Help me find comfortable Road Shoes

[Shambler]

Recently bought a new bike and fitted speedplay pedals, decided to purchase a pair of Northwave Extreme 3s road shoes. However I find them bloody uncomfortable especially on the ball of my foot, they are also fairly tight fitting. Can anyone reccomend a comfortable road shoe that is not crazy money. I must also add that I live 150 miles from a LBS

[numtumfutunch]

All very personal I fear

I 'fit' Specialized and so pretty much just buy Specialized

Last year I had a flirtation with some Fiziks but found them too narrow and eventually ebayed them

My winter boots are Shimano, I dont like the Spesh ones, and I take a size bigger in Shimano

Not sure that helps if your so far away - mail order a selection and return the losers???

[Benjy911]

As mentioned above it's very hard to get a shoe which is "right" without trying various on. I had always liked the Shimano shoes however when I went to try them on I ended up coming out with a pair of Specializeds as they felt the best. In terms of sizing I fit a UK 12.5 where as in trainers I would usually be UK 13 and suit style shoes an 11...

If you can't get anywhere close by I think the best bet is find someone with good returns like Wiggle and order a selection to try.

[Shambler]

Thanks, I might try some specialized shoes as I have found their equipment pretty decent in the past. Do shimano do a speedplay option?

[SixPotBelly]

I've read comments from other riders that Speedplay's small contact area can cause discomfort. I use Speedplays myself (and Northwave shoes) but don't suffer, so can't substantiate.

Just wondering though, have you tried Look or Shimamo pedals? And, if so, did you get on better with those wider systems? In other words, maybe it's not the shoes?

[Shambler]

SixPotBelly said:

I've read comments from other riders that Speedplay's small contact area can cause discomfort. I use Speedplays myself (and Northwave shoes) but don't suffer, so can't substantiate.

Just wondering though, have you tried Look or Shimamo pedals? And, if so, did you get on better with those wider systems? In other words, maybe it's not the shoes?

Interesting. Ive used shimano pedals with no problems.

[TKF]

Bont Riot. £100. Chuck them in the oven and mould them to your feet. They're like putting on a pair of slippers.

[Matt_N]

Yeh Bont really are good shoes, I've got 2 pairs after picking up a really cheap pair (£13!) on eBay to try out after finding my Specialized ones too narrow and cramped in the toe box.

[Shambler]

TKF said:

Bont Riot. £100. Chuck them in the oven and mould them to your feet. They're like putting on a pair of slippers.

I really like the look of these. Thanks.

[Dizeee]

I bought these a few weeks ago.

There is no going back. They make my Louis Garneau's look like rugby shoes, with studs.


Breathtaking shoes. Highly, highly, highly recommend.



http://www.fizik.it/shoes/road-shoes/r5b-uomo/blac...

[SkinnyBoy]

Currently bashing about in Giro Empires. Absolutely the most comfy road shoes I've ever worn and I'm a shoe we that goes through a new pair every 6 months.

Plus the classic styling goes with anything.

[sjj84]

Order a selection from chain reaction or wiggle and return the ones that don't fit. What is comfy for one person might not be for another, north wave fit me perfectly.

[Andy OH]

^^^^^^

What the above has said.

Shoes are a very personal thing. I'm fine with Sidi shoes, I have two pairs, where others aren't.

[MadDad]

I have a pair of Giro Empires and Bont Vaypors. Both are great shoes but the Bont's can become a bit uncomfortable after 80-ish miles as there is no flex in them at all, Giro's are lovely!

Quite a few guys I ride with have Fizik's (R5, R3, R1's) - everyone who uses them raves about them and how comfy they are, I can't comment from experience but am tempted to try the R1's when the Bont's die a death...

[archie456]

Try some Carnac shoes, they're typically much comfier than Sidi etc.