Both SHIMANO and LOOK are successfully able to create a high image for themselves in the cycling items market.
when it comes to a one-of-a-kind cycling experience, you need to have the perfect tools for it, and we will be putting the shoes and pedals cleats in the spotlight in this article, more specifically with SHIMANO and Look.
And see if you can use SHIMANO shoes with LOOK pedals.
So, let’s get right into it,
We all can not deny that the secret to an amazing ride is the perfect bike with suitable pedals and shoe cleats, and each brand has its designs when it comes to those items, based on their layouts and the shape they want to promote for themselves.
The same thing applies to SHIMANO and LOOK numerous cycling products.
In this article, We will be offering you a clear idea about each of SHIMANO’s and LOOK’s items.
CAN YOU USE SHIMANO SHOES WITH LOOK PEDALS? | Simple ways to find out:
It is essential to know that each cycling bike brand has different systems for their items, but they all reply to the same customer’s needs.
for example:
Shimano brand has unique and special cycling shoes with a more curved leather layout and doesn’t come with cleats except for cleat nuts in some designs. for more information, you can check out our post “ DO SHIMANO SHOES COME WITH CLEATS ? ”
So, that will make it difficult or almost impossible to fit any pedal cleats.
On the other hand, the LOOK brand is also having a different pedal system, that comes distinctly from SHIMANO’s.
– KEO CLIPLESS PEDAL for LOOK
– and SPD-SL for SHIMANO
With that being said, you cannot use SHIMANO shoes with LOOK pedals.
Now that we realized that Shimano shoes can not be used in LOOK’s pedals, can their cleats be the opposite of the scenario?
DO SHIMANO CLEATS WORK WITH LOOK PEDALS?
With SHIMANO and LOOK, they both use a specific type either in their cleats or pedals.
so, it is so important to be able to compare all their different kinds from each other.
We will be starting with SHIMANO for an example:
FOR SHIMANO:
In Shimano’s cleats, they have been using the SPD-SL cleats for a very long time because of their high and long-lasting performance.
According to Shimano website This type comes in different colors, and every color refers to the float degrees.
As you can see in this chart:
| Cleats color | Float degree |
| Red | 6° degrees |
| Blue | 2° degrees |
| Yellow | 0° degrees |
FOR LOOK:
Look’s pedals’ system is also diverse from each other, and we are only talking about their unique KEO system, which consists of 60mm wide composite bodies, Chromoly spinners, and stainless-steel bearings.
The Look’s KEO system comes in 3 major cleats types:
– LOOK KEO CLASSIC
– LOOK KEO 2
– LOOK DELTA
So now, we know that each brand has a specific manufacturer and different layouts
Therefore, Shimano cleats do not work with Look pedals.
But now, let us transform the scenario, and see if the Look cleats are fitting to Shimano’s shoes.
SO, CAN I USE LOOK CLEATS WITH SHIMANO PEDALS?
We do understand that you cannot always be able to purchase all of your cycling items from the same brand, and more often, you are curious about the other brand.
but you keep having questions about if they’re going to fit or feel the same.
That’s why we will be answering you about the SHIMANO and LOOK brands, as long as they are the best cycling items there.
Many bikers are wondering if they can use LOOK cleats with SHIMANO’s pedals.
The answer is very simple :
SHIMANO’s pedals consist of the SPD-SL system, which can work well in any KEO cleat.
And for both, LOOK cleats and SHIMANO pedals are a 3 Bolt pattern, which is a notional circle determined by the center position of studs.
so that makes the cleats and pedals very compatible and can work together.
and there you have it, you can use LOOK cleats with SHIMANO pedals.
Let’s now see if LOOK cleats are compatible with SHIMANO shoes.
ARE LOOK CLEATS COMPATIBLE WITH SHIMANO SHOES? Let’s figure that out:
The SHIMANO company made sure to have its layouts and designs, whether it’s for pedals or shoes, their cleats are different and don’t suit most of the other brands’ cleats.
and for LOOK, they are using the KEO cleats that are different from SHIMANO’s SPD-SL pedals.
So, LOOK cleats are not compatible with SHIMANO shoes. Because of their unlike cleats systems.
But, are all LOOK’s cleats incompatible with SHIMANO shoes?
SO, CAN YOU PUT LOOK DELTA CLEATS ON SHIMANO SHOES?
As we have mentioned before, LOOK has 3 different cleats types: KEO CLASSIC, KEO 2, and DELTA.
We want to know if the DELTA type is compatible with SHIMANO shoes.
The LOOK’s DELTA cleats are intended to improve cycling’s safety by their rotational function over the foot, and it’s known for their wider space in the contacting zone.
And for the Shimano shoes, they are using a different system than KEO’s one.
So it is preferable to not try to put LOOK DELTA cleats on SHIMANO shoes.
Let’s see now another LOOK cleats system, that is KEO.
HOW ABOUT LOOKING AT KEO PEDALS? IS IT COMPATIBLE WITH SHIMANO?
ARE LOOK KEO PEDALS COMPATIBLE WITH SHIMANO? A clear way to that:
The Shimano system consists of SPD-SL, which uses 3 bolt cleats for tremendous power, and also LOOK KEO is having the same bolts, the one disparity is that the cleats and pedals are much larger.
So, you can connect your LOOK KEO pedals with SHIMANO, it’s just that it won’t give you that same great performance if you got the proper fit cleats.
Let’s once again, change the scenario, and see if SHIMANO cleats can go well with KEO pedals.
CAN YOU USE SHIMANO CLEATS ON KEO PEDALS? One only answer to that:
As we saw in the second paragraph, SHIMANO has a different float degree when it comes to its cleats, which work only with their specific SHIMANO items. Unlike LOOK which also has a large cleats system that is unique from SHIMANO.
Therefore, the SHIMANO cleats won’t look or feel suitable on KEO pedals.
Now that we see that it’s not always easy to find matching cleats for the pedals of any brand, we are still curious and hopeful to find the proper cleats for certain pedals.
For that matter, we will see if there are some suitable cleats for LOOK pedals.
SO, WHAT CLEATS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH LOOK PEDALS?
So far, we know by heart that LOOK pedals only have 3 cleats: KEO CLASSIC, KEO 2, and DELTA.
And it’s clear now that they don’t go well with the SHIMANO ones.
The LOOK pedals use the 3 cleats type we mentioned above, you can just search for some brands that use the same cleats, and you will be good to go.
There you have it:
It is not always easy to find your perfect shoes, cleats, and pedals, but with a small effort in searching, you will be able to get the answer you’re looking for.
For us, we have decided to talk about LOOK and SHIMANO as they’re the most outstanding cycling brands out there, and we hope we helped you to have clarity about LOOK and SHIMANO cleats.
