can anyone recommend a good, reasonably-priced tri shoe model? or do I stick with my Sidi Genius 4s?
I was wearing Time IronCx’s, I don’t think they make them anymore. Just got a pair of Sidi T1s, I like them a lot. Highway 19 (ad on this site) makes a reasonably priced pair, as does Lake. I have no experience with either.
Bang for buck, I think it’s pretty hard to beat the new Garneau’s. It’s as if they copied the Shimano shoe, only with less expensive materials (plastic rather than carbon sole). I’ve tried on the Hwy Nineteen’s, and thought that the neoprene sock was a neat idea, but might make it hard to get a wet foot into quickly.
I havent used them but I think the Lake Tri Shoe seems okay. I think they are around $80 but I have seen them on sale as low as 40 or 50 online, they have a plastic sole I believe but a reversed strap, like shimano/LG etc. I have the Shimanos and LOVE them, but they are more $$$, I would think the Sidi T1 are good also but they didnt fit my feet well.
I use the Lake tri shoes (the cheaper ones) and they are great!! They didn’t cost too much, they have an elastic gusset type thing that you stretch to put your foot in and just one strap to cross over. The strap does up towards the inside of your foot. I have found them easy to get on and off!!
You can find new pairs of the Sidi T-1s on Ebay for $100-$130. Since you wear Sidis already, I’d say they are your best bet.
I also vote for the Garneau’s.My wife has the Shimanos. I like the carbon sole of the Shimanos,it looks cool,but I cant tell where it’s any lighter than my shoe. Also I just never liked the Robins egg blue.
Dave
I have the lake CX110 (the blue ones). The strap opens out, but I had to sew a D-ring onto the end to keep it from pulling through. The Sidi’s I think already have something to keep the strap from pulling out. I think I got them for ~70 dollars new off ebay.
In the interests of playing devil’s advocate, I hate the Lake tri shoes. I bought a pair last year. The end of the strap, which opens to the inside, rubs against my crank arm and slowly but surely pulls the strap open. And I find them extremely difficult to get on and off because the opening for the foot is really narrow. Once I get them on they feel fine, but as something that’s designed to be able to slip on/off easily as you’re actually riding the bike, I’d say they fail - at least for me. Maybe it’s my feet…? I wear a 46 with a normal width.
I have been training/racing in the entry level lake tri shoes for about 15 months. I got them for $50. They are fine but I just ordered some sidi t1 2004 off of keithstriathlon.com for 125. I am hoping they are really awesome.
KJ