Bioluminescence

So I'm finally wanting to convert over to clipless (been rocking the platforms for 3k miles so far), but it seems nobody has a good selection of shoes around where I live for a decent price. It's ironic really, because no one is in shortage of pedals. This forces me to shop online a little bit (which I try to do as little as I can, I'm normally buying from my favorite LBS).

Here's my problem: There's really no way to try on shoes around here, so which companies tend to run small/large? Which companies are wide/narrow? This way I can at least be semi-accurate when ordering, instead of just taking wild guesses for the entire thing.

FWIW, I'm leaning towards either Shimano or Diadora, since I'm on a budget (<$100).

fstshrk

I have Specialized BG Comp shoes and they have plenty of room in the too box. I normally wear a size 10 and I had to get a size 44 in the specialized. Unless you have tried the shoe on, I would not order it online.

Paul Y.

I'd save a little longer until your budget is 200.00
Much better selection.

Zei

That should help you get some idea. It seems pretty accurate, I wear a 39.5 pearl izumi shoe and I've tried on size 40 of other brands and all fit too loose. Don't rely on the US sizing too much because I wear a size 6 through 8 in regular shoes which puts in me in the 39-41.5 range for pearl izumi, not very specific.

FactVord

and your feet will thank you in the long run.

dmcdmc

pricepoint and performance have good selection under or around 100. I agree that you should save a bit more. Shoes are very important, one of the three points of contact between you and the bike.

these shimanos are pretty nice and can be found for under 100 dollars...

https://bike.shimano.com/publish/cont...oad/2/SH-R087G

I have narrow, long feet with a fairly large instep and they fit well. Another option is going with zappos...they have free returns so you can order 10 pairs to try them on.

Stratman351

I agree with not ordering a Specialized shoe online (and probably not any other either), but it's because I had the opposite experience of you. I recently bought a pair of Elite Touring shoes. The Specialized sizing info for this particular shoe equated my U.S. size 13 with a European 47, I ordered the 47. The shoes turned out to be very tight in the toe box; when I looked at the sizing on the underside of the tongue, it showed 13 US/46EUR. I've since seen numerous US/EUR shoe conversion charts showing EUR 46 as equal to US 12 - 12.5. In any event, the shoes are tight, and when I order the next pair I'll go for a size 47.

Ironically, I recently came across the empty box of a pair of Pearl Izumi's I bought in a store two years ago - I tried them on - and the box shows they were 48's. Most conversion charts list EUR 48 as 14 - 14.5, but I remember the Pearls fitting very comfortably.

The moral is that buying without trying is risky (for shoes).

Mrs. Merckx

Zappos.com has some Shimanos. Free shipping and free return shipping. I bought my Pearl Izumi shoes there.

https://www.zappos.com/shimano-men-sh...QLiAgMYAQo.zso

mwandaw

+1 for Zappos.com

eboslar

I have these. I have a wide ball of foot area so i had to go up 1 size from 48 to 49 for these to fit perfectly. They arnt even that long. I compare shimano's to nikes, usually a size too small. Also they have great cleat clearance.

oldbobcat

The chart's excellent, but it doesn't list Specialized, Scott, and Bontrager. In case anyone's interested, Specialized and Scott run almost a half-size larger than Shimano, and Bontrager runs a half-size smaller.

Pearl Izumi got new lasts when they revamped their line for 2009. The shoes generally got a full size smaller.

Juan Foote

IIRC Specialized didn't run in half sizes. I wear an 11.5 most of the time and the 12 that I purchased is snug w/o being too tight.
Although I am sure these fellows are right about the more expensive shoe, I would recommend staying within your budget this time. The improvement is going to be so obvious from a switch to clipless from platforms, so much better power transfer, easier to keep a high cadence, the advantages are many. You should get a really good idea what you like and don't with your first set and can move forward more informed for the nicer, and more expensive pair you will want later on. Another aspect is "ignorance is bliss". You find a cheap set that is comfortable, and don't know what you are missing since you haven't owned "better" ones.

djb

no way should you buy shoes online untried. I tried diff shoes on and in the end, the mtn bike shoes I got for spd fitme so much better it was totally worth the extra 50 bucks or so more than other ones that were ok, as my feet felt just right, right away.

think of how long you will own these, whatever the price, get what actually fits you perfectly.

javal

I recently bought Mavic Cyclo. I´m all impressed. I would check out Mavic!

pbd

They actually come in half-sizes in European versions (eg 42, 42.5, 43, 43.5, etc), which is something less than 1/2 sizes in US sizes.

My local shops only carry whole European sizes (42, 43, 4, etc), but they'll order the halves.

(This is excepting the cheapest road shoe, the cheapest one only comes in whole Euro sizes).

Thanks, needed this. Much appreciated.

MPress

Try on the shoes that your shop offers. Ask them to get the shoe you want from the mfg that has the best fit for you. A size 48 Specialized S-Works shoe will fit the same as a size 48 Specialized Comp model. HTH.

Bob Dopolina 

Nice chart.

Link?