Why don't more companies make wide width cycling shoes?
04-10-19, 01:39 PM
#1
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Why don't more companies make wide width cycling shoes?
Why don't cycling shoe companies make more wide width shoes than they do? Seems like the ones they do make all tend to be high priced versions as well.
This has been the case for as long as I can recall having trouble finding wide shoes. I am sure there are a lot of riders out there that have wide feet.
Thoughts?
This has been the case for as long as I can recall having trouble finding wide shoes. I am sure there are a lot of riders out there that have wide feet.
Thoughts?
04-10-19, 01:50 PM
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I think that wider shoes of all types have gotten much easier to find, probably due to the obesity epidemic. Certain brands like New Balance have carved out a niche for people with wide feet, who know that their brand runs slightly wider, and have loyalty to the brand. Cycling shoes have always run narrow, unless you paid several hundred dollars extra for an expensive brand like Lake or Carnac.
I don't know what really drives the cycling shoe market, but most brands still run pretty narrow, I guess on the assumption (not always true) that cyclists are mostly skinny folks with narrow feet. It's not just obese people that have wide feet.
On the practical side though, I have gotten a few pairs of cycling shoes that were too narrow to work by taking out the insole. But I guess most of us cyclists with wide feet just suffer in silence while making do with what's out there, or pay an arm and a leg for premium brands that run wider.
I don't know what really drives the cycling shoe market, but most brands still run pretty narrow, I guess on the assumption (not always true) that cyclists are mostly skinny folks with narrow feet. It's not just obese people that have wide feet.
On the practical side though, I have gotten a few pairs of cycling shoes that were too narrow to work by taking out the insole. But I guess most of us cyclists with wide feet just suffer in silence while making do with what's out there, or pay an arm and a leg for premium brands that run wider.
04-10-19, 02:08 PM
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It's really simple--shoe manufacturers make the sizes of shoes they can sell enough of to cover the costs. Cycling shoes are already aimed at a small segment of the shoe market, so the number of people who want cycling shoes in a size at either end of the bell curve is going to be unprofitably small.
04-10-19, 02:15 PM
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I think that wider shoes of all types have gotten much easier to find, probably due to the obesity epidemic. Certain brands like New Balance have carved out a niche for people with wide feet, who know that their brand runs slightly wider, and have loyalty to the brand. Cycling shoes have always run narrow, unless you paid several hundred dollars extra for an expensive brand like Lake or Carnac.
I don't know what really drives the cycling shoe market, but most brands still run pretty narrow, I guess on the assumption (not always true) that cyclists are mostly skinny folks with narrow feet. It's not just obese people that have wide feet.
On the practical side though, I have gotten a few pairs of cycling shoes that were too narrow to work by taking out the insole. But I guess most of us cyclists with wide feet just suffer in silence while making do with what's out there, or pay an arm and a leg for premium brands that run wider.
I don't know what really drives the cycling shoe market, but most brands still run pretty narrow, I guess on the assumption (not always true) that cyclists are mostly skinny folks with narrow feet. It's not just obese people that have wide feet.
On the practical side though, I have gotten a few pairs of cycling shoes that were too narrow to work by taking out the insole. But I guess most of us cyclists with wide feet just suffer in silence while making do with what's out there, or pay an arm and a leg for premium brands that run wider.
I started wearing New Balance when I was very overweight, and now that I have lost about half of my body weight, I did find that my shoe size got a little narrower. I still wear New Balance, and it isn't just the width--there's something about the support that they have that works better for me than other wide shoes.
I ride platform pedals on all my bikes, and I find their skate shoes work really well.
04-10-19, 02:24 PM
#6
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Shimano shoes work very well with my high arches and slightly wide feet. Many European brands are ballet shoe narrow unless they offer widths.
04-10-19, 02:33 PM
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It's really simple--shoe manufacturers make the sizes of shoes they can sell enough of to cover the costs. Cycling shoes are already aimed at a small segment of the shoe market, so the number of people who want cycling shoes in a size at either end of the bell curve is going to be unprofitably small.
Hmmm...... Looks like you covered this perfectly. Not a single flaw in this reason at all.
It's just annoying for the square footed among us who need the wider shoes and fit into that 'not profitable to sell them to us' category.
Lately what I find annoying is the lack of 2E width. Everything has upped to 4E width.
My feet are too fat for a normal D width. And a 4E is like a clown shoe on me. Many companies used to make 2E but those are harder and harder to find over the last year or two. I'm talking all shows, not just biking shoes.
I can still find shoes that fit but it's not a quick easy process.
04-10-19, 02:37 PM
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I wear a size 15 wide and can't find a cycling shoe to fit my feet to save my life. I curse the cycling shoe companies every day for not making shoes that would fit me.
04-10-19, 02:38 PM
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In my opinion, Lake makes a fairly decent wide shoe that is reasonably priced.
04-10-19, 05:38 PM
#11
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Just want to point out that wide feet aren’t the only reason for needing wide cycling shoes. Since I began cycling in the 80s I had done just fine with the normal, narrow-ish cycling shoes. Then a few years ago I developed Morton’s Neuroma in one foot. Some days I couldn’t make it 20 miles before the pain intensified and my foot would be killing me. I finally found some wide cycling shoes and it’s been a godsend. Rides in excess of 50 miles and no pain.
