Where to get good/cheap Spin shoes?

I was told by a Spin instructor to get spin shoes and that they are cheaper online. What do you all think? Do you all have Spin shoes? If so where did you get them and were they reasonable?

e-bay....

Regular sneakers are just fine on a spin bike.

In my opinion, cycle shoes without a doubt help!  Sneakers have flexible bottoms, which make your pedaling less efficient.  Cycle shoes have hard soles, so every stroke of the pedal is going 100% toward the cycling effort and nothing is lost in the bending of your foot.   My recommendation is a pair of mountain biking shoes - they are not quite as hard as road shoes and are less expensive (and you don't look odd wearing them into the gym or driving.  You can check out various styles at www.performancebike.com, or go to a bike store and look for styles on sale, since you don't have to really worry about what they are made of, weight, etc.  Also find out what type of pedal your gym uses.  You may want to get clips to match that pedal, or simply wear them as-is if your pedals have cages to hold your feet in.

Cycle shoes do help, and clipping in helps also. Make sure you get the right clips for the bikes at your gym like seashellhunter said, there are different kinds that won't work together. You will most likely be able to find them cheaper online, but I strongly suggest trying some on in the store and finding something that's comfortable, and then seeing if you can find them online in your price range. You don't want to get something cheap and have them be super uncomfortable.

Original Post by seashellhunter:

In my opinion, cycle shoes without a doubt help!  Sneakers have flexible bottoms, which make your pedaling less efficient.  Cycle shoes have hard soles, so every stroke of the pedal is going 100% toward the cycling effort and nothing is lost in the bending of your foot.

 What benefits does increase pedal efficiency have in spin class? I understand pedal efficiency being beneficial in races, but if your spinning as a means of burning calories your effort determines how many calories are burned and pedal efficiency shouldn't make any difference.

bikenashbar.com usually has some great deals on cycling shoes.  I picked up a nice pair of Pearl Izumi shoes there for $40 last year.  I have found that by using them that my feet feel a lot better after a hard workout using cycling shoes vs using athletic shoes.  (In athletic shoes my arches were burning after 20 minutes)

Original Post by floggingsully:

 What benefits does increase pedal efficiency have in spin class? I understand pedal efficiency being beneficial in races, but if your spinning as a means of burning calories your effort determines how many calories are burned and pedal efficiency shouldn't make any difference.

 I wouldn't say the benefits of the spin shoes are the efficiency. It is easier on your feet since the pressure is spread more throughout the foot, and not all on the ball of the foot, so you don't go numb as easily. Also, when you are clipped in you can use your legs to pull through the entire rotation, which would burn more calories since you are doing more work, and it works different muscles.

I've noticed most of my spin instructors don't wear special shoes.  Unless you have extra money and you cycle outside of the gym, I wouldn't worry about.

All my spin instructors use the spin shoes, as well as all the regulars in the class. I've noticed my foot is starting to hurt the more often I spin, as well as going numb quickly. I commented to my chiropractor and he highly suggested the spin shoes to keep my bones and muscles in good form. I pay $50 per chiropractic adjustment...I think a $40 pair of spin shoes might be worth the money. I need a new pair of workout tennis anyway, so it's perfect timing for me. I've asked other spinners and none have complained or thought it was a waste of money. I'll check in later with you to let you know. My only problem buying online is how to make sure I get the right clips for the bike(s) I'm using. I go to several locations and one in particular has more outdated bikes.