Wide fit SPD shoes with flexy sole: do they exist?

[Valerio]

Hello!

I hope my experience helps the wide footed folks out there, and I'm hoping to get some advice myself.

I've got long and incredibly wide feet, finding wide shoes has been really tricky but I thought I had found the holy grail when I bought some expensive Lake shoes with wide fit.
I tried Giro, Quoc, Northwave, Fizik....nothing.
The only ones that worked ok were the Quoc but they dont do them in my size (13) and i was tryingnto make a size 12 work, which wasnt ideal.
I now have 3 pairs of Lakes and they're great. I really like them and would recommend them for any kind of ride, and I recommend their winter boots also.

Multi-day bikepacking on tricky terrain and with plenty of hike a bike though....doesn't go well with stiff carbon shoes.

I have used a pair of Pearl Izumi x-alp mesa. Theyre just about ok width-wise and find them to have the right level of stiffness.
I'm looking to use them on a long winter event though, and theyre too narrow for me to combine them with thick socks.

Any advice?

As far as im aware Lake makes a "urban" spd shoe which seems foot shaped but looks like a very lightweight (summer) shoe, with a sole with no lugs and probably little traction.

[Boab]

As always for actually wide feet, Lake are your friend.
https://www.saltdogcycling.com/lake-mx2 ... ike-shoes/

[Dyffers]

Multi-day bikepacking on tricky terrain and with plenty of hike a bike though....Any advice?

Trail running shoes and flat pedals.

Won't cost you much time pedalling, but hugely better for hikeabike and general comfort, and also lots of wide foot options and sizes.

[Valerio]

As always for actually wide feet, Lake are your friend.
https://www.saltdogcycling.com/lake-mx2 ... ike-shoes/

Those are the ones I was thinking of Boab, have you tried them?
I read a few reviews and while theyre probably ok width-wise, the upper doesn't strike me as very robust/weather resistant.
I guess the only way to find out is by trying them, but theyre not exactly cheap!

[Valerio]

Multi-day bikepacking on tricky terrain and with plenty of hike a bike though....Any advice?

Trail running shoes and flat pedals.

Won't cost you much time pedalling, but hugely better for hikeabike and general comfort, and also lots of wide foot options and sizes.

You're probably right, but I quite like being "strapped" to the bike, and find spds to be helpful when doing a lot of climbing.
I would also like to stick with the pedals I have, although I guess a pair of flats shouldnt be too expensive.

[Boab]

As always for actually wide feet, Lake are your friend.
https://www.saltdogcycling.com/lake-mx2 ... ike-shoes/

Those are the ones I was thinking of Boab, have you tried them?
I read a few reviews and while theyre probably ok width-wise, the upper doesn't strike me as very robust/weather resistant.
I guess the only way to find out is by trying them, but theyre not exactly cheap!

They are the shoes I wear; wore them on last years BB200. I prefer a rigid carbon sole when using SPDs, as you can feel them flex when you stand up and I don't like that. I switched to flat pedals and they're totes fine with those. Yes, they're a bit breezy with all that mesh at the front, and the Boa dials have a tendency to slacken off over time due to the flex, but they are properly wide in the toe box. They did do another model, which has disappeared from their website, that was all leather and lace up, sort of wish I'd bought those ones, especially when using them in the colder months; they have released a winter boot with the Comfort Plus last though, which doesn't have mesh over the toes; looks bogging though.

I like them, but I really need to get the cleat caps, as that bit gets totally clogged with carp when you get off and push. If you're planning on using SPDs, make sure you carry a tent peg, or something thin and pointy, to help get the crud out...

EDIT: Found them!
https://uk.lakecycling.com/collections/ ... cts/mx-169

EDIT: I should also say, they're not exactly svelte. When soaking wet after repetitively wading through a Welsh river, can feel quite heavy.

[Valerio]

As always for actually wide feet, Lake are your friend.
https://www.saltdogcycling.com/lake-mx2 ... ike-shoes/

Those are the ones I was thinking of Boab, have you tried them?
I read a few reviews and while theyre probably ok width-wise, the upper doesn't strike me as very robust/weather resistant.
I guess the only way to find out is by trying them, but theyre not exactly cheap!

They are the shoes I wear; wore them on last years BB200. I prefer a rigid carbon sole when using SPDs, as you can feel them flex when you stand up and I don't like that. I switched to flat pedals and they're totes fine with those. Yes, they're a bit breezy with all that mesh at the front, and the Boa dials have a tendency to slacken off over time due to the flex, but they are properly wide in the toe box. They did do another model, which has disappeared from their website, that was all leather and lace up, sort of wish I'd bought those ones, especially when using them in the colder months; they have released a winter boot with the Comfort Plus last though, which doesn't have mesh over the toes; looks bogging though.

I like them, but I really need to get the cleat caps, as that bit gets totally clogged with carp when you get off and push. If you're planning on using SPDs, make sure you carry a tent peg, or something thin and pointy, to help get the crud out...

