How to buy (SPD) shoes?

[Mrdini]

So a bit overwhelmed to be honest... I have a Specialized Diverge with A530 pedals that has SPD fittings on one side - I've put off buying SPD shoes until I was ready - which I guess I am now.

However - whilst I've read advice such as https://fitwerx.com/cycling-shoe-fit-how-should-a-well-fit-shoe-feel-and-other-considerations/ and https://www.solestar.de/en/service/5-tips-on-how-to-find-the-right-cycling-shoe, it doesn't really help with understanding the actual buying process of shoes.

Maybe I should explain what happened today. So - my feet are slightly on the wide side (but not actually "wide" wide as in that I need specifically wide a.k.a. HV shoes(*)). I went to the local Evans store which is the Gatwick warehouse. In a way, that's good, because they have literally everything that a local Evans store would have. But on the flip side, every time I ask for a different size of model, it takes ten minutes for them to get the shoes from the warehouse... :/ It was a very slow process. Also, I didn't really feel very supported or guided in which shoes I should be trying on... They were just giving me generally wide shoes and not really checking my feet for sizing.

As they said I could return shoes if I didn't put on cleats, I ended up buying the Bontrager Evoke MTB shoes to try on at home for a longer period. However, having wore them at home for a bit, I now realise that they're a touch too small/claustrophobic in the toe box area (I can barely wiggle my toes at all), so they'll likely go back soon. They do feel snug however with no movement - just a _touch_ short in length.

So I guess my question is how do I go about the practicalities of selecting suitable shoes to try on? I could go elsewhere with more knowledgeable staff, I guess but not many other places have the range of shoes that the Evans Gatwick warehouse has. Also - the other concern I have is that if I can't return shoes once I fit cleats on, how do/can I check if shoes feels okay while pedalling my bicycle?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

(*) I tried the Giro Privateer HV - bit big.

 

[Seevio]

As a general hypothesis, if shoes feel ok when you walk about in them a bit, they should be ok when you put cleats in. If there is any discomfort when you try them, then this may well amplify as ride time increases. If you have the luxury of being able to try the shoes on before you buy, then make the most of it. Just keep trying shoes until you find some that fit properly.

This is of course just wild conjecture.

The reviews for the shoes I have said sizing is a little conservative and to get the the next size up. I did and they are comfy AF.

 

[slowmotion]

I have quite wide feet. I found that Shimano and Specialized SPD shoes were far too narrow, hopelessly so. NorthWave tend to have wider ones and they suit me well. BTW, conventional shoe sizes and bike shoe sizes are on different planets. If you want to buy online, make sure that the vendor has free returns.

They all cost a ludicrous amount of money considering that they are little more than trainers with stiff soles, despite what the marketing wallahs say.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Lake is another brand made for us square footed individuals.

 

[Doobiesis]

Have you measured the widest part of your foot?

I’ve struggled from day one with buying shoes that don’t fit, and whilst an hour in the saddle is normally ok, anything over that is crippling.

As someone already said do not buy Specialized as they do not deviate from 900mm.

Measure your foot and then go online and search for shoes that match your feet. Websites always list the sizes for any shoe.

I’m about to purchase some Lake ladies shoes in the hope I can do over 50 miles without it crippling me!

 

[gasinayr]

Why not do the same as we used to do with ice hockey skates. Draw the outline of your feet on cardboard and sent to the shoe makers and see what they suggest.

 

[vickster]

I have very awkward feet, large for a woman, and wide with an extremely high instep/arch (oh and arthritis). The best shoes I've found were Specialized Sonoma. I've tried dozens of pairs on and none have come close to those. I've cycled thousands of miles and walked many hundreds in them and finally wore out, so have sourced a second hand pair that I need to break in. Yes, my feet do go a bit numb on longer rides and I can get cramp, but I just accept that I'll never find perfect shoes (goes for all shoes). I've tried Northwave, even Sidi mega, Giro, Bontrager, Louis Garneau, DHB, Shimano wide etc etc and none have come close. Can't recall if I've tried Lake.

I do have some wide Shimano that were ok and I did manage 100 miler in, but didn't feel so good last time I tried. I have some Decathlon ones which felt ok on the turbo but need to be tried outside and some Specialized Tahoes collecting dust which I should try again too!

