Carbon-soled shoes deliver stiffness without weight penalties, but the sole material wears faster than the brass cleats bolted against it. Every engagement cycle grinds metal hardware against carbon fiber, creating grooves around the cleat mounting area. The Shoe Shield from Crank Brothers addresses this by placing a stainless steel barrier between the cleat and sole, taking the abrasion instead of your shoe.

The 0.8mm stainless steel plate installs between your cleat and the shoe sole. Remove the cleats from your shoes, position the shield over the mounting holes, and reinstall the cleats through both the shield and sole. The curved profile matches the contour of most shoe soles, and the material resists corrosion from water, mud, and road salt. At 8 grams for the pair, the shields add minimal weight to your setup.

Beyond sole protection, the shields function as spacers that can improve pedal engagement on shoes with aggressive tread patterns. If your shoe sole's tread interferes with pedal contact, the 0.8mm thickness lifts the cleat away from the sole surface, reducing friction between the tread and pedal body. This spacing can make clipping in smoother and increase the effective float range once engaged.... Read More