Dan
Dan
04-10-19, 06:00 PM
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Another possible reason for feet getting larger/wider.
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/a...dergo-with-age
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/a...dergo-with-age
04-10-19, 06:54 PM
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I really want to try Sidi Megas but Lake are 1/3 of the price and are good so who knows.
I only wish they were easier to locate in person at a dealer or such. Online can be a shipping game sometimes.
04-10-19, 07:41 PM
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04-10-19, 08:59 PM
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I think many of the companies either make a wide shoe or make shoes that can be adapted for wider feet. I have tried wide Lake shoes and found them really uncomfortable (not width-wise), and I owned some old, used, leather Sidi Mega road shoes that were great (I think the leather made a huge difference). My feet are very wide (5E), and I have a high arch - really problematic for finding bike shoes. Right now, I have two pairs that work very well for me (I use SPD pedals). The best is a pair of Giro Privateer HV shoes (HV=high volume). Width-wise they were fine, but my arch was so high, I had to have a shoe shop move the velcro straps over about 1/2 inch on each shoe. With the shoe shop fees, I’ve got about $125 into the shoes. The other pair that works for me is a pair of older Scott MTB Team Boa shoes in a regular width. The Boa laces almost down to the top of my toes which allow the shoes to expand to widest and highest parts of my feet. They’re almost as good as the Giros. You might also look for classic-style lace shoes that can be laced way down toward the toes. I’ve found that even synthetic material shoes like my Giros and Scotts can be slightly expanded/molded with a bit of judiciously applied heat. I know it’s a pain in the butt to jump through all these hoops, but if you can get a pair of shoes to fit, it’s worth it.
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04-11-19, 05:39 AM
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I wear wide shoes also, and I couldn't find wide bike shoes. I'm wearing some Giro fabric lace up shoes now and they are the most comfortable bike shoes I've ever used. The best thing you can say about a pair of bike shoes is that you are never aware of them during a ride -- the Giros's are that. The lace ups are the first shoes that I have never had to tighten or loosen during a ride like I did with my velcro or boas.
04-11-19, 07:05 AM
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I wear wide shoes also, and I couldn't find wide bike shoes. I'm wearing some Giro fabric lace up shoes now and they are the most comfortable bike shoes I've ever used. The best thing you can say about a pair of bike shoes is that you are never aware of them during a ride -- the Giros's are that. The lace ups are the first shoes that I have never had to tighten or loosen during a ride like I did with my velcro or boas.
04-11-19, 07:22 AM
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Just want to point out that wide feet aren’t the only reason for needing wide cycling shoes. Since I began cycling in the 80s I had done just fine with the normal, narrow-ish cycling shoes. Then a few years ago I developed Morton’s Neuroma in one foot. Some days I couldn’t make it 20 miles before the pain intensified and my foot would be killing me. I finally found some wide cycling shoes and it’s been a godsend. Rides in excess of 50 miles and no pain.
Dan
Dan
I have that too, and I find it mysterious that some non-cycling shoes don't set it off while others that seem almost identical in specs will start killing me after about a week. For some reason New Balance with orthotics seems to be the most suitable.
04-11-19, 07:50 AM
#19
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I'm lucky. I have regular narrow feet. Most shoes fit me well and if they don't, I just add an insole.
04-11-19, 08:27 AM
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Why don't cycling shoe companies make more wide width shoes than they do? Seems like the ones they do make all tend to be high priced versions as well.
This has been the case for as long as I can recall having trouble finding wide shoes. I am sure there are a lot of riders out there that have wide feet.
Thoughts?
This has been the case for as long as I can recall having trouble finding wide shoes. I am sure there are a lot of riders out there that have wide feet.
Thoughts?
When you ride with shoes too narrow, you get "hot foot" and pain.
In my civilian life (non cycling) for instance I wear an EE shoe.
Last edited by rydabent; 04-14-19 at 05:11 AM.
04-11-19, 08:40 AM
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Wonder of he's talking about one of the Knit models.
In any event, I am surprised at the statement. I have read several comments from people who recently bought Giro shoes saying they tend to run narrow. That's why I have been avoiding them. Also, they are not cheap.
04-11-19, 08:49 AM
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https://www.giro.com/en/men/mens-bik...men-bike-shoes
Wonder of he's talking about one of the Knit models.
In any event, I am surprised at the statement. I have read several comments from people who recently bought Giro shoes saying they tend to run narrow. That's why I have been avoiding them. Also, they are not cheap.
Wonder of he's talking about one of the Knit models.
In any event, I am surprised at the statement. I have read several comments from people who recently bought Giro shoes saying they tend to run narrow. That's why I have been avoiding them. Also, they are not cheap.
04-11-19, 09:12 AM
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Dan
04-11-19, 09:16 AM
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For my running shoes I've started cutting a slit on the outside of the shoe...right where the upper meets the sole...from right at the little toe back to about mid arch. That's not an ideal situation for expensive shoes. But it allows my foot to 'splay' out, and not compress and irritate the neuroma. I suppose I could do that in narrow cycling shoes if necessary. Dress shoes are a bit more problematic.
Dan
For me, my Morton's Neuroma is one of the many reasons running is out of the question.
04-11-19, 09:31 AM
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All this talk about Morton's Neuroma is turning me off to the idea of eating at a Morton's Steak House ever again. 