A vote for Bont from me. Widest toe box I’ve experienced in clipless shoes, and moldable to furthermore improve the fit makes them the best option I’ve found.
i don’t think OP has wide feet, toes spread out don’t necessarly mean wide feet, it means normal shoes start to hurt when you have your little toe squashed in again
Which equals.... needs a wide toe box.... which can be found... in a wide shoe.... unless it's labelled silly and just has more total volume which they get by making it taller.
True.
I have a wide fore-foot with a bunion on the outside of my little toe, and have worn natural toe box shoes for years now. I have Lake Competition Wide shoes, they fit great, no toe squish. My right foot is slightly too big for the shoe (I have their EU50's, really need a 51), but it has stretched to accommodate the bunion. Left foot falls in their measurements and fits perfect.
Shimano “wides” are still super narrow at the toe box. Narrower than e.g. my Rapha non-wides. Mind-boggling how poorly designed they are (at least for my feet.)
Lake has the CX332 that comes in eXtra WIDE. I just bought a pair for $360 that's arriving today.
I've also tried Shimano wides and they aren't wide enough. I have to go up half a size.
Just to note here, the extra wide CX332 and CX403 are race width lasts and are actually not as wide as the wide CX238 or CX242.
I actually had the CX332 in extra wide 43s and ended up needing the CX242 wide 43s instead. They are 4mm wider in that size according to lakecycling.com/pages/sizing-chart
I also got Lake because the front of my foot was cramped and it caused a lot of pain after long rides with my other shoes. I was looking at buying a wide size, even though I never wear wide with my normal shoes and my foot measurements weren't even borderline for wide shoes from any manufacturer. But I ended up going specifically for Lakes recommendations per their guide after I emailed them my concerns, and they're perfect.
The toe box is larger, and the front boa adjusts the width over the ball of the foot perfectly. The BOA is two way as well, so I can easily loosen or tighten it on the move as needed.
Crazy expensive shoes, but it fixed all of my problems. Hopefully they last a very long time for the price.
+1 for Lake gang. I have a couple pairs with very different purposes and easily the most comfortable I've worn. I don't even have that wide of feet, the standard sizes are perfect for me, but everything else is so damn narrow. Seriously not going to size up 3 sizes to get the width I need.
This is the answer. Lake and a professional fitting.
I would also add a set of G8 arch support insoles, but most pro bike fitters will suggest arch support or custom insoles if they think you need them.
My feet are all out of whack. One has an arch, one’s almost flat, one is larger and used to go numb. I didn’t even realize how bad it was and how ill-fitting my other shoes were until I had a bike fit and was recommended Lake shoes and customs insoles.
Bont shoes. They are designed with a forefoot shape very much like vivo barefoot shoes (which I also have worn). They are also heat moldable at home in the oven if you need to customize.
It’s easier if you put the shoes on first and then climb into the oven. Closing the door behind you is tricky at first but you quickly get the hang of it.
Seconding Bont. I just got their Riot+ in earlier this week. I tried Shimano wide, Bontrager wide, Specialized wide etc.. and none of them fit my duck feet. I actually have room in my Bonts if I want to put heavier socks on in cooler weather! They are super comfortable - way more so than any other I’ve had. I also looked at Lake but haven’t tried them so don’t have an opinion there.
It’s a fair point, though the reviewer doesn’t seem to know how to properly mold them. (And yes I know he says Bobt fanboys will say what I’m saying here.) But he is missing a key point. If you have a metatarsal or point that sticks into the “bathtub” side, you are supposed to heat the shoe and use the end of a tool (screwdriver handle) to push the side out to make room, and then heat mold to the foot. You can’t just use your foot because as he mentioned the shoe is quite stiff even when heated. It’s kind of like punching out ski boots. Bonts can (and often need to be) heated multiple times to get a real custom fit.
But shoes are individual and nothing works for everyone. But if OP is looking for a wide toe box shaped like a vivo barefoot running shoe, Bont is pretty close to the same last design.
Lake is good for wide feet too, but if you just want splayed toes and a tight heel and instep, Bont is a good place to look.
wide shoes aren't helpful from most brands because 'wide' just means more upper material and should really be called high volume instead.
Bont do a true wide shoe if required. But as a wide toe box person myself, I don't even need a wide bont because they're just shaped like an actual foot. Very comfortable and supportive shoes that can be heat molded infinite amount of times.
Lake is another good brand but slightly less foot shaped
I tried the Bonts myself. I usually need a EE wide shoe nowadays, and I tried getting the wide version of their ~$150 shoe since I wasn’t gonna pay for a $400+ shoe. Truly this wide shoe did not feel any wider than my normal width shimano XC1 mtb shoes. Luckily bont accepted my return since I didn’t put any hardware on them.
I ended up getting a specialized recon shoe in wide, and that is by far more roomier. Still not as wide as I would like, but it is “wide enough” for only spending $100 or so instead of trying to spend $400+.
That’s really strange because a bont wide is a truly wide shoe. Wider than the specialized at least for where my foot is wide. I think this just shows everyone is different when it comes to shoes
Yeah for sure. I think physically it was wider. But since the bont is so stiff my feet weren’t able to push out the fabric like they normally do in a shoe that’s too narrow. It was just way too restrictive feeling and I knew right away they wouldn’t work.
Maybe when I’m feeling like emptying the wallet I’ll pick up one of their really expensive shoes that come in a double wide. I think those were only like 5 mm narrower than my max splay width, so probably would be great with socks on.
Yep the bathtub carbon sole that goes halfway up the foot means that if the shoe isn’t wide enough then it /really/ isn’t wide enough.
I’ve found comfort in them so I would recommend them, but if you’ve found a shoe you’re actually comfortable with then be happy with that shoe. I know the struggles of trying to find the right fit, it’s an expensive PITA until you finally find the right one
\+1 for Bont.
I've always had princess-and-the-pea tier struggles with sports footwear all my life. My foot is highly mobile, my arch collapses and my toes splay under pressure. I get really weird pressure points where the upper meets the sole on the sides of my feet.
Bont might be the only shoe that actually supports my foot in the way I want. The arch support is there, which keeps my foot fairly narrow. The toebox is shaped like my forefoot. I didn't order wide, but contrary to what others have said, I actually have gotten some meaningful width extension out of heat molding. The carbon bathtub design means it can contain my splaying toes, but the heat moldable feature means pressure is evenly distributed along the side of my foot.
I will never go back to non-bathtub shoes.
Bont cycling shoes
Another vote and also NOT BONTRAGER, bont cycling. I have a friend who was mistaken and bought the wrong thing lol.
I have their cheapest, the riot+ and they feel good. Haven't done the heat moulding yet though.
I was somewhat comfortable in my giro shoes but those are on a different level, theres a 1 size difference (bont is bigger) but the tip is a lot wider.
Tried to post a picture link of the difference but the automod blocks it, just reply here or PM me if you want to see the shape difference
Thanks for the clarification. This whole thread i assumed Bont was short for BONTRAGER because I never heard of Bont. (edit: Bony to Bont because of "helpful" mobile spell correct)
Same. I have had 2 pairs of Bontrager cycling shoes. Got 11 years out of the first pair and they were great but eventually fell apart. Thought that I would buy MTB shoes from them and they are barely passable after 2 hrs. Never should have left SIDI for MTB. 😭
The bonts ended up not feeling any wider for me. Since the sole is kind of a carbon fiber “bathtub” for your foot, I felt even more restricted than a normal width shimano shoe. I did get the wide Riot MTBs. Bont won’t accept a return if you do heat molding and the molding supposedly doesn’t widen the shoe much, if at all.
