I spent some time doing some searches on forums researching options for wide tri shoes…seems like Bont, D2 and Shimano are shoes that work well for folks with wide feet.
I have wide feet and wear orthotics which makes the volume of my feet even larger. Based on Bont sizing charts I measured my feet and they are 238 long and 100 wide…seems the Bont wide shoes might fit in 39 but I’ve only seen the standard with available. Over the years I have bought size 40 in all my cycling shoes and best fit were Shimano cycling shoes in men’s wide. My shoes I have been wearing since 2004/2005 are wearing out.
Early on I started wearing Shimano men’s wide road shoes for most of my training. I had the bottom of the line LG tri shoes I’d wear for sprints or olys and a few times before those races. As I started training for longer races, I found my right foot in the 3/4 metatarsal area would go numb and spread if I rode 4.5+ hours and it was over 90. I have morton’s feet so my first metatarsal is shorter than my second on both my feet. I had some cycling orthotics made by Bill Petersen in AZ, and it may have helped but I still have numb feet issues on long and hot rides. I had my left knee scoped last June, have some continuing knee issues and my left quad strength is less than right and for some reason LG tri shoes felt more comfortable to ride in.
Last year I bought Sidi Megas that don’t quite fit right…they are wide but seems volume is less and they bother top of my foot. I tried new HRS LG tri shoes and the forefoot feels significantly smaller than mine that are from '04…suspect mine are stretched out. I tried on Shimano TR 52 and they seemed better.
Considering going with custom shoes from D2. I spoke to Don at D2 and I was impressed. I suspect I have been wearing to long of shoes to get width needed for my feet which may have caused my cleats to be to far forward.
I’m okay with road shoes for training and HIM or IMs. I like tri shoes for sprints or olys.
Suggestions?
Those that have D2 custom shoes: how was the process? love the shoes? solved your issues?
I’ve had D2 shoes now for about 18 months and couldn’t be happier. I sufferred from a right foot which was wider (with a bunion) than my left. Had a fitting/mesurement done at Pro Peloton in Boulder for the shoes, answered a few questions from Don over the phone, and a few weeks later I had my shoes. The quality was great and the pain in my right big toe was just about eliminated.
I’m thinking about getting D2 tri shoes despite the cost because my experience was so good.
I’ve had shoe fit problems for years, tried a few other custom shoe makers, and then finally went to D2 in person. I have feet that are wide in the front, narrow in the rear, and are different sizes. D2 made the first pair of cycling shoes that fit me in nearly two decades of riding and did it on the first attempt.
You should give Northwave a try as well - they tend to be wider in the forefoot than either Shimano or Garneau. I’ve worn Lake, Shimano, Sidi and Garneau and found them all to be too narrow but love my NWs.
I have stock Bonts that I heat molded at home. I actually had to size UP from my normal size by 0.5. They are wide, and have a nice deep toebox for orthotics. It usually takes a couple of tries to get the molding right (but they can be remolded in your over infinitely).
Data point: I was talking to a shop owner who had several customers order from Bont’s custom program (complete foot mold). All of the shoes came back wrong and he was quite frustrated and definitely wouldn’t recommend them.
I have stock Bonts that I heat molded at home. I actually had to size UP from my normal size by 0.5. They are wide, and have a nice deep toebox for orthotics. It usually takes a couple of tries to get the molding right (but they can be remolded in your over infinitely).
Data point: I was talking to a shop owner who had several customers order from Bont’s custom program (complete foot mold). All of the shoes came back wrong and he was quite frustrated and definitely wouldn’t recommend them.
Good to know…not good on the custom option of Bonts
I ordered some Bonts from Bonktown so I can try them on to see if they fit.
I’ve got custom D2’s and really like them. You can search my user name and D2 to get all the info on them (plus some snazzy pics!)
After ~3yrs the things I am noticing is the leather in the front of the shoes is kind of beat up as is the neoprene on the tongue area.
All in all I dig them. They are as stiff as anything on the market. They are as comfy after 4.5 hours as they are after 2 minutes of wear. When you think about how much you spend on cycling shoes in 2-3 years searching for that elusive awesome fit, they are actually less expensive.
I use mine for every ride, race bike or tri long or short course. I’d never go back to stock shoes after going custom. I might try a different brand of custom at some point, but stock shoes over the years have typically been shit for fit for my feet.
I. When you think about how much you spend on cycling shoes in 2-3 years searching for that elusive awesome fit, they are actually less expensive.
I use mine for every ride, race bike or tri long or short course. I’d never go back to stock shoes after going custom. I might try a different brand of custom at some point, but stock shoes over the years have typically been shit for fit for my feet.
I think the point you made in other threads that getting custom shoes is less expensive long term stuck with me as well as that they fit better.
The Bonts and LG I have I can return which is what I’m thinking about doing.
Need to get my husband on board with the idea of custom shoes.
After getting new Ordu w/Zipps and Quarq last year for our 25th wedding Anniversary, having frame ruined by Fed Express ground last month shipping it, not sure how much I can push the custom shoe route.
I showed my daughter’s D2 photos and asked them for helping designing colors if I go that route.
Bontrager’s shoes run wide in the toe box, I use their road and tri shoes. I don’t find Shimano to be wide at all. The Bont’s I tried (A one and sub 8) were very awkward feeling, but I didn’t try to mold them. I’m not a fan of the thick patent leather they use. I didn’t want to mold them and risk losing the option to return 'em.
In my experience, bont shoes are not that wide. I am using the sub 8 in normal width and it took me 5 or 6 times to get them to the point that my feet wouldn’t hurt really bad due to pressure on my toe bones.
If you are considering bont shoes, you may want to look into the wide option.
I searched high and low and found Scott Tri Carbon to be wide enough on the toe box and also around my foot. However, they are kinda pricey ($270), so I ended up buying a Scott Tri Pro (Fiberglass sole) on sale for $70 (with coupon on Left Lane) and spent $40 at a local shoe repair place to lengthen the straps. So far so good.
After my wide foot got tired of being in Shimano’s longer than three hours, I switched to Lake. They have some starting just over $100, and others up to $350. But every price point has a WIDE model called out.
Shimano wide or Lake wide, those are the two best options on the market today.Often the road shoes are easier to find then tri specific shoes. My personal opinion is the best wide shoe on the market today is the Shimano SH-RC9 S-PHYRE road shoe.