Comfort is a big factor in choosing your footgear; especially, when considering the length of longer triathlon events. Your feet need to remain as comfortable as possible to help prevent potential injury. Also, a more comfortable foot is more likely to remain healthy. For example, if your feet are uncomfortable, the chance rises your mind will think about the cause of your discomfort. When exhaustion sets in, not only will the race become tougher to focus upon but the likelihood of an injury begins to increase.

Comfortability factors really matter when considering your footwear. The idea, generally speaking, is to participate in more than one triathlon race. After all, you have been training a long time to make the first event. No one desires to be made a victim from their gear; thereby, being eliminated from participating in the race they love. At the end of the day, if the footwear feels uncomfortable, then they are the wrong shoes for you. Some of the things you can keep an eye on for are attributes such as toe box width, arch support or the lack thereof, shock absorbency, breathability, quick-dry properties, aerodynamics, weight, and etc.

For toe box width, you need footwear that does not cramp in any way. While you may need a tighter toe box for cycling, your running shoes should be a bit wider in this area. This is because your toes need to have a bit more space in relation to proper power, support, stability, and overall correction in the gait cycle. With cycling shoes, however, your forefoot is doing most of the work and aerodynamics comes into play. As a result, cycling shoes may, indeed, have a tighter toe box than your running shoes will.

Arch support is another deeming factor in comfortability. If you are flat-footed, then a high arch support in your footwear will be utterly horrendous. Not only would this be painful as your ride or run, but the aftermath could be disastrous in that you could cause serious injury. Although cycling shoes will have a flatter arch system, due to the sheer design of what cycling footgear is, the basic concept of applying the correct arch support is vital. For cycling shoes, if you find that your feet are aching from a lack of arch support, look for replacement insoles that give you the support you need while, also, ensuring they are made of the lightest weight materials possible. In this, you will keep weight factors to a bare minimum and will increase the comfort levels where you are housing your feet.

Shock absorbency is one of the key factors in determining what is best for you, in the realm of your running footwear. The race is long and you will be tired when the final leg begins. You need midsoles that absorb shock and, also, return a degree of energy during toe-off. This will lower your overall fatigue levels and can aid in minimizing energy expenditure. If your a small person, a dual-density midsole is too much, generally speaking. If you are of a larger build, however, a dual-density midsole might just be the ticket to the finish line.

Breathability and quick-drying properties are essential in both your cycling and running shoes. For cycling, you want gear that allows the water from your feet to drain away and not get trapped inside of the shoes, per se. This will give your feet ample breathability while, also, allowing time for them to dry out prior to running on a hard surface. Wet feet will take more damage on the run than those feet which are dry. In addition, your running footwear should be lightweight and highly breathable. Even though your cycling shoes might be correct in that they drain properly, you will sweat. Choosing running gear which has nice breathability will aid in extending comfort levels.

When purchasing shoes for cycling, whether you’re a triathlete or a road cyclist looking for something breathable and easy to put on, you will want to look for the pair that’ll give you the most efficient pedal stroke, that is, that’ll allow the best amount of power transfer. Simply put, generated by your feet, the energy needs to be transferred to the pedals to give you as much speed as possible, without losing any of the generated energy in the process.

The key to this is definitely a good sole, and usually, the harder a sole is, the better. Nowadays, manufacturers will turn to carbon materials that can achieve the required stiffness without being too heavy (and thus causing fatigue), and have even developed compounds that are durable and can withstand use in less than perfect conditions such as water and humidity. This point is crucial for professional triathletes, seeing that they’ll often go from phase 1 of the race to phase 2 without stopping to dry their feet or put on socks.

However, finding the best cycling model for you isn’t as simple as going out and purchasing the stiffest shoe you can find. Even more important than that is finding a model that fits your feet both in length and width, so that there’s no unnecessary energy loss or generated discomfort that would make you have to stop mid-race.

Furthermore, cleat placement is also crucial, and there’s a ton of research being made at the moment that focuses solely on finding the perfect placement for each individual. Not only can it make you faster, thus more likely to win a race, but it can also play a crucial part in preventing injury and pain.

In terms of the running portion of the race, you want to look for features which are completely different than those found in your cycling gear. Your running sneakers need to be much softer and more cushioned, absorbing the generated energy and preventing it from traveling up from your feet to your ankles, knees, hips, and spine.

Most models on this list will have a good shock absorbing system in place, mostly made from foam, gel or silicone compounds found in the midsole portion which focus on dispersing the shock, spreading it across the entire foot, or, even better, transforming it into springy energy that’s returned to you during the toe off phase, propelling you forward and giving you a much faster running experience.

One of the aspects to keep in mind in the midsole is how much it is that you exactly need. While very little may be sufficient for sprints, the length of a triathlon race requires more endurance, and thus a higher level of protection that won’t flatten after a couple of miles. Too much, on the other hand, may weigh you down, causing fatigue that would prevent you from achieving your best speed.

When shopping for tri events, it would be best to look for the best possible combination of weight and cushioning, opting for more technologically advanced models that provide more but weigh less than traditional EVA foam.

Fitting your shoes correctly leads the way for comfort, stability, and support. When your footwear is not properly fitted, health concerns can, also, arise (*see Overall Health Factors). During a triathlon event, foot swelling occurs rather quickly from rapid blood flow and foot-related stress. The best way to fit them properly is to take a measurement of your feet in the evening after your full day nears its end. In doing so, you will have a better gauge when your feet will be at their largest.

Transitional Speed
Transitional speed refers to the performance of the shoe in relation to your ability to switch from one footwear type to the next. In traditional triathlon events, each leg of the race begins at swimming, moves to the cycling stage, and then ends with running. As such, quicker transitional speeds for cycling shoes need to address the concerns of wetness, feet feeling too soft, and contain a quick-lace component. All of these considerations must be taken into account when choosing the correct gear.

Overall Health Factors
The best triathlon shoes for men & women take into account your foot health. For example, in a triathlon race, you will need to transition from swimming to cycling. We ask ourselves if cycling shoes have a breathable component to combat dampness. If they do, then the shoes take into consideration our foot health. If not, they could be the wrong shoe for the job.

Common risks associated with the wrong type of footwear may include, but are not limited to:

Weight matters in long-distance marathons; especially, when participating in multiple events, in consecutive order, like in a triathlon race. Moreover, shoe weight is directly related to fatigue levels. As such, it is important to note the weight of the footwear you are planning to purchase. The idea here is to decrease as much weight as possible without sacrificing the shoe's performance and ability to maintain your foot health integrity. The correct gear for your feet will give you the best of both worlds.