Cycle shoes for wide feet / high instep

[oneten]

Finding shoes to suit my high instep has always been a problem for me. In order to accommodate my rather high arch and width,it has usually meant buying shoes a size larger which are then noticeably too long. For ordinary general purpose shoes, I usually find a pair of Clarkes suitable as they do take width variation into account. But now with the latest Covid restrictions, it isn't possible to simply try pairs on in a shop. Now I want to buy a pair of winter cycle shoes and am at a loss to know what to order. I've been wearing my trusty Exustar sandals bought from Spa Cycles up until now and, with their adjustable straps, width isn't an issue. Trouble is, being sandals, they're not so good in wet wintry weather.

There are currently some Exustar Stelvio SP705 shoes on offer at Spa - there is the option to order two different sizes then to return the unsuitable pair for a refund - but they look like quite a slim, narrow shoe and may not be suitable.

I still ride with toe-clips and straps but may start riding clip-less in future so SPD would be desirable. Spa have a nice looking pair of end of range Shimano MT43 shoes but only in one size. Has anyone had similar experience buying shoes to fit shorter, widre feet? Can anyone make any recommendations please ?

[De Sisti]

I have very wide feet (a family trait) and even the widest of shoes I've tried in the past were
not suitable. Shimano wide-fit shoes, well, err, were not wide-fit (enough) for me. I have some
Sidi wide-fit shoes, but I had to use one of these to make them wearable.

[TrevA]

I have a high instep and also still use toe clips. I tend to ride in trainer style shoes - similar to the MT43, my current shoes are Specialized Tahoe, but I think they’ve stopped making those. The trend seems to be more towards Skater style/Vans type shoes nowadays. I would stick with lace ups or Velcro fastenings. I can’t wear ratchet fastening shoes as the ratchets aren’t long enough. Not yet tried Boas.

I’d be looking at something like these Giro shoes as my next ones:

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Giro/G ... Shoes/P7DB

They are SPD compatible.

[oneten]

I have some
Sidi wide-fit shoes, but I had to use one of these to make them wearable.

Thank you De Sisti . I notice you bought the stretcher inserts from Tipsons and glad they did the job for you.

[oneten]

Thanks TrevA. The ones you've linked me too look like a good option. I wonder if it's possible to treat them with a water proofing spray? The other problem I have using toe clips is that wearing over-shoes can be problematic.

[LittleGreyCat]

Thanks TrevA. The ones you've linked me too look like a good option. I wonder if it's possible to treat them with a water proofing spray? The other problem I have using toe clips is that wearing over-shoes can be problematic.

I can't get cycling shoes to fit.
Nor can I get normal shoes or trainers, mostly.

For "proper" shoes I wear Clarks in the wide fitting.
[Although I very rarely wear them now.]

For trainers I wear New Balance in the 4E width.
[I haven't found any other trainer in a comparable width fitting.
I visited a specialist sports show shop in Sydney a few years back, and the guy was very confident that he could find something other than a NB to fit.
Eventually he conceded that NB were the only ones, and gave me a small discount. ]

For cycling I wear an older pair of the NB with toe clips.
Rubber clips, not the metal ones with straps.

For wet weather (and cold weather) I wear ShowerPass waterproof socks.
Trainers are designed to take a thick sock, and with waterproof socks you get warm feet and it doesn't matter if the shoes get wet.
Trainers are designed for all weather use anyway.

[gaz]

Recent thread, similar comments.

[De Sisti]

I have some
Sidi wide-fit shoes, but I had to use one of these to make them wearable.

Thank you De Sisti . I notice you bought the stretcher inserts from Tipsons and glad they did the job for you.

I bought mine from the local shoe repair shop (but the shoe stretchers I've seen are pretty much all alike).

Edit: I am the opposite. I have very wide and pronating feet. For info, they are not my feet.

[sukuinage]

I'm also a Clarks G fitting (Asics & NB 4E). In all of those I wear a UK 10 but my cycling shoes are Sidi Mega 46.5; they fit pretty well for both length and width. Unfortunately for the OP and me they don't do any winter boots in the Mega width but the shoes with overshoes or with the thick merino socks I wear aren't bad even down to freezing.
I was told that the half sizes in Sidi are wider than the full sizes for the same length - not sure if that's true or not - I just followed the recommendation of one European size plus the half bigger than you normal shoes size and it seemed to work.

[De Sisti]

My Sidi Mega shoes are size 10/45.5

[TrevA]

Thanks TrevA. The ones you've linked me too look like a good option. I wonder if it's possible to treat them with a water proofing spray? The other problem I have using toe clips is that wearing over-shoes can be problematic.

I wear Planet X/Carnac neoprene overshoes - these have Velcro at the back and are easy to put on over your trainer style shoes. They do get ruined eventually but they are cheap - £15 a pair.

[fausto copy]

I'm like the OP with wide feet & high instep.
To give an indication, I've just bought some shoes in 'K' width fitting!
Shimano and their ilk are just tooooooo narrow.

I have got a pair of Exustar touring shoes and they have been fine for me.
However, amazingly, the best fit I've had are from the cheaper Lidl cycling shoes.
Once, I managed to find a size 7 but others have been size 8 and they are fine.

So, keep your eyes peeled the next time they come around.

[oneten]

Many thanks for all the replies and advice. Just goes to show that size - or width in this case - matters. I will try and track down some of the ones suggested and yes, often some of the things in Lidl (and Aldi) can provide a cheap but good solution.