Senathon

When I buy regular shoes online, sometimes the brands are too large or too small. Is that the same with cycling shoes? When I measure my foot(after running for 30 minutes) during the afternoon I am a size 43cm(10.5), but I notice that my shoes are too tight so I go to size 44cm(11).

How do you judge what shoe size to buy? There are not too many places to buy cycling shoes around here to try on.

Rolla

IMO, you just have to buy shoes on either side of your size and return those that don't fit. Some online retailers (like Zappos) allow for free returns.

I've had better luck using "European" sizing than U.S. numbers, but manufacturers all use different shoe lasts, so sizing is imprecise no matter what.

Koyote

Specialized makes excellent shoes, and they offer a 30-day return privilege -- even after they've been used. That's a great way to try them out.

indyfabz

If REI has what you might be looking for, there is one in Christiana. You can exchange if they don't fit.

DaveSSS 

Look for brand that includes a foot length chart. I used Sidi shoes for many years and always bought a 42.5/8.5, but with Fizik shoes my foot length showed a 41, which worked. I bought winter shoes this year and went with a 41.5, which worked. Fizik has a shoe sizing chart that can be downloaded.


https://www.fizik.com/us_en/shop/sho...d-cycling.html

Sidi now has a foot length for each size, too. It will come up at this link, if you select size chart.

https://www.sidi.com/en/road-shoes/1...ro-gore-2.html

soyabean

Crocs offers the same return policy.

Better yet, why not just go with Crocs?

Cheaper. More roomier. Win!

Ogsarg

Shoe fit is about more than measurements. Shoes are made on a last, or mold, that determines the shape of the shoe and there are different lasts for the same size, which is partly why you can wear size x for one shoe and size y for another and why certain brands may fit someone and why I really want to try on multiple shoes before buying them. Unfortunately, with shopping moving more and more online, retailers can't afford to stock much variety anymore so that is getting harder and harder.

rumrunn6

try to read reviews that mention sizing
a little larger is kinda safe cuz you can always add or change a sock
I'm a 12.5 US so I just always get 13s ...
when using Euro sizing, I just go with the closest to 13

Steve B.

I made the mistake of purchasing some Lake winter shows online. My mistake was too little research and discovering that while Lake refers to the 303 boot as "wide" if you look at their fit chart, it's not really and there are other shoes in their lineup that are on wider lasts. My shoes don't fit very well and are not very warm as a result. A waste of near $200. OTOH, I have been using wide Shimano shoes for 20 years and feel comfortable ordering a different model in their wide series, as I have had luck with prior models and find their fit consistent.

indyfabz

And wholly worthless for many applications. Or did you just want an excuse to post that photo?

roadcrankr

Come on, you all, admit it: you try 'em on at the shop, then hop online when you get home.
Seriously, my LBS's charge sometimes double the online price. I'd happily buy from my LBS with only a slight premium.
Shimano shoes fit my feet well, even across their various models. I find a good-lookin 42.5 and buy with confidence.

Senathon

They never had my size when I go there. The closet I seen they got was a size 9 or a size 12 in mens.

rsbob 

One consideration to keep in mind is that feet swell in hot weather, especially after an hour. You may want to go 1/2 or a full size larger so you don’t end up getting ‘hot foot’.

t2p

not always - but often a 44 will be size 10 ... 44.5 will be 10.5 ... etc

different manufacturers sizes can vary of course

TiHabanero

I have been fitting cycling shoes, ski boots, and running shoes for customers for several decades (close to 40 years!) and without a question, assuming you are serious about a well fitted cycling shoe, go to a reputable Specialized dealer and get the shoes from them.

