These shoes are an outstanding value for recreational riders or practical cycling around town. I have started using them for commuting to work, and they are perfect for that purpose. The fit is right-on (I usually wear between a 12 and 13, and Shimano's size 48 fits perfectly). Snug enough that your foot isn't moving around, but plenty of room in the toe box, so they're not as severely narrow as many traditional bike shoes. They work great with Shimano's Click'R pedals I haven't tried them with other SPD pedals, but they are supposed to be fine for that use too. So far, they always detach quickly and easily when I want them to, and have never detached when I wasn't expecting it. They look nice, and it was interesting to see that the main fabric (that part that's green if you get that version) is a tough but thin mesh, so I expect they will be fairly cool in hot weather. The cleat is fully recessed into the sole, with a wide area around it that channels the clip towards the cleat. That means you shouldn't be clacking along hard floors (although I'd still be careful on wood floors, for example). As comfortable for walking as you can expect from a stiff cycling shoe. I wouldn't have any problem using these as my sole shoes on a hike-and-bike outing, for example. There is a laces keeper a little elastic band half-way down the tongue of the shoe that you can tuck your laces into, so they don't snag with the bike chain.
Here's a little background to explain where I'm coming from on this review... As a long-time cyclist, I've used Shimano's SPD cleat system for many years, but mainly for recreational rides. When I'm commuting to work through stop-and-go traffic, having to clip in immediately at every start was a pain in the neck. So for commuting, I abandoned SPD several years ago, and have been using the half-size toe clips without straps. When Shimano introduced the Click'R system, I was keen to try it because it finally seemed like a good compromise between a platform pedal and a clipless SPD pedal. So far, I'm a definite fan, and have just started using this pedal and shoe system for my commuting to work. It works better than other SPD pedals for that purpose, because the platform part of the pedal is plenty wide and supportive enough that you can just hop on and start pedalling when the light turns green (for example). No worries about getting clipped in or having to worry that you foot will slide off the pedal (which is what happened for me on the more minimalist SPD pedals). Great solution for cycling around town!
I have used two other SPD shoes (Adidas and Mavic) that are oriented toward the casual mountain biker or recreational user, and I would say that the CT40 are the most comfortable of the three, and also the best for walking around in. Part of it is that Shimano sizes these more like normal shoes, rather than narrow coffins for your feet. But also, the CT40 has a truly recessed cleat, when others are only partly recessed.
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I was concerned about how easy it would be to get used to riding with these pedals and shoes. I love this system. Very easy to click in and slip out.
The shoes are comfortable. No surprises.
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Great shoe. Looks good, breathable, definitely not a racing shoe but excellent for casual rides and the short tour, and works great as a sneaker too! True to size. Easy to break in. I use it with (non-shimano) one sided clipless SPD platform combi pedals. Work like a charm. Truth be told I don't think there is another shoe out there quite like it or suited for the same niche. By niche, I mean the type of cycler that enjoys a good weekend road tour but wants to stop half way thru the ride to smell the flowers and pick up a burger. You can walk around in it with cleats in just as you would a regular sneaker plus it doesn't look goofy.
Honest reviews on Shimano 2014 Men's Commuter/Tour Cycling Shoes - SH-CT40
I am a casual rider, and I was looking for a shoe that wasn't for extreme racing or training and had a small learning curve. These lived up to my expectations. They are comfortable and easy to handle (I attribute that to Shimano's SPD system). I usually wear a size 9 shoe, and many conversion tables, I decided on the 42cm, which Shimano equates to an American size 8.3. They fit a little snug, but I expect them give a little after some serious miles. I was concerned before ordering because there was no strap to secure the laces, but after lacing up, I found an elastic band on the shoe tongue that holds them in place. They are a little heavier than I would have l liked, but I am not that concerned about shaving weight from my ride.
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I recommend these shoes for commuting and touring. I was most interested in getting a shoe that I could easily walk in. I was preparing for a commute to work that included a very steep hill which included a 10% grade for 3/4 of a mile. I was worried that I may have to dismount and walk up the hill. The shoe is easy to walk with, though the cleat will grind a little on the sidewalk without visible damage. The shoe is stable enough to safely climb or descend a flight of stairs while carrying a bike. The shoe has been very comfortable with the hard pedaling required by the hills I've climbed. And the shoes easily disconnect when I need to stop or get off the bike. Once, one of the cleats came loose. I solved it by re-tightening the screws with Loc-Tite on the threads. I also lost the small plastic tabs attached to the elastic loops on the shoe tongues used to secure the laces. You can easily grab the elastic loop without the tab. I use the Shimano PD-M530 pedals with these shoes. After 800+ miles, the shoes have been great.
