Anyone else got Hobbit feet?
Discussion
Bike fit yesterday... Both the means of measuring my feet (one definitely Lake, I can't remember if the other was Bontrager or Spesh) reckoned my feet are a 40 or 41. The smallest shoe they had in the shop which I could actually get on was a 43 wide. Anything even in a 42 made me feel like a Chinese foot-bound baby! 
My problem, it seems, is that I've not only got wide feet - which I already knew - but the fact that my second and third toes are as long as my big toe means that the width of my foot stays pronounced a long way forward on my foot, hence coming in at 2 or more sizes above what the standard measurement devices reckon.
In the past, I've just bought larger shoes to give me more room in the toe area, but this means that even with the cleats slammed as far back as they'll go, the pedal spindle is still sitting further forwards on my foot than is desirable.
Has anyone else had this problem? If so, did you find a solution? The only specific wide fit options I've found are the following, and even there, I'm not sure if they'll stay wide enough far enough into the toes...
Shimano M089 - £50 - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-m089-spd-mountain-...
Lake MX160 - £65 - http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Lake-MX160-Wide-Fit-MTB-Sh...
Giro Privateer HV - £80 - https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/giro_privateer_mounta...
Giro Gauge HV - £130 - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/giro-gauge-mtb-...
Sidi Dominator Mega - £139 - http://www.acycles.co.uk/sidi-dominator-5-fit-mega...
My problem, it seems, is that I've not only got wide feet - which I already knew - but the fact that my second and third toes are as long as my big toe means that the width of my foot stays pronounced a long way forward on my foot, hence coming in at 2 or more sizes above what the standard measurement devices reckon.
In the past, I've just bought larger shoes to give me more room in the toe area, but this means that even with the cleats slammed as far back as they'll go, the pedal spindle is still sitting further forwards on my foot than is desirable.
Has anyone else had this problem? If so, did you find a solution? The only specific wide fit options I've found are the following, and even there, I'm not sure if they'll stay wide enough far enough into the toes...
Shimano M089 - £50 - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-m089-spd-mountain-...
Lake MX160 - £65 - http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Lake-MX160-Wide-Fit-MTB-Sh...
Giro Privateer HV - £80 - https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/giro_privateer_mounta...
Giro Gauge HV - £130 - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/giro-gauge-mtb-...
Sidi Dominator Mega - £139 - http://www.acycles.co.uk/sidi-dominator-5-fit-mega...
I don't have extra, extra wide feet, but I do tend to have to buy bigger shoes so they're comfortable on the width.
I'm normally 42, sometimes 43 on certain brands (adidas and converse in particular) and almost always have to go two sizes up in cycling shoes.
My last summer shoes are Shimano MO88 in the wide fitting and I still went with a 44.
However, I do like to pedal on my toes and normally set my shoes up with the cleats a little further forward than they should be as it pulls less on my back. That said, I thought it was about time I tried putting them where they should be and I managed to get the Shimanos lined up properly.
I'm normally 42, sometimes 43 on certain brands (adidas and converse in particular) and almost always have to go two sizes up in cycling shoes.
My last summer shoes are Shimano MO88 in the wide fitting and I still went with a 44.
However, I do like to pedal on my toes and normally set my shoes up with the cleats a little further forward than they should be as it pulls less on my back. That said, I thought it was about time I tried putting them where they should be and I managed to get the Shimanos lined up properly.
I have little and wide feet - also a size 41. I tend to range in the 7-8 range for cycle shoes.
I quite like a stiff sole, all are 10-12 index (although this probably makes 10 tenths of FA difference @ my level). I also wear orthotics.
I've found the Giro Ones come up very wide. I have the Rapha Climber shoe (basically a Giro Pro-light); and its super roomy in a size 7. Probably worth a look at the Giro version and pocket the change (unless you needed shoes to color match your bike like I did).
If not the Giro's I also have a pair of Bontrager Velocis (in natty salmon Pink); these again in a 7 no problem.
I have 2 other pairs some S Works 5 in an 8, and Sidi Ergo 3 but these needed to be an 8 (and neither lasted that well!).
I quite like a stiff sole, all are 10-12 index (although this probably makes 10 tenths of FA difference @ my level). I also wear orthotics.
I've found the Giro Ones come up very wide. I have the Rapha Climber shoe (basically a Giro Pro-light); and its super roomy in a size 7. Probably worth a look at the Giro version and pocket the change (unless you needed shoes to color match your bike like I did).
If not the Giro's I also have a pair of Bontrager Velocis (in natty salmon Pink); these again in a 7 no problem.
I have 2 other pairs some S Works 5 in an 8, and Sidi Ergo 3 but these needed to be an 8 (and neither lasted that well!).
I too have been through your pain. Was sold top end Shimano custom fit shoes and xcouldn't understand why I was getting foot pain after many months.
Went into Condor cycles and the guy took one look at my feet and said wide, go for Northwave.
I managed to get other shop to replace my Shimano's with their wider version which I promptly sold to pay for my new Northwave.
That was over 6 years ago now and no issue whatsoever.
Went into Condor cycles and the guy took one look at my feet and said wide, go for Northwave.
I managed to get other shop to replace my Shimano's with their wider version which I promptly sold to pay for my new Northwave.
That was over 6 years ago now and no issue whatsoever.
A a fellow Hobbit footer you should try Bonts which are actually the shape of a foot as opposed to a submarine. Annoyingly their 2016 models are not due out for another month and there is very little 2015 stock left. I thought my current ones were comfortable till I tried on a pair of Bonts 
Don't worry, I'll see myself out. 
Success at last!! 
I chose the worst possible time of year to look for new shoes, as all the retailers are running down 2015 stock, but a lot of the manufacturers haven't launched their 2016 models yet.
Nevertheless, I managed to try a whole variety of models, including Shimano wide fit shoes, before eventually finding that Lake standard fit shoes were perfect! Heaven only knows how wide their wide fit shoes are - and they don't import many of their wide fit models into the UK - but critically for me, the width of their standard shoes keeps wider much further up the toe box.
I've now got a pair of their winter boots on order as well!
In the meantime, if anyone wants a pair of Northwave Scorpius S5 white shoes in size 44 that have covered about 500 miles, I'll ship them off to anyone willing to make a decent donation to my lad's sponsored mountain bike miles.
I chose the worst possible time of year to look for new shoes, as all the retailers are running down 2015 stock, but a lot of the manufacturers haven't launched their 2016 models yet.
Nevertheless, I managed to try a whole variety of models, including Shimano wide fit shoes, before eventually finding that Lake standard fit shoes were perfect! Heaven only knows how wide their wide fit shoes are - and they don't import many of their wide fit models into the UK - but critically for me, the width of their standard shoes keeps wider much further up the toe box.
I've now got a pair of their winter boots on order as well!
In the meantime, if anyone wants a pair of Northwave Scorpius S5 white shoes in size 44 that have covered about 500 miles, I'll ship them off to anyone willing to make a decent donation to my lad's sponsored mountain bike miles.
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