Cycling shoes for wider feet

[Offthegrid]

Been thinking about this for a while, and I gotta get new shoes. I just didn't want to admit it. My feet fall asleep on rides so painfully that it's making me stop before I'm ready. Pain was so bad I let out a little yelp when I took off my shoes after my last ride.

Any gals here with wider feet? What road cycling shoes do you use? I wear normal width in running shoes (size equivalent of a 42), but I think my cycling shoes are a 43 and they're so cramped in the toes. I don't even think you can *find* women-specific cycling shoes larger than a 43 (although if they were wider than the ones I have now, they might fit).

[pyxichick]

I have wide feet, too :)

I bought Specialized shoes, after trying on multiple pairs of way more expensive brands, I figured I'd go with what felt comfortable. I'm not sure of the model, but mine have a sort of mesh upper, so I think that helps it expand out to fit my width.

But my feet fall asleep, too, so maybe the problem isn't with the width, but something else?

Anyway, good luck finding a perfect fit!

Kate

[KnottedYet]

I wear men's Specialized Taho mtb shoes, with metatarsal pads glued to my "Superfeet" style insoles to keep the pressure off the nerves in the front of my feet. Looooove my shoes! I have narrow heels and need a wide toebox.

[Geonz]

I don't have cycling shoes but for all my athletic shoes I just go

MENS MENS MENS

I'm a perfect size 8 ... in men's shoes. (Or a 41 or 42, I forget.) (My poor brothers don't have a wider gender to go to... so it's hunting around for those EEE widths...) I'm very glad my feet aren't a little smaller, 'cause a lot of shoes don't come in smaller than 8's. I think "women's specific" in shoes prob'ly means... narrower.

When I got running shoes I was told about which brands of women's shoes would run wider - and maybe some of the same companies also make bike shoes, too. (I don't remember what they were 'cause I figured I'd do what I knew worked.)

Gonna go hit LandsEnd for shoes that *aren't* mesh - it's wintertime, after all!

[bike4ever]

Pearl Izumi's shoes have a wider/fuller toe box with a narrow heal. Try the Vagabond Road.

Real wide feet go with Sidi Mega Wide!!! I have a pair of the Dominators in a size 40 (the smallest Mega wide size they make). The road version is the Genius.

[Crankin]

Sidis DO come in Mega sizes less than 40 because I have 38s in a Mega. Maybe this has changed since I bought my shoes 3 years ago, but usually i wear 36 or 37s. The Sidi mountain shoes I originally had were causing my feet to swell and go numb, so I bought the Road version of the Dominators in a 38 mega when i got new pedals. They are perfect and I can wear Woolie Bully socks with them with no problems.

[bike4ever]

Robyn Maislin - I purchased mine last year and the 40 was the smallest size. In the 2007 catalog there are no sizes available in the mega wides below 40. I guess they did change their size offerings after you were able to get your shoes. Bummer for folks smaller than 40.

[Bad JuJu]

I have wide-ish feet--meaning that in some brands/styles I need wide sizes and in some I don't. My cycling shoes are Diadora, which seem to have fallen out of popularity lately, but they fit me and feel great, so I'm sticking with them.

[RoadRaven]

I like this thread...

New Zealanders typically have wide feet... but I need to go check what my shoes actually are - they are both second-hand.

A couple of sons have wide feet, so this is a great "research thread" for me.

:D

[hellosunshine]

Northwave,fantastic!im A 41 So I Get Mens,the Best:)

[sarahkonamojo]

My foot is a women's D. Most shoes are a B width. In general women's shoes aren't narrower than men's overall, but actually narrower at the heel only. The narrow heel works for me, but I need a wider toe box.

I have had Specialized and Shimano. My shimanos are too narrow and too long. Might go back to Specialized and buy a larger size. There are also custom shoes:
http://www.rocket7.com/
http://www.d2customfootwear.com/bike.html
And whoa Lake has some they call custom.
These are all $500 shoes.

You'd think for half the price you could get a cycling shoe in a d width. Sheesh.

If you find another solution, the magic shoe, let us clompers know!

sarah

[Geonz]

Do you think? That's odd because where women's shoes don't fit me is acrosss the toes, not the heels. It's that front part that's been wonderfully wider in men's shoes for me, thank heavens :-)

[Mimosa]

Same wide feet here, normally I have 41 - 42 so I needed a 43 shoe which leaves limited women's models. Ultimately I bought a Nike Hautacam (http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/clothing/shoes/Nike/PRD_320071_2512crx.aspx) an older highend (mens) model which was on sale at a local LBS. It was sold in half sizes which (I believe) means a width size, anyway they fitted like a glove.

[sarahkonamojo]

Okay maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but with boots, hiking boots, the women's shoe last has a narrower heel. I have been told that male feet are square in footprint and women's feet are more triangular in footprint. The narrow part being the heel.
But anatomical shape doesn't have much to do with the shoes we buy!

Podiatrists claim that almost all women wear shoes that are too small for them, both in width and length. I have definitely fallen into that trap and suffered for it. And am still looking for fat toe box shoes with a narrow heel.

sarah

[bike4ever]

sarahkonamojo - Have you tried the Pearl Izumi shoes? The heel is narrower with the toe box being boxy. Both of the Vagabond models (road & mountain) are fairly affordable - under $80. Just a suggestion.

[Offthegrid]

Well ... I went to LBS and all the shoes (Adidas, Specialized and Nike) felt too narrow except the Sidi. They had a mega 42. They also had a regular 43. The 43 was far too big. The LBS guy swears the 42 have enough room and the 42.5 would probably be too big (didn't have that size in stock). I hope he's right because they were $$$$$ -- more than I've ever spent on a pair of shoes in my life.

But they are like swimming compared with my last shoes, which were actually a 42.

[bike4ever]

Offthegrid - Did the LBS measure your feet correctly with a Brannock device - foot measuring tool?

[Offthegrid]

Offthegrid - Did the LBS measure your feet correctly with a Brannock device - foot measuring tool?

Nope. Wish I knew about that or I would have demanded it. But I do think these new shoes are a good size. Guess I'll find out when I ride tomorrow.

[Offthegrid]

I love these shoes! They are perfect -- I wouldn't want them any bigger. I *finally* broke the 30-mile barrier with them, too. :D :D :D

Still had a bit of numbness in the feet, but 90% less than the old shoes and there wasn't the intense, burning horrible pain like in my old shoes either.

[bike4ever]

Susie - I am so glad you are happy with your new shoes. If you continue to have issues with numbness, I'd suggest you do a dealer search for "Superfeet" There seem to be some dealers near you in Allentown. Superfeet can assist in holding your foot in neutral so you don't jam your toes in the end of your shoes. I use them quite successfully in my daily and cycling shoes. Two of my boys are also using them for different purposes in their shoes.

Keep us informed. Enjoy riding.