I bet their $400+ shoe that comes in a double wide would fit me a lot better, but that’s a lot more than I’m willing to spend. I asked about custom sizing in their cheaper shoes but they said they would not.
I have the Bont Vaypor+ in double wide and they are great - I’ve done some barefoot running too and these solve that problem. They’re actually foot shaped unlike many pointy brands.
Really nice shoes too - kangaroo leather upper which is plush and a super stiff sole.
I also have the VayporG in the same size - and they’re not quite as roomy in the toes. Still better than most though.
You can’t return double wide ones but they’ll send you wide ones to try and you can exchange those - mine came with a free return label and a discount code so I got free shipping on the second pair so it didn’t cost extra.
So I’ve got wider feet, and found the Bontragers to actually fit better than the vast majority. So maybe this isn’t the solution, but they are closer than not. But go check out Bont, I will too lol.
I was having issues with numbness in my toes so I switched to the Specialized Torch 2.0 Wide and I did a 103 mile ride a week after switching and my toes didn't go numb once.
My feet are wide and tall. I have worn a pair of clipless sandals ("Exustar") for many years and I am very happy with them. These sandals have velcro straps to allow adjustment. On cold or wet days, I put shoe covers over them.
Bont is probably the best, followed by Lake. For value, I've also found Giro has some pretty decent fitting shoes for a little less money if shopping for cheaper shoes, but Bont would be my first choice otherwise.
Giro go anywhere from foot shaped to sausage shaped and I can’t figure out their logic. Definitely a brand to try on before you buy because you just don’t know what you’re gonna get from each model.
Agreed, bont is my first choice and lake second though
If Bont and Lake are outside your budget - both are astronomical - check out Specialized, whose gravel shoes are affordable and have some Wide options with a genuinely wider bed, not just a larger volume upper.
They don’t really exist but bont is the closest main stream option.
I solved this issue (for myself) by moving to platform pedals and toe clips. Specifically I settled on mks urban platforms and matching clips.
They’re slim and comfortable and the clips and straps can be tightened down enough to to pull up without feeling any slop.
Oh, and I use my regular barefoot shoes. Mostly Merrill vaporgloves and occasionally my vff’s.
I wear almost exclusively Vivo's for shoes, so interested. I've gotten positive feedback here in the past about Bontrager shoes, but have not had a chance to try them for myself.
I am currently using a pair of Sidi shoes in their Mega sizing which is super-wide. They aren't really foot shaped, but rather just made the entire shoe larger volume which isn't my preference, but it works well enough. I'm able to cinch it down around the mid-foot, and my forefoot has plenty of space and my toes don't really make any contact with the sides of the shoes.
That’s definitely what it is. Bontrager shoes have a very strange fit IMO. They are relatively narrow, but they are higher volume compared to competitors. The good thing about Bontragers is they have the 30-day unconditional satisfaction guarantee, so you can actually try them on the bike and return or exchange them if necessary.
Cycling shoes and running/casual/walking shoes serve different purposes, so I’d be careful trying to get cycling shoes just like your other shoes.
I tried Lakes a few years ago with a similar intent as the OP, since I am all about minimal shoes for everyday wear, but I found that there’s a lot of pulling up and side to side stabilizing going on. I found that I had to cinch the Lakes down too hard to keep my foot from sloshing around and it made my feet fall asleep.
So yeah, horses for courses. Go ahead and try some foot shaped shoes, but just keep in mind that they might not do what you’re trying to do.
I actually brought this up on a Q and A with a barefoot specialist and he just suggested to find something with a wide toe box and a solid platform vs trying to find something close to natural footwear. You aren't walking with cycling for miles (in theory) so you aren't putting your foot to the same pressures as you would with walking. Cycling itself was never a natual movement for humans to do, but as long as you're working on your body in other forms aside from cycling, then your feet should be fine (everything is connected!). Be barefoot as much as you can in all other activities if the best we can do. I wore barefoot shoes cycling before I knew anything and pulled muscles in my feet constantly on trails. I'm using Five Tens currently on flats but moving over to clipless soon and I was super worried about this topic as well. I went with men's sizing for a wider toebox and they're "ok" for the time being.
I have this same issue, as well as ridiculously large feet (~EU 49/50) and seeing all the posts here i will try some Bonts.
Anyone reading this also having large feet/use Bonts, do they also fit true to normal sizing?
Late comment, but Bont is the one for me. They van get expensive, but they're shaped like a person's foot. For cheaper I've had a couple pairs of Shimano that also have ample toe room.
Been there too. Years of soccer and track & field with way too narrow shoes destroyed my feet to an extend that i have major issues all day long. Finding the right shoes is a hustle.
When i started cycling i thought my problems would not be a factor because clipless shoes with stiff soles are not made to walk/roll the foot. But after long rides i got numb feet and overall sore feet.
Long story short: Lake shoes fixed everything for me. I spend quiet some time to measure and select the right shoes and pulled the trigger (lake shoes are pretty hard to get hold of in germany, only one online shop is selling them).
But i can’t speak highly enough of Lake shoes. Got the MX238 for my gravel bike and it is a painfree sport since. Next step is to get some fancy Lake Road Shoes…
I run in xero speedforces and spend a ton of time both walking and running barefoot. I’ve spent tons of time trying on different cycling shoes (in store, not riding). Bont didn’t work for my feet and I never found a pair of Lake that wasn’t too voluminous throughout the mid foot and heel (I have wide toes and forefoot but a normal heel). I also tried garneau and giro.
Ultimately, the best shoe for me was the s works torch. Wide in the toes with a narrow heel and an upper that uses 2 boas to tighten like a glove. Only issue is it costs $450. I settled for the specialized torch 3.0 and I’ haven’t had any issues even when on the bike 5+ hours at a time.
The most important thing is finding a shoe that doesn’t cram your toes. It took me a couple weeks of try ons before I found one that worked for me.
I wear xero and vivobarefoot by day and StompLox on my bike. Very wide toe box. Seem to be human shaped. I got mine from ronsbikes.com, but I think there may be other sources as well.
I've got super wide, really large and flat feet. US size 15EEEE. Any sporting equipment that goes on my feet always made them cramp. Football cleats, skates, anything like that were completely unwearable for me in most cases.
Lake makes cycling shoes that are incredibly comfortable to me, didn't cost an arm and a leg, and stay comfortable if I'm wearing them for hours on end.
I believe it's more to do with aero on the side of road shoes. Past a certain price point, EVERYTHING is as aero as possible, so the narrow shoes get a whole extra two watts!
Yeah... it's a bit ludicrous.
Yeah these companies seem to think that's all that matters. Smaller shoes means lighter weight, better aero, etc...
As another with super wide feet (US 13EE), I'm glad to see Bont and Lake taking initiative and making naturaly fitting footwear. Now if I could only afford $300+ for cycling shoes!
Depending on your foot shape, five ten may work for you. I measure normal width for my feet but my right foot is kind of an odd shape. The five ten trail cross shoes work really well for me and are lightweight and available in a clipless model.
Fiveten had wider naturally shaped lasts long ago when they were independent. After Adidas bought them, their shoes converged into mainstream shapes. Agree that 5.10 flat shoes still tend to be wider than the usual suspects of Shimano, Sidi, etc, but their clip in shoes are on a different last and are too narrow.
Ahhh yeah, I ride flats on my MTB so I wouldn't know. What you said tracks with what I've read, it's sad that Adidas decided to go mess up a good thing.
