Help!....making sense of shoe sizing, gulp

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Shoe sizing IS tricky! I wear a 7.5-8 wide and had a pair of size 40 women's Sidis that were simply WAY too narrow (and maybe even a hair short). I now have a pair of 40 men's LGs that fit really well...perhaps a half-size long, but they don't come in half-sizes at the small end of the spectrum.

[molliewog]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the replies. This is helping me see some of the relation in sizing. I may venture out to some of the LBS in my area. No mega stores like Performance, but perhaps I can track down a place with some shoe inventory.

Any other feedback is appreciated!

ETA....
Oooooh, Kirsten I'm about the same size as you. My feet are not super wide, but are on the wider side. I may have to keep mens shoes in mind.

[zoom-zoom]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the replies. This is helping me see some of the relation in sizing. I may venture out to some of the LBS in my area. No mega stores like Performance, but perhaps I can track down a place with some shoe inventory.

Any other feedback is appreciated!

ETA....
Oooooh, Kirsten I'm about the same size as you. My feet are not super wide, but are on the wider side. I may have to keep mens shoes in mind.

I have the same problem you do...so few stores to actually try shoes at. Women's shoes are all B-width and too narrow...men's shoes (standard men's D-width is the same as a women's wide) often don't come small enough or brick-and-mortar retailers simply don't stock the smaller sizes. I ordered online and got pretty lucky with the LGs. I read reviews to find something that might work with narrow heels and wide forefoot--and got really lucky. I first ordered 39s and they were too small, but I could tell that the shoe would otherwise work well and it has. If I ever decide to switch to dedicated road shoes I would simply buy the road version of my shoe, I like it that much.

[Velocivixen]

I normally wear a size 8 Medium in everyday shoes. I believe, for me, this translates into Euro size 39. However sports shoes, at least running shoes, require different sizes. I wear a size 9 or 9 1/2 in various running shoes. I'm not sure if this "rule" is true for cycling shoes too. My Specialized "Tahoe" shoes are 41's! It will depend on what socks you are wearing also. Feet tend to be bigger at the end of the day vs morning due to swelling, so they say to try on shoes later in the day, otherwise ones that feel alright in the morning might feel tight by evening.

Good luck and let us know what you find out.

[DarcyInOregon]

For cycling shoe makers who make shoes in Euro sizes, I found that the Euro size between the mens and womens shoes is pretty much the same. For example, I can buy a pair of Specialized shoes in Euro size 41 in either a mens or womens and the shoes fit the same.

It is easy to buy the specific shoe you want. You have to try a shoe on by that manufacturer to determine the size, as the manufacturers don't have universal or consistent sizing within their industry. Merely find a LBS that sells that maker of shoe. Try any shoe on by that maker to determine the size. Then order the shoe you want through the LBS. The LBS will have a catalog of everything produced by that specific shoe maker.

Finally, does it really matter what the shoe looks like? I mean who is going to see it except for other cyclists, and other cyclists don't care. What is important is that the shoe fits, and for a road shoe it has a stiff sole, the shoe takes the type of cleat to fit the pedals, and the buckling mechanism is easy for a person to use. One female cyclist I knew still had flat pedals on her road bike, was thinking about getting clipless pedals, didn't know which kind because she hadn't done the research, yet spent hours of her life going around to different bike shops trying on bike shoes and not liking them because of the color, etc. I didn't get it. Choose the pedals, then choose the shoes, make sure the shoes have all of the requirements, but what they look like should be of the least importance.

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Men's 43.5 are too wide in the heals.

This was a concern for me buying men's shoes, but the heels on my Louis Garneau shoe are actually narrower than the heels on my Women's Sidis. There was no way I was even going to try Men's Sidis, even though they make such a nice shoe. The heel thing was a deal breaker. I can walk around in my LGs and not have my heels slip--which is important, as I will be doing cyclocross in those shoes and actually having to dismount and do a bit of running.

[Crankin]

Well, at first I bought the Euro equivalent of my US size... 36 Sidis. Ouch. It was OK for spin. I used those on my first road bike and then switched to Speedplay pedals, so I got road shoes. I had to go up to a 38 and at that time they had the Megas (wide) in woman's shoes. Even though I wear a medium width in street shoes, I need the room. I bought a new pair of mtb Sidis for my hybrid in 37s eventually.
Then, I coveted a pair of the red Sidi Dominator road shoes and went they went on sale I grabbed them. But, they don't have the megas any more. So, I bought the 38's but after 30 miles, my feet are burning.
I have super narrow heels and a small-ish bunion on my left foot. My left foot is also almost a half a size bigger than my right. I wear a size 6 in sandals and casual shoes, but a 5.5 in dress shoes with a closed back and a heel. I am open to trying a new brand now, but don't know if I can find something that fits because a few years ago someone from TE (Surly Girl?) gave me a pair of Specialized mtb shoes in a 37 and they were HUGE on me. I sold them to someone else here on TE. Not many companies make size 36; I can deal with having the plain black shoes if need be, but I do love my red shoes that match my bike.