I’m in a pickle of sorts. I went in and had my feet measured for some new shoes.
The new XC903. I had previously bought a used pair of 902s off the used market in a size 42.5, standard.
I have issues with my feet hurting at later points in the ride.
Thru the measurements, they recommended a 43 wide.
Fast forward and I’ve got a few rides on them, but my issue now is just pure volume. Not the width or the length, just overall volume. This is also using Retul/Specialized heat molded insoles, and not the standard paper thin ones that come in the shoes.
Do they make low volume wide shoes out there? I hate that I spent the money and they still don’t feel 100% great.
Ever checked out the current Specialized S-Works Recons? The standard width version of those is markedly wider than previous versions (4mm I think), and the toe box is rounder than the pointy-toe Italian shoes, but overall the volume is fairly low. Toe box is wide-but-flat, in my experience, if that makes sense, and heel is also low volume. These work great for me, but as always with shoes YMMV.
What do you mean by “pure volume”? Are you saying the shoe is too wide now?
I’ve had moderate success using shoe trees to stretch out shoes that are just a bit too tight. It doesn’t help if the bed isn’t wide enough for your foot though.
I have wide feet. The best options in my experience are Bonts and Lakes. Both offer more sizing options than other brands, e. g. half sizes and Bont offers up to four widths in their high-end shoes.
I own Bont Riot+ MTB and a pair of Lakes. Bont’s offroad shoes are super stiff, they are close to my S-Works 7 in stiffness. The downside is that the sole is so stiff, walking in them feels a bit like walking in road shoes. In principle you can replace the grippy bits that help you walk, but in my pair, the bolts have seized and/or the screw bit was ground off. But they were very affordable, so I cannot complain.
The Lakes I have are great for walking around. I picked them as commuter shoes, and they are doing their job admirably well.
In both cases, make sure to contact support about sizing. I have 43 Wide in my S-Works and Bont’s support immediately knew that I should size up (44 Wide) in theirs. Unfortunately, I had already ordered a pair and had to return it on my dime. (My fault.)
My then-LBS was worse when I got my S-Works in wide: they told me if they ordered the shoes, I’d have to buy them. Bont’s recommendation was spot on. As was Lake’s.
im in your boat as well. I went with shimano wides. Finally no more foot pain but they are roomy on top now. when i walk around i really feel where they crease
According to Specialized, I should be wearing a 45, but I bought 44s instead without even trying them on and they fit great. I’m not sure why, but it seems like Specialized likes to recommend a size bigger than needed.
My recons fit really well. They have plenty of room in the forefoot, but great heel and mid-foot lockdown.
I’d say they’re mid-volume too. With some decent insoles, they’re probably closer to low-volume.
I found that most extra wide shoes have more volume. Not only that but cleat mounting position can change from the non wide version. Might note the shape of the last they are built on. A lot of shoes are very pointed. This causes an issue with wide or feet that are curved like mine.
I can try a thicker pair of socks, I also have another thought about the insoles.
I have the Retul ones, but I want to see if I can get more made where they extend the arch support part farther toward the front of the foot.
I’ll report back, waiting on the person that made my others to reach out.
dunno if it helps but I tried a LOT of shoes. wound up with a Bont road shoe that I really like. they have a fairly good return policy (you can’t ride in them but you can try them on) and a very nice measurement system to fit yourself.
trek and specialized both allow you to ride in shoes iirc. so if it hasn’t been too long maybe ask them if you can return? or exchange for another one / store credit?
sucks but you might just have to try a bunch and burn some $$
I wouldn’t do stuff like thicker socks or padding this or that. you wanna get the shoes right imo even if it’s a pita.
Lake’s comfort plus last is genuinely wide across the forefoot in a way that not even Bont double wide are.
They offer the Cx201 for three hole road cleats, which I ride in and the mx169 and mx201 with 2 bolt pattern for SPD.
The last is also low volume like a barefoot style shoe, similar fit and sizing to Vivobarefoot
This was my thought. Is it causing any problems or discomfort? Or are you just not used to actually having room for your toes? Maybe it’s just weird for you to be able to move your toes around. Like you’ve basically become used to having your feet bound and scrunched that the feeling of space is weird to you. I moved to wide shoes and it took some time, but now I never have pain.