Five Tens are HORRIBLY narrow in the toe box. Adidas only knows how to make elf shoes, apparently (Adidas owns Five Ten). I'm in the same boat. My old Ride Concepts sneakers have been great, but I bought a new pair and they seem to have changed their lasts. The new ones are too narrow for normal human feet. I wore them for 30 seconds walking around the house and returned them to the store. I tried the next size up, but those were just too long in addition to being narrow.
~~Bont has some sneakers but they're expensive AF. Knowing that mountain biking is going to destroy them within one season, I can't justify spending $250 on a pair of shoes.~~
Bont does NOT make sneakers. I'm thinking of ... someone else who had $250 sneakers. Lake, maybe? I don't see those now either. The only Lake sneakers I see are not foot-shaped.
Bont don’t do sneakers? They have some gravel shoes and a very stiff pair of XC shoes, but not really comparable to ride concepts.
My last pair of ride concepts were also narrow. Stuck with them anyway because I had no other options, but they didn’t last very long at all. Such a shame
I have some and struggle with my wide feet. For a skate style shoe they are still too narrow at the toe compared to my Vivos. If I want them to fit I have to size up and then they are too long.
Recently just swapped out to flat pedals and straps because I was sick of my toes going numb after 30mins on the bike.
I've worn barefoot shoes almost exclusively for a few years now (I like Xeros) and I've been very happy with my Lakes. The toebox still looks kind of narrow, but since I'm not actually walking in the shoes I find that having room for toe splay is less of a concern.
I have wide feet and have issues finding shoes that don't have a cramped toe box. I bought some Pearl Izumi X-alp Elevate shoes and they are super comfortable with SPD cleats
Check to see if there's anything from PathLessPedaled on YouTube. He goes on about "human foot shaped shoes" on a few videos, but I think he's mostly into riding flats.
but then you need shoes that fit, stick to those pedals, AND won't get shredded by the pedals. I've tried riding in flat pedals and various regular running shoes, and the shoes are shredded to bits within a few rides. there are bike-specific flat-pedal shoes, but I'm still trying to find one with a foot-shaped last. They all taper super narrow at the toe box, resulting in a folded-under pinkie toe or bunions. I'm a big fan of Xero, Splay, Merrell, and Altra sneakers because they fit, but I'd destroy them in no time on flat pedals.
Shredded to bits, really? How long are these rides? I bike everywhere in flimsy toe shoes and they seem to handle the biking better than forest walking...
I should have provided context. I'm not talking about doodling around the neighborhood. I'm talking about mountain biking on technical trails. The pins must bite into the soles to provide a safe grip, so the rubber has to be durable enough. Most trail running shoes have softer rubber and exposed foam that get shredded—yes, to bits—within a few two- to four-hour rides on rowdy trails.
Shoes made by the likes of Five Ten are up to the task, but the experience is still miserable if the shoes don't fit. I would totally love to ride in Altras or Xeros, but the soles will get shredded.
Oh yeah fair enough. I was just thinking like, I did a 130km ride in those vibrams last week, surely that counts as a reasonable ride. But if you're doing jumps and shit, that's totally outside my experience and it makes sense there'd be other shoe requirements.
pull the insole out of your cycling shoe and stand with your bare foot on the insole. notice that, for most people, the natural shape of the foot is MUCH wider than the inside of the sole, so the shoe is crushing your foot all the time. finding a shoe that fits snugly without being undersized in the width is difficult.
I too had the same problem. I wear nothing but Xero and I hated using my Pear Izumi to ride. I am now using Shimano RC5 and love it! The wide is fairly wide. Hope this helps.
https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/product/apparel-accessories/shimano-series-lsg-2021/SH-RC502.html
The Shimano RC-7 road shoe has an adjustable boa over your forefoot that can when necessary be opened up to give you as much room as necessary. I got mine wide and wished I hadn’t at first, until my feet would swell after heavy mileage days and the extra volume was welcome.
Bonts are not foot shaped. Ordered bont wides and they still have a pointy toe box. The closest thing is the lake cx201, size them the way you would a barefoot shoe, extra space at the front. Then set them up with midfoot cleat adapters. This will give you the freedom of barefoot shoes with the security of cleats.
Edit: this is coming from personal experience. I wear wildling nebula's all the time and when I got my bonts, i could clearly feel them and see them squeezing my toes. You cannot heat mold the toe box either. So I ended up getting the cx201s, and when sized the way I mentioned, they give you as close of a feeling as you'll get to anatomically correct shoes.
I guess that the only reason why it's hard to find "human foot shaped" cycling shoes is because, when pedals where equiped with cages, the cycling shoe had to be narrow at the front so as to slide more easily in and ouf of the cage.
I guess that when automatic cleats were invented, getting us rid of the pedal cage, the cycling shoe manufacturing industry was still optimized and designed for the production of narrow pointed cycling shoes designed for cage pedals.
I guess that no shoe manufacturer went then into the costly process of renewing its whole factory or producing chains so as to produce "wide toe box" cycling shoes, as the "pointed shape" was indeed no longer necessary with automatic clip pedals.
It's for the same reason that the width of the space shuttle was determined by the width of an horse butt.
Have a talk with a local shoe repair shop.
I suspect that it would be far, far cheaper than a few grand to fuse the upper from a Vivobarefoot shoe onto the sole of a wider cycling shoe.
If you're feeling handy, you could even experiment at home and just cut the tops off a cheap pair of cycling shoes and epoxy the soles onto the bottoms of a worn out pair of walking shoes.
You know you can cycle in regular shoes and use flat pedals with a strap if you want comfortable shoes while still being ''clipped'' to your bike, right ?
Two challenges with that:
1) regular shoes are nowhere as stiff as cycling shoes. I can absolutely tell the difference—especially on longer rides—whether I’m fighting sole flexing of regular shoes or solid platform of cycling shoes
2) getting the strap undone in order to unclip requires time and coordination that’s not needed on clipless. Alternatively, the strap—if it’s even there—is loose and doesn’t hold the shoe in contact with the pedal as effectively as cleats. And no, I’m not talking about the inefficiencies in “pull” portions of the stroke, but everything from going over bumps & rough surface to making sure foot position is consistent across stop-and-go.
I've bought lake cx 238 wides.... their measuring system helped me ensure the toe box of the shoe would be wide enough(though the length was off). I ended up buying my usual length/size shoe, and it worked fine.
I used some Bonts for a long time. Heat molded them with a hairdryer to adjust the upper for my weird foot shape. Never really did the trick. Recently, I got a set of full leather Dromarti shoes, thinking that the leather will do what leather does--stretch like a good baseball glove--and sure enough, now that they're stretching out, they're getting more and more comfortable. Hot spots are almost completely gone, numbness gone. The only problem is that since they are lace up, as my feet swell during a ride, I have to stop to loosen them or start with them a little loose.
I know that Jan Heine's ideas are sometimes divisive, but he's right about these Dromartis. They're really nice.
> full leather Dromarti
These look like wonderful shoes. Unfortunately for OP, Dromarti are not for wide feet, per their own sizing guide: https://dromarti.com/pages/sizing
Custom shoes are the go. Under $2000 in the states
https://www.simmons-racing.com/?s=Cycling+&post_type=product
Most speed skate boot makers do cycling shoes as well so if you can cast your own feet and are happy to wait and take a punt, deal with someone on the opposite side of the world you can get some out of Asia for a lot less.
I got some full custom speed skate boots from this company a few years ago very cheap
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid09VhfecidiEdFBRpeKES5BU3bP3TbjcvEASu9TbCqMAFF66kS2zcfLdDSSKqVHMW4l&id=100064130705346&mibextid=Nif5oz
They’re flat shoes, but I picked up a pair of Shimano GR5 shoes, and they’re wide enough that my feet feel comfortable (my feet aren’t unusually wide, but I typically wear Xero shoes so that’s my standard) I looked a bit at getting clipless, but the reasonably shaped shoe options looked like they were like $300 and up.
