[Closed] Spd shoe fit. Again

Even the Lakes ?  I've got 2 pairs of the extra wide fit 238s (1x Road 1x mtb). Especially the road ones are pretty rounded / don't taper much at the ends.   (For comparison I'm in a 44.5 road xc238, 45 mx238, whereas had to go 46 in Specialized shoes and even canal barge 47 in a shimano winter boot to stop getting my toes / ball of my foot crushed)

Crank Brothers might be worth a try, I’ve just got a pair and they’re a nice fit after finding 5:10s and Shimano too narrow. They suggest going half a size up for wide feet.

The only way i've been able to stop heel slip is to ride exclusively in more flexible soled shoes. I can't wear XC shoes at all, my foot comes right out of them if i have to push up a muddy slope.
Instead I've got two pairs of Spesh F20 clips which do the job and have pretty wide toe boxes. I have a pair of Leatt DBX 4.0 that were ok at first, but they are really slow to put on and the fabric is poor quality and doesn't cope with the rain.

Bont make shoes that are not built on a pointy last, they only make XC disco slippers though. They also have a template on their sit which you can trace your foot on, scan it to them and they will reccomend a sixe and fit. I ordered a pair of Vapor Gs from them in double wide fit last year but got the length wrong ( too small) despite ordering a couple of pairs of Vaypors from SigmaSports in the UK first to check the fit.

Bont double wide fitting counts as custom order so I couldn't get a refund.

I have similar shaped feet (Altra running shoes are perfect!) and after a decade plus of trying to find foot-shaped SPD shoes I'm afraid that my eventual solution was to give up and learn to love flat pedals. 🙁

Have a google, you can get heel grippers. I had a set in a pair of snowboard boots.

Also, try Luck shoes if you want custom, they look more at the disco slipper end of the market, but the few people i know who've used them are very pleased, and the shoes are really well put together. and have a decent sole for occasional hike a bike. They have 5 or 6 different "standard" lasts so one should work.

Recon models with 2 BOAs work better for me, I was set on buying single BOA model but after trying both the more expensive one felt much more secure around the heel. Fit is better than my old Terraduros but when walking the Recons are not as stable.

The problem with most wide fit shoes is that my feet are not big. They're just very square with a narrow heel.

24.5cm long
11cm wide

Wide fit are usually too wide at the heel.

Xc disco slippers are what I'm after. Nothing bulky.

Before I return the shoes, are they likely to stretch in width? They're Rekon 3's with the 2 boa dials. Synthetic material. The eu40 is too narrow just walking round the house. 41 is just about wide enough but too long.

The material (whatever synthetic stuff it is) has some give, at least mine have formed better around the foot, after about 100hrs of riding and some substantial walks anyway.

Xc disco slippers are what I’m after. Nothing bulky.

Go custom then. Plenty of options for disco slippers.

Or get some fully heat mouldable ones. Think Bont, Lake and Shimano have them. I'm sure others do as well.

Might cost a bit more, but it's better than being uncomfortable.

Depending where you are it might be worth travelling to see Dave at RXM near Mansfield.

https://rxmcustom.co.uk/

Never heard of heat moulding before so I'll look into that. Anyone tried it?

Would it work on all synthetic materials? Would it work on my Specialized shoes?

If I could make the smaller size a little wider on the outside they would be OK.

I've always found cycling shoes ridiculous and I don't even think my feet are that unusual - they always fit the same size normal shoes.

The narrowness has meant I've had to buy anywhere up to 2 sizes up in cycling shoes. And whilst they work generally, it leaves a lot of room in the toes and they often still feel too narrow.

As a result, I've started buying the wide versions. It limits choice, and it'll probably cost a premium, but you end up with something a bit more normal.

The problem with the wide versions I've tried is they're wide in the wrong places. I have a tailors bunion on both feet but both feet are very short. Most brands associate wide feet with big feet so no good for me.

I second the recommendation for Dave at RXM. He knows his stuff and is very helpful.

Never heard of heat moulding before so I’ll look into that. Anyone tried it?

It's been a thing for about 15 years, used to just be ultra high end shoes, it's not any more.

Would it work on all synthetic materials? Would it work on my Specialized shoes?

No. Heat moulding needs different resins and materials, all you'd end up doing is heat melting or setting on fire. Some are fully heat mouldable (Soles, upper, heel cup etc) others have only uppers, you'd have to dig and check which each model is capable of.

I second the recommendation for Dave at RXM. He knows his stuff and is very helpful.

Just sent him a message. It's a lo g way to travel but I'm happy to make an appointment once I know the prices.

