Do you buy your cycling shoes bigger?

[itself]

As our feet swell when riding especially in the heat, do any of you buy your cycling shoes a bit larger?

[indysteel]

Yes. I originally bought SIDIs that were more or less in my usual size (I say more or less because they use European sizing). I found them to be a little tight come summer, so I bought another pair in a size bigger. I like the bigger size for winter use, too, because I can wear a slightly thicker wool sock without losing circulation.

Regardless of size, however, the shoe has to otherwise fit me in the heel. SIDIs are the only road shoe I've found that are tight enough in the heel so as not to slip on my foot. I also run a stiffer insole (SOLE is my insole of choice) in them than the standard-issue SIDI insole. It takes a wee bit of extra room.

[pll]

My Sidis are 41 and I normally use 39 in European sizing. Make sure that the area where the cleats attach is "centered" under the ball of your foot.

[Crankin]

36 in street shoes.
37 in cycling shoes.
38 in Sidi cycling shoes (which I can no longer wear, because, despite the narrower heel, I needed a wider toe box).

[zoom-zoom]

38 in Sidi cycling shoes (which I can no longer wear, because, despite the narrower heel, I needed a wider toe box).

I never found Sidis to be all that narrow in the heel, so I'm not sure how they garnered that reputation. And they were so friggin' tight that I started having nerve issues in my right, larger foot.

Now I'm in men's LGs in the same size (40 for both road and mtn--was also a 40 for Sidi, but probably would have done better in a 40.5, though they still would have been too narrow)...world of difference. And the heels on those actually are snug. My heels still slipped in women's Sidis.

My regular shoes tend to be tagged with anywhere from 38.5-39.5 inside, depending upon brand or model.

[ilima]

As our feet swell when riding especially in the heat, do any of you buy your cycling shoes a bit larger?

I need a new pair of road shoes and I am struggling with what size to get. I wear an 8.5 in street shoes, 9 in running shoes, and generally a 39 in Euro shoes. I have on occasion bought my running shoes in a wide size to allow for swelling of my feet, especially during long runs. Years ago, my first pair of Sidis were ordered in a size 39 and they were ridiculously tight. I thought they were supposed to feel that way, but I now realize they were just way too small.

My sister, whose feet are maybe a 1/4 size smaller than mine, has a pair of Sidi Genius, women's size 41. This morning I've been wearing her shoes to try and decide if I should go up to a 41.5. I can kinda feel the end of the shoe; well, it's more like the top or side of the shoe. Regardless of whether I get a 41 or 41.5, I am going to try the men's Narrow fit. I have narrow feet but high arches. A so-called high-volume foot.

So Sidi women's shoes generally have felt a bit too tight. The problem with regular men's sizes is the heel is too big. I found some information on the Sidi USA website that the Sidi men's narrow uses the same heel cup as the women's fit but has more volume than the women's.

Women’s SIDIs have a more tapered shape and lower volume than standard- or narrow-width SIDIs. Women’s and Narrow SIDIs use the same heelcup, and women who don’t fit Women’s SIDIs perfectly may often experience better fit in Narrow-width SIDIs.

Sounds perfect, so we'll see. I'm hoping I have a Goldilocks moment.