Why Cycling Shoe Materials Matter

Living in a material world  

We all live in a material world, but it’s how we use the wide tapestry of forms and fabrics that differentiates us. At Lake, every aspect of our designs has a purpose, and it’s how we bring these materials together that makes our cycling shoes world leading. Unlike many brands, form is as important as function. In fact: form, fit and function need to operate in harmony. In recent weeks, we’ve written about creative pattern and cycling shoe design, and why color matters – alongside several other issues relating to fit of course. It seems the right time then, to tell you about the materials we use here at Lake, and how we use them to make some of the world’s most comfortable cycling shoes.  One question that comes up more often now is why Lake offers the same model in different material options. A shoe like the CX333 or MX239 may be available in leather and microfiber versions, and from the outside, that can look to be no different than a color or finish choice.  

However, and it’s a very important ‘however’; ultimately, the material also changes how the shoe feels, how it holds shape, how it breaks in, and how it continues to perform over time. Once you understand this aspect of material choice in design and function, the number of Lake material options starts to make more sense. Fundamentally, it’s another way in which we at Lake offer what is probably the most complete range of cycling shoes in the world – because we look at every aspect.  

Variety is the spice of life… and fit 

That variety of material forms is wholly intentional. Lake has always approached fit through more than size alone. We’ve spoken previously about Last choice, and pattern choices, and so let’s talk today about material choices and how they function in a way that supports the wide tapestry of rider requirements.  

Common material assumptions 

Before getting into individual materials, let’s challenge a few common assumptions with fact and information. 

Leather is hot 
Reality: Premium leather is often more thermally balanced than riders expect. Because leather is a natural fiber structure, it can help buffer temperature change rather than feeling instantly hot or cold in the same way thin synthetic materials can. It also combines breathability, insulation, and moisture management. 

Synthetic materials are always more advanced. 
Reality: Advanced synthetic materials can offer excellent consistency, durability, low weight, and easy maintenance. Their strength is predictability: they hold their shape, perform consistently, and change very little over time. That can be a real advantage when the goal is a stable fit feel from the first ride onward, but it is that consistency that makes synthetics appear advanced. 

Waterproof always means warmer. 
Reality: Warmth depends heavily on moisture management. A waterproof membrane can block external water, but it can also trap perspiration inside the shoe. In cold conditions, managing internal moisture can be just as important as blocking weather from outside of the shoe. In the below freezing conditions, this is paramount. Getting body generated perspiration out of the shoe can be more critical than keeping external moisture from entering. 

The stiffest shoe is the fastest shoe. 
Reality: Stiffness matters when the rider is clipped in and putting power through the pedals. The situation changes when the rider steps off the bike and has to walk, navigate rough ground, or stay comfortable over longer periods. The best shoe creates a stable connection between the foot and pedal without adding pressure, instability, or unnecessary discomfort. Ultimately, performance comes from comfort. Get the right shoe fitted to your feet and it will help your performance. Material choice is only one aspect – albeit an important one.   

The benefits of leather cycling shoes 

Premium leather behaves differently from most synthetic upper materials, and in many ways that’s a real positive. Its natural fiber structure can help buffer temperature change, while also supporting breathability, moisture management, and long-term shaping around the foot. That changing character is part of what makes leather valuable in cycling footwear, and it’s why we still offer it for certain shoe models.  

When it comes to fit, leather forms to your feet, and leather uppers can become more personal over time. It responds to the rider, the ride, to pressure, heat, and critically to the shape of the foot. For riders who struggle with pressure points or who value a shoe that settles in with use, that material behavior matters. Experienced cyclists will have heard of the benefits of a leather saddle over time. Well, our premium leather cycling shoes offer the same longevity and guarantee of comfort. Add to this that different leathers bring different qualities, and you begin to see how this breaks down across our range of cycling shoes.  

For example, Kangaroo leather is known for its soft, supple feel and high tensile strength relative to its weight and thickness, which gives it a long history in performance footwear. It can create a close, form-fitting upper while still allowing natural shaping around the foot. Cow leather, including ECCO full-grain leather, brings its own structure, strength profile, and traditional premium leather character such as breathability and long-term durability when properly maintained. 

Take our CX403 road cycling shoes for instance. We’ve created this using Klite Kangaroo leather alongside Carbitex OmniFlex carbon fiber stabilizer support panels to help keep the foot stabilized, to control stretch and allow for increased power transfer. It’s also lined with Perforated Kangaroo lining leather for great fit and feel. The use of a particular leather in this shoe ensures it is fit for purpose and that it can deliver the ultimate performance for the rider. Yes, there’s lots more to the CX403 – which you can read about in previous blogs.  