Why do I put the spotlight on Specialized? First, I gotta let you know I am not at all a Specialized fan, although the shop I worked in has been selling them since 1990. I don't like the leaders of the company and the only item I had with the "red S" on it was a pair of S-Works road shoes. In my opinion, Specialized dealers that receive training from the company on fitting bikes, also know how to fit Specialized cycling shoes. I learned more about proper shoe fit and some of the mechanics of the foot from SBC than any other source. For a noob or average rider with limited experience, going to the red S dealer and getting the shoes from them is a no brainer.

urbanknight

The only time I buy online is if I have already owned (and liked) a pair of that exact brand before. Even that's not a guarantee, but it's fairly reliable. It's not just about length, either. Width, toe box, heel, and even how it fits across the top.

Except when nobody buys them, they will eventually stop carrying them in stock because space costs money, then you won't have anywhere to try them on.
I guess you could try asking them if they will come closer to a competitor's price. One of my LBS's price matches... apparently even Amazon! Haven't tried it yet though, since they're prices are usually within pennies of anything I can find.

indyfabz

You can order on line for free delivery to the store and order a different size if they don’t fit.

Camilo

That's what I did last time I bought shoes online. i went one further: I bought two sizes of two different shoes and picked the one that fit best, and returned the other three. At the time I used Performance Bike (the old one) and IIRC, they took back the three extraneous pair no questions asked. If Zappos carries what you're looking for, they (last time I used them) pay shipping both ways for returns. I can try on several different makes/models of MTB shoes locally, but very few options for road shoes, and the prices are high, so therefore the mail order strategy worked well.

More recently, I was fortunate that I was able to try on shoes when I bought my new MTB shoes, but probably could have bought online because they're the same make (Sidi) and size as my road shoes.

I would never try on shoes in a shop and then buy the same ones online if they're cheaper. This is the epitome of asshattery and worth of scorn. If you don't want to buy in the shop because of price, you'll just have to play the game we've desctibed.

Fredo76

The 3 pair of cycling shoes I've gotten online when I ordered my usual European size (46) all fit as expected.

jgwilliams

Likewise. After finding that Shimano size 43 wide fit me well, I've ordered other Shimano shoes online without difficulty. I'm not sure I'd feel confident about buying other makes online in the same way. Although I do a lot of online shopping, I've rarely buy clothes this way and I've only ever bought shoes from a manufacturer I'm familiar with. I should add, though, that I have quite non-standard shaped feet and used to have huge difficulties getting shoes to fit me at all when I was young, so your experience may differ.

PeteHski

Yep, it's much the same. If you do a bit of research on the various cycle shoe brands/models and their fit then you can make an educated guess when buying online. It's worked out okay for me. Actually the one pair I bought in a shop a few years back turned out to be a pretty bad fit. They felt good when trying on briefly in the shop, but turned out to be too narrow when cycling in the heat. I did a lot more research before buying an alternative pair online and ended up with a great fit in the end.

pdlamb

Something about the "buy extras and return what doesn't fit" rubs me wrong. But I did it, and found what size Sidi fits me, so I've worn out and re-ordered a couple pairs in that size.

Now if I could just figure out who carries sizes larger than 48...

Steve B.

I've used 3 different Shimano shoes, 2 as SPD, one a road shoe. all in the length I need for light socks and as wides. All were constantly a good fit, Thus I feel confident ordering a Shimano shoe online as their fit seems to be consistent over time.

PoorInRichfield

I highly recommend https://bikeshoes.com/ for buying shoes online... free shipping, free returns, a lot of top brands, and excellent customer service. I have no affiliation with BikeShoes.com other than I'm a happy customer based off of a recent purchase of several Lake shoes from them.

If you have narrow feet and like your toes squished, nearly any cycling brand will do. However, if you have wide feet, start with Lake shoes. Lake's sizing chart is a bit confusing, hence I ordered several pairs and sent back the ones that didn't fit.

indyfabz

+1. I had a pair of Shimano MTB shoes (SPD) for touring and commuting. They eventually wore out after years of heavy use. Ordered a new pair from somewhere on line. Ordered the same size and they fit just like the worn out pair.