Lake cycling shoes

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I ended up pulling the trigger on the men's 40s...at least that will give me a baseline. I can't imagine that I'd have to go more than a half-size different in either direction. Our LBS also has some Fiziks I may try (would have to special order, since I'm such an odd size), but when I tried a pair of last year's model on in women's I found that I needed a men's for width, but the women's still slipped from my heel a bit. Heel slippage isn't a big deal for riding, but since I also do CX with my shoes I need to not be dealing with that too much on run-ups.

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Just an update to this thread...I did order the Women's Lake CX401 in a 42, and without any hesitation I packed them back up and returned them the very same day. Just pulling them out of the box, I could immediately tell that they were way too small and too narrow. Of course I did try them on, which only confirmed my thoughts. My toe was jammed up as far as it could go...absolutely NO wiggle room whatsoever. So back they went in exchange for the Women's 43, which just shipped out today. I'm actually not very optimistic that the 43's will fit much better, but I'll give them a shot. Worst case scenario - I'll send them back, and will try the Men's CX331 in a 42...or just keep wearing my current pair of Lake CX236.

So moral of the story - Don't always believe the sizing guidelines! Because that foot-tracing measurement guide that is on the Lake website, was completely inaccurate in my case.

[OakLeaf]

Do they still make some shoes in men's wide? I was surprised how well they fit me, since men's shoes are often way too wide in the heels even when they're still too narrow in the forefoot. I wound up having the velcro straps at the ankle shortened, but even as they came, I could close them tightly enough to eliminate almost all of the heel slop. I definitely wouldn't be able to pull a foot out.

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Just an update to this thread...I did order the Women's Lake CX401 in a 42, and without any hesitation I packed them back up and returned them the very same day. Just pulling them out of the box, I could immediately tell that they were way too small and too narrow. Of course I did try them on, which only confirmed my thoughts. My toe was jammed up as far as it could go...absolutely NO wiggle room whatsoever. So back they went in exchange for the Women's 43, which just shipped out today. I'm actually not very optimistic that the 43's will fit much better, but I'll give them a shot. Worst case scenario - I'll send them back, and will try the Men's CX331 in a 42...or just keep wearing my current pair of Lake CX236.

So moral of the story - Don't always believe the sizing guidelines! Because that foot-tracing measurement guide that is on the Lake website, was completely inaccurate in my case.

I have to send back my 40s, even though I wear a 40 in pretty much every other athletic/cycling shoe. They are too long. Ordered 39.5, but suspect I should have gone to 39, just as their sizing chart suggested. But I wonder if I'd have to go for a men's wide, then. The 40s weren't really too wide, just too long.

Oak, they do still make men's wides, at least in some models/colors. I run into the roomy heels/tight forefoot issue a LOT, too.

[nuliajuk]

I have a pair of Lakes that I bought about 7 years ago, and I think they're a women's model. They have a narrow fit, but the sole is a bit soft.

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So I exchanged my 40s for 39.5s, but suspected I should try 39s -- which is what Lake's trace-around-the-foot chart recommended. A full size smaller than pretty much EVERY shoe I own. But I was having a heck of a time finding the 39s, so I stuck with the 39.5. But am regretting that. After one wearing they stretched just enough that they felt like clown shoes through the forefoot. Bummer. I finally located 39s on eBay and they're coming from the UK. Guess I'll clean up the too-big shoes and sell them used on eBay with a very clear explanation that they run big. Perhaps that will help someone else out who wants to try them, but not risk spending a fortune to find they don't fit. I normally wear an 8-8.5 in women's shoes and a 5 in men's. The 39.5 Lakes are labeled as a men's US 5.5, which in theory shouldn't fit me at all. The 39s would be labeled a 5, which is truly nuts.

I will say that I like that they stretched a little. I frequently have issues with shoes that are too snug in width once I find the right length (this is including men's mediums, which = women's wides). I don't think that will be an issue with these Lakes. My heels didn't slip either, which is an issue with me in a lot of shoes.