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I've got a pair of Crank Brothers Stamp Trail. They're a good fit, but they're a bit too flexible and they're starting to tear on the top. I like the Boa and strap closure and the 'gusset' that stops them filling with crap.
Vaude Moab winter boots fitted well but the summer version are too tight across the forefoot (have an unworn pair in 10.5/45 to sell - they're great shoes)
Sounds like the Stamp (not trail) is probably stiffer but it loses the gusset. Anything else I should look at?
Lake MX201
Lake MX201
I'm intrigued. Had a pair of lake shoes many years ago and they were amazing quality.
But those are for cleats. Yes, you can add a cover but does that really work? What's the sole grip like compared to a 5:10?
The 'nufoam mesh' upper doesn't look very tough - looks like it would snag badly on brambles etc.
And the size guide, if I put in my measurements, doesn't recommend that shoe and thus doesn't give me a size in that shoe. (and, having told me that the size of trainers I wear - which can be anything from 44-46 but is at the upper end of that in most brands - is too large for the foot length if I put in anything above 45, is recommending Lake shoes in a 46.5!). And the first comment says the 201 is a wide toe box but not actually a wide mid foot...
The 2 year old thread on here has someone saying the sole's not up to mtb use and a reddit thread says the grip sucks on flat pedals - far too hard rubber.
They are for cleats, I've used them with the cover and they do grip OK, that being said I've only used them with very concave pedals/Outlier pendulum pedals that don't have a middle.
I used them for 4/5 months last summer and nothing untoward happened to the mesh, though my feet did get wet on wet days, but the sole still looks good. Compared to 5:10 (that I've used for about 15 years before these) not as good as pre adidas, which i think were grippier/softer, but on a par with current offering (caveat that I'm running vastly different pedals now, see above.)
As for the sizing, YMMV. They suit my need for a really wide toe box due to medical issues on my right foot, but the rest of my feet are fairly standard. So much so i bought some other SPD only ones for XC duties. They aren't cheap though, especially with the extra £30 for the cleat cover, so def try some for fit.
Most of the Ride Concepts range have a flat+Boa version.
they have a rep for being nice and wide. have ordered a pair to try.
I'm into really wide shoes, the barefoot stuff.
I've just ordered some lems trail Thrasher for flat pedal stuff. I have my reservations about the tread pattern but ultimately that will get replaced with vibram dotty rubber.
Gravel bike will be getting some mx201 soon. Interestingly, I recently found out that lake half sizes use the same sole as the smaller size, but add more upper to increase volume. Therefore, for my wife, flat, low volume feet, the 45 is a better option than the 44.5
I have feet shaped like a duck's foot/tortilla chip/hobbit's foot.
Ride Concepts, Giro and Shimano do alright for me.
Interestingly, I recently found out that lake half sizes use the same sole as the smaller size, but add more upper to increase volume. Therefore, for my wife, flat, low volume feet, the 45 is a better option than the 44.5
I might have heard that - it's definitely the case for some shoe manufacturers, and it would be really good if there was some/any/even vaguely accurate consistency between manufacturers.
But the Lake size charts they publish don't seem to support that - they show a different length for the half sizes.
https://ukbikefit.com/lake-sizing-chart/
I have feet shaped like a duck's foot/tortilla chip/hobbit's foot.
Giro and Shimano do alright for me.
mine are wide across the forefoot rather than the toes for me (knuckles behind big toe to one behind small toe is about 110mm) AND I've got a high instep so I need a lot of volume (a flatter foot would allow more effective width with a lot of shoes)
Giro - I've got a pair of (cleated) Ventana which I use on the road bike and they're actually verging on too wide (and I couldn't go down a size. Possible the only shoes other than Keen trainers I can say that for). Their flat offering with boa looks like the Tracker . Might be an option but they look less substantial than the CB Stamp trail
Shimano used to fit well - I had ME7's and AM901s when I was riding cleats but they changed their lasts and the last pair of each of those I tried had nothing like the same volume and were no good for me.
and link to my last attempt. These are really good shoes, but just very slightly too narrow for me to wear across the widest part of my foot (no issue with my toes)
Vaude Moab Tech 2.
