It's better when it's dirty
I do like to wear mtb shoes with at least a bit of toe protection and a grippy sole.
I recommend you check reviews to see the fit and grip of different models and keep an eye out for offers. You can get a decent pair of mtb shoes for 50-60€ here when they are in offer.
You don't need specialised anything to be able to mountainbike, but I do think the added protection and grip are very nice!
Get some FiveTen Freeriders if you get any mtb shoes. They're about $80.
The main advantage to having mtb specific shoes is they grip the pedals better. You don't want your foot to slide off the pedal when you go over a bump. If you can't get mtb shoes then try to find a pair of shoes that has a flat but rubbery sole.
Personally I've found that even between mtb shoe brands the rubber matters and FiveTen has the best that I've tried.
Thank you for the input. I checked REI and the cheapest one of that brand is $110. I'll keep looking around or wait for a sale. That's a bit pricey for for me right now.
Probably be on sale during amazons upcoming thing. I prefer the freerider pro over the base version, it's lighter and stiffer.
Two main reasons for bike shoes - better grip, and a hard toebox. If you mountain bike, very very worth it.
Thanks for the input!
Specialized 2FO are very similar to Freerider Pros but last longer and cost less.
Skate and running shoes are fine but mountain bike shoes may be cheaper in the long run as they will likely last much longer.
When I last bought Freerider Pros directly from Adidas in October 2023, they had a list price of $88 but were on sale for $62. Now Adidas is asking $160 for them, which sounds like a combination of inflation and tariffs. They’re great shoes, but not $160 great, and I don’t expect you’ll find a good enough sale any time soon. I think you’d get more bang for your buck by ensuring you have great pedals with great pins. My favorite is the Stamp 1 Gen 2 by Crankbrothers. I love them whether I’m wearing FiveTens or hiking boots, because of the really meaty pins and large platform.
Ya everything is ridiculously expensive right now. I do need better pedals so I think I'll get those first.
I rode some singletrack today in an old pair of Vans. I often wear running shoes. You don't need dedicated mtb shoes.
However, if you can justify the cost of dedicated footwear, then I'll echo the other comments: look at FiveTen for use on flat pedals or Sidi for use on clipless pedals. They have been solid choices for years.
If you are only just starting out I really don't feel like it is a necessary purchase personally. I've ridden for over 30 years and have always been fine with skate shoes. Your feet will get bounced off the pedals when you are going through massively rocky or rooty sections but that will be the case with specialised shoes as well. The only way you can actually stop this is by riding clipless instead, that I can definitely recommend as worth spending the money on.
As the other commenter said you want something with a fairly flat sole and squishy rubber the teeth can grip onto and most skate shoes fit into this category just fine anyway.
More recently I have been riding in some trail running shoes which have big knobbles on the bottom which seem like a bad idea. You can't get you feet to lock onto the pins in any position due to those knobs but once you get the pins in the right place on the shoe the pedals hold me well.
Personally I would spend my money elsewhere if you already have shoes the pins will grab on to just fine, I'm not trying to argue specialised shoes won't be better (although I've never tried them personally to know how different they are) I just think if you are gonna go that route clipless are going to be much better cause they literally hold your feet.
Thanks for the input, I will keep shoes on my list but will wait until I feel like I need them. Right now I an doing fine with my hiking shoes. Thanks!