Tri specific cycling shoes

I like my tri-specific shoe as it offers more ventilation than my regular cycling shoes (nice for the wet feet). Also if you plan on doing the flying mount, it makes it easier as tri shoes are designed to stay "open" better so you can slide your feet right in, then you just pull the velcro strap down.

I have Specialized's Trivora/Trivent shoe (mine's the female version). I've heard a few guys mention they like the men's version of the shoe .

I think that one of the main differences between road cycling shoes and tri shoes is in the ease of putting on and taking off the tri shoes. They typically only have one large velcro strap, maybe 2. Road shoes can sometimes have 3 straps, buckles, etc. Tri shoes also normally have a loop attached to the back of the heel to help you pull the shoe on in a hurry in T1.

Performance-wise, I don't think there is much to be gained moving from a road-shoe to a tri shoe of equivalent quality.

It depends on several factors.  Tri-specific shoes are "generally" designed to be worn barefoot for quick drying of the feet.  Do you ride barefoot?  They also have the velcro tabs that open away from the cranks, for faster and safer ingress/egress while already on the bike.  Do you get on/dismount the bike with the shoes attached?  They have some points of contact that supposedly change power transfer for more aggressive riding, but I am not gifted/experienced enough to offer an opinion on that.  They will oftentimes have a loop at the heel for pulling on to get into the shoe while riding. 
I didn't have any complaints about my regular cycling shoes, but I upgraded and couldn't be happier about it.  I use the Pearl Izumi Tri-Fly shoes.  They don't have a tongue insert, so it is basically a sole, a toe, and 2 straps across the top of the foot. I only use the big strap; the one closest to my toe never gets touched.
Significantly better?  Only you can be the judge of that based on your racing style.  These are just some of the points I can list based on my experience with going from road to tri-specific shoes. 

Chris 

Good points!  I currenty ride with socks and put on my shoes in T1. I would like to progress past both of these. It sounds like tri shoes would help with both of these and in turn would improve my times.

I currently race in Shimano TR-50's and i love them. I paid roughly $250

As said earlier, 1 big fat velcro strap across the shoe and thats it.

One thing i might say about them is they are super stiff. Absolutley no flex through the sole what so ever. 

I know specialised have a shoe with Boa technology, which is a lacing system where you simply twist a knob and it tightens....not a bad system if you can part with $450 odd dollars 

Shimano TR-30's are a hard plastic soled shoes with 1 big strap as well and have a little bit of flex. I think they are about $130

Yeah, $450 is a more than I would like to spend on shoes. The Shimano you referenced look nice, I am going to go by LBS and see if they have some for me to try on.

do u think one strap is not tight /secure enough for powerful pulling ?

Sidi or Shimano is better ? 

I went them...they are pretty and they happen to match my bike... But they are $164 and I need to buy some furniture...

I race in them without socks, so I train in them without socks.  They are ventilated to help dry your feet after a swim...annnnd the residual effect is they should be stench free even after long hours of training, as it were.

*If you are a member of the Yellow Shoe Brigade (Yanti's club), you might consider washing them regularly.

Chris