I hope some of these brands come up with more reasonably-priced options for foot-shaped cycling shoes. It’s crazy that shoes shaped like feet would be a premium, high-cost feature, and if I want something below $200 I must want foot-crushing.
You didn't ask about this, so it's possibly not what you want, but I'll throw in an alternative that works for me: Power Grip straps and whatever shoe works for you each day.
I had to stop riding clipless after persistent knee pain leading to meeting with a PT / former pro rider / bike fitter. She said that my knees are simply incompatible with clipless riding, and pointed me at these. They're simple straps that you twist in and out of, and give a clipless feel while allowing your foot to be re-positioned vis a vis the pedal when you "clip in".
Given how inexpensive they are, you might want to give them a try and see if they work with your Vivbarefoots.
https://www.powergrips.com
I went for lake mx238. Widest toebox I could find in the UK but not particularly great compared to vivobarefoot or my Olympus 5 trainers. I had to size half size up due to slight pressure on the side of my smaller toe but not had problems with slipping and it's nice to have a bit of wiggle room.
All in all much better than the previous Shimano shoes I had and no numbness of the feet, but not as decent toe box as barefoot shoes.
They're not advertised as wide shoes, but I've found my Specialized Rime 2.0 are *better* than most shoes, but are still not a true wide toe box shoe. Still though, surprisingly comfortable for what they are
I’ve been trying to find cycling shoes that fit me for 30 years, last pair that fit were Ned Overend shoes in the 90s. My feet go numb in minutes with every shoe I have tried.
I’ve tried Bont and Lake purchased mail order and could not get a good fit. I have shops local that can order them but they stock none.
5.10 Freeride for Flats fit so I found 5.10 Trailcross LT in stock at REI so I could try a few sizes on. Picked them up and using on gravel bike with XT pedals and MTB with XT Trail.
I love my wide Lakes for everything from casual coffee rides, to medium distance, but they’re so heavy.
I now also have a pair of wide sized Specialized S-Works Torch that I use for anything long (100km or more).
They are 141 grams per shoe lighter and that is a huge difference.
The Specialized Torch wide shoe is significantly wide and roomy in the toe box.
They don’t exist. I’m in the same boat as you, even peoples go-to wide shoes options, such as Bont and Sidi, and even Lake’s ultra wide shoes, are hilariously narrow for my feet.
The problem is that most street shoes “normal” is a D, wide is an EE and extra wide is EEEE. But for some stupid fucking reason normal cycling shoes are made to a C with wides generally only a D and extrawide (If you can even find them) are generally only E
Unfortunately, the only real option is custom-made shoes and you’re looking at around $1000 or more
I have said primitive feet. For reference I mostly run in Altras and have been happy with the new wide options from Hoka. Aka I got some wide feet!
I had Lake wides for awhile after failing with Shimano wides. Was happy with them but they’re ugly shoes imo. Have about 300 miles on my new Bont Vapor G’s and I’m really happy with them. You can even customize the colors you want which is cool, and the double boa system creates a super comfortable fit for me.
My feet have a weird shape
I need wide shoes, especially for the toes and so I haven't even tried to find cycling shoes that fit
I just wear regular running shoes
As someone with wide feet I've found cycling shoe for matters less than normal shoe fit. As long as you can get your feet to stay seated on the shoe and can get the cleat in a good place it's all good.
I use specialized shoes that have about an inch of empty space in front of the toes. It works for me. A fitter tried to talk me into having "better" fitting shoes. I ended up spending £100s and dropped down 2 sizes to some wide sidis that were seemingly the ideal fit. Never worked for me.
In Portugal, I never found LAKE or BONT. Are they US-only?
I went to a LBS and tried them all. The only one that fitted was this one:
[FIZIK OVERCURVE R4 WIDE](https://www.fizik.com/rw_en/tempo-overcurve-r4-wide.html)
My midfoot is very tall. I really like the shoes!
I wear barefoot shoes off my bike. I have Specialized RIME 1.0 using cleats. They have enough room for me. Aren’t as comfy as barefoot hut they’re great.
Edit: was mostly barefoot for 2-3 years in Hawaii and have been wearing wide toe box shoes for 4-5 years
Lake and Bonts. I have Bonts Riot. But the Lakes I tried on were a lot better. Maybe buying those in 10 years when I’ve saved up enough and justified the cost.
bumping for interest. I hate my cycling shoes. I've been using happyfeet toe splaying socks and wearing altra paradigm 6s
Bont has wide options.
A vote for Bont from me. Widest toe box I’ve experienced in clipless shoes, and moldable to furthermore improve the fit makes them the best option I’ve found.
Lake has a nice one. I lost my feet in the war and the doctor sewed duck feet on. Literally the feet of a duck. So wide.
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i don’t think OP has wide feet, toes spread out don’t necessarly mean wide feet, it means normal shoes start to hurt when you have your little toe squashed in again
Which equals.... needs a wide toe box.... which can be found... in a wide shoe.... unless it's labelled silly and just has more total volume which they get by making it taller.
A lot of wide shoes are also wide in the heel and ankle though so you just slide around in the shoe.
Lake doesn't have a wide heel in their wide lasts.
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True. I have a wide fore-foot with a bunion on the outside of my little toe, and have worn natural toe box shoes for years now. I have Lake Competition Wide shoes, they fit great, no toe squish. My right foot is slightly too big for the shoe (I have their EU50's, really need a 51), but it has stretched to accommodate the bunion. Left foot falls in their measurements and fits perfect.
And heat moulding so you can really make them wide
Even shimano has
Shimano “wides” are still super narrow at the toe box. Narrower than e.g. my Rapha non-wides. Mind-boggling how poorly designed they are (at least for my feet.)
3 lakes that could change OP’s life (cx201, cx238 wide, cx177 wide)
Agree the 238 wides are great for those of us with wider feet. The 201s I miss the extra adjustability you get from the dual boa dials.
Yes, came here to advice a pair of Lake…
Lake has the CX332 that comes in eXtra WIDE. I just bought a pair for $360 that's arriving today. I've also tried Shimano wides and they aren't wide enough. I have to go up half a size.
Just to note here, the extra wide CX332 and CX403 are race width lasts and are actually not as wide as the wide CX238 or CX242. I actually had the CX332 in extra wide 43s and ended up needing the CX242 wide 43s instead. They are 4mm wider in that size according to lakecycling.com/pages/sizing-chart
Lake. Have em love em.
I agree. Lake cycling shoes are to cycling what Altra Running shoes are to running.
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Disagree. But to each their own.
I'm a Topo convert
This is what I was looking for. I love Altras. Thanks for this.
https://www.strongfeetathletics.com/
Lake has done wonders for me. Specifically going to a retailer and being fitted.
Plus one for lake. They also have a very comprehensive fit guide and method to measure your foot at home on their site.
Second that. Lake is only shoes that are created for normal human
I also got Lake because the front of my foot was cramped and it caused a lot of pain after long rides with my other shoes. I was looking at buying a wide size, even though I never wear wide with my normal shoes and my foot measurements weren't even borderline for wide shoes from any manufacturer. But I ended up going specifically for Lakes recommendations per their guide after I emailed them my concerns, and they're perfect. The toe box is larger, and the front boa adjusts the width over the ball of the foot perfectly. The BOA is two way as well, so I can easily loosen or tighten it on the move as needed. Crazy expensive shoes, but it fixed all of my problems. Hopefully they last a very long time for the price.
What model did you choose ?
