SPD compatible shoes I can walk in

[mstone]

@jrenaut 141726 wrote:

I have a pair of Shimano MTB shoes. They’re falling apart and smell like a dead skunk. I’d like a shoe I can walk in comfortably. It would be nice if it was somewhat water-resistant and a little more insulated so I don’t freeze in the winter. Not looking that much like a bike shoe would also be a bonus, but I’m not thrilled with the idea of laces, so I may be out of luck.

Recommendations?

Maybe http://www.shimano-lifestylegear.com/us/fw/products/tour/016sh_xm7.php?pSccontentsPro ? In general I’ve had decent luck with shimano’s non-competitive-mountain/touring lines.

[jrenaut]

Oh, another thing – I have weird narrow flat feet and struggle a bit to find shoes that fit. I’d strongly prefer a local place to get them.

[Crickey7]

I loved my old Lakes, though I doubt you’d find a local seller. Mine lasted 10 years before dying. This is the closest to my old shoes, which were perfectly fine for walking. The recessed cleat area was a little deeper than my Shimanos.

http://lakecycling.com/collections/mtb/products/mx-80?variant=10002905605

[jrenaut]

Those Lakes look nice.

[hozn]

Specialized makes (or made) a touring version of their intro “sport” shoe that was nice. But those run a bit wider than many other brands.

[consularrider]

Not local, but Nashbar has the Giro Territory shoes on sale for $70, sizes 43 to 47 in stock as I write this. The they are similar to the Republics, but without laces and the walking pads are replaceable. They are not insulated, but don’t have mesh and I found them comfortable with good wool socks when the temperatures were in the 40s and with toe warmers in the mid-30s, YMMV. They do seem to be a true medium width. In my experience Nashbar is pretty good about accepting returns.

[Anonymous]

I used to have a pair of Keen sandals that were very flexible soled and walkable, and exceedingly narrow fit, imo. Perhaps their commuter shoes fit similarly?

[AFHokie]

Does anyone have any experience with Shimano RT 82 shoes? I’m coming to the conclusion the pain & numbness I’m experiencing in my right foot on longer rides is my shoes aren’t stiff enough, but I’m not sure these will be either.

I’m not adverse to switching from SPD’s to SPD-SL’s Look Keo’s etc, but was kind of hoping to not need to go to different cleats.

[mstone]

@AFHokie 142341 wrote:

Does anyone have any experience with Shimano RT 82 shoes? I’m coming to the conclusion the pain & numbness I’m experiencing in my right foot on longer rides is my shoes aren’t stiff enough, but I’m not sure these will be either.

I’m not adverse to switching from SPD’s to SPD-SL’s Look Keo’s etc, but was kind of hoping to not need to go to different cleats.

What I found made a big difference on long rides was moving to a carbon plate shoe. Of course they’ve redesigned everything, but I think http://www.shimano-lifestylegear.com/us/fw/products/road/023sh_rp5.php is the current equivalent, can take either SPD-SL or SPD. (I was also looking for something stiff that would work with the same pedals as my other shoes and boots.)

[AFHokie]

@mstone 142343 wrote:

What I found made a big difference on long rides was moving to a carbon plate shoe. Of course they’ve redesigned everything, but I think http://www.shimano-lifestylegear.com/us/fw/products/road/023sh_rp5.php is the current equivalent, can take either SPD-SL or SPD. (I was also looking for something stiff that would work with the same pedals as my other shoes and boots.)

That’s essentially the situation I’m in: one bike’s used mostly for commuting and SPD’s are perfect for walking through my condo building and the office building, plus I have SPD boots for winter riding. The ability to use the boots for long winter rides on the other bike is mainly what’s keeping me from switching to another style cleat on my non-commuter bike.

Did you also use the pontoon adapters? I’m afraid that between wood floors at home & stone/tile office lobby floors bad things would happen with road shoes & just SPD cleats.

[vvill]

I like my Chrome shoes for walkability. Not particularly wide or anything, and I assume the Chrome store carries them. They have laces though, and are also pretty heavy, if that matters. I use one pair specifically for winter riding (1/2 size larger to accommodate thick socks, and they’re my warmest shoes – I don’t own any cycling specific winter boots).

I’ve always wanted to try DZR Shoes but don’t own a pair. Bilsko did I think, he might have some feedback on them.

I also have a couple of pairs of Shimano touring-style shoes. Also very walkable but they definitely look less stylish than Chrome shoes.

[mstone]

@AFHokie 142346 wrote:

Did you also use the pontoon adapters? I’m afraid that between wood floors at home & stone/tile office lobby floors bad things would happen with road shoes & just SPD cleats.

Yes, but they still have all the walkability of road shoes. I don’t wear them outside the garage, or much for rides <50mi.

[consularrider]

@mstone 142343 wrote:

What I found made a big difference on long rides was moving to a carbon plate shoe. Of course they’ve redesigned everything, but I think http://www.shimano-lifestylegear.com/us/fw/products/road/023sh_rp5.php is the current equivalent, can take either SPD-SL or SPD. (I was also looking for something stiff that would work with the same pedals as my other shoes and boots.)

It’s not really equivalent since the cleat is not recessed. I have been using a pair of RT 82s for about five years and find that on some rides, but not all, I start getting hot foot at around the 60 mile mark. I have fewer issues with the Giro Republic, but they’re not perfect. Since one of the selling points for these shoes is their walkability, the less stiff sole may have been deliberate?

[mstone]

@consularrider 142354 wrote:

It’s not really equivalent since the cleat is not recessed. I have been using a pair of RT 82s for about five years and find that on some rides, but not all, I start getting hot foot at around the 60 mile mark. I have fewer issues with the Giro Republic, but they’re not perfect. Since one of the selling points for these shoes is their walkability, the less stiff sole may have been deliberate?

To be clear, I mean that I think the rp5 is the current equivalent of my old r107s, and are a possible answer to the problem of a flexy sole giving trouble on longer rides. They are presumably not particularly walkable–I’ve never personally seen a shoe that’s both stiff and walkable. (I do wonder if this is mainly a matter of market segmentation, as I don’t see why it would be technically impossible to put a carbon plate under a rubber sneaker tread. Maybe there just aren’t enough people willing to pay for that product?) Anyway, they wouldn’t be a good solution for the original question, and were aimed at the mid thread follow-up.

[DrVoidberg]

@vvill 142348 wrote:

I like my Chrome shoes for walkability. Not particularly wide or anything, and I assume the Chrome store carries them. They have laces though, and are also pretty heavy, if that matters. I use one pair specifically for winter riding (1/2 size larger to accommodate thick socks, and they’re my warmest shoes – I don’t own any cycling specific winter boots).

I’ve always wanted to try DZR Shoes but don’t own a pair. Bilsko did I think, he might have some feedback on them.

I also have a couple of pairs of Shimano touring-style shoes. Also very walkable but they definitely look less stylish than Chrome shoes.

I’ll second this as I also have a pair of Chrome truk pro shoes and have used them during the winter. Great shoes although my spd cleats definitely crunched on some concrete.

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