How do various "wide" shoes compare?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 225
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
How do various "wide" shoes compare?
I have pretty wide feet, at least 115mm, best I can measure. I have an old pair of Sidi "Megawide" 45eu (MTB/spd cleats), which fit good, but are getting really worn. I ordered Lake wide mx176, which are definitely too narrow. Are the new Sidi's as wide as the older ones? I see Shimano has a few models labeled "wide." How do those compare to the others? Any other options for wide feet?
#2
Senior Member
Different Lake shoes have different fit: https://www.lakecycling.com/pages/fit-matrix
MX176 are listed as narrow width shoes...
MX176 are listed as narrow width shoes...
Likes For Oso Polar:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,442
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4414 Post(s)
Liked 4,867 Times
in
3,012 Posts
Fizik now have some very wide fitting shoes. I also have fairly wide feet (112 mm x 281 mm) and I find the Fizik R4 Wide is very generous in my size. The toe-box in particular is huge.
Edit: I see you mentioned Shimano. I previously tried their standard fit shoes and they were way too narrow for me. I didn't try their wide fit, but I read that they are not that much wider.
Edit: I see you mentioned Shimano. I previously tried their standard fit shoes and they were way too narrow for me. I didn't try their wide fit, but I read that they are not that much wider.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,491
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7652 Post(s)
Liked 3,478 Times
in
1,836 Posts
I have had some luck with Lake shoes .... I have duck feet, so nobody really makes wide enough shoes, but some Lake models are okay.
Hard to buy shoes online unless you like returning stuff.
Hard to buy shoes online unless you like returning stuff.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 786
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 338 Post(s)
Liked 408 Times
in
252 Posts
Lake CX301 in size 46 wide is the most ridicilously comfortable, lightweight shoe I've had. The upper is very slipper-like which I find to be very comortable (but it doesn't keep your feet locked up very tight with the single boa dial, so if you're looking for that it's not ideal) It's also permeable to water and wind, so if you have cold feet these are cathegorically not for you outside summertime - I don't have that problem so I wear them all year around, albeit with shoe covers when it's really wet or close to zero.
Love them, myself.
Foot width is, best I can measure (it depends how exactly do you measure it), around 112mm, and the shoe initially felt a slight bit wider than neccessary for me, but I've gotten used to it since.
Love them, myself.
Foot width is, best I can measure (it depends how exactly do you measure it), around 112mm, and the shoe initially felt a slight bit wider than neccessary for me, but I've gotten used to it since.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
Lake has three or four different lasts (foot bed shapes, essentially); some are wider than others and some are available in additional Wide and Extra Wide widths. Check their fitting chart - https://www.lakecycling.com/pages/sizing-chart
As far as shoes on the market in general, most brands don't do an actual Wide shoe - they're primarily High Volume. IOW, the foot bed shape is the same as their regular shoes, but they give you more generous shoe uppers to let your foot "spill over" the sides of the foot bed. Sidi, Shimano, Giro, etc - they're all still doing HV, as of the last time I checked a couple of years ago.
In addition to Lake, Bont does actual wide shoes.
As far as shoes on the market in general, most brands don't do an actual Wide shoe - they're primarily High Volume. IOW, the foot bed shape is the same as their regular shoes, but they give you more generous shoe uppers to let your foot "spill over" the sides of the foot bed. Sidi, Shimano, Giro, etc - they're all still doing HV, as of the last time I checked a couple of years ago.
In addition to Lake, Bont does actual wide shoes.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,570
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 679 Times
in
430 Posts
I've been through all the brands and all the wide shoe options. I ended up with custom and semi-custom Riivos. They are expensive but were well worth the cost.
After that, Lake is really your best bet. You do need to look at how wide each last is. The higher end Lakes are narrower than some of the lower end models - even in the wider widths. Lake also offers wider options than Bont. Lake's customer support is also great at answering questions and helping you determine what size is best for you. For example, some models have heat moldable heels, so if you have narrow heels (like me), you can still get a comfortable fit without heel slip.
As WhyFi noted, several other brands offer "wide" versions. I have not been a fan. They generally have the same width outsole as the regular version, but with more material to allow your foot to "spill over." This was fine for easy riding, but I found that once I really started hammering, my foot moved all over the place because the excess material made things unstable. Also, in several instances, I found that the edge of the outsole caused a pressure spot on my foot that was uncomfortable.