EDIT: Found them!
https://uk.lakecycling.com/collections/ ... cts/mx-169

EDIT: I should also say, they're not exactly svelte. When soaking wet after repetitively wading through a Welsh river, can feel quite heavy.

Thanks Boab!

Unfortunately size 48 is out of stock....the story of my life

The Pearl Izumi I have seem to hit the spot for me, they're easy to walk in but stiff enough when pedalling.
I'll keep an eye on the Lakes or see if Salt Dog has them

[fatbikephil]

I'd definitely try them on ahead of buying but the Shimano SH range shoes are a lot wider than of old. I had a pair of the predecessors and they were actually quite a wide fit (and cheap at the time)
Generally size at least on up though....

[Calzzak]

I have gone through this exact same process and come to the same conclusions. Only Lake shoes fit my feet. I have worn two different pairs in the two Highland Trails I've done. Both of them fitted my feet great but neither were very good for walking in.

The more recent pair were MX168s. Very comfy, but easily the heaviest cycling shoes I've ever felt. No idea why they are so heavy but it's very noticeable. They were not bad for walking in to be fair, just strangely heavy.

Those MX201s and MX169s look good, not tried them but would be keen to hear how others get on with them. And maybe Lake have made them a bit lighter than the older 168s?

Approaching it from the other angle, the best shoes I've worn for walking in are Shimanos AM5. They're wide enough to get by, great for walking and much lighter than the Lakes. But when it came to 4 days with a lot of hiking, I chose the Lakes over the Shimanos...

[Hyppy]

I've been PEARL iZUMi here too when things are looking hike-a-bikey, Valerio, X-Alp Summits in my case but after a little over a year they split across the sole just in front of the cleat kinda inline with the ball of your foot so maybe not so hike-a-bikey after all.

Trying Shimano ME7s—same company innit?—now but the sizing seems a bit off. Had to size up for width, but my heel slips unless they're cranked up real tight.

[Wotsits]

Shimano XM9? (Or whatever the latest equivilent is..)

These are the best cycling shoes to walk in i've used, they're not a bad width either..
I've found the main downside is the slightly open cuff, which can collect water & small stones, although this can be improved with gaiters..
Hike-a-bike in places like the lakes is a proper shoe-killer, the Shimano Boot style are the only ones i've found to have lasted.

One thing that i have found though, the better the shoes are to walk in, the more flexible the soles are. This in-turn makes them not the best cycling shoes, but they're much better if used with a pedal with a platform that offers some support..

[Valerio]

A short update from me on my quest to find a good pair of wide shoes for multi day trips.

I just received a pair of Lake MX169. They are HUGE(not width-wise) and HEAVY.
I might keep them and use them for commuting duties but I don't think I'll wear them for trips.

I haven't tried them on yet, but looking at the insoles they're just as wide as my Pearl Izumi XAlp Mesa.

The shape of the insole and shoe is more barefoot style and only marginally larger here and there by a few mm.
The MX169 are significantly heavier and have laces rather than Boa and velcro.

The spd cleat is properly recessed and I can see it getting clogged easily as Baob mentioned.

I paid £135 for them with a £20 discount. For the price I think the Mesa are a better value.

[Hyppy]

Don't you want something with a few lugs on the sole to be more hike-a-bike friendly, Valerio? I can't imagine much getting much grip from those.

I _think_ PEARL iZUMi have given up on doing shoes. I'm peeved that I never stocked up on models I was happy with while Alpine Trek were selling them off.

And speaking of heavy, I dug my 45NRTH Wolfhammers out to go ride in the snow the other day and my god, do they give the calves a workout!

[Valerio]

Lack of lugs was also my concern but having looked at the sole and shoes, I don't think that would be a massive issue...perhaps in plenty of mud yes. In which case I think the spd recess would also get completely clogged like Baob pointed out.

Having now walked in the shoes (inside my flat) my other comments are:
- sole is stiffer than the one of the pearl izumi mesa I have. I expected them to be more flexible. I'm not sure if they would get more flexible with use but I suspect not.
- weight is really noticeable. They really are heavy and big.
- the upper is nice and comfy. Probably great for 3/4 of the year except the coldest and hottest days.
- width wise I'd say it's a very wide shoe by cycling standards, but not as wide as lakes wide shoes (i havent measured this, just a feeling)

Overall it feels too much of a shoe for what I need so I'm afraid I'll probably send it back as it costed me £120 and I can't afford to keep it for the odd casual ride.

[Hyppy]

… I'll probably send it back as it costed me £120 and I can't afford to keep it for the odd casual ride.

If in doubt, do it! We had a conversation on a ride the other day about how crap (and we think it’s mainly a bloke thing) we were at not sending things back when they weren’t quite right. We all had loads of kit lying about that we thought we’d find a use but never have.