What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £85 (~$113) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £72 (~$96) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £55 (~$74) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £38 (~$51) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £21 (~$28) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Sizing again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether cycling shoes is worth what is being asked:
- Failed BOA dials and broken ratchets
- Worn cleats needing replacement
- Delaminated soles
- Very narrow or unusual fittings
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Stiff carbon or composite soles
- Recognised cycling brands
- Working ratchets, dials and straps
- Cleats included and unworn
Common faults and fakes
Fakes usually show in the stitching regularity, the finish on the branded hardware, and a box label whose style code does not match the shoe inside.
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about cycling shoes, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Photograph the sole plate and say two-bolt or three-bolt. A buyer with the wrong pedals cannot use them at all, so this is the whole compatibility question.
Say so and describe their wear. Cleats are consumables and a worn set is not much use, but a fresh set is a real saving.
Say which. Carbon soles are stiffer and worth considerably more, and serious cyclists filter on it.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- State the cleat system: three-bolt, two-bolt or flat
- Test every dial, ratchet and strap
- Photograph the sole and any cleats
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The pair side on, standing
- Both soles, showing the bolt pattern clearly
- The closure system close up
- The size marking and any crack, scuff or worn cleat
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size in EU, with UK equivalent, and insole length
- Cleat pattern — two-bolt or three-bolt — and the system name if known
- Whether cleats are included and their condition
- Sole material, closure type and any crack or wear
Live cycling shoes listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse shoes & footwear for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Lifts from March to August with the cycling season. Quality road shoes sell within a fortnight in season and slowly in winter.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have cycling shoes sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell cycling shoes for what to photograph and how to price, or what cycling shoes are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used cycling shoes?
Around £13 to £55 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check cycling shoes before buying?
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
Is buying cycling shoes second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Sizing again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
See also: all buying guides · cycling shoes value guide · selling cycling shoes · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.