After that, Lake is really your best bet. You do need to look at how wide each last is. The higher end Lakes are narrower than some of the lower end models - even in the wider widths. Lake also offers wider options than Bont. Lake's customer support is also great at answering questions and helping you determine what size is best for you. For example, some models have heat moldable heels, so if you have narrow heels (like me), you can still get a comfortable fit without heel slip.
As WhyFi noted, several other brands offer "wide" versions. I have not been a fan. They generally have the same width outsole as the regular version, but with more material to allow your foot to "spill over." This was fine for easy riding, but I found that once I really started hammering, my foot moved all over the place because the excess material made things unstable. Also, in several instances, I found that the edge of the outsole caused a pressure spot on my foot that was uncomfortable.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,885
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3242 Post(s)
Liked 2,086 Times
in
1,181 Posts
My Lake 303 winter boots in wide are not as wide as my Shimano XC7 mt. bike shoes. Im sticking with Shimano from now on
#9
• —
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,246
Bikes: Shmikes
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10175 Post(s)
Liked 5,871 Times
in
3,160 Posts
I have Lake CX238s and S-Works 7s in wide sizes. They are very different shoes built on different lasts. Both are “good,” but I like the S-Works better. The guy I bought them from couldn’t use them at all and was happy with Bonts. Find a last which fits your foot. Subjective opinions are not going to help you.
#10
Senior Member
#11
Junior Member
SPD cleats in a wide?
I have the same problem.. made more complicated by using SPD cleats. Been using sidi wide but research tells me they use their standard last but just give more material so wide feet can get in...
I occasionally do randonneuring events so can be on the bike 12+ hours for several days. Sometimes 24- 40 hours straight in worse case scenarios.
I've been getting numbness in little toes so figure it's time for an upgrade.. Anyone know of SPD shoes with wide last? I'd prefer something that looks more racey than touristy.. Maybe a cross shoe..? I don't know if it makes s difference but I'll be 70 next month..
ThanksT
I occasionally do randonneuring events so can be on the bike 12+ hours for several days. Sometimes 24- 40 hours straight in worse case scenarios.
I've been getting numbness in little toes so figure it's time for an upgrade.. Anyone know of SPD shoes with wide last? I'd prefer something that looks more racey than touristy.. Maybe a cross shoe..? I don't know if it makes s difference but I'll be 70 next month..
ThanksT
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
I have the same problem.. made more complicated by using SPD cleats. Been using sidi wide but research tells me they use their standard last but just give more material so wide feet can get in...
I occasionally do randonneuring events so can be on the bike 12+ hours for several days. Sometimes 24- 40 hours straight in worse case scenarios.
I've been getting numbness in little toes so figure it's time for an upgrade.. Anyone know of SPD shoes with wide last? I'd prefer something that looks more racey than touristy.. Maybe a cross shoe..? I don't know if it makes s difference but I'll be 70 next month..
ThanksT
I occasionally do randonneuring events so can be on the bike 12+ hours for several days. Sometimes 24- 40 hours straight in worse case scenarios.
I've been getting numbness in little toes so figure it's time for an upgrade.. Anyone know of SPD shoes with wide last? I'd prefer something that looks more racey than touristy.. Maybe a cross shoe..? I don't know if it makes s difference but I'll be 70 next month..
ThanksT
Likes For WhyFi:
#13
Banned
I bought a new pair last month and found that a size 44 would vary in length depending on the model of shoe. Even with Shimano the sizing was not consistent and I ended up buying a size 45. I bought at least 8 pairs of shoes online and then sent back the ones that did not fit. REI made this easy in my case as I could return the shoes to the local store.
In general German lasts tended to be wider and Italian ones narrower than American ones but now with all the shoe production now in China it becomes a trial and error process. You can read shoe review on Amazon and REI and see which shoes people with wide feet found comfortable. You may need to go up one size in length to get the width you need.
In general German lasts tended to be wider and Italian ones narrower than American ones but now with all the shoe production now in China it becomes a trial and error process. You can read shoe review on Amazon and REI and see which shoes people with wide feet found comfortable. You may need to go up one size in length to get the width you need.