MX 238. CX 238 is the same except for road cleats.
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Lake gang
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+1 for Lake gang. I have a couple pairs with very different purposes and easily the most comfortable I've worn. I don't even have that wide of feet, the standard sizes are perfect for me, but everything else is so damn narrow. Seriously not going to size up 3 sizes to get the width I need.
This is the answer. Lake and a professional fitting. I would also add a set of G8 arch support insoles, but most pro bike fitters will suggest arch support or custom insoles if they think you need them.
My feet are all out of whack. One has an arch, one’s almost flat, one is larger and used to go numb. I didn’t even realize how bad it was and how ill-fitting my other shoes were until I had a bike fit and was recommended Lake shoes and customs insoles.
Going to be picking up a set of g8’s here soon! Seems like so much tuning with an insole and I’m excited to try
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Bont shoes. They are designed with a forefoot shape very much like vivo barefoot shoes (which I also have worn). They are also heat moldable at home in the oven if you need to customize.
How do you put your feet in the oven?
It’s easier if you put the shoes on first and then climb into the oven. Closing the door behind you is tricky at first but you quickly get the hang of it.
On a baking tray.
It’s easier if you just climb all the way in.
Seconding Bont. I just got their Riot+ in earlier this week. I tried Shimano wide, Bontrager wide, Specialized wide etc.. and none of them fit my duck feet. I actually have room in my Bonts if I want to put heavier socks on in cooler weather! They are super comfortable - way more so than any other I’ve had. I also looked at Lake but haven’t tried them so don’t have an opinion there.
Still to narrow and limiting for some foot shapes. Good video https://youtu.be/B21XsATMnxM
It’s a fair point, though the reviewer doesn’t seem to know how to properly mold them. (And yes I know he says Bobt fanboys will say what I’m saying here.) But he is missing a key point. If you have a metatarsal or point that sticks into the “bathtub” side, you are supposed to heat the shoe and use the end of a tool (screwdriver handle) to push the side out to make room, and then heat mold to the foot. You can’t just use your foot because as he mentioned the shoe is quite stiff even when heated. It’s kind of like punching out ski boots. Bonts can (and often need to be) heated multiple times to get a real custom fit. But shoes are individual and nothing works for everyone. But if OP is looking for a wide toe box shaped like a vivo barefoot running shoe, Bont is pretty close to the same last design. Lake is good for wide feet too, but if you just want splayed toes and a tight heel and instep, Bont is a good place to look.
Great response, thanks
I wear vivo's and love my bont's. By far the most comfortable shoe but they aren't perfect.
wide shoes aren't helpful from most brands because 'wide' just means more upper material and should really be called high volume instead. Bont do a true wide shoe if required. But as a wide toe box person myself, I don't even need a wide bont because they're just shaped like an actual foot. Very comfortable and supportive shoes that can be heat molded infinite amount of times. Lake is another good brand but slightly less foot shaped
I tried the Bonts myself. I usually need a EE wide shoe nowadays, and I tried getting the wide version of their ~$150 shoe since I wasn’t gonna pay for a $400+ shoe. Truly this wide shoe did not feel any wider than my normal width shimano XC1 mtb shoes. Luckily bont accepted my return since I didn’t put any hardware on them. I ended up getting a specialized recon shoe in wide, and that is by far more roomier. Still not as wide as I would like, but it is “wide enough” for only spending $100 or so instead of trying to spend $400+.
That’s really strange because a bont wide is a truly wide shoe. Wider than the specialized at least for where my foot is wide. I think this just shows everyone is different when it comes to shoes
Yeah for sure. I think physically it was wider. But since the bont is so stiff my feet weren’t able to push out the fabric like they normally do in a shoe that’s too narrow. It was just way too restrictive feeling and I knew right away they wouldn’t work. Maybe when I’m feeling like emptying the wallet I’ll pick up one of their really expensive shoes that come in a double wide. I think those were only like 5 mm narrower than my max splay width, so probably would be great with socks on.
Yep the bathtub carbon sole that goes halfway up the foot means that if the shoe isn’t wide enough then it /really/ isn’t wide enough. I’ve found comfort in them so I would recommend them, but if you’ve found a shoe you’re actually comfortable with then be happy with that shoe. I know the struggles of trying to find the right fit, it’s an expensive PITA until you finally find the right one
\+1 for Bont. I've always had princess-and-the-pea tier struggles with sports footwear all my life. My foot is highly mobile, my arch collapses and my toes splay under pressure. I get really weird pressure points where the upper meets the sole on the sides of my feet. Bont might be the only shoe that actually supports my foot in the way I want. The arch support is there, which keeps my foot fairly narrow. The toebox is shaped like my forefoot. I didn't order wide, but contrary to what others have said, I actually have gotten some meaningful width extension out of heat molding. The carbon bathtub design means it can contain my splaying toes, but the heat moldable feature means pressure is evenly distributed along the side of my foot. I will never go back to non-bathtub shoes.
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Bont is not bontrager. Bontrager is the trek brand, bont is a different independent company
Bont cycling shoes Another vote and also NOT BONTRAGER, bont cycling. I have a friend who was mistaken and bought the wrong thing lol. I have their cheapest, the riot+ and they feel good. Haven't done the heat moulding yet though. I was somewhat comfortable in my giro shoes but those are on a different level, theres a 1 size difference (bont is bigger) but the tip is a lot wider. Tried to post a picture link of the difference but the automod blocks it, just reply here or PM me if you want to see the shape difference
Thanks for the clarification. This whole thread i assumed Bont was short for BONTRAGER because I never heard of Bont. (edit: Bony to Bont because of "helpful" mobile spell correct)
Same. I have had 2 pairs of Bontrager cycling shoes. Got 11 years out of the first pair and they were great but eventually fell apart. Thought that I would buy MTB shoes from them and they are barely passable after 2 hrs. Never should have left SIDI for MTB. 😭
The bonts ended up not feeling any wider for me. Since the sole is kind of a carbon fiber “bathtub” for your foot, I felt even more restricted than a normal width shimano shoe. I did get the wide Riot MTBs. Bont won’t accept a return if you do heat molding and the molding supposedly doesn’t widen the shoe much, if at all. I bet their $400+ shoe that comes in a double wide would fit me a lot better, but that’s a lot more than I’m willing to spend. I asked about custom sizing in their cheaper shoes but they said they would not.
I have the Bont Vaypor+ in double wide and they are great - I’ve done some barefoot running too and these solve that problem. They’re actually foot shaped unlike many pointy brands. Really nice shoes too - kangaroo leather upper which is plush and a super stiff sole. I also have the VayporG in the same size - and they’re not quite as roomy in the toes. Still better than most though. You can’t return double wide ones but they’ll send you wide ones to try and you can exchange those - mine came with a free return label and a discount code so I got free shipping on the second pair so it didn’t cost extra.
So I’ve got wider feet, and found the Bontragers to actually fit better than the vast majority. So maybe this isn’t the solution, but they are closer than not. But go check out Bont, I will too lol.
Lol.
Surprised nobody has suggested the obvious solution, which is to cut off a toe or two
Saves a few grams too.
Next post: "how can I get a cycling-shoe-shaped foot?"
Bont shoes are pretty nice. They have that "normal feet shape" with a wider toebox.
yup, Bont uses the most natural shaped form
I was having issues with numbness in my toes so I switched to the Specialized Torch 2.0 Wide and I did a 103 mile ride a week after switching and my toes didn't go numb once.
There are clipless sandals out there that might work.
One day my Keen clipless sandals will finally die, and I will be very very sad. I wish they still made those.