Microfiber as a cycling shoe option  

Microfiber follows a different fit philosophy. It is durable, easy to maintain, and predictable from pair to pair. A microfiber upper holds its shape with very little change over time, which makes it useful when the goal is a stable fit feel from the first ride through long-term use. Where leather gradually adapts to the rider, microfiber gives repeatable consistency and supports those riders looking for a shoe that stays close to the way it felt on day one. 

The toughness and light weight offered by microfiber makes it ideal for our MTB and off-road shoe models. Shoes like our MX20G create a new era for adventure cycling, setting the standard with an extremely lightweight, breathable and adjustable upper. We’ve utilized the lightness and durability properties of Clarino microfiber and then paired this alongside a micro mesh paneling and laces, to give riders a race-ready, durable and lightweight classic adventure shoe, with ultimate adjustability. It’s a great example of microfiber and other materials that come together to create the ultimate cycling shoes.   

Comfort is shaped by moisture, friction, and temperature 

Comfort is often described as softness, but inside a cycling shoe, comfort also comes from how effectively the shoe manages the environment around the foot throughout a ride. As the foot heats up, moisture builds. As moisture builds, friction can increase. That’s why hot spots, irritation, and blisters can begin, and it’s also why we do everything to design these issues out of the equation by using a variety of materials. Take that mesh used in the CX201, for instance. Mesh and liner materials play an important role here because they influence airflow, moisture movement, skin contact, and the way the foot feels after the ride has gone past the first few miles. 

Technical material choices  

Outlast is a proactive heat and moisture-regulating material that was originally developed for NASA astronauts. We use this in our cycling shoes as it absorbs, stores, and releases body heat, and can reduce sweating by up to 48%. Its phase-change properties help reduce overheating before excessive perspiration builds, while also helping manage temperature as conditions become colder. That kind of material decision is less about how something feels in the hand and more about how it behaves during real riding.  

Winter shoes make moisture management even more important. Once moisture collects around the foot, insulation has a harder job to do. That is why a winter boot like the MXZ305 is built around a different balance. Water-resistant leather, AirMesh backing, Thinsulate insulation, temperature-regulating Outlast lining, and added interior volume all work together to manage cold-weather riding. These elements support warmth, circulation, and moisture management as a complete system. 

Carbon soles versus nylon and rubber options 

Across our extensive range of cycling shoes, we design footwear for all manner of cycling activities: from leisure and commuting to road racing and off-road adventures. The material choices for the soles of these shoes have to match the purpose and the necessary form and function.   

Carbon 

Carbon soles resist flex under load. Less energy is lost through sole movement, which helps create a more direct connection between the rider and the pedals. Lake’s Custom Fit Carbon, used on our high-end race orientated cycling shoes to increase fit and stability, adds another layer by improving the relationship between the carbon structure and the foot, helping support the rider while maintaining efficient power transfer. 

Nylon  

Nylon gives a different underfoot feel. Depending on the model, it can create a more practical and slightly more forgiving platform while still supporting efficient riding. That can make sense for shoes built around training, commuting, touring, or more frequent off-bike use. It also enables us to offer high performance and foot comfort in high-quality cycling shoes to more riders at the right price point, making the aspirational become attainable.  

Rubber & TPU 

Rubber and TPU also show how outsole materials solve different problems. Rubber is often chosen for grip, traction, and confidence when the rider steps off the bike. It matters for gravel, trail, winter, and commuter shoes because those shoes have to deal with dirt, wet surfaces, rocks, walking, and repeated ground contact. In our more leisure orientated cycling shoes such as the MX201, rubber provides a useful sole platform for the variety of conditions that the rider will experience – on and off the bike. TPU gives designers another tool for adding protection in high-wear areas, improving durability, helping manage weight, and creating shaped tread structure. Rubber and TPU can both appear in outsole construction, but they create different outcomes. The useful question is what the outsole needs to do for the shoe and the rider. That’s always our aim here at Lake, and it’s why we blend so many different materials in pursuit of creating some of the world’s best cycling shoes. 

Focusing materials towards the ultimate fit 

As you can see, premium material can still create the wrong result in the wrong application. A soft leather upper may deliver excellent comfort and shaping in a road shoe, while a hard-use mountain bike shoe needs that abrasion resistance in areas exposed to rocks and trail debris – and that’s where microfiber or reinforced leathers like Helcor can often be the better choice. When it comes to the seasons and weather, a heavily insulated construction may protect well in deep cold, but it can feel too warm and hold too much moisture during higher-output riding. Think about how we’ve put together our MX20G. The question is always whether the material suits the demands of the shoe and the rider using it. Next time you compare two specific Lake cycling shoes that look similar at first, take time to delve deeper and look closer at the material choice. You’ll have a better understanding of why we continue to innovate in pursuit of creating the world’s most comfortable cycling shoes.