shoes have a narrow silhouette, with reflective parts to keep you safe in the dark. I especially like the tapered toe which makes this more flattering to the foot.
My Exustar E-SM822 Mountain Bike Shoes resemble a hiking shoe and, unlike road shoes, which I previously wore in winter, these shoes do not turn up at the toe (which, to me, looked ridiculous). I do not ride with clips, but these shoes have the ability to hold cleats if you wish. If you don’t they are neatly covered up.

Here are the specs:
Upper PU leather, breathable mesh, reflective swatch.
Closure Laces.
Sole Rubber with screw-on cleat recess cover.
Midsole Fiberglass-reinforced nylon.
Insole Washable EVA.
Interface SPD
Sizes 37-48
Weight 866 g/pr
Funny that a US company would choose to size their shoes in the European style. However, I usually wear a size 8, and Size 40 fits like a glove. Some people have reported that these shoes have a narrow fit. My feet are average to wide and I find these shoes very comfortable.

The sole has a perimeter of “grippy” bits which makes them more comfortable to use off-bike. The upper shoe has fiberglass reinforced mesh which makes the shoes very breathable, but alas – not waterproof. We can’t have it all, can we? However, I have used these shoes for over a year and they are not smelly at all. I cannot say this about my Keens, which now have to live on the porch when not in use. (Although when I was researching this post I noticed that Keens commuter sandals are currently less than half price – shoes on sale are my weak point, so it was not easy to resist replacing my old Keens.)

Don’t get me wrong, I still love my Keens, but I would rather wear them for a hike or a beach trip. I highly recommend the Exustar E-SM822 womens cycling shoes for the fashion conscious cyclist. These shoes will take you from the bike to the pub and still look great.
Buy them here from Amazon. I love buying from Amazon because returns are so easy – which makes it safe to order shoes from them!

These shoes rate our Bike Gold Star for good looks and good function at a great price.
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