Tri (bike) Shoe Guidance

Brad Marcus

Can anyone recommend Tri (bike) shoes with a roomy toe box? I currently have Pearl Izumi Tri Flys and am feeling some discomfort up front and worry I'm developing a slight neuroma.

Steve West

Couple of years ago I had the same issue. Ended up with the Shimano T31, Still like them.

Woody Freese

After trying several different tri and road shoes, I found the Specialized S-Works Road Shoe (not their quick-entry tri shoe) is available in a "wide" - Boa lacing, easy to adjust on the fly and out of transition. Very comfortable, highly adjustable. Pricey, but for the time we spend in them, well worth it, IMHO.

Peter Beauregard

I agree with Woody and the Specialized S-Works road shoe.   Very comfy and all kinds of adjustments can be made quickly and easily. (I have the regular width.)  Shimano has also been for me, in my experience, wider in the toe box.  The specialized road shoe is not a specific tri shoe so it is not "seamless" and you will have to wear socks to avoid getting blisters and hot spots.

Good luck.

-Pete

MattAaronson

Shimano for sure...lots of room

jaleslie

Don't know about Shimano "tri" shoes, but I had problems with hot foot in my first pair of Shimano road shoes (not wide enough across the metatarsals).  Switched to Specialized road shoe (albeit, a higher end shoe with carbon sole) and love it.  Got a Mavic tri shoe, which seems wide enough, but I don't wear socks with in them.  They aren't as wide as the Specialized, but wider than the Shimano.  A high-end Shimano may be wider though?

 

Brad Marcus

Thanks for the input, guys. After reading around, I decided to go with Louis Garneau Men's Tri-Lite Triathlon Cycling Shoes. Seemed to fit the bill on what I was looking for. A bit concerned about fit since I ordered online, but that's where the deals were to be had (37% off). Will let you know the results when I receive and try them out. Thanks again!

rwsmith96

I rode the Garneaus for a while and then switched to Sidi T2...love those shoes. They don't look like they're roomy up front but they are. And the silver snakeskin look is tip top.

Robert Sabo

I like my T2's as well. Plenty of toe room. I was wondering whether people thought road shoes were "better" than Tri-shoes from a power transfer standpoint?

William Jenks

Although it's after the fact here, I'll add another endorsement of the Sidi. They have lasted (with little signs of wear) soooo much better than the shoes I had previously, and the toe box velcro provides adjustability.

@Robert... I wonder if people are talking about the "soft" adjustment of the velcro vs a "hard" strap? Wouldn't make any difference on the downstroke, but I wonder if people think just a bit more stretchiness on the top of the shoe might lower power transfer on other parts of the stroke? I'm not changing...just speculating!

Brad Marcus

I've tried Sidi's - not a good fit for me personally. I guess I have a weird shaped foot or toes or something. I'm definitely a Morton's Toe freak (2nd toe longer than first), and I could swear this affects my fit of all shoes - running or biking.

I will say that my current bike (tri) shoes, which are Pearl Izumi, are stretched out on the top of the middle toes from my upstroke. Not sure if this due to lack of stiffness in the tri shoe, or because of my feet in particular, but this is part of the reason I started looking for a replacement. The other reason being some discomfort. Hoping the LG's work!

GMAN 19030

I'm going in a bit of a different direction this year.

I'm a big fan of the Specialized Tri-Vent shoes but my need replacing.  I only plan on doing two WTC IM races next season where you can't have shoes clipped in and all that.  Since speed is not of the essence when putting on bike shoes, I decided to get a pair of Specialized Expert Road shoes with the boa system.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ft...xpert-road