Commuting - what kinda spd shoes do y'all wear?

i loved my 661 launch spd's, but they literally fell a part in a rather short period of time, imo. possibly due to rides thru floods, but still. anyone got any info on something that is tantalizingly cheep, epically durable, or (gasp!), both?
tia,
-rob

Ummm...SixSixOne Launch SPDs. Only problem I've had is I bought them a size too large and the inside cushion behind the heel/achilles has fallen apart.

Pearl Izumi Vagabonds. I got them cheap at Copeland's last winter and they've been very reliable so far.

http://www.bike-supply.de/images/PearlizumiSchuhe/VagabondSchwarz220.jpg

I have a pair of Specialized BG shoes (comp I think). They have been great so far.

Old school Nike Ngumba's

for commuting / road I wanted spd's so I could walk in them, but I wanted stiffness because, well, road shoes are supposed to be stiff.. but I have to be able to walk into my office building without looking like a complete moron too... so I wanted a shoe I could walk in.

I ended up with the '07 Nike Medora - very stiff sole, and they built up the heel and rounded off the walking tread so you can still walk comfortably even with a solid sole.

Of all the spd shoes I tried on (a subset of the market to be sure), they were both the stiffest, AND easiest to walk in. An unlikely combination.

Shimano MTB shoes

Sidis - Bullet and Dominator 5. Not cheap, but very durable.

-Sidi Dominator 5 for summer

-Exustar E-SM450 Cold Weather Shoes, But I have limited use with them.

-Currently using Merrell Thermo Path Finders with DH Platform Pedals. Not SPD, but allows me to get my foot down ASAP in deep snow and slippery conditions.

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/469/defride12fh1.jpg

I think they're Shimano M120's (not sure of the exact number). They've been through countless rainstorms where I could literally pour water from my shoe after taking them off. I think I have around 6000 or so miles of mostly commuting but some offroad riding with them. No signs of falling apart anywhere. The only thing I don't like is that the tread is too shallow and my cleats scrape the ground. That's far from a good enough reason to replace them though. I figure I'll eventually rip a strap off or something then I'll buy new ones. I paid $75 about 2 years ago.

I love my Shimano SPD sandles. I wear them year round here in CA. Wool socks in the winter.

Primary shoes are some really old-school Didadora's. Lots of mesh and laces.

Bought some Sidi Dominator 5's to replace the diadora's, but the old shoes are holding up so well I haven't even put cleats on the sidi's yet.

Still searching for a winter boot that offers some true warmth in my size (48). I hear the Sidi shoes aren't really warm, and not sure about Lake sizing (running small, and they only make a 48 and a 50... no 49?).

Also have another pair of identical Diadoras and a pair of Pearl Izumi's that are spinning shoes, although I haven't been to a class in months now.

I have a pair of cheapie Shimano mtb shoes, a pair of Shimano sandals, a pair of Answer Kashmir boots and I just ordered a pair of Diadora Igwanas that Nashbar had for like 35 bucks (before the discount).

Still searching for a winter boot that offers some true warmth in my size (48). I hear the Sidi shoes aren't really warm, and not sure about Lake sizing (running small, and they only make a 48 and a 50... no 49?).

I like the Answer Kashmir boots I got earlier this year...the 48s are much comfier on my size 13 wide feet than the Lakes, and have kept me plenty warm so far. 13F this morning, only a pair of smartwool socks and the boots on my feet. I've seen em on sale for less than 70 bucks lately.

I have these Diadora bike-cop shoes, for winter. I bought them too big to accommodate wool socks, but they're still too big. But for big, dorky boots, they fit nicely and they seem quite warm. No real complaints. (Except this just reminded me to cut out some more of the tread! I fell last time I wore them from getting snagged!) These things are on sale at Performance for $40 or something.
http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/150/20_2706BLK.jpg
I also have a pair of Adidas Hammers, which are my size, but they're pretty narrow. My toes tend to fall asleep in them.

Does anyone think it would be possible to compile a list of shoe manufacturers and how they generally fit? (As in: Adidas run narrow, Lake's tend to be a size too small, that kind of thing.) Many of us buy shoes online and can't always try things on at the LBS. (My LBS doesn't even stock 46's and higher, generally....)

Answer mountain bike shoes. I've been commuting and walking in the current pair for over two years.

Above freezing:
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/SD-D5M.gif

And below it:
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/SH/SH-LAKEMXZ301.jpg

Summer:
http://shop.bikesky.cz/obrazky/speshoe_comp_carb_mtb.jpg
Winter:
http://willybikes.com/images/library/large/sidi_winter_stm_06_m.jpg

Specialized Road Comp shoes seem to fit my feet well and I don't have problems riding 100 miles at a time in them. I've tried Sidi but they just don't fit my feet as well.

I use LOOK Carbon KEO pedals on both my road bikes which also serve commuting duty on and off throughout the year.

I love the Shimano sandles. I also have Shimano M021's. And I have a pair of Sidi road shoes but haven't worn them all summer. I still have this image in my head from a picture at the scene of Sydney's accident showing a lone bike shoe on the pavement ..that looked just like mine. Sorry if that creeps anybody out.

