Best shoes for short, wide feet?

[sarahspins]

Any suggestions? I am hoping to go bike shoe shopping this weekend.. but I have hard to fit feet. I generally wear a 7 1/2 or 7 if I can find shoes wide enough (though I fit a 6.5 wide Rocket Dog perfectly). With some things I wear 8's simply because I'd rather have more room at the toes than feel like my feet are being crushed all over. My Teva Omnium sandals that I wear all the time are 8's and they really aren't too huge... but I couldn't even get my foot into the 7.5 to try, even though the length probably would have been better.

My feet are VERY wide with very high insteps, which is just a bad combo.. I would be doomed with either one of those alone, but together... yeah, it sucks :(

It seems like most bike shoes are made for people with super narrow feet, and that's just not me. So if anyone has specific brand suggestions that have higher insteps and roomier toe boxes I can hopefully aim my search in that direction this weekend. I need them to be SPD compatible.. not too picky between road and mtn, I just want something comfortable to start with :)

I am also not looking to spend a ton, either, which I know doesn't help my cause much... maybe $100-150ish at the most?

[GLC1968]

I also have wide, small feet. I wear a 6.5 if I can get a D or E width (virtually impossible in womens shoes!). Most of the time, I buy 7's or 7.5's. The only difference from you is that I have no arch - flat feet here.

That said, there are a LOT of cycling shoes out there that won't work for me. Luckily, the ones that do work, work well and are affordable! I wear Specialized shoes exclusively. I buy the mens styles for more width. Also lucky for me that they make the mens shoes down to a 36. I wear a 38 so that I have enough room for winter socks, but I can get away with a 37 in the summer. I have had really good luck with buying these shoes directly from the Specialized site. When the previous season shoes go on clearance, they almost always have the tiny mens shoes left in stock! I've never paid more than $89 for cycling shoes and I have two pair of carbon ones! ;)

One other thing I should mention is that Specialized shoes are designed for people who pronate, so if you supinate (due to higher arches? guessing here!), then they might not be the best choice for you. Lastly, buying mens shoes means that while you get more width in the toe box, you also get a wider heal and that doesn't work for a lot of women. I've never had an issue (at least not with cycling shoes) so I can't speak to that...

Good luck!

[sarahspins]

I don't have high arches, just a high instep (very "thick" feet, I guess)... and I do pronate a bit. There is no shortage of specialized dealers around here.. so I suppose that is a good thing :)

[GLC1968]

Ah...yes, that makes sense. I just assumed high instep meant high arches as well. Cool, then Specialized might work well for you, too!

[Hub]

How about trying on men's shoes? they tend to be wider- I wear Pearl Izumi Mtb bike shoes & they're great- (X- alpine I think)
I have big wide feet - prefer a 10/D in womens- which translates to an 8-
8 1/2 in men's shoes-
My PIs are size 43

[roadie gal]

Take a look at the Northwave brand shoes. The pair that I had ran very wide. I put a pair of green Superfeet insoles in them for my high arch and I was good to go.

[sarahspins]

It looks like there's only one Northwave dealer within a reasonable drive, but I'll try them if I can't find something from Specialized :)

[sarahspins]

How about trying on men's shoes?

I'd already considered that :) I know I fit better in men's sneakers if I can't find wide women's sizes, but it's hard to find men's shoes small enough for me.

[Buster]

I have the same problem (I'm a size 6/6.5 but wide). I haven't used them yet, but just bought a pair of Specialized men's shoes (size 37). They were much more comfy for me than the women's shoes of the same size.

[nscrbug]

X2 on the Northwaves!!! I wear the Northwave Velvet SBS, and my feet are very happy. I need a wide toe box due to having a neuroma on my right foot, and the Northwaves fit the bill the perfectly. They are wide enough in the toe, but not too wide in the heel. I also use a Superfeet insert (berry color) in them, but will soon be switching over to a head-moldable one instead because the Superfeet is pretty old and worn out.

[indigoiis]

I have very wide duck feet, in a 9.5. I ended up with a used pair of sidis. While they are on the narrow side, the "good" leather tends to form fit. They are very comfortable for me, and that is really hard for me to find in a shoe.

[bikerHen]

My feet are short and wide with an extra high instep! Shoe shopping is a real chore. :( I have had very good luck with Specialized shoes. They have different types of inserts and wedges you can get that really help refine the fit, adjust the angle and help with overall pedaling style. When I got a second pair of Specialized shoes, I duplicated the set up on my first shoes in the new shoes and had instant comfort. It's worth looking into anyway. bikerHen

[lph]

I have short thick duck feet too :) Shimano shoes seem to fit me ok. Haven't tried that many types.

[Dianyla]

I have very wide (EE or EEEE depending on brand) that are also very high volume due to a high arch and high instep.

For bike shoes, the only ones I've found to work are men's Sidi Mega width. I don't know if they make them small enough for your shoe size, though. :(

[malkin]

I think 40 is the smallest size for Sidi megas; they run small, but probably not that small.

I know some people who love their Specialized shoes.

[sarahkonamojo]

Been there. Still am there.
Sidi's megas could not be found in my size. Shimano and Specialized don't work for me. Wish they did. I have Lake shoes. MTB shoes I bought oversized and are fine. But the shoes are super sloppy. Road bike shoes I bought my real size and they were too narrow. I have become friends with a shoe stretcher. I am now happy with my road shoes. Stretched the heck out of 'em.

Shoe stretcher: Google it. The stretcher I purchased is specifically for wide feet. It is a wooden foot shaped thing with a long screw handle.

Good luck.

[malkin]

When I read it, I thought the shoe stretcher was a person.
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, and the shoe stretcher...

[sarahspins]

Thanks everyone, I took a trip down to the LBS where I bought my bike and they didn't have *any* men's shoes in my size (which is a 38 - they did offer to order some, but said it could take a week or more to get them in) so I ended up with a pair of Specialized Women's Riata MTB shoes.. they are snug (wearing my thickest bike socks), but I really think they are going to be okay (I tried on some Shimano's that were a clear "absolutely not" in terms of fit, as well as 39's, and those were too long). They let me wear them around the shop for a while so I could make up my mind, and since nothing about my feet was screaming at me after that long, I went ahead and bought them.

I got home, put my cleats on them, and was brave enough to attempt a short ride, in the RAIN no less, and they really feel okay. I had trouble clipping back in at one point after stopping at an intersection, but no trouble clipping out, or remembering to.. however that's not exactly a shoe problem, so I think all is well for now :)

I think whenever I am in the market for another pair I may go through the trouble of having the men's size ordered just so I can try it, but I don't think I'll be unhappy with what I have.