It comes down to this: Float is becoming an issue.

I am a lifelong (clipless) Crank Bros. user, and still like them, but am considering a switch to reduce the float in my cleats. I rode SPD in spin class a few times, and have never tried road systems. There are no knee problems, its just that the float makes my stroke sloppy. Trouble is, I need a shoe I can walk in. This is just a personal preference. I see Nashbar makes a road shoe that appears to be walkable, and there are probably others, but wondering if I might accomplish some tighter float with SPD.

I have also tried new CB cleats - improvement, but wondering if I will notice a difference with a road system (that I can walk in).

Insight? Informed opinions?

You're not probably going to find many dedicated road pedals/cleats which are conducive to walking. I know you said that it's personal preference, but I can't quite get on board with the statement that float is making your stroke sloppy. That is strictly a function of your technique. If float caused sloppiness you wouldn't see professional and other high-level cyclists on Speedplays, for instance.

If SPD doesn't give you problems then why not go with that? There are literally hundreds of different walkable shoes out there for that cleat and you will get rid of the float you said you didn't want anymore. When people go to road shoes over mountain shoes, it's usually because they want the benefits of them (light weight, stiff soles, they look cool), not the other way around.

I use Keo cleats with the Look cleat covers. I can walk fine for shorter distances. How long do you need to walk for?

you like walking in clipless shoes? stick with mountain. you want to reduce float? get spd. only thing is, if your stroke is that floppy, you'll probably start getting knee problems with reduced float. but who cares. why correct the underlying problem when you can just try to cure the symptom?

Perhaps I should be more clear. My stroke is sloppy for me. It isn't me riding with my knees poking out :-D I am just looking for a tighter system to help me improve my technique. Having only limited experience with SPD and no experience with road, this is where you come in. It sounds as if SPD is my answer.

I am fortunate to work in a place with a loose dress code. Cycling shoes with the rigid soles (moreso than any other non-cycling shoe) make my feet feel much better, so I wear them most of the time. Details can be found in a thread I started on foot discomfort. This thread here is not about my feet, but more about tightening my pedal stroke.

I have a bike with crank bros egg beaters, one with speedplays, and three bikes with spd. i cant say that i prefer one over the others. I just have more spd bike because thats how I got started with clipless. There is no significant difference in the degree of float between the cb and spds.. If you want the easiest walking stick with cb. If you want adjustable float that will sort of allow you to"tune" your foot position, you should be looking at speedplays. Walking with speedplay cleats is easier than the typical look or spd-sl road pedals, but is still a pretty big, awkward cleat. I have only used the speedplays with a road shoe, so there may be more walkable options available.

A problem waiting for a solution is a solid road system with easily removable cleats and walkable shoes. I don't understand why walking and road shoes must be mutually exclusive.

if your stroke is misaligned, doesn't that mean your cleat/shot isn't correctly fitted? Your knees should move in a 2D plane.

I spend probably too much time mounting my cleats. This is not causing me pain, it may just be my OCD about my pedal stroke. Most of us learned by just doing and maybe trying to mimic pros form the TdF. I find it too easy to move my foot on the horizontal plane. I do know about the different cleat mounting on Crank Bros. Everyone seems to have a 6° float, so maybe it is all in my head and I am just being sloppy, but I cannot believe that all cleat systems are 'about the same'. Otherwise, methinks there would not be debate over which system is best and why roadies prefer road systems.

Walking comfortably for more than a few hundred feet requires a flexible sole.

Riding a road bike efficiently for long distances requires a non-flexible sole.

Hence the mutual exclusivity.

Even with removable cleats a road shoe is not going to be walkable. Your dilemma was the reason SPD and the other recessed cleat systems were invented. Why are you so bent on a "road system" when what you are telling us you want is Shimano's SPD? You said you wanted:

1. A walkable shoe

2. No float

That's SPD. It's the solution to the problem you mentioned.

I have completely rigid mtb shoes that are walkable because of the rubber and the fact that the shape supports the heel level with the ball of the foot and allows the foot to roll forward, all without the CF sole flexing. I have completely rigid road shoes with Look road cleats that are ungainly to walk in. I also have CF soled road shoes that have two holes and will take SPD or CBs cleats directly. Walking in those shoes with mtb cleats is worse than the road shoes with Look cleats because the cleats are small and very hard.

Personally, I like a lot of float, but different strokes (literally!) for different folks.

I must disagree with you. I didn't expect anyone to read my entire foot discomfort thread, but stiff, rigid soles are actually what I prefer and are best for my feet. I wear them all day long.

What is needed for walking is for the cleat not to get in the way. You are probably right on the rest.

I did actually read your thread and I understand your point, but for 99% of the population, completely rigid soles wouldn't be comfortable to walk in. That is probably why you don't see any shoes constructed that way. You mentioned that you work in a place with a loose dress code, can you buy normal road shoes/cleats with no float, and then keep a pair of whatever shoes are comfortable for you at work to change into?

Oh sure, but I also find that the ability to walk on a commute necessary. I could understand strictly rec rides being road-only, I am just trying to find a happier medium where perhaps one does not exist.

Nashbar makes a road shoe that looks walkable, but not knowing the depth of a road cleat (and I am sure they vary), I will have to take this to the LBS to find out. Thanks for all the input.

It's a matter of degree. For me they're comfortable enough as long as you're not walking miles or spending hours on your feet. And they are better on softer cushier surfaces than on pavement. I used to have hiking/mountaineering boots that were completely rigid. They were de rigueur around campus in CO for a while back in the early 70s.

SPD is exactly what you're looking for. What's wrong with SPD? What's right with "road" shoes? Is this a fashion thing?

OP is looking for a rigid sole, more so than what most SPD shoes are. He has foot problems that cause him to need a rigid sole (like a road shoe), and walkability (like a mountain shoe).

Basically he is looking for an SPD walking shoe with a road sole.

Winner. That should have been my lead post.

I guess it's a secret that you can get stiff-as-nails SPD shoes with carbon fiber soles. I have two different pairs. Don't tell anyone.

Sarcasm duly noted.

I tried carbon soles, but there is zero flex in them. This resulted in heel slip when walking, which is another problem. The best I've found is Exustar. Will be adding some SPD to them, which also means new pedals.

You want a rigid sole that flexes??

The rubber/plastic things on the bottom of the shoe should give it enough traction not to slip against the ground.

Something like this sounds sound to me like what the OP wants:
Regular road shoes/cleats just aren't going to give you the walkability you are looking for.

Oops! Sumultaneous post SF.

*sigh* I want a tighter cleat system. The shoe is not really the issue. You have been sidetracked. If I wanted road soles, I'd keep my Crank Bros and get the 2-bolt adapter.

I would recommend trying an SPD pedal, such as the Shimano M540. The centering float feels quite solid and you should be able to use your same shoes. 45 at Nashbar including cleats.

I assume that you have the Crank Bros. cleats arranged in the position to minimal float? I forget what the difference is. 10deg to 6deg?