Road cycling shoes are designed with a focus on being ultralight, aerodynamic, and well ventilated. They offer the stiffest soles on the market, achieving the maximum power transfer possible between rider and the pedals. Any rider looking for the highest performance advantage in road cycling would want to start shopping for a road cycling shoe and clipless pedal setup.
The biggest drawback to road cycling shoes is that most are not designed for walking due to their smooth, hard plastic sole as well as the protruding cleats. In addition the stiff sole does not allow the shoes to flex, and can be uncomfortable when walking.
Road cycling shoes are designed to work with clipless pedals, the type where you clip into the pedal for a solid contact between the shoe and pedal. The name is confusing as clipless pedals are the kind you actually clip into, but the origin of the name goes back to the toe clip days. Clipless was meant to distinguish these new type of pedals from the old standard toe clips with straps. When clipped into the pedals the rider gets increase power input due to the power being transferred not only on the down stroke, but also the upstroke of the pedaling motion.
When shopping for road cycling shoes keep in mind you want to base your final purchase decision on the type of riding style that best suits your goals. For instance, if you're a road racer and want to give yourself every competitive advantage you'll want to browse carbon fiber road shoes offering the lightest weight and stiffest soles on the market. If your road riding has you hoping on and off the bike frequently, or even going inside establishments on your route, you'll want to browse the 2-Bolt cycling shoes to allow you to walk around easily yet still improve the power transfer while riding.