Rectangle Toes, shoe brand help please...

[Miranda]

This whole foot issue, shoe search of mine is really starting to bum me out...

The short of my question is...
What brands of cycle shoes (road & mtb) can you suggest that are made for squared off toe shapes, versus pointy toes?

When I have been professionally measured at shoe stores before, they consistently get a medium width. I think then where my trouble comes in is how quick the shoe cuts in towards the end.

Sidis for example are much more pointed toes than say a Shimano. PI didn't fit me right in the ankle area unfortunately (known for bigger toe box). I have a low volume foot I've been told. So, it's not really needing a lot of material. The ball of the foot bed area needs to be squared.

After a month of waiting I finally saw the podiatrist today. 30yr practice guy. He's the one that noted my square shape.

Plus, I do indeed have a Morton's neuroma in rightie. And need support for my very high arches. BUT... while the doc was experienced, he just didn't really seem to connect with what I was telling him about cycling shoes and clipless pedals.

That makes me worry maybe I don't have the right doc. He said something could be made to fit in my cycle shoes (like arch supports). But first, I needed to find shoes that went with my shape. He has some picks for street shoes. But really of no help for cycling. I'm so bummed on that one. So, I seek my wise TE GFs out.

Here's a pic of what I mean about my feet. Sorry, gross pedicure. That's a nail crack injury from mtb, and no dark polish to cover the damage as I went natural for the doc appointment. OK, the Sidis are 41s...



1) white ladies Genius 5.5 (pretty pointy toes)
2) black Genius 5 mens mega width (less pointy)
3) me standing on insole of 41 mens mega (see the square toe hang off, but plenty of length left)
4) brown size 8 ladies street shoe (with a more square toe box area, but still squishes, btw)

I'm getting really depressed... help me, purty please.

EDIT: I did read on TE about Rocket7s. Which for $1K & up they make Rx cycle shoes... my alum road bike was about that much $ *sigh*.

[wolfak]

Specialized Taho's are kind of nice for toe room. Give them a shot. They are lace-up.

[singletrackmind]

I have no idea how you'd categorize these old feet, that's the insole from the new balance, but they wear:
New Balance tennies size 9 1/2, a tiny bit squished on the right
Asolo hiking boots (my favorite fit, nice tall toebox) size 9
Sidi mountain bike shoes size 42, my old Shimano shoes fit better but these are much much more sturdy.

The Sidis are a little narrow but don't really bother me when I'm on the bike. Now that they have wides I'll try those on when it comes time for new. I just hope the heel is the same as their regular ones.

Guess I'll just hop on your question wagon and see what the girl wonders have to say...

[wackyjacky1]

You guys have feet like my best friend's. I always tell her she shoulda been a swimmer, having built-in flippers and all...

*ducking the ill-fitting shoes being thrown my way*

[OakLeaf]

I forget where you are. Here in Ohio, there are two people in my club who ride YEAR ROUND in bike sandals (don't know what brand). They just wear wool socks when it's colder and don't go super fast on the descents.

Personally I think they're insane, as my toes go numb with toe covers on when it's below 60F, but just wanted to throw that option out there.

[Eden]

I have an older pair of Shimano touring style shoes. They have a very wide toe box compared to most other shoes.

[dex]

I have a similarly "squared off" foot shape, though a fairly high instep to go along with it. I've had pretty good luck with the shoes from Specialized. I have the Riata (a mountain shoe), and I recently tried on a Specialized road shoe that seemed to fit pretty well (the Torch, I think).

[Miranda]

Guess I'll just hop on your question wagon and see what the girl wonders have to say...

Hop away... I love a good party. Let's have a help the feet party. I'm game.

OK, to ME, the thingy sticking out on the foot near the big toe bone on the inside of the arch side is a "bunion" maybe? I have that too. It seems like early stages. Some pics I googled of BAD bunions that were getting operated on reaaally stuck out. The big toe was crossed over icky. Those folks needed surg big time. I don't do impactive exercise anymore per docs orders. But I also had years of not great support doing high impact aerobics. Years of wearing very pointy high heeled shoes at work. Big "no no" for the best foot health. Hind sight 20/20.

It has taken me a while to finally realize I should seek help from the pod doc as I have hx of neurological disease. I have peripheral neuropathy in my extremites (including my feet). Diabetics get this too. It makes it hard to sort out where your sensations of discomfort are coming from. Nerve damage, or lack of footwear support... your bike pedals, etc. I now know it a combo for me.

The unsupported arch causes plantar fashiitis (sp?). For my arch and that, the doc did suggest New Balance as one of his brands for street wear. He said he likes them cuz them come in widths A to EE.

