[beanbag]

I need more room at the tip, not the metatarsal area

 

[beanbag]

Update:
Today I went to the bike store and picked up a set of Specialized Recon 3 on sale. For a size 44, the toebox is barely wide enough where the big and pinky toe will sometimes hit and sometimes not. There is about 1/2-3/4" of extra room in front of the big toe, but that isn't so bad since the very front of the shoe curls up anyway.
The Rime 2 also has a very similar fit but at the last minute I decided against it since I didn't want to deal with the laces.

I then went to another shop to try on some Lakes. They did not work out because the arch was way too high. Also, as I suspected, even with the "wide" size, the tip of the toebox is still too narrow and my pinky toe will hit while there will be extra width about 1-2 inches behind the pinky metatarsal. (Thanks, but not useful)

Finally I got to try some Bonts. The toebox does seem more square, or rather trapezoidal. Even though their size guide says I should be wearing a 44, a 45 wide (Riot) fit with no toe rubbing but excessive length in front. A 44 Wide (Vapor [something]) has the right length but toes rubbing. Hopefully the toebox is a bit heat moldable so I can get the smaller size.

 

[Brad]

Update:
Today I went to the bike store and picked up a set of Specialized Recon 3 on sale. For a size 44, the toebox is barely wide enough where the big and pinky toe will sometimes hit and sometimes not. There is about 1/2-3/4" of extra room in front of the big toe, but that isn't so bad since the very front of the shoe curls up anyway.
The Rime 2 also has a very similar fit but at the last minute I decided against it since I didn't want to deal with the laces.

I then went to another shop to try on some Lakes. They did not work out because the arch was way too high. Also, as I suspected, even with the "wide" size, the tip of the toebox is still too narrow and my pinky toe will hit while there will be extra width about 1-2 inches behind the pinky metatarsal. (Thanks, but not useful)

Finally I got to try some Bonts. The toebox does seem more square, or rather trapezoidal. Even though their size guide says I should be wearing a 44, a 45 wide (Riot) fit with no toe rubbing but excessive length in front. A 44 Wide (Vapor [something]) has the right length but toes rubbing. Hopefully the toebox is a bit heat moldable so I can get the smaller size.

Wow I'm really surprised the Bonts work out better than the Lake. I went through the same process and started with Bont but found the Lake just that much more supportive with lower arch and softer around the little toe.
Well glad you're on the right track!

 

[beanbag]

Wow I'm really surprised the Bonts work out better than the Lake. I went through the same process and started with Bont but found the Lake just that much more supportive with lower arch and softer around the little toe.
Well glad you're on the right track!

Well, the Bonts are extremely bad for evaluation as the default heel cup is way too narrow and hits whatever bone sticks out the side of the ankle. I was never able to put full pressure on my heel. And of course, if you heat mold it, it's no longer returnable.

 

[Octopuss]

delete

 

[gsteitz]

I used some shoe stretcher from Amazon per a recommend post, worked like a charm!

Left them in a pair of Shimano XC702s for 48 hours and presto, fit is great. I gave them an extra 1/4 turn a couple times a day over that period.

 

[beanbag]

Specialized customer service said that since the shoes are synthetic a stretcher won't work.

 

[gsteitz]

Specialized customer service said that since the shoes are synthetic a stretcher won't work.

Pretty sure my Shimano are synthetic and it worked great. YMMV

 

[nebio]

Specialized customer service said that since the shoes are synthetic a stretcher won't work.

I had some success stretching out a pair of specialized 2FO.
I heated the inside and the outside with a hairdryer Until the material felt softer and more malleable.
then used handle of a screwdriver to push/work around the toebox area from the inside of the shoe.
it does not appear much wider from the outside but it has has definitely felt roomier since then. Wondering if some of the benefit was compressing the layers inside versus stretching out the material. I have been told that the synthetic shoes tend to return back to their prior size but fortunately mine have still felt roomier.
I have also done this with a pair of fiveTen free rider pros

 

[beanbag]

Update on my situation:
Reminder that I don't have a particularly wide forefoot, but rather my big and pinky toes point forwards and don't curve in like the average Western domesticated male.
I got some Shimano XC502 shoes in Wide. Out-of-the-box, my toes still hit, but fortunately the toebox is made of some hard plasticky material that is somewhat heat moldable. I used a shoe stretcher plus a heat gun / hair dryer (warm, not hot) to push out certain points. It worked in that regard, but it also (accidentally) made the toe box lower in height also so now it was hitting on the top of my toes. I tried another round with the heat gun and wearing two layers of socks, and this seemed to work ok.
I tried out some Specialized Exos Evos and the toebox is rounded and soft / flexible enough that this shoe would have worked out also. But reading reviews, this shoe had a lot of problems so I didn't get it.
Instead, I got a set of Specialized Vent Evo shoes, which also has a rounded and soft toe box. Time to harvest from the Money Tree in the backyard...

 

[KobayashiMaru]

...

 

[gsteitz]

Couple rides in on my Shimano XC7's after using an shoe stretcher from Amazon. Worked like a charm, shoes feel perfect now!

 

[Brad]

 

[beanbag]

oh, very nice. Maybe some day they will make a MTB version of this.
It's nice to see Lake FINALLY try to make shoes based on actual foot shapes, and not based on activity level like "Sport" , Competition", etc.

 

[J.B. Weld]

Couple rides in on my Shimano XC7's after using an shoe stretcher from Amazon. Worked like a charm, shoes feel perfect now!

Those are great for ill fitting shoes that you already have but I'd never buy a new, nice pair of shoes knowing that needed to be done.

 

[Brad]

oh, very nice. Maybe some day they will make a MTB version of this.
It's nice to see Lake FINALLY try to make shoes based on actual foot shapes, and not based on activity level like "Sport" , Competition", etc.

Any of their shoes with the "Sport" last would fit the foot shape depicted in the CX201.
These would be the MX 168 and MX 168 Enduro or MX177. There is a new MX 201 coming as well but not before end September.
MX 1 and MX 1 flat would be lace up options with the latter being for flat pedals

 

[beanbag]

No way these two shoes fit the same feet

 

[gsteitz]

Those are great for ill fitting shoes that you already have but I'd never buy a new, nice pair of shoes knowing that needed to be done.

The Shimanos are by far the best fitting, stiff soled cleat that I've found and I've tried a bunch. The only modification I needed was to get a smidge more room for my right big toe and they don't make half sizes. I feel like it's the perfect application for this product and it worked like a charm. YMMV

 

[J.B. Weld]

The Shimanos are by far the best fitting, stiff soled cleat that I've found and I've tried a bunch. The only modification I needed was to get a smidge more room for my right big toe and they don't make half sizes. I feel like it's the perfect application for this product and it worked like a charm. YMMV

Glad it worked out well just saying I wouldn't be comfortable with it given the variety of options available and how expensive good shoes are.. I have used shoe stretchers but they were on shoes I thought were good but was proven wrong after a few rides. They can be useful.

I don't think Bont's have been mentioned. They have a natural toe box shape similar to Altra running shoes.

 

[d365]

I don't think Bont's have been mentioned. They have a natural toe box shape similar to Altra running shoes.

Never heard of them, but their Riot toe box shape looks great. If you're looking for a stiff XC shoe, this would be great option. Moldable sole with replaceable "sole guards" seems interesting. Priced really well for what you get.