Well worth other people trying - good grip, solid materials and minimal ventilation across the toes so deal with splashes. tough mesh further back. high on the inside of the ankle. really good design. The winter boots are just that little wider and fit me really well.
https://singletrackworld.com/advert/vaude-moab-tech-2-flat-pedal-shoes-size-10-5/
I might have heard that - it's definitely the case for some shoe manufacturers, and it would be really good if there was some/any/even vaguely accurate consistency between manufacturers.
But the Lake size charts they publish don't seem to support that - they show a different length for the half sizes.
I was surprised to learn that as well but I'm tempted to believe the bike fitter/lake dealer who told me. Also explains why my MX241 in a 44.5 wide, has 44 moulded into the sole.
My Lems Trail Thrasher as just turned up and they feel lovely where my Lake MX241 wide feels too restrictive around the toes. They're lace up and pricey but my lord do they feel comfortable
I might have heard that - it's definitely the case for some shoe manufacturers, and it would be really good if there was some/any/even vaguely accurate consistency between manufacturers.
But the Lake size charts they publish don't seem to support that - they show a different length for the half sizes.
I was surprised to learn that as well but I'm tempted to believe the bike fitter/lake dealer who told me. Also explains why my MX241 in a 44.5 wide, has 44 moulded into the sole.
The other thing being of course that manufacturers don't *necessarily* do the same thing with every one of their shoes, change their lasts and their size guides, have different size guides for different ranges (cycling vs outdoor) and old out of date size guides don't get removed from retailer websites.
I contacted Vaude because of this and they sent me their up to date size chart, which is different to the one that's printed on the back of the box the shoes ship in....(FFS)
Me - "the most useful sizing information on there should be ‘foot length in cm’ - because that’s something I can measure myself. However - you also list Mondopoint in cm. Everything I have read on Mondopoint says "The ski boot sizing system is known as Mondopoint, which was developed by the ski industry to create
a universal sizing system. Mondopoint is calculated by the length of one’s foot in centimeters, from the heel to the big toe. But the size guide says the Mondopoint sizing is between 3 and 11mm different to foot length, depending on the size, on the new size guide you've sent me”
Vaude - "We have had feedback in the past that our shoes tend to run small or need to be ordered one size larger. The US, UK, EUR and Mondopoint sizes are ‘linked’ to each other. We have therefore added the special cm information to the size chart"
Firstly I'd say you DONT need to size up in Vaude I've tried- i have to size up to 46 in a lot of shoes but the 45 is right size for me except width and the lengths on the box seem more accurate than the one they sent.
I hate buying shoes
Lake used to have some lasts where the extra wide was less wide than the wide in another last. I've been told they've had a good tidy up in recent years and although there are different lasts, they can at least be compared relatively to each other now.
How stiff are the lems? And shaped compared to the primals? (If you've worn them)
Id be tempted to buy some and fire them off for a resole
I've not used them in anger yet, but much stiffer than the primal. It's actually designed with mountain biking in mind rather than just being a close approximation.
I think they might actually be a bit wider than my primal. Not sure if that's an optional illusion because they're chunkier or whether it's by intent as the upper is more robust so less conforming
Thanks onza, I like the shape of the primals, but the sole is super soft and I feel everything through them. That's an aside though.
When I first saw the trail tracker I posted it here and was sceptical about the tread. I'd take the tread on the toe and heal like the original vaude moab
I need a roomy toe box, and found some Leatt shoes with a boa a couple or three years ago that worked for me. Looking at their site now it seems they call it the 'ProFlat' with that fastener nowadays. I don't know if they're still as roomy as they were, but worth considering for your list if you can find some to try on. The sole on mine is reasonably stiff, not as grippy as a fiveten but not so far off that it upsets me.
I wear stuff like vivobarefoot off the bike and have a bit of the old hallux rigidus going on so the toe box/forefoot width is quite vital to me.
Update on the RideConcepts - bought the Helion Boa in a 45 and they were a good length but just too tight across the widest part of my foot. Bought a 46 (5mm longer) in the hope that would give enough extra width but after sitting with them on for a while have concluded not. Looks a brilliant shoe if it fits you.
So I'm back to CrankBrothers. Picked up some Stamp speed lace which fit the same as the Stamp Trail but feel stiffer out of the box and are made of tougher (but slightly heavier) materials. I've had speed lace shoes before and they've got some benefits over a boa so will see how they go. Picked up at 2/3 off rrp so a bargain.
The Trial is a nice shoe but I think the lightweight fabric is a step too far.
Will keep an eye out for the Leatts
