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Current shoes are Specialized MTB comp which have 3 velcro straps but the top strap keeps coming lose. Bought some new ones but they have much less padding than their old ones so not as comfortable and too lose on the ankle. Can't go smaller as my feet are too wide.
Shimano wide and Sidi mega and wide in the wring place so still much too narrow.
My feet are like ducks feet so the widest part is the tips of my toes, but also have an odd bump, like a 6th toe at the base of my little toes, and oversized big toes. Basically lengths is size 6 but width is size 8. Very odd but makes finding shoes a tough task.
Does anyone know if any other brands make shoes the same shape as Specialized? They're the only ones that are almost wide enough for my oversized, sticking out toes. The straight edge on the inside is the most important part as my big toe sticks out towards the other foot. I'd like some shoes with a ratchet fastener but only at the tip. The rest needs to be as lose as possible to make them fit otherwise I get pain on the side of my feet.
ahhhh the wide foot issue .... I ended up in Lakes - Pure toe bliss now.
Are they just wide at the toe or wide all over? My ankle is narrow so need that part to do up tight.
Have you tried Shimano? I have similar problems and they work for me.
I currently have AM9.
Have you tried Shimano?
Specialized shoes are very different shapes to Shimano ones, in my experience.
Have you had a look at Bont Asian Fit. Wider fit around the toes.
Shimano are far too narrow at the end. Far far too narrow.
If Crocks made SPD shoes they would be perfect. Proper feet shape.
I find that Specialized shoes fit me better than most, that said i also find Northwave very comfy so perhaps try some of those.
I have a similar problem exacerbated by working from home more for the past few years.
It sounds more like your little toe has been crunched inwards over the years. I have similar.
I've been wearing some Vivobarefoot, lems and altra shoes and I now find the taper in regular shoes on the big toe and little toe to tight.
I tried ordering some lake enduro 168 direct. While they came quickly the disaster that is Brexit delayed the return. They were a bit too small but had no larger sizes. I still found the forefoot too tight and not foot shaped like the Vivo et-al.
I've always got on well with spesh in the past and they have changed the shape so my old disco slippers and defrosters are now too tight, but my newer road shoes are better. I just need to try out their flats when I can.
It sounds more like your little toe has been crunched inwards over the years.
No, there's a large bump just before my little toe, like a 6th toe. So imagine your feet but with a 6th toe making them wider but no longer. If I draw round my foot on a piece of paper, it looks like a very very wide foot with a missing little toe. That, plus my big toe sticks out a long way. Both feet are the same.
I have five tens for flat pedals which are just about wide enough, if I get them a size too long, though they are the old style. New ones are too narrow.
Northwave very comfy so perhaps try some of those.
Northwave were way too narrow at the toes. Narrower than shimano. I tried some years ago but unless they're a good couple of cm wider now, I'd still have no chance of getting in them.
Similar problem here. Nothing from regular manufacturers fits particularly well. Northwave are wider than Shimano but like you say, in the wrong place. The toe box s that stupid pointy shape that most Italian cycle shoes have. I have Italian friends, none of them have pointy elf feet so no idea why Italian cycling shoes use such a bizarre last shape.
I recently tried on a pair of Shimano AM702s because their website said that the AM series use a 2E wide last. They were just as narrow as their standard shoes and in my opinion, poorly made.
Bont / Lake are mentioned here many times but they only seem to do XC race style shoes. I'm after a nice pair of XC / Trail crossovers.
Probably the comfiest shoes I've ever owned were a pair of Specialized Tahoes back in 2013. I did have to go up to a size 45 though so the cleat position wasn't ideal, hence selling them eventually.
Probably the comfiest shoes I’ve ever owned were a pair of Specialized Tahoes back in 2013.
I tried some Tahoes back in about 2014. They were very comfy, like sketchers the mesh uppers stretched around the bumps on my feet. The issue with the Tahoes were the flexible soles. Fine for flat pedals but useless for SPDs. XC style is fine so I'll have a look for a place to try some Bontrager or Lakes.
