I purchased my new shoes yesterday. I tried on several at the LBS, who had a wide variety of styles and brands. I did not pay attention to the brand because I did not want it to be a determining factor, I just wanted the shoe that felt best on my foot; which requires a wide toe box and narrow heel. My LBS guy would just take them out of the box and hand them to me, then check fit. I ended up with a pair of lightweight Specialized that feel wonderful. I found out that I had passed on a pair of Sidis because of the toe box room.
Pam
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." ~~ Moliere