We point you at decent mountain bike shoes for big feet. If you are looking for mountain bike shoes in size 12, 13 and even 14… read on.
Having big feet is bloody annoying, and if you are reading this you are no doubt fully aware of this.
Me and my big feet
I am a size 13UK and have been since I was 13 years old. My age matched my shoe size from about 10 years old. Whilst this made for a zinger of a comeback when teachers would tell me to “act your age – not your shoe size”, it was not only incredibly inconvenient, but also very expensive.
I would make long train journeys into central London to buy hike boots, or Nike Air Jordans for skateboarding in. I recall these cost £45 in 1985 and that was a shed load of pocket money for a 13 year old.
When mountain biking started we rode in our skate shoes or hike boots (with toe clips and straps), but back then we had zero choice for mountain specific shoes. However, we are now spoilt for choice… or are we?
If you have big feet you still have to look hard to find big shoes.
How to Find Big Cycling Shoes
Finding big shoes for a cyclist is not easy. Many manufacturers will make a big size, but the regional distributor wont stock them for exactly the same reason the local bike shop doesn’t carry big size stock. Apparently there is no demand.
Back in 1984 in a small shoe shop my father asked the shopkeeper “but why don’t you have a size 13 for my small son?” (I was about 6 foot and towered over the shopkeeper). The shopkeeper explained, “there is no demand”, and at this point in our well polished shopkeeper intimidation routine, I would lean over and say in an attempt at a menacing voice “I demand them!”
Local bike shop
You are no doubt already familiar with the local bike shop dude explaining “No we don’t keep that size in stock” as he looks down at your feet with a strange look on his face. For convenience I always assume this is a look of respect, despite them muttering “****ing ‘ell” under their breath. This is often swiftly followed by “but we can order them in”. Please give your LBS a chance. Also, if the big footed people never ask for big shoes, the LBS will still believe that no one is bigger than a size 11 and never hold any big stock.
Online
Isn’t the internet great? Yeah but no. Internet shops have the same stock issues your LBS has. If you can find the shoe you want, in your size, use a reliable online retailer that actually has the stock and has easy returns. Don’t go browsing through the website gazing at huge variety of shoes in a rainbow of magnificent colours without first clicking the size filter. For once you have set the filter to size 13 you will be able to gaze upon the solitary shoe in your size, normally in black only.
I would avoid buying from outside the UK. You know, exotic places like Germany and Belgium, because post Brexit you will catch import duty, VAT, and shipping costs. If the shoes are not a good fit or you have a warranty issue you will have expensive return shipping costs and additional paperwork.
Barcode search
Every product in the world has a unique product code know as a UPC, EAN or GTIN number. It’s the digits found under a barcode. If you know what the UPC for a size 13 thingy shoe in the “dusty radberry” colour is, then you can search online. Some manufacturers list the UPC codes publicly, but many don’t. A polite email to the manufacturer or distributor can get you the code. Throw that code into a normal google search, then a google “shopping” search, and finally google “images” and you may find what you are looking for. You will go down many dead ends, but it can work.
But let Singletrack do the shoe hunting for you. Here is a round up of plus sized mountain biking shoes in flat, clipped in and winter variations.
Flat Pedal Shoes for Big Feet:
Note: Try not to get too excited by the usual shopping links below, the links generated don’t factor in available shoe sizes (sorry about that, it is annoying yes). But, who knows, you could be lucky. Worth a clicksee…
Ride Concepts Hellion Elite
- Price: £139.95
- Size up to: UK14
- From: Silverfish UK
Ride concepts make this shoe up to a UK14, and Silverfish keep stock up to a UK13, in black only. The big guys don’t get the rather tasty yellow or red, they save those for the people with silly little feet (OK, the other colours are stocked up to a UK12).
