darkroast

Yet another recommendation request

It seems that the recent wintery/wet weather (Vancouver, BC) has left my existing pair of shoes (entry level Exustar from mec.ca) a little worse for wear.

They have reached a point where the beloved wife no longer wants them in the house - alas they have been relegated to the steps outside the basement. Something to do with the a distinct aroma that would fill the basement not long after I would come home.

All this is good news for me, as the much depleted cycle account is not longer depleted (magic!). Though I am a relative new commuter, I have become pretty addicted to it. With the view of maintaining this addiction, I would like to invest in a good pair of cycling shoes that are comfortable and will last me a good period of time. I am a fan of egg beater pedals, so I guess any SPD compatible shoes would work as long as the cleats are recessed - basic walking around (coffee shop, grocery, bank, etc).

Appreciate the advice.

unkchunk

I have a pair of Specialized Sport MTB shoes. I got them yesterday. So far so good.

The pair I used to have were Nike Kato III Straps. You might want to avoid those in that the only thing between your feet and the bracket the cleats screw into, is that foam insert thing.

greenstork

I just purchased a pair of Sidi Dominators. I was looking for very much the same qualities as you - extremely durable, built to last, and recessed cleats that don't allow the metal to dig in to my wood floors. The Sidi's fit the bill but they're very expensive. That said, they'll last a very long time and are widely regarded as one of the most bomber shoes available.

LordBass

I got the SixSixOne Tiburon 3 last summer. It fits the criteria of comfortable enough, stiff sole for cycling, and it's cheap. Also SPD compatible - I'm a first-time clipless rider. The cleat mount is recessed. These shoes will be hot on a very hot summer day, but apart from that I'm satisfied for the price.

darkroast

The Dominators are on my short list - apart from the price, I have heard nothing but positive thing about them. Which model did you get? My local cycling goods supplier has the Dominator Mega for CAD$249+taxes.

greenstork

Dominator 5 Lorica

marqueemoon

I have Dominator 5s also as well as a pair of Sidi Bullets. The Bullets lasted 3 solid years of near-daily use and I'm coming up on a year on the Dominators. The Bullets have lost quite a bit of stiffness in the sole and the velcro is almost shot but they're still usable.

modernjess

5 years and counting on my Sidi Dominators, lorica. I'd be willing to bet they have 5 years left. Still stiff, still work perfectly. You can find deals here and there, but they are always spendy. Considering performance and longevity and fit, IMHO worth every cent.

ghettocruiser

My Sidis are about 6 yrs old and I have noticed only a subtle softening of the sole, and of course the velcro loops getting worn out. They have been bumped down from "race" to "ride to work" but they will probably continue as such for at least a few more years.

mihlbach

Go with one of the lower end Sidi models. They are just as stiff and durable (if not quite as light) as the top end models. I have a pair of Sidi Bullet 2 mountain shoes and they are ultra durable. I don't remember what I paid, but it was way way less then $200. Normal Sidis tend to be narrow, but they do make mega-wide sizes, which fit me perfectly. My pair have survived at least 10,000 miles though sun rain and snow and look like they will last for at least another 15,000-20,000 miles. Of course there are scuffs, and the tread is worn somewhat from walking, but they show no signs of falling apart.


In contrast, my wife's pair of Pearl Izumi Vagabonds lasted about 300 miles until the metal thingy that the cleat bolts to broke...and my wife is a seriously weak cyclist who rarely exceeds 15mph, so its clearly the shoes that were at fault.

JOHN J

LAKE SANDALS!

I wear them 4 season , there comfy to walk in

rode today 21 deg in the am

WINTER: one heavy or two med wool sock with gortex oversock and or neoprene sock as well.

SPRING: one pair med wool sock with gortex oversock

SUMMER: light wool sock or coolmax sock, or no sock (I always wear sock)

FALL: one pair medium wool sock , gortex oversock if raining.

Works well for me in all conditions.

On sale at nashbar I think $54.00

"John"

mihlbach

Damn hippy grunger cyclists

unkchunk

Day 2: The Sport MTBs are still going strong. Moved the cleats to foremost position.

darkroast

Thanks to all for the advice. I will be checking out mec.ca; they stock both the Sidi Dominator and Bullet. The online catalog shows that the Bullet does not have a buckle - 3 velcro straps only. I have only used a show with a buckle system - I like the sense of security this system gives - giving the Dominators an edge.

mihlbach

never had a problem with the velcro on the bullets, not even on the hardest sprint on the track or the toughest climb on my singlespeed mtb.

JOHN J

Cool Dude!!

Bklyn

I spent what I thought was a fortune for Adidas Hammers last year ($130). They fit fine in the store, but proved too narrow in the toe. So after a few seasons of numb toes, I finally bought the Sidi Dominators (in the "mega" width, which puts them about normal width for human feet).
They're expensive, but they have them at probikekit.com for $177 US, free shipping. (Don't know if the free shipping includes Canada.)
Hard to beat.
And I love them. Comfortable, warm when it was cold, breathable when it has been warm.

PS: If you're a size 46 and you want a pair of pretty much new-looking Adidas Hammers, PM me.

dobber

I'm quite fond of my Cannondale Roams. Nice for walking about in also.

darkroast

So now I am proud (and poor) owner of Dominator 5s. A very solid, light shoe. I looked at the Bullet as well, but preferred the fit of the Dominator (I might have been bias going into it though :-)). Only a couple of days into them and so far no issues. They are definitely a stiffer shoe (compared to my Exustar anyway). I am a size #43 and shoe fits very comfortably - small room in the toe area (tried #42 and my big-toe was rubbing the front).

Again thanks to all for your advice.