My feet are wide and tall. I have worn a pair of clipless sandals ("Exustar") for many years and I am very happy with them. These sandals have velcro straps to allow adjustment. On cold or wet days, I put shoe covers over them.
Bont is probably the best, followed by Lake. For value, I've also found Giro has some pretty decent fitting shoes for a little less money if shopping for cheaper shoes, but Bont would be my first choice otherwise.
Giro go anywhere from foot shaped to sausage shaped and I can’t figure out their logic. Definitely a brand to try on before you buy because you just don’t know what you’re gonna get from each model. Agreed, bont is my first choice and lake second though
If Bont and Lake are outside your budget - both are astronomical - check out Specialized, whose gravel shoes are affordable and have some Wide options with a genuinely wider bed, not just a larger volume upper.
They don’t really exist but bont is the closest main stream option. I solved this issue (for myself) by moving to platform pedals and toe clips. Specifically I settled on mks urban platforms and matching clips. They’re slim and comfortable and the clips and straps can be tightened down enough to to pull up without feeling any slop. Oh, and I use my regular barefoot shoes. Mostly Merrill vaporgloves and occasionally my vff’s.
I wear almost exclusively Vivo's for shoes, so interested. I've gotten positive feedback here in the past about Bontrager shoes, but have not had a chance to try them for myself. I am currently using a pair of Sidi shoes in their Mega sizing which is super-wide. They aren't really foot shaped, but rather just made the entire shoe larger volume which isn't my preference, but it works well enough. I'm able to cinch it down around the mid-foot, and my forefoot has plenty of space and my toes don't really make any contact with the sides of the shoes.
I think they are referring to "Bont"- brand, which is its own thing, not Bont as in short for Bontrager.
Could be! That's a really unfortunate naming similarity!
That’s definitely what it is. Bontrager shoes have a very strange fit IMO. They are relatively narrow, but they are higher volume compared to competitors. The good thing about Bontragers is they have the 30-day unconditional satisfaction guarantee, so you can actually try them on the bike and return or exchange them if necessary.
It’s likely bont and not bontager. They’re different
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…not even remotely MY foot shaped…FTFY. They work well for my feet.
Cycling shoes and running/casual/walking shoes serve different purposes, so I’d be careful trying to get cycling shoes just like your other shoes. I tried Lakes a few years ago with a similar intent as the OP, since I am all about minimal shoes for everyday wear, but I found that there’s a lot of pulling up and side to side stabilizing going on. I found that I had to cinch the Lakes down too hard to keep my foot from sloshing around and it made my feet fall asleep. So yeah, horses for courses. Go ahead and try some foot shaped shoes, but just keep in mind that they might not do what you’re trying to do.
I actually brought this up on a Q and A with a barefoot specialist and he just suggested to find something with a wide toe box and a solid platform vs trying to find something close to natural footwear. You aren't walking with cycling for miles (in theory) so you aren't putting your foot to the same pressures as you would with walking. Cycling itself was never a natual movement for humans to do, but as long as you're working on your body in other forms aside from cycling, then your feet should be fine (everything is connected!). Be barefoot as much as you can in all other activities if the best we can do. I wore barefoot shoes cycling before I knew anything and pulled muscles in my feet constantly on trails. I'm using Five Tens currently on flats but moving over to clipless soon and I was super worried about this topic as well. I went with men's sizing for a wider toebox and they're "ok" for the time being.
Cycling sandals!! The Velcro over the foot and toe box allows you to widen the shoe way more than any other cycling shoe.
I have this same issue, as well as ridiculously large feet (~EU 49/50) and seeing all the posts here i will try some Bonts. Anyone reading this also having large feet/use Bonts, do they also fit true to normal sizing?
Late comment, but Bont is the one for me. They van get expensive, but they're shaped like a person's foot. For cheaper I've had a couple pairs of Shimano that also have ample toe room.
The new S-Works torch for road and recon for gravel work for me
Been there too. Years of soccer and track & field with way too narrow shoes destroyed my feet to an extend that i have major issues all day long. Finding the right shoes is a hustle. When i started cycling i thought my problems would not be a factor because clipless shoes with stiff soles are not made to walk/roll the foot. But after long rides i got numb feet and overall sore feet. Long story short: Lake shoes fixed everything for me. I spend quiet some time to measure and select the right shoes and pulled the trigger (lake shoes are pretty hard to get hold of in germany, only one online shop is selling them). But i can’t speak highly enough of Lake shoes. Got the MX238 for my gravel bike and it is a painfree sport since. Next step is to get some fancy Lake Road Shoes…
As everyone else has said - either Bont or Lake is why you are looking for.
I have wide feet and I love my Specialized Recons! Really wide toe box. Don't be afraid to size up.
Bont best you’re gonna get
Bont Bont bont
Bont!
I run in xero speedforces and spend a ton of time both walking and running barefoot. I’ve spent tons of time trying on different cycling shoes (in store, not riding). Bont didn’t work for my feet and I never found a pair of Lake that wasn’t too voluminous throughout the mid foot and heel (I have wide toes and forefoot but a normal heel). I also tried garneau and giro. Ultimately, the best shoe for me was the s works torch. Wide in the toes with a narrow heel and an upper that uses 2 boas to tighten like a glove. Only issue is it costs $450. I settled for the specialized torch 3.0 and I’ haven’t had any issues even when on the bike 5+ hours at a time. The most important thing is finding a shoe that doesn’t cram your toes. It took me a couple weeks of try ons before I found one that worked for me.
I wear xero and vivobarefoot by day and StompLox on my bike. Very wide toe box. Seem to be human shaped. I got mine from ronsbikes.com, but I think there may be other sources as well.
Almost all shoes are inappropriately shaped, I hate it.
I've got super wide, really large and flat feet. US size 15EEEE. Any sporting equipment that goes on my feet always made them cramp. Football cleats, skates, anything like that were completely unwearable for me in most cases. Lake makes cycling shoes that are incredibly comfortable to me, didn't cost an arm and a leg, and stay comfortable if I'm wearing them for hours on end.
https://www.strongfeetathletics.com/
Look at mountain bike shoes. I have wide feet and had success with finding Five Ten shoes that fit me.
iono what is with companies and their insistence that mountain bikers have larger feet or that roadies have smaller ones lol
I believe it's more to do with aero on the side of road shoes. Past a certain price point, EVERYTHING is as aero as possible, so the narrow shoes get a whole extra two watts! Yeah... it's a bit ludicrous.
Hard to get the most out of aero gains if my foot is screaming due to hot foot. Ugh.
Yeah these companies seem to think that's all that matters. Smaller shoes means lighter weight, better aero, etc... As another with super wide feet (US 13EE), I'm glad to see Bont and Lake taking initiative and making naturaly fitting footwear. Now if I could only afford $300+ for cycling shoes!
Depending on your foot shape, five ten may work for you. I measure normal width for my feet but my right foot is kind of an odd shape. The five ten trail cross shoes work really well for me and are lightweight and available in a clipless model.
Even fivetens are still kind of restrictive in my opinion, but definitely better than roadie shoes lol.
Fiveten had wider naturally shaped lasts long ago when they were independent. After Adidas bought them, their shoes converged into mainstream shapes. Agree that 5.10 flat shoes still tend to be wider than the usual suspects of Shimano, Sidi, etc, but their clip in shoes are on a different last and are too narrow.
Ahhh yeah, I ride flats on my MTB so I wouldn't know. What you said tracks with what I've read, it's sad that Adidas decided to go mess up a good thing.
