SPD Shoes - size matters....?!

[Gazzab]

I have size 9 - 10 feet depending on the make and style of shoe. I think that is a 43 - 44 sizing.
My last SPD shoes were a 44 but were too tight - making my feet cramp at times. I have just bought a new pair from Evans (Specialised jobbies). I ended up with size 45. There is a thumb width of space at the end but the 44s were alsmost touching the end and were tight on the width.
Why is is that these shoes seem to come in at least 1 size too small? Strange? Or is it just me?

[matthew_h]

Different shoe manufacturers use different lasts to design their shoes around which creates inconsistency.

They also need to take into account things like socks that different people wear.

The only way to do it is to go and try pairs on with your usual riding socks, ignore the numbers and get the ones that fit

[Roman]

American sizing. I am size 11-12 - 45/46 but in Nike/Addidas I take 47/48

[pdV6]

Roman said:

American sizing. I am size 11-12 - 45/46 but in Nike/Addidas I take 47/48

That's odd; US and UK sizes are subtly different but the EU equivalents should be the same.

Maybe the issue is that US shoe shapes are generally shorter and wider so if you have long, narrow feet you may need to go up a size to get the length.

As my spade-like feet are relatively shorter and wider, US shoe brands tend to fit me quite well and usually at a similar US size number to the UK size I'd need (to get the width).