The best SPD and SPD-SL shoes for BIG feet

Hi LFGSSers,

I'm looking to find all the best SPD/SPD-SL options for people with big feet. I'm a UK14/EU50 in most shoes, but although there's a fair few cycling shoes around at that size, they normally come up small. There's no problem with getting standard MTB shoes in Size 51 (Shimano M089 etc), and it turns out that some EU50 Bonts are a more generous fit (Bont Riots, for instance), but does anyone know of any other options? Has anyone got any experience with Giro's larger models?

Principally, I'm after carbon soled SPD-SL shoes other than the Bont Riot. They're stiff alright, but the build quality is ropey so it'd be great to find some other bigfootcarbon options. It'd also be good to get some equally fancypants SPD MTB shoes, but so far I cannae find them.

Halp?

I've read differing things about the Bont Blitz, with regards to size. Saw a size chart which suggests they're the same as the Riot, size-wise. Also seen something that suggests they're the same as the Vaypors (i.e. smaller).

If you can find out for sure, Merlin have got the Blitz for £90ish.

If you're interested in trying out some size 52 Shimano R087 (I think) shoes, I've got a basically unused pair at home somewhere in black and white.

Ooh, good shout. I might just order a pair and see how they stack up.

And thanks for the offer, chap. I have pairs of Shimano MTB M087 in both 51 and 52, and 52 is a touch too roomy so my foot slides back and forth a bit when I give it Le Beans. It's fine for wearing three pairs of socks in winter riding, though...

I was really looking for fancypants road shoes though. I was thinking it might be worth seeing if Shimano's RC7 EU50 come up bigger than usual.

Worth noting that I'm about the same size as you, it sounds like. Size 51 shimano SPD shoes were a tiny bit small for me (big toe went numb after 3 week tour but were absolutely fine for commuting) but 52s a touch too big.

I've got size 50 Sidi SPD shoes (Eagle 5?), which are mostly fine, but ever so slightly too small (or not wide enough, not sure which).

I've now got size 49 Bont Riots and they fit perfectly. 50s were too big and had to go back.

Going by this chart, EU50 Riots are between 8 and 10 mm longer than all the other Bonts: http://www.bontcycling.com/items/support/sizeChart.html

:sadface:

From what you were saying about shimano sizes, I think youd be after size 49 Bont Riots anyway? Or have you already had a pair?

The pair I've got are great, much better fit than any other road shoe I've had. Plus Sigma have got them for £60... Have you measured your feet and checked against the Bont chart? Maybe you could squeeze into the Blitzes?

I have a pair of size 50 Riots which are perfect fit-wise, but I've had problems with the ratchets slipping, and some of the stitching is getting pretty ropey after not very much usage at all. I'll deffo give the Blitzes a go, but I fear they might be a bit on the short side...

Lake also do up to size 50 and they do a wide fit option as well.

http://lakecycling.com/pages/sizing-charts

Might be worthwhile noting that Shimano have updated their shoe lasts across the range over the last 1-2 years.

Some nice Giro Empire's at a steal in big sizes: https://cyclewear.eu/accessoires/schoenen/giro-empire-acc-race-fietsschoen-white-black-187770.html

Oooh! Well, I now have some size 50 Empires on the way, so fingers crossed they fit. Thanks for the tip @nutsjesmoar. :)

I looked at Empires previously but I couldn't find any size 50s at a decent price in the UK...

BIGFOOTUPDATE: Size 50 Empires are the most comfy, yet stiff, things my feet have ever encountered. Sadly, though, they're useless to me as you can't get the cleats inboard enough to get the inside of the shoe (around the ball of my feet) to not rub the cranks - there's dramatically less lateral adjustment on the Giros than on the size 50 Bont Riots. I didn't fancy having to install axle extensions, so they're going back or getting sold in the classifieds.

Next stop: Shimano RC7 in size 50 wide. I'm hoping these will be a tad longer than the previous Shimano 50 shoes I've encountered. And now that they've arrived, they are. Not by much, but the extra room in the toebox means that these should be a goer. Now to see if we can get the cleats in the right place...