Cheap Sette Elements. The operative word being cheap.

http://www.cyclecomponents.com/images/artiklar/LAKE022-39.jpg

Lake MX-101

Shimano Sandals. Quite durable. 13k miles and I got a new pair as the velcro on one strap stopped working. That is quite easy to repair and I will.
Warm with wool and/or water proof socks. You can fit multiple pairs of socks to match the weather.
Al

Summer and winter (Though we don't have much of a winter here):

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/SH-MT20D.gif

p.s. not recommended for winter...

You can fit multiple pairs of socks to match the weather.
Al

Sometimes, if you get a pair big enough. I already wear 48s - one pair of wool socks and sealskins is the best I can do...luckily thats good enough for most conditions. ;)

Sometimes, if you get a pair big enough. I already wear 48s - one pair of wool socks and sealskins is the best I can do...luckily thats good enough for most conditions. ;)
I am footsize 12 (46.5) and have the 47/48 Sandals. My feet are narrow and the straps when barefoot when tightened hang over the edge of the footbed - so I have plenty of room for extra socks.

Al

Summer - Sidi Energy (SPD)
Winter - Sidi Storm 3 (SPD)

Road (summer, Look) - Alpinestars cheapies, junk, falling apart - can't wait 'till they die so I can get another pair of Sidis. (I have worn out several cheap shoes before I saw the light and went Sidi.)

Summer - an older version of these:

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m67/legot73/mx165_blk.jpg

Winter:

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m67/legot73/mxz301.jpg

For those wearing the Answer Kashmir or the Lake MXZ301s, are they true to size? I wear a 48 in Sette Elements and a 14 in regular shoes (normal width). What size should I order?

I've found that all Lake shoes run at least a .5 size small. I'm a solid US 10.5. My summer shoes are 44.5 and the boots are a 46. Both fit comfortably. I don't believe the MXZ301 sizes account for heavier socks at all, and recommend at least a full size to 1.5 bigger than you normally wear.

On the bright side, your size is at the end of the bell curve, so there tend to be a few unsold. Check www.lickbike.com. They had the best deals at the time I bought.

For those wearing the Answer Kashmir or the Lake MXZ301s, are they true to size? I wear a 48 in Sette Elements and a 14 in regular shoes (normal width). What size should I order?

The Answers run pretty close...I wear a size 13 and most 48s seem too narrow for me, but the Answers fit fine.

The Answers run pretty close...I wear a size 13 and most 48s seem too narrow for me, but the Answers fit fine.
Do you have normal width feet? Are they too tight with regular socks or with mid/heavy socks? I'm hoping to be able to use a mid weight wool sock and still have a little room. Tired of the damned booties. Sounds like I should order 50s. I saw the Lickbike page.

edit:
Century has the Kashmirs for $100 (http://centurycycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=1&id=2019). So will it be Kashmirs in 48 or MXZ301s in 50?

Hey Chipcom you've messed up my mind and lead me to buyers remorse.
The orginal Shimano SD60 sandal I bought in an LBS and tried on the 45/46 and the 47/48 and the 45/46 was too small. I've loved this sandal since day one.

I wanted a replacement and recently ordered the 47/48 SD65 without trying it on (aside from 3 vs. 2 straps, an inferior redesign, no longer a lightweight very breathable sandal).

It feels and looks too big now. Riding home just now I couldn't stop thinking about how it is too big for
me. My feet are 11.5/12 and the nashbar website says that 12 is a 46.5 in Shimano.

I think Shimano made the SD65 a little bit bigger than the SD60.

Al

I've been thrilled with my Shimano SH-MT30 shoes.

Do you have normal width feet? Are they too tight with regular socks or with mid/heavy socks? I'm hoping to be able to use a mid weight wool sock and still have a little room. Tired of the damned booties. Sounds like I should order 50s. I saw the Lickbike page.

edit:
Century has the Kashmirs for $100 (http://centurycycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=1&id=2019). So will it be Kashmirs in 48 or MXZ301s in 50?

I got wide feet and I wear my heavy smartwool socks with them. My big toe has about 3/4-1 inch space from the front of the boot...so it may fit your 14's. If you're like me, you'd best actually try any shoe on rather than buying blindly online.

I coulda swore that Century had them on sale in Peninsula for like $69. If I woulda read this before I left work I could stopped by and checked before riding home (I work across the bridge).

Hey Chipcom you've messed up my mind and lead me to buyers remorse.
The orginal Shimano SD60 sandal I bought in an LBS and tried on the 45/46 and the 47/48 and the 45/46 was too small. I've loved this sandal since day one.

I wanted a replacement and recently ordered the 47/48 SD65 without trying it on (aside from 3 vs. 2 straps, an inferior redesign, no longer a lightweight very breathable sandal).

It feels and looks too big now. Riding home just now I couldn't stop thinking about how it is too big for
me. My feet are 11.5/12 and the nashbar website says that 12 is a 46.5 in Shimano.

I think Shimano made the SD65 a little bit bigger than the SD60.

Al

I got the SD60s in 47/48 It's not that they are too small, the problem with too much on my feet are the limitations of the velcro on the straps...not enough usable to loosen them enough. I noticed the design differences of the 65s - you say they are heavier?

I noticed the design differences of the 65s - you say they are heavier?
They look and feel heavier. If they are I don't know.
I have the opposite problem. The footbed on the SD60 45/46 was too short so I had to get the 47/48 The straps on the 47/48 for both models are way too long. About 1.5" of excess hangs below the foot bed of the SD60 when tightened down without socks.
Al