Gravel Cycling Shoes

Both shoes are built for gravel and adventure riding, but they're tuned for different priorities. The Expedition uses the 1:1® Next Step Nylon composite sole, which balances pedaling efficiency with walkability, a versatile choice for riders who spend significant time off the bike on hike-a-bike sections or varied terrain. The Expedition PRO uses the stiffer 1:1® EX PRO Carbon sole, matching the power transfer performance of a dedicated road shoe while retaining off-bike capability through TPU lugs and a reinforced toe bumper. For everyday adventure riding, the Expedition is the more comfortable all-day choice. For gravel events or XC racing where watt efficiency matters most, the PRO earns its place.

All three gravel shoes, the X-Alp Gravel, Expedition, and Expedition PRO, use 2-bolt SPD cleat compatibility, which is the standard for gravel and mountain bike pedal systems. This is a different standard from 3-bolt road cleats, which use a wider cleat interface but aren't designed for walkability. If you're coming to gravel from a road cycling background and currently run 3-bolt pedals, you'll need to switch to an SPD-compatible pedal system. The recessed cleat design in SPD-compatible gravel shoes is what allows for the natural, confident walking gait that makes the difference between a brief hike-a-bike and a genuinely unpleasant trudge.

The distinction is in how the sole stiffness and walkability are balanced. Mountain bike shoes, especially trail and enduro-oriented options, tend to prioritize walkability and flexibility, since riders frequently dismount on technical terrain. Our Expedition and X-Alp gravel shoes dial the sole stiffness higher to reduce energy loss on long pedaling efforts over mixed terrain, while maintaining enough flex and grip for off-bike sections. The Expedition PRO takes that further, matching road shoe stiffness with a carbon sole while retaining the tread and durability features gravel conditions demand. The practical result: gravel shoes are the better choice for routes where you're primarily pedaling with occasional off-bike moments, rather than routes that require frequent technical hiking.