For over three decades, Northwave cycling shoes have been built around Italian shoemaking craft, X-Dial closure technology, and Michelin sole expertise. Find your perfect fit at BIKE24.
Read more
From the mountain slopes of Veneto to the World Cup: with its move into cycling in 1993, Northwave became one of the most-worn shoe specialists in the international peloton. The brand's strength lies in its consistent fusion of northern Italian shoemaking craft and technological precision – from carbon sole construction built for maximum power transfer to X-Dial closure technology with micrometric fine-tuning.
At BIKE24, you'll find Northwave road shoes including the Extreme Pro 3 and Veloce Extreme, MTB shoes for XC, trail, and enduro like the Rebel 3 and Spider Plus 3, plus clothing for road and off-road. Discover the right Northwave cycling shoes for your discipline.
In 1971, Gianni Piva founded his company, Calzaturificio Piva, in Montebelluna – the epicenter of northern Italy's shoemaking tradition – starting out with ski boot liners and snowshoes. He made the leap into cycling in 1993 under the Northwave name with the Bi-Color Integral, an MTB shoe whose two-tone design shook up a cycling market that had, until then, been fairly monochrome. That the brand competed at the top level from day one was proven in 1996, when Paola Pezzo won Olympic gold in cross-country MTB in Atlanta – wearing Northwave shoes. To this day, partnerships with elite athletes remain the brand's central development tool. Filippo Ganna, world hour-record holder and Olympic champion, helped bring the Veloce Extreme to production readiness with hundreds of hours of testing. The company motto sums it up: however good a product is, it can always be better.
Three qualities that have made Northwave one of the most-worn shoe specialists in international cycling for more than 30 years:
At BIKE24, Northwave bike shoes every major cycling discipline – from carbon road shoes to winter models with a Gore-Tex membrane. The focus sits on cycling shoes for road, MTB, and gravel, rounded out by clothing, overshoes, gloves, and socks. Every category is linked directly below, so you land straight on the right model for your setup.
Find the right Northwave category:
Northwave develops its core technologies at its own technical research center near Montebelluna, right next to Veneto's globally recognized shoemaking region. The result is system-level engineering that doesn't just improve individual parts – it treats sole, closure, upper, and footbed as one connected system. Northwave works with industry partners as equals on this: Michelin for sole rubber compounds, Gore-Tex for weatherproof membranes, Vibram for trail soles. Every technology has to prove itself in the field, with athletes like Filippo Ganna testing on track and road.
The SLW3 is Northwave's in-house design under the X-Dial name, and it's the core of most models. The system closes with micrometric precision across two independent zones – instep and toe area adjust separately. The key feature is stepped release at the push of a button: you can readjust the fit mid-ride without opening the shoe. The mechanism works with winter gloves, too.
The PowerShape Carbon 15 sole, built from 100% unidirectional carbon fiber, reaches a stiffness index of 15.0 – the highest in the Northwave lineup. The PowerShape system in the arch area transfers pedaling force to the pedals without loss, while the PU ARS exoskeleton wraps the foot evenly and prevents pressure points. Compatible with Speedplay/Wahoo adapters for a minimal stack height.
Northwave developed the Veloce Extreme together with Filippo Ganna for track and road. The PowerShape HT sole, built from 100% unidirectional carbon with a stiffness index of 15, combines the proven PowerShape system with a high-tail structure – the raised outer heel cup stabilizes the heel under full load. The ARS 2.0 system wraps the foot for optimal pedaling position, while the upper's underlap construction closes snugly and without pressure points. Compatible with Speedplay/Wahoo adapters.
Northwave has worked with Michelin on MTB sole compounds since 2015. The GeckoCompound rubber (Tribe 2) and the X-Crossbow Michelin sole (Spider Plus 3) combine tire-manufacturing know-how with shoe ergonomics: an aggressive lug pattern for traction on any surface, self-cleaning knobs, and a dual-layer X-Crossbow construction that cushions impact at the heel.
Northwave's winter shoes rely on proven partnerships. The collaboration with Gore-Tex goes back more than 15 years – the Flagship GTX and Extreme R GTX integrate the waterproof membrane alongside Northwave's Duratherm Kelvin lining for heat insulation. Vibram soles show up on the Overland Plus and Crossland Plus: the wide, grippy tread holds up when you're pushing or walking on loose ground.
The dial clicks into its last notch, the shoe fits like a glove, and you know – before you even clip in – that everything's dialed in today. We stock Northwave in full for exactly these moments: road shoes with carbon soles rooted in Veneto's shoemaking tradition, MTB models with Michelin and Vibram grip, winter shoes with a Gore-Tex membrane, and the clothing to match. You get the entire Northwave range here, with fast shipping, free returns, and advice straight from enthusiasts who ride themselves. Shop Northwave cycling shoes at BIKE24 now.
Northwave road bicycle shoes are compatible with 3-hole systems (Look, Shimano SPD-SL). For Speedplay/Wahoo pedals, Northwave offers its own adapter. MTB models use the 2-hole system. Check the exact compatibility in the relevant product description.
Northwave covers both disciplines through clearly separated product lines: the Extreme and Veloce lines for road and triathlon, and the Rebel, Spider, Hammer, and Overland lines for MTB, from XC to enduro. Gravel and winter models round out the range. You'll find a model built for every discipline.