Five Ten Trailcross XT
- Price: £140
- Size up to: UK14.5
- From: Adidas
Now we are talking turkey, God bless Five Ten. The beautiful people at Five Ten list this as available in a UK 14.5. In fact they list 32 different shoes in a UK 14.5. Click here to see the full range of big shoes. What’s more, they hint at even bigger shoes. You see their size chart goes to a whopping great UK19!
Five Ten Freerider Canvas
- Price: £90
- Size up to: UK14.5
- From: Adidas
The classic Freerider from Five Ten. Again available up to a UK 14.5, at a very reasonable price. These really are the go to shoe for many large footed mountain bikers.
Shimano GR5 (GR501)
- Price: £79.99
- Size up to: 48
- From: Freewheel
Maxing out at a rather weenie Euro48 (UK12) these only just sneak into this round up of big mountain bike shoes. They are a great value and well built pair of shoes, and also what I wear in the summer months with a thin sock. Despite being only a 12 they are quite a generous fit.
Specialized 2FO Roost Flat
- Price: £110
- Size up to: 49
- From: Specialized
Topping out in a size 49, which Specialized say is a UK13, these shoes come in not one, but four colours. And right now Specialized have stock of all four in size 49.
Clipless Pedal Shoes for Big Feet:
Ride Concepts Hellion Clip
- Price: £139.95
- Size up to: UK14
- From: Silverfish UK
The clipped in version of the Hellion shoe. Ride concepts make this shoe up to a UK14, and Silverfish keep stock up to a UK13, in black only. If you are a UK12 they have other colour options. The Velcro strap makes for a good fit and a more efficient clipped in experience. Plus no one likes snagging their laces in their chain.
Shimano XC1 (XC100)
- Price: £89.99
- Size up to: 50
- From: Freewheel
If you are the kind of rider that wants to go fast, needs a stiff sole, doesn’t stop at the pub, and loves a flat bar and that free feeling only a skinsuit can give you. Then Shimano have several XC shoes in a size 50 (UK14). Beyond XC racing I have found shoes like these are preferable to a road bike shoe when on a road bike. The recessed cleat means you can actually walk into a cafe.
Five Ten Trailcross Pro Clip-In
- Price: £180
- Size upto 14.5
- from: Adidas
The clipped in variation of the Trailcross is available up to a size uk14.5 and in several colours. At the time of writing they have one single pair left in olive. The BOA keeps things snug and the neoprene ankle cuff keeps the trail debris out.
Specialized Recon 1.0
- Price: £99.99
- Size up to: 49
- From: Specialized
A classic clipped in shoe, in a rather cool oak green, and available up to a size 49 (UK13). Specialized offer other colours, but they are either not made in a 49 (48s are available), or sold out.
Winter Mountain Bike Shoes for Big Feet:
45NRTH Ragnarok
- Price: £195
- Size up to: Euro50
- From: Bikemonger
45NRTH know a thing or two about cold weather cycling. They make 2 other boots, one is good for -18c, and the other -31c! The shoe here is rated for -3c. They go up to a size 50, which I found equates to about UK13 as I found the 48s too narrow. Hannah reviewed these clipped in boots a few years ago: read the full review of the 45NTH Ragnarok boots.
Five Ten Traillcross Gore-Tex
- Price: £160
- Size up to: UK 14.5
- From: Adidas UK
These are really a shoe with a snug neoprene ankle gasket, rather than a boot. They are also my personal choice for flat pedal winter mountain biking. After a year they are still warm and waterproof, with the Gore-Tex doing it clever differentially permeable membrane thing. The UK13.5 is slightly roomy on my size 13 feet, but that gives me room for winter socks. Read our full review of the Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Gore-Tex.
Shimano MW5 (MW501) Dryshield
- Price: £139.99
- Size up to: 48
- From: Freewheel
The MW5 is a clipped in winter shoe that goes up to a size 48 (UK 12). DRYSHIELD membrane with a fleece liner keeps your feet warm and comfortable in rain, wind, cold and mud.
What else is out there?
If you know of other big mountain bike shoes, don’t keep it a secret. Share your knowledge in the comments below.
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