Who are Northwave?
Founded by Gianni Piva, this iconic brand took shape in the heart and home of Italian footwear manufacturing - Montebelluna. The brand’s original roots lie in skiing and snowboarding, but that specialist knowledge transferred seamlessly over to mountain bike cycling. In 1993 the brand released its first mountain bike shoes, which very much bucked the trend. In true form, they introduced the concept of contrasting colours, and the cycling world went mad for it. Within four short years, Paola Pezzo, wearing Northwave shoes, had broken MTB history at the Atlanta Olympics and Ivan Gotti, also in Northwave cycling shoes, won the Giro d’Italia. And the rest is history…
What does Northwave specialise in?
Mountains, mountains, mountains! This is a brand that is oh-so passionate about peaks. The bigger, the gnarlier, the better. This team is, therefore, synonymous with designing and developing clipless mountain bike shoes, XC shoes, gravel bike shoes and even post-ride casual shoes. If you’re after cycling shoes for women, you’ll be very impressed with what this brand has to offer. We have over 20 WSD shoes on offer, including road, tri and mountain bike clipless shoes.
You’ll also find a terrific selection of Northwave bike cleats and shoe accessories.
In addition, the brand is big on apparel. Technically advanced, you will find Northwave bike shirts and cycling jersey and jacket designs to be a little more generous than the average kit. This allows room underneath for protective gear without restricting the rider’s freedom of movement on the bike. If you’re after a cycling rain jacket or cycling base layer, this label has you covered. Their designers and engineers spend plenty of time riding in those Italian mountains, so they’re passionate about high-performance gear to keep cyclists warm!
The lower half is taken care of as well! Indeed, there’s a great line-up of Northwave cycling bibs and shorts on offer. Choose sleek and aero designs ideal for road or a comfy, baggy fit for out on the trails.
What shoes are best for mountain biking?
The short answer is that Northwave mountain bike shoes are best for mountain biking! That’s because this brand really knows mountains - the serious, Northern Italian ones. Moreover, the team has been passionate about perfecting MTB shoes for over 30 years, so they really know what they’re doing! As such, what features can you expect from the best MTB shoes?
Clipless pedal shoes so your feet stay firmly in place, but you have complete freedom to move rapidly in and out.
Lightweight - look for a carbon or rubber flat sole.
Rigid sole - the harder, the better, as this facilitates optimal power transfer.
Quality and reliable closure system - like a rotor dial or traditional laces allowing tweaks to be made as feet begin to naturally swell.
Ventilation - keep feet healthy by allowing them to breathe.
Are all cycling cleats the same?
No, they are not, and that’s a very good thing! The various riding disciplines differ dramatically, and so too should the gear they rely on.
SPD (Shimano Pedalling Dynamics) cleats
Two-bolt cleats
Ideal for: Mountain biking and all-terrain
Why? They’re quite resilient and can handle scrapes here and there or mud thrown their way. Much easier to walk in than their counterparts (discussed below).
SPDL-SL
Three-bolt cleats
Ideal for: High-end road cycling and track cyclists
Why? They’re all about maximising power transfer, so if you’re pushing serious watts, these are for you. They are not as easy to clip in and out of as SDPs, and they don’t sit flush with the sole, meaning you will assume that walking-penguin look when off the bike.
Look Keo cleats
Three-bolt cleats
Ideal for: High-end road cycling and track cyclists
Why? They’re all about maximising power transfer, so if you’re pushing serious watts, these are for you. They are not as easy to clip in and out of as SDPs, and they don’t sit flush with the sole, meaning you will assume that walking-penguin look when off the bike.
Wahoo Speedplay
Circular pedals
Ideal for: Road riding, indoor cycling
Why? Some versions feature an aero design. Out of all the cleats, these have the widest degree of float. You can adjust from 0 to 15, meaning one size should fit all preferences.
Crankbrothers
Egg-beater looking cleat
Ideal for: Mountain, CX and all-weather cycling
Why? Super, super easy to clip in and out of, although not as secure-feeling as SDPs.
Need help selecting a product from Northwave?
Have we answered all your questions here? If not, or if you’ve something else cycling-related that you’d like help with, contact our friendly team. We’re always keen to explain anything bike-related and do what we can to help! If you’re looking for a gift for that special cyclist in your life, we’re pretty sure they would love a BikeChain E-GiftCard. That way, they can purchase exactly what they’ve been dreaming about! And remember, your online purchase actually goes to an Australian brick-and-mortar bike store, so happy shopping!