With Lake shoes there's a lot of difference between models/lasts - I'm using their MX238 which fits me spot on (MX Competition last) - but their MX145 boot is way to tight (MX Sport last)

I have wide mid-feet and narrow heels, so I find Shimano work well. The sides of the shoes seem to be flexible enough to accommodate the wide bit and the heels and uppers prevent heel lift. Same for Specialized shoes which are even better (for me).

Lake and shimano are too pointy at the end pushing my big toe inwards.

MJSMKE - it doesn’t sound like you have odd shaped feet, more that they are natural shape and you suffer from the same problem as I do - that shoes are not foot shaped.

I can’t actually wear SPDs (apart from a very old pair of 5Ten Greg Minnaar shoes on too big a size, just!) due to them all being stupid and pointy.

Comes from years of wearing flip flops and being barefoot.

I’ve had to settle for a a set of 5Ten Freeriders half a size up and accepted I’ll never wear clipless shoes on my MTB or road bike. To be fair I’m no slower on flats.

Have you thought about Sidi mega shoes. I don’t have particularly funny shaped feet but I’ve ended up with a toe problem over the years and most shoes aggravate this. I have some sidi mega which are wider but the heel is still ‘ normal ‘ sized. I like them as they don’t feel sloppy and I have plenty of width. Use them with some specialized body geo insoles.

more that they are natural shape

My feet are also naturally shaped to be quite narrow. just because your feet are wide doesn't mean that's how feet are supposed to be. You wouldn't for instance insist that all heads or hands or any other part of a body should confirm to a platonic ideal, would you?

NickC - look at the shape and toe position of a small child or someone who’s never worn shoes and then look at your big toe angle/position. Odds are their toes will be more splayed with the big toe angled out more than yours.

it doesn’t sound like you have odd shaped feet, more that they are natural shape and you suffer from the same problem as I do – that shoes are not foot shaped.

That's pretty much it. Since I was a kid I've always said "I don't have shoe shaped feet. I have foot shaped feet."

look at the shape and toe position of a small child or someone who’s never worn shoes and then look at your big toe angle/position. Odds are their toes will be more splayed with the big toe angled out more than yours.

That also describes my feet. Baby shaped, bit bigger. My big toe sticks out away from my feet. I was bare foot a lot as a kid since shoes didn't fit me.

Have you thought about Sidi mega shoes.

Yes. I often think about how pointy they are and how my feet have no chance of fitting in them. Tried them too. Wide enough in the middle but far too narrow at the end. I'd need to remove my big toe to wear them.

Try boardman shoes, lovely big toe box on the road carbon ones i got. Mtb might be the same last.

A guy I work with has mighty unusual feet.

He gets custom made CLOGS, to fit his feet perfectly.

They're not SPD drilled. But I reckon they could be.

 Odds are their toes will be more splayed with the big toe angled out more than yours.

Which of these shapes of feet would you call normal?

I don't disagree in so much that some shoes shapes can damage feet. that much is obvious, but the whole "barefoot" thing has been hugely bent out of all proportion to sell you shit. (differently shaped shit, to be sure)

None of those images look natural to me. Look at toes; they're all going dead straight forwards, but the metatarsals will be pointing out like like fan. This causes the big toe and little toe to bend inward a in relation to their metatarsal. Fashionable shoes push toes together which is not their natural shape. This is why people get bunions.

This is the shape of my feet. Actually, mine have an extra bump next to the little toe. Like a tailors bunion. So even wider than this picture.

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/468867011187725900/

Now try and fit those in pointy toe shoes. My toes never touch the ends of shoes. When I look at my old shoes and their insoles, there is a huge amount of unused space where my toes simple can't get to.

Altra, please make SPD shoes!

NickC - none of those look that natural. I agree that all feet are different, but there’s no natural toe splaying in any of those examples.

Seriously, look into Boardman shoes.

Just looked at boardman shoes. Too narrow at the toes. Pushes my big toe in way too much.

@mjsmke Lake 238 and 241 are available to order wide, extra wide can be special ordered. They are on the same Last.
There are 3 different lasts in the Lake range tho, so a shoe that you have tried previously may not have been correct for you.
It is possible to estimate which shoe would work best if you can take measurements. Google findyourfit. It's not ideal tho.
Dave at RXM is excellent, he used to be brand manager for Lake in the UK.
However if he is too far away, let me know where you are, I will find someone near you.

Have your arches collapsed?

241's have carbon mouldable heels so they can be fitted to your heel.

238's have a cat tongue material to prevent heel lift.

@thered thanks. I'm in Kent.

Have your arches collapsed?

No. Just wide, but short, square feet. Just like the photo I posted above.

@mjsmke You could try Precise Performance or Bicycle Richmond which are closer to you.

Thanks, I'll have a look.