SPD compatible shoes I can walk in

[TwoWheelsDC]

@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?

The Giro Terraduro may be right up your alley. They are the most comfortable to walk in bike shoes I’ve ever owned, but on the bike they’re really stiff and responsive. The key I think is the Vibram soles, which are made more for walking than running up a muddy hill. I don’t know if Giro has exclusive access to Vibram soles, but I think they’re using them on more and more of their MTB shoes because they’re so good for walking.

[DismalScientist]

Toe clips and sneakers are looking pretty good now, eh?:p

[jrenaut]

@DismalScientist 142371 wrote:

Toe clips and sneakers are looking pretty good now, eh?:p

My knees hurt just thinking about going back to toe clips.

[hozn]

@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 used to use Shimano RT31 shoes. I do not know if those are the same sole, but they were not very stiff. Good for walking.

I think stiff will be at direct odds with walkable. I have never experienced foot pain from a shoe that was not stiff (in fact it looks like there is research to suggest that carbon-specific shoes will increase peak plantar pressure), but have experienced lots of foot discomfort from ill-fitting shoes. That is why I stopped wearing Shimano (too narrow).

Edit: I definitely find Look-style road pedals to be more comfortable — better distribution of pressure — than MTB pedals on long rides. Even carbon-specific MTB pedals. Changing pedals only takes a few minutes, but obviously that doesn’t help if you want to use same shoes on different bikes.

And worth noting that there are lots of carbon-soled MTB shoes that will be “walkable” in that they won’t be slippery, but stiff-soled shoes don’t make walking pleasant.

I would just find the shoe brand that fits your feet, get insoles that match your foot (e.g. heat moldable e-soles are great) and then consider sole material for how efficient you want to feel on the bike vs. how far you plan to walk.

[Crickey7]

@TwoWheelsDC 142366 wrote:

The Giro Terraduro may be right up your alley.

From the website: “The Terraduro™ HV was created for riders with wide/high-volume feet . . .” That’s right. My EEEE feet (‘s true) are not wide, they’re high volume.

[huskerdont]

@Crickey7 142382 wrote:

From the website: “The Terraduro™ HV was created for riders with wide/high-volume feet . . .” That’s right. My EEEE feet (‘s true) are not wide, they’re high volume.

I’ve heard you just have big bones.

[jrenaut]

I have super-narrow feet, so the HV is definitely not for me. Nice that they take into account that not everyone’s feet are the same, though.

[hozn]

@Crickey7 142382 wrote:

From the website: “The Terraduro™ HV was created for riders with wide/high-volume feet . . .” That’s right. My EEEE feet (‘s true) are not wide, they’re high volume.

I recently bought a pair of new Giro Gauge HV shoes off of ebay for $100, Easton EC70 carbon soles; they are very nice, but man my feet hurt riding in this AM (first ride). or I should say my left foot hurt. I figured these would fit since the Giro Factor HV shoes I have for the road bike feel great. Apparently these are narrower (where it matters for my foot) than the Specialized non-wide shoes of the same size.

I’ll attempt to stretch them out, since the pressure/pain is very isolated.

[AFHokie]

I want to thank everyone for their input, it’s very helpful in figuring out my options.

Walkable shoes aren’t my biggest priority, but rather shoes that don’t make my feet numb at mile 70. I do intend to keep the walkable SPD shoes for commuting. I just don’t want to add another cleat system if I don’t have to. From what everyone has posted, there are workable solutions, but I may be happier in the long run making the switch.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[Sunyata]

@jrenaut 142385 wrote:

I have super-narrow feet, so the HV is definitely not for me. Nice that they take into account that not everyone’s feet are the same, though.

I bought a pair of the Terradura’s (female specific version of the Terraduro’s), and they fit my feet width wise very well. I have very narrow feet, but with super high arches. I LOVE the how walkable they are and how stiff they are on the bike. However, I am not sure I like the depth part of the fit. They are not made for someone with high arches. I will give them a few more long rides before I decide whether or not to ditch them.

