Sidi T-5 Air Women Tri shoe

At first glance, triathlon shoes may not seem much different than standard cycling shoes, but when you've spent your fair share of time struggling through transitions and stuffing bike-blistered feet into running shoes, you know how important a tri-specific cycling shoe is. Sidi's T5 Air shoes are among the best of the bunch, with a fit that's tailored for female triathletes, a construction intended to mix the best of power and comfort, and features that are made to make transitions and on-the-go adjustments as quick and easy as possible.

Taking a closer at the fit, the T5's last is designed with a woman's foot in mind, with a reduced volume, more room in the forefoot, and less in the heel. A molded heel cup locks your heel in position for slip-free upstrokes, and the upper has an opening that extends nearly the whole length of the shoes and overlaps your foot for supreme comfort. Sidi also dumped its traditional ratchet system and ergo buckles in favor of two hook-and-loop straps, the top of which opens away from the drivetrain for easy on-the-fly adjustment. The bottom strap is generally left in place for easy transitions, once you've dialed in the perfect fit, and there's a pull tab at the heel to help you speed through T1 and T2.

Fit alone won't get you to the finish line successfully, as a good tri shoe will have a stiff sole that helps you transfer as much power to the pedals as possible. To achieve plenty of stiffness, Sidi employed its Carbon Composite 20 sole, which combines a carbon fiber weave and a carbon-infused nylon matrix. This varies the stiffness of the sole in key areas, which improves flex and comfort without sacrificing power, and keeps your feet fresh for easy running when you're done with the bike leg. The sole accommodates classic three-hole cleats and allows for easy adjustments. Topping the T5 off is its vented Politex upper—a durable and breathable synthetic material that won't cause blisters or make you sweat, even when the weather's warm. Politex offers strong resistance to ripping, laceration, stretching, and color fading, and is constructed using an eco-friendly manufacturing process.