I gave up on the idea of SPD-SL due to the safety or not of walking and the fact that not one pair of shoes I tried came even close to feeling comfortable!

 

[ianrauk]

I have quite wide feet. I found that Shimano and Specialized SPD shoes were far too narrow, hopelessly so. NorthWave tend to have wider ones and they suit me well. BTW, conventional shoe sizes and bike shoe sizes are on different planets. If you want to buy online, make sure that the vendor has free returns.

They all cost a ludicrous amount of money considering that they are little more than trainers with stiff soles, despite what the marketing wallahs say.

Yet, the Northwave shoes I have are narrower then the Spesh ones I have.
I guess it's down to what ones you get.

 

[Nick Saddlesore]

If you want to use the shoes in winter, allow enough room for thick socks without any pinching - tight shoes will make your feet colder. And in very hot weather your feet will swell.
I wear Sidi Dominator Mega, but no longer made. Giro & Shimano come up narrow. I've heard good about Lake, and https://lifecyclesleeds.co.uk/products/2018-lake-mx1-mtb-shoe-black looks like a good deal.

 

[Soltydog]

I have wide size 12 feet & sometimes struggle. I find specialized size 48s spot on & on some of my bikes I have spd pedals & have a pair of their sport touring shoes, had them years & still going strong, something similar to https://www.jejamescycles.com/speci...MI29Cf66vt4QIViQrTCh0S2w-5EAQYAyABEgJKn_D_BwE so if you have a spesh dealer nearby maybe worth trying them

I have a couple of bikes fitted with Look pedals & use a road shoe with them, tried many over the years & my favourites/comfiest are DMT Libra. Got a pair cheap (around £30 iirc) from PBK & like them so much I ended up paying £95 for a replacement pair. They are now discontinued, so hopefully other DMT shoes will be equally comfy when I need another pair

 

[Mrdini]

Hi all,

Thanks for your advice! I'll have a look at some of the recommended. But I suppose my question was about how to buy shoes rather than which to buy. Thing is - when I go to buy other "specialised" shoes like running shoes or ski boots, I get the feeling the fitters are more knowledgeable and aware of their range. I can say "Hmm, no, that's not quite right in that bit" and then they can suggest other shoes.
But at Evans, they were like "Hmm, let me search 'Wide' on the computer and see what we have in the warehouse" - plus that ten minutes wait each and every time Aside from the wait, is that normal when buying cycle shoes?! It feels like cycle shops are a bit "jack of all trades and master of none" when it comes to shoes if that makes sense?

 

[cyberknight]

https://www.mantel.com/blog/en/cycling-shoe-size-recommendation/

 

[fossyant]

Try them on, don't be fooled with sizes - you'll need to try them on. Some shoes I'm 1 up on normal shoes, sometimes 2.

I've stuck with Shimano now - I know their size 44 fits me fine, so was able to buy another pair that fitted exactly. My road shoes are Spesh Pro Carbon, and those again were a size up, but 43 !

 

[Mrdini]

https://www.mantel.com/blog/en/cycling-shoe-size-recommendation/

Wow, that's an awesome page! That's very useful & definitely will help narrow down my search!

I guess I can either click to collect a range of shoes from the local Evans or order online once I've measured & know exactly my size.

 

[nickAKA]

Hi all,

Thanks for your advice! I'll have a look at some of the recommended. But I suppose my question was about how to buy shoes rather than which to buy. Thing is - when I go to buy other "specialised" shoes like running shoes or ski boots, I get the feeling the fitters are more knowledgeable and aware of their range. I can say "Hmm, no, that's not quite right in that bit" and then they can suggest other shoes.
But at Evans, they were like "Hmm, let me search 'Wide' on the computer and see what we have in the warehouse" - plus that ten minutes wait each and every time Aside from the wait, is that normal when buying cycle shoes?! It feels like cycle shops are a bit "jack of all trades and master of none" when it comes to shoes if that makes sense?

In the final analysis they're not a shoe shop - they're a bike shop that happens to sell shoes - therefore not experts on them, and as you can see by the anecdotal responses we're all different and have a different take.
Personally, I find northwave 'roomy', decathlon you have to size up AT LEAST half a size whilst Fizik are perfect for me at half a size bigger than my usual size, but my feet are quite narrow.
TL,DR - you'll need to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your footware prince.