For me, he said to look for NB running shoe 858, walking 926 843. To also get professionally measured again at a certain store. Other brands he liked were: Birkenstock, Mephisto for sandles... Boots (hikers): Asolo, Merrell, Wolverine, Redwing, Hi-Tec, Dunham (shoes & boots). He said those are pretty sturdy stuff for support.

I have one pair of New Balance. They probably fit the best of any of my non-cycle stuff (pre-doc appt.).

I aksed my lbs about shoes today too. They didn't have these to see, but Bontragers new shoe is suppose to be pretty supportive. The lbs owner said he tried them on at a show. They fit ok. But he couldn't give an honest op on how they really performed for the long haul outside. They "look" less pointy than Sidis in a pic. But hard to tell without wearing it.

I tried some Specialized foot beds. Green +++ high arches. Didn't touch mine. The BG shoes I have now are for sure too small over all (mens and womens). I need to re-order. I think I will get a wide mens sent for kicks.

I also tried Superfeet insoles in yellow (cycling). My foot layed the same as in the Sidis pic. Fair arch support, but didn't touch it all (tried two diff sizes). I also tried green Superfeet (high arches). Not high enough for me.

All of those, I spill over on the squareness...

Last... Northwaves (?) was a brand one TE memeber suggested to me as being wider. Haven't ordered yet. Wish I would stick my foot through my pc to try them on through cyberspace (our lbs has really notta).

[Miranda]

POST #4 through #7 gals, thx


Appreciate those brand suggestions. No shoe throwing... hmm, my gym does have a pool to use the Dolphin flippers.

Ya know... this last spring I bought the Keen communter sandles here from TE. My Keens do not crunch my toes somehow. Soft squishy foot bed. No socks (yeah!). The toes just wiggle their way happy through the straps. Not so stiff though. For a short ride, ok. That's how I have used them. So, I'm with you on the distance use. But, I do sorta know what these other folks feel about sandles.

[Miranda]

Here's what those Keens look like on my feet. The bump thing has a place to edge out. I think with the Sidis, there is a slight upward curve on the footbed there. It matches the contor of the bottom of the shoe. Take out the blue liner insole and feel it with your hand. That hard curve up spot hurts my bump. I have a whole blab about socks hurting me on TE. NOW I know it was not so much the sock brands. It was more than likely my neuroma pain. If the bump keeps hurting with better shoes, the pod doc said he will xray it next. He said it flexes good though.

[singletrackmind]

Hop away... I love a good party. Let's have a help the feet party. I'm game.

OK, to ME, the thingy sticking out on the foot near the big toe bone on the inside of the arch side is a "bunion" maybe?

I had to look up bunion to see what one was. I don't know, it's been that way as long as I can remember....at least 25 years...and is not painful. I don't wear heels. I thought my feet were just made that way. Oh well, now I'll know to keep an eye on it, in case it decides to get all unruly and stuff.

My New Balance is the 858 though I don't run. I walk. A lot. They're comfortable though two of my middle toes on the right get kinda fresh with each other.
When I need support, like a hiking trail or carrying my 60+ pound kid and pack, it's the Asolos. Nothing else I've tried fits like they do. I'm actually trying to find a local retailer for the backpacking boot now as the one I've been getting them from has stopped carrying them. This will be my 3rd pair.



Flippers? Hee hee, now why is it I can't swim???

[Tokie]

Have you tried men's cycling shoes? My husband has flippers too, and his Specialized shoes are the best fit he has found. I think the toe box on the specialized "torch" women's shoe is pretty generous too. Tokie

[teigyr]

I have Specialized road shoes. I believe they are the Torch and they are actually womens shoes The womens always have (imho) better colors.

For run shoes, I had been in mens 2EE but have some womens Brooks that fit me ok.

OH how I know the glory of nail polish and pedicures. This last time out, I wondered why the polish didn't grow out on one nail. Turns out the color (which was this blue with this pink pearl overtone on it) was the same color as the nail

The shoe thing, at least for me, required a lot of experimenting. I read up on who had wider sizes and then looked for those brands. The Specialized had mine for ridiculously cheap on their website. They're wearing out and they're not "forever" cycling shoes but for what I paid, I'm getting at least several years out of them.

[lph]

You guys have feet like my best friend's. I always tell her she shoulda been a swimmer, having built-in flippers and all...

Following this thread with interest: I have square feet too and how I wish that would translate to good swimming! My son has inherited my square high-volume feet, and in addition has 2 webbed toes on each foot. I tell my dh I didn't kiss a frog to find him, I kissed a duck

[singletrackmind]

Have you tried men's cycling shoes? My husband has flippers too, and his Specialized shoes are the best fit he has found. I think the toe box on the specialized "torch" women's shoe is pretty generous too. Tokie

The problem I've personally had with men's shoes is the heel. I have a narrow set, they usually do not.

Flippers....most of my family have finger toes so I'm not sweatin' the flippers....