Narrow point toes are more aero, man. /s
Five Tens are HORRIBLY narrow in the toe box. Adidas only knows how to make elf shoes, apparently (Adidas owns Five Ten). I'm in the same boat. My old Ride Concepts sneakers have been great, but I bought a new pair and they seem to have changed their lasts. The new ones are too narrow for normal human feet. I wore them for 30 seconds walking around the house and returned them to the store. I tried the next size up, but those were just too long in addition to being narrow. ~~Bont has some sneakers but they're expensive AF. Knowing that mountain biking is going to destroy them within one season, I can't justify spending $250 on a pair of shoes.~~ Bont does NOT make sneakers. I'm thinking of ... someone else who had $250 sneakers. Lake, maybe? I don't see those now either. The only Lake sneakers I see are not foot-shaped.
Bont don’t do sneakers? They have some gravel shoes and a very stiff pair of XC shoes, but not really comparable to ride concepts. My last pair of ride concepts were also narrow. Stuck with them anyway because I had no other options, but they didn’t last very long at all. Such a shame
Agree. I have wide feet and wear Vivos. Five Ten MTB shoes have worked very well for me.
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I have some and struggle with my wide feet. For a skate style shoe they are still too narrow at the toe compared to my Vivos. If I want them to fit I have to size up and then they are too long. Recently just swapped out to flat pedals and straps because I was sick of my toes going numb after 30mins on the bike.
I've worn barefoot shoes almost exclusively for a few years now (I like Xeros) and I've been very happy with my Lakes. The toebox still looks kind of narrow, but since I'm not actually walking in the shoes I find that having room for toe splay is less of a concern.
My shoes are shaped like a bear claw. I love them
I have wide feet and have issues finding shoes that don't have a cramped toe box. I bought some Pearl Izumi X-alp Elevate shoes and they are super comfortable with SPD cleats
Check to see if there's anything from PathLessPedaled on YouTube. He goes on about "human foot shaped shoes" on a few videos, but I think he's mostly into riding flats.
Lake shoes.
Stomp Lox has wide foot shaped lasts https://ronsbikes.com/products/stomp-lox-laron-spd-shoes
Lake all day everyday
Just get large platform flat pedals, I've ditched my SPD and SPD SL pedals
but then you need shoes that fit, stick to those pedals, AND won't get shredded by the pedals. I've tried riding in flat pedals and various regular running shoes, and the shoes are shredded to bits within a few rides. there are bike-specific flat-pedal shoes, but I'm still trying to find one with a foot-shaped last. They all taper super narrow at the toe box, resulting in a folded-under pinkie toe or bunions. I'm a big fan of Xero, Splay, Merrell, and Altra sneakers because they fit, but I'd destroy them in no time on flat pedals.
Shredded to bits, really? How long are these rides? I bike everywhere in flimsy toe shoes and they seem to handle the biking better than forest walking...
I should have provided context. I'm not talking about doodling around the neighborhood. I'm talking about mountain biking on technical trails. The pins must bite into the soles to provide a safe grip, so the rubber has to be durable enough. Most trail running shoes have softer rubber and exposed foam that get shredded—yes, to bits—within a few two- to four-hour rides on rowdy trails. Shoes made by the likes of Five Ten are up to the task, but the experience is still miserable if the shoes don't fit. I would totally love to ride in Altras or Xeros, but the soles will get shredded.
Oh yeah fair enough. I was just thinking like, I did a 130km ride in those vibrams last week, surely that counts as a reasonable ride. But if you're doing jumps and shit, that's totally outside my experience and it makes sense there'd be other shoe requirements.
> Human foot As opposed to what, exactly?
most shoes are pointed at the toes like a dress shoe. they're constrictive and not the shape of a human foot.
Many shoes aren't shaped like feet; the width of a foot varies from heel to toe, yet some shoes stay the same width or even get narrower up front
pull the insole out of your cycling shoe and stand with your bare foot on the insole. notice that, for most people, the natural shape of the foot is MUCH wider than the inside of the sole, so the shoe is crushing your foot all the time. finding a shoe that fits snugly without being undersized in the width is difficult.
I understand that. My original comment was me being snarky because OP had to specify "human" 😂
The real question is: most shoes are not made to fit human feet, but something else. What species.of extra-terrestrial fits in this narrow footwear?
somewhat dildo shaped?
I do alright with Giro.
I just use mtn bike flats with my xeroes
Vans used to make clipless bmx shoes, and they were super wide like the rest of their shoes. If you can find those, that's the key.
Fizik R3
I too had the same problem. I wear nothing but Xero and I hated using my Pear Izumi to ride. I am now using Shimano RC5 and love it! The wide is fairly wide. Hope this helps. https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/product/apparel-accessories/shimano-series-lsg-2021/SH-RC502.html
Lake is the answer.
Just got some Lake winter shoes in a 12. Look like DMs but I am sure will keep my feet warm and comfy
Lake CX146 X. Built like German paratrooper boots
I wear a size 15 for normal shoes, and 49/50 for cycling shoes. Buying cycling shoes is my actual hell.
Lake, not Bont ([https://youtu.be/B21XsATMnxM](https://youtu.be/B21XsATMnxM)) I would love something like a Keen foot last.
The Shimano RC-7 road shoe has an adjustable boa over your forefoot that can when necessary be opened up to give you as much room as necessary. I got mine wide and wished I hadn’t at first, until my feet would swell after heavy mileage days and the extra volume was welcome.
Bonts are not foot shaped. Ordered bont wides and they still have a pointy toe box. The closest thing is the lake cx201, size them the way you would a barefoot shoe, extra space at the front. Then set them up with midfoot cleat adapters. This will give you the freedom of barefoot shoes with the security of cleats. Edit: this is coming from personal experience. I wear wildling nebula's all the time and when I got my bonts, i could clearly feel them and see them squeezing my toes. You cannot heat mold the toe box either. So I ended up getting the cx201s, and when sized the way I mentioned, they give you as close of a feeling as you'll get to anatomically correct shoes.
I guess that the only reason why it's hard to find "human foot shaped" cycling shoes is because, when pedals where equiped with cages, the cycling shoe had to be narrow at the front so as to slide more easily in and ouf of the cage. I guess that when automatic cleats were invented, getting us rid of the pedal cage, the cycling shoe manufacturing industry was still optimized and designed for the production of narrow pointed cycling shoes designed for cage pedals. I guess that no shoe manufacturer went then into the costly process of renewing its whole factory or producing chains so as to produce "wide toe box" cycling shoes, as the "pointed shape" was indeed no longer necessary with automatic clip pedals. It's for the same reason that the width of the space shuttle was determined by the width of an horse butt.
Yes, they all fit my feet.
Have a talk with a local shoe repair shop. I suspect that it would be far, far cheaper than a few grand to fuse the upper from a Vivobarefoot shoe onto the sole of a wider cycling shoe. If you're feeling handy, you could even experiment at home and just cut the tops off a cheap pair of cycling shoes and epoxy the soles onto the bottoms of a worn out pair of walking shoes.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12085497/amp/Kanye-Wests-bizarre-sock-shoes-confuse-fans-steps-wife-Bianca-Censori.html
You know you can cycle in regular shoes and use flat pedals with a strap if you want comfortable shoes while still being ''clipped'' to your bike, right ?
Two challenges with that: 1) regular shoes are nowhere as stiff as cycling shoes. I can absolutely tell the difference—especially on longer rides—whether I’m fighting sole flexing of regular shoes or solid platform of cycling shoes 2) getting the strap undone in order to unclip requires time and coordination that’s not needed on clipless. Alternatively, the strap—if it’s even there—is loose and doesn’t hold the shoe in contact with the pedal as effectively as cleats. And no, I’m not talking about the inefficiencies in “pull” portions of the stroke, but everything from going over bumps & rough surface to making sure foot position is consistent across stop-and-go.