Previously, I had a pair of Pearl Izumi Alp Enduro’s that I loved. I wore them for 8-ish years before the velcro decided it no longer wanted to stick. Since PI no longer makes the Alp Enduro, I looked for something different and found the Terradura’s. If they end up not working out for me, I am going to try the new PI Alp Launch, which has a similar sole as the old Alp Enduro’s.

[hozn]

@Sunyata 142438 wrote:

I bought a pair of the Terradura’s (female specific version of the Terraduro’s), and they fit my feet width wise very well. I have very narrow feet, but with super high arches. I LOVE the how walkable they are and how stiff they are on the bike. However, I am not sure I like the depth part of the fit. They are not made for someone with high arches. I will give them a few more long rides before I decide whether or not to ditch them.

If they make an HV version of the women’s-specific model, you might try that. I think the HV for Giro is just more volume in upper, not actually a wider sole. Hopefully that would accommodate your arches.

[huskerdont]

@Sunyata 142438 wrote:

I bought a pair of the Terradura’s (female specific version of the Terraduro’s), and they fit my feet width wise very well. I have very narrow feet, but with super high arches. I LOVE the how walkable they are and how stiff they are on the bike. However, I am not sure I like the depth part of the fit. They are not made for someone with high arches. I will give them a few more long rides before I decide whether or not to ditch them.

Previously, I had a pair of Pearl Izumi Alp Enduro’s that I loved. I wore them for 8-ish years before the velcro decided it no longer wanted to stick. Since PI no longer makes the Alp Enduro, I looked for something different and found the Terradura’s. If they end up not working out for me, I am going to try the new PI Alp Launch, which has a similar sole as the old Alp Enduro’s.

Can you put in an insert like with running shoes to give arch support? I also have high arches and I’ve been able to get that to work with some cycling shoes, but everyone’s feet are different so who knows.

[Sunyata]

@hozn 142442 wrote:

If they make an HV version of the women’s-specific model, you might try that. I think the HV for Giro is just more volume in upper, not actually a wider sole. Hopefully that would accommodate your arches.

Unfortunately, they do not. And the men’s just do not come in small enough sizes (37.5) for my feet. :confused:

@huskerdont 142444 wrote:

Can you put in an insert like with running shoes to give arch support? I also have high arches and I’ve been able to get that to work with some cycling shoes, but everyone’s feet are different so who knows.

Ahh, if only that were the main issue. It is mostly that the shoes are rubbing on the tops of my feet, not that they lack arch support (which, they kind of do, but that is not a huge deal).

I am still undecided on whether or not I will keep them. I guess I will wait and see how they do for GRUSK before I make a final decision. (I REALLY want to love these shoes!)

[jrenaut]

So I bought a pair of Giro Rumble shoes. They’re great to walk in. So now I’m wondering if there’s a technique for getting the cleats lined up right. I figure I can go ride around the block a few times then try to adjust, but I was wondering if there was a more scientific technique.

[Harry Meatmotor]

Here’s a good starting point:

Find a helper. Find a sharpie marker.

Put your shoes on, sans cleats.

Stand near a table or counter, and roll your feet forward just a little bit, until your standing on the balls of your feet, approximating your ride position on the pedals, using the table or counter to help you stay steady.

Have your assistant feel for the ball of your foot, and mark a small tick-mark with the marker on inside of the ball of your foot, on both feet.

Take your shoes off and, while holding the shoe at an angle similar to your normal position on the pedals, transfer the tick-mark downward to the sole of the shoe. Turn the shoe over and install the cleat in line with the mark on the sole, and centered from side to side on the shoe.

Use this as a starting point. any problems with fit should be pretty obvious within 30 minutes of riding, but may be more evident the day after a long ride, especially any knee/tendon pain.

Be careful when fiddling around with cleat position, a little change can cause a lot of discomfort. Also, take into consideration the thickness of the soles of the shoes in relation to your saddle height – new shoes can require a little fiddling with saddle height.

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