After spending 2 days solid in my Ion flats, I’d say try their spds. First time I’ve not had a sore little toe from riding. Bliss.
Only other shoes I have nearly as comfortable are Specialized 2FOs, but even they aren’t as nice as the Ions.
Has anyone tried the Specialized 2Fo DH Clip or roost clip? I remember the 2fo lace was wider than standard specialized last, but the 2fo cliplite was disappointingly a narrower last.
It is described as a relaxed fit and the pictures from above make it look a wider blunter last but hard to really gauge from a picture.
My first thought was Bont.
These the ones? https://www.ion-products.com/bike/men/footwear/shoe-rascal-select-boa/
That forefoot / toe box shape looks properly spacious. Will have to track a pair down to try on. Pricey though.
Sounds like op has feet like mine. I’m currently using Spec Recons, shoes before that are Giro Terraduros and some Bontragers which fit reasonably well but not great.
I bought some discounted Bonts from CRC for the road bike but their fit chart measures fit from the second toe so they are at least one size too small. They are wide enough for me and I might consider their SPD models and perhaps glue some extra rubber bumpers to save toes on trail use.
I found older specialized fit well, they've got narrower over the last decade on the performance shoes (the trail/enduro/leisure ones are still wide like trainers).
I've got some Shimano wide road shoes, they're baggy all over wide rather than just wide where they needed to be though. Comfortably but not perfect.
I've just bought some decathlon XC shoes though. They fit perfectly width/length wise. But I had to put some firmer higher arch insoles in, and then cut out the big toe area to add some volume. Now they're nigh on perfect. I'm tempted to try the planet-X road shoes with the same trick if they're ever in a really good sale again.
they’re baggy all over wide rather than just wide where they needed to be though. Comfortably but not perfect.
That's what my new Specialized shoes are like. I need to put a thinker insole in them so they do up tight enough at the ankle.
Same with lots here - earlier specialised shoes were a really good fit, but not really getting on with the newer ones.
Not sure if this would be any use - but it's been broadly in line with what I've found recently when trying on different manufacturers.
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/stories/shoe-comparison-guide
Anyone know much about Giro shape and sizing? They look similar to old Specialized and there's a pair on ebay I could try but don't want to waste money if they come up narrow/pointy at the end.
Found Giro a bit narrow, but they do a wide version (if you can find them).
Giro is narrow and pointy, the wide also have a wide heelcup and are still pointy.
These the ones?> https://www.ion-products.com/bike/men/footwear/shoe-rascal-select-boa/
Sorry been away. That's the brand yeah, but mine are the Raid flats - what I'd do in your situation, is order a couple of pairs from someone who takes Paypal eg. Tredz. Pay by Paypal, then you can claim the postage back on the ones you need to return. Alternatively, a site that does free returns, eg [url= https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/brands/ion/outdoor-shoes/ ]alpinetrek.[/url]
(both do ION, btw).
Just to answer my own question higher up.
I ordered a pair of 2Fo DH Clip to try them out, unfortunately they are the same last as the recons, and due to the materials and padding that makes them a tighter fit, so they are going back. Bit of a cheek by spesh to market them as a relaxed fit, when they are tighter than their equivalent xc shoes.
Thats frustrating, I was going to order some Recons. Ideally I need some spd crocs.
The recons are wider than the 2fo, they are the best I have tried recently.
I just wish some/any cycling shoe manufacturer would adopt the foot shaped shoe philosophy such as altra or vivo barefoot etc Since I started wearing "foot shaped" shoes a few years ago no cycling shoes feel right anymore.
My first thought was if the Velcro has worn out then source some new properly strong Velcro and get a shoe repairer to fix them. We have the excellent Sherwood Cobbler in Nottingham who has repaired ski boots for me in the past, so cycling shoes would be no problem. I imagine most cities would have someone similar.