Road or Mountian bike shoes

[VeloVT]

I don't know anything about the differences in stiffness between road and mountain shoes, so I won't comment on that. And I've never had numbness/tingling/going to sleep issues, so I can't help there unfortunately (bf has had numbness in both hands and feet, and PT was able to help alot with hands but hardly at all with feet).

However, walking around in road shoes is NOT THAT BAD. I have both road shoes (for road bike) and mtn shoes (for CX/commuter). I can easily walk half a mile in either, walk up and down stairs, on gravel, pavement, etc. (Road cleats can do damage to wood floors though, so you have to be careful about that). my feet don't hurt more after walking around in road cleats, and while running is awkward , I don't find them slippery or difficult either (I have Sidi's with look-style Shimano road cleats). So, while others may disagree, I'd suggest that you don't need to worry about walking all that much.

(Mostly it just looks funny . I forget I'm wearing them until someone comments on how difficult it looks to walk in them. It's no more difficult that walking in, say, cowboy boots, which also make you change your gait -- and either bike shoes or cowboy boots are a good deal more comfortable than any of my pointy-toed stiletto-ey shoes).

Good luck!!! Let us know if you are able to find a solution to your foot issues (bf will be happy to hear about it!).