Why Wide Shoes Will Benefit You

Why Wide Shoes Will Benefit You

- by Robert Thorpe, October 1, 2022

WIDTH VERSUS VOLUME 

Cycling shoes can be a mixed bag for most riders. Historically, many brands have produced narrow shoes, and shoes that look slim and sleek, but which don’t allow your foot to spread in a normal manner. These brands often deal with this, simply by adding volume to the upper, on a regular or narrow sole (or last). The result is that your foot doesn’t sit comfortably and is pulled inwards and upwards to try and fit - causing discomfort and often pain. 

Here’s something that you can try, and you’ll see what we mean – ready...  

HOW WELL DO YOUR SHOES CURRENTLY FIT  

Take out the insole or footbed from your current cycling shoes, whatever brand it is. Then, place the footbed down on the ground and put your open foot over it. You’ll see immediately if your foot stays within the edges of the footbed or it overhangs. If it overhangs, then there’s a good possibility that your current road cycling shoes or off-road gravel biking or mountain biking shoes are simply not the right width.  

Ask yourself this question: did you get your feet professionally measured? You probably ride a great road bike or mountain bike. And, your cycling kit is likely to be top quality too. Yet, your feet are doing so much work, attached to the bike all the time and producing the power transfer momentum. Which is why you should be wearing the best cycling shoes available - and the right width for your feet. We’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating - comfort is our DNA, and we love your feet.  

WIDE FITTING SHOES FOR THE WIDEST SMILES 

That’s why here at Lake Cycling, we produce road and off-road cycling shoes in extra wide fittings. And, it’s why we train our specialist shoe fitters at our retail partners - it gives you the best cycling shoe fitting service available. We also have custom insoles available, to really add to that foot comfort, and to truly capture the natural shape of your foot, whilst you’re cycling.  

CAPTURE YOUR NATURAL FOOT SHAPE 

Raven™ Insoles composite foot cradle is designed to be reshaped to your foot. The heel cup of the cradle has small slits made around the upper radius, to allow the cup to expand for larger sized feet. These slits may or may not be visible after moulding. 
Raven™ Insoles are compatible with most cycling shoes, and really do add to your comfort, and through this maximising performance.   

Adding custom insoles to our range of cycling shoes, such as the CX 238 Road Cycling shoe, will benefit your overall foot health, removing those painful niggles that you may be experiencing with other shoes, where volume is used instead of width.

THE CX 238 ROAD CYCLING SHOE 

The CX 238 is shaped for a better, more comfortable fit, and the Competition last increases toe pitch and heel lift, allowing the foot to expand under high pedalling pressure. Supporting the shoe is Lake's Race carbon fibre sole, offering impressive stiffness and power transfer while remaining low in weight. To protect the shoe from premature wear, the full-grain leather upper boasts a panel at the heel and a rubber bumper at the toe, plus mesh panels for proper ventilation. 

Designed for high-pressure riding, the Lake CX238's wider forefoot provides the relief you need to focus on the road ahead. You deserve the very best cycling shoes, for your comfort, your health and to ensure that you maximise smiles when cycling those miles. Visit our Lake Cycling retail partners today, and let them use their cycling shoe fitting expertise to maximise your cycling comfort - after all, it’s in our DNA. 


9 comments


  • D. Morgan

    Hi,

    I love Lake shoes and own three pairs (MX and CX 241’s and Cx201). I was so happy to see an actual size 49 show up in the CX201, OMG, finally you got the size US 14 nailed… but why did it take so long?

    The two things that frustrate me most with Lakes are A) You sizing on the large end. You either have 48 [13.5US] or 50 [15US] but essentially a no man’s land when it comes to size 49 [14US]. So to make my size 14 CX and MX fit, I have concocted heel wedges to shim them up and that makes The moldable heels basically useless. Is there any plans to make these brilliant shoes with the comfort last and in a 14? Next, B) those of us with larger feet seriously need the ability to move our feet forward over the pedals far more than the range you provide. I’ve had to turn to using a well known in the mid-foot cycling community, accessory cleat plate to move the cleat rearward by 20mm. Once I did that, my foot burning/numbness disappeared, as did my knee soreness and I can go all day now with MORE avg power. How did the cleat placement for the larger sizes get established? You really should look into increasing the range of the slots to allow the show to be placed further forward on all your larger sizes, I think there’s something here you’re missing.

    Will the comfort last be expanded to other models (especially shoes with moldable heel cups)? You’ve got a winner with that last!

    DM


  • Lee

    I initially got the 332 in xw, then the 238’s in wide and lastly the 201’s which’re the best BUT it’s very flexible at the front, a harder section of material about 1/2 way up the shoe retaining the mesh with less stretch would help this magnificent shoe as it too comfortable and your foot can move around quite a lot but the last shape is perfect!


  • Robert Solomon

    Just made my first long ride with my new CX 201s. Wow – what a difference from the leading brands of narrow, store-bought shoes I wore over the past two years. Finally, excellent power from my flat, wide feet…and no more tears from excruciating foot pain! Thanks Lake Cycling!


  • Gregory J Ceconi

    I have had several pairs of Lake shoes in the wide widths and they are exceptional cycling shoes, both for mtn. and for road. I love the toughness of their shoes as well. Very well made!


  • Eric Chernoff

    I recently purchased the Lake CX238 and the MX238. I am a certified bicycle fitter and I highly recommend these shoes if you have a wide foot with a high instep. I have owned many shoes over my 40 plus years in bicycle retail. Lake truly makes the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I have been a road cycling for over 52 years and I have bilateral hip replacements which demands proper fitting and arch support to assure that I have no miss alignment in my kinetic chain(foot,ankle knee and hip). Keep up the great work Lake!
    Regards
    Eric Chernoff


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