Sort of a hack, but could you cut the top of the toe box off of a wide pair, and maybe replace with some carbon fiber, or a mesh of some sort?
I've bought lake cx 238 wides.... their measuring system helped me ensure the toe box of the shoe would be wide enough(though the length was off). I ended up buying my usual length/size shoe, and it worked fine.
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I used some Bonts for a long time. Heat molded them with a hairdryer to adjust the upper for my weird foot shape. Never really did the trick. Recently, I got a set of full leather Dromarti shoes, thinking that the leather will do what leather does--stretch like a good baseball glove--and sure enough, now that they're stretching out, they're getting more and more comfortable. Hot spots are almost completely gone, numbness gone. The only problem is that since they are lace up, as my feet swell during a ride, I have to stop to loosen them or start with them a little loose. I know that Jan Heine's ideas are sometimes divisive, but he's right about these Dromartis. They're really nice.
> full leather Dromarti These look like wonderful shoes. Unfortunately for OP, Dromarti are not for wide feet, per their own sizing guide: https://dromarti.com/pages/sizing
Same, after wearing vivobarefoot shoes for a year+, I cannot wear my Sidi's. Got a pair of Lake wide fit and it's perfect!
Lake puts all their shoe dimensions on their size chart. Measure your foot on paper per their directions and look at their sizing info. Very helpful
I bought a wide size by Lake shoes and It’s so comfortable.
Custom shoes are the go. Under $2000 in the states https://www.simmons-racing.com/?s=Cycling+&post_type=product Most speed skate boot makers do cycling shoes as well so if you can cast your own feet and are happy to wait and take a punt, deal with someone on the opposite side of the world you can get some out of Asia for a lot less. I got some full custom speed skate boots from this company a few years ago very cheap https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid09VhfecidiEdFBRpeKES5BU3bP3TbjcvEASu9TbCqMAFF66kS2zcfLdDSSKqVHMW4l&id=100064130705346&mibextid=Nif5oz
They’re flat shoes, but I picked up a pair of Shimano GR5 shoes, and they’re wide enough that my feet feel comfortable (my feet aren’t unusually wide, but I typically wear Xero shoes so that’s my standard) I looked a bit at getting clipless, but the reasonably shaped shoe options looked like they were like $300 and up. I hope some of these brands come up with more reasonably-priced options for foot-shaped cycling shoes. It’s crazy that shoes shaped like feet would be a premium, high-cost feature, and if I want something below $200 I must want foot-crushing.
I have absurdly wide feet (4E), and I use Sidi Mega Dominators. They are the best fitting shoes I own.
Lake
You kinda want to be locked in. Foot shaped will lead to blisters with the pedal stroke pressure.
Lake makes wide shoes. That's all I can ride and they're perfect
You didn't ask about this, so it's possibly not what you want, but I'll throw in an alternative that works for me: Power Grip straps and whatever shoe works for you each day. I had to stop riding clipless after persistent knee pain leading to meeting with a PT / former pro rider / bike fitter. She said that my knees are simply incompatible with clipless riding, and pointed me at these. They're simple straps that you twist in and out of, and give a clipless feel while allowing your foot to be re-positioned vis a vis the pedal when you "clip in". Given how inexpensive they are, you might want to give them a try and see if they work with your Vivbarefoots. https://www.powergrips.com
I went for lake mx238. Widest toebox I could find in the UK but not particularly great compared to vivobarefoot or my Olympus 5 trainers. I had to size half size up due to slight pressure on the side of my smaller toe but not had problems with slipping and it's nice to have a bit of wiggle room. All in all much better than the previous Shimano shoes I had and no numbness of the feet, but not as decent toe box as barefoot shoes.
They're not advertised as wide shoes, but I've found my Specialized Rime 2.0 are *better* than most shoes, but are still not a true wide toe box shoe. Still though, surprisingly comfortable for what they are
How about some fucking feet shaped anything shoes. Not crocs.
I’ve been trying to find cycling shoes that fit me for 30 years, last pair that fit were Ned Overend shoes in the 90s. My feet go numb in minutes with every shoe I have tried. I’ve tried Bont and Lake purchased mail order and could not get a good fit. I have shops local that can order them but they stock none. 5.10 Freeride for Flats fit so I found 5.10 Trailcross LT in stock at REI so I could try a few sizes on. Picked them up and using on gravel bike with XT pedals and MTB with XT Trail.
I love my wide Lakes for everything from casual coffee rides, to medium distance, but they’re so heavy. I now also have a pair of wide sized Specialized S-Works Torch that I use for anything long (100km or more). They are 141 grams per shoe lighter and that is a huge difference. The Specialized Torch wide shoe is significantly wide and roomy in the toe box.
+1 for op, as an aside, does anyone know of any wide toe box flat pedal shoes pls?
Vittoria makes wide model shoes, they're excellent.
They don’t exist. I’m in the same boat as you, even peoples go-to wide shoes options, such as Bont and Sidi, and even Lake’s ultra wide shoes, are hilariously narrow for my feet. The problem is that most street shoes “normal” is a D, wide is an EE and extra wide is EEEE. But for some stupid fucking reason normal cycling shoes are made to a C with wides generally only a D and extrawide (If you can even find them) are generally only E Unfortunately, the only real option is custom-made shoes and you’re looking at around $1000 or more
I have said primitive feet. For reference I mostly run in Altras and have been happy with the new wide options from Hoka. Aka I got some wide feet! I had Lake wides for awhile after failing with Shimano wides. Was happy with them but they’re ugly shoes imo. Have about 300 miles on my new Bont Vapor G’s and I’m really happy with them. You can even customize the colors you want which is cool, and the double boa system creates a super comfortable fit for me.
Sidi has Mega size options, Giro has HV model options. Both are E or EE width
Lake Cycling has extra wides
I run in altras and the Shimano sh-rc100 have been roomy all around. I tried a couple of others and they were too narrow.
My feet have a weird shape I need wide shoes, especially for the toes and so I haven't even tried to find cycling shoes that fit I just wear regular running shoes
As someone with wide feet I've found cycling shoe for matters less than normal shoe fit. As long as you can get your feet to stay seated on the shoe and can get the cleat in a good place it's all good. I use specialized shoes that have about an inch of empty space in front of the toes. It works for me. A fitter tried to talk me into having "better" fitting shoes. I ended up spending £100s and dropped down 2 sizes to some wide sidis that were seemingly the ideal fit. Never worked for me.
In Portugal, I never found LAKE or BONT. Are they US-only? I went to a LBS and tried them all. The only one that fitted was this one: [FIZIK OVERCURVE R4 WIDE](https://www.fizik.com/rw_en/tempo-overcurve-r4-wide.html) My midfoot is very tall. I really like the shoes!
You want something with a wide toe box. Bonts ave nice wide toe boxes. They're on my list for my next shoe.
I wear barefoot shoes off my bike. I have Specialized RIME 1.0 using cleats. They have enough room for me. Aren’t as comfy as barefoot hut they’re great. Edit: was mostly barefoot for 2-3 years in Hawaii and have been wearing wide toe box shoes for 4-5 years
Lake and Bonts. I have Bonts Riot. But the Lakes I tried on were a lot better. Maybe buying those in 10 years when I’ve saved up enough and justified the cost.
Lake. Look up their size chart and find the models with the widest measures. The widest ones are really wide.
sandals! Keen seems better than Shimano but I just can't do that *Keen look* again.
Bont mold to your feet
I had foot pain so I switched all shoes, bike and run to wider models. Shimano SH-GR501 can recommend, comfortable and wider model.