Bike Shoes for Flat Feet Sufferers

[Andeh]

I've got flat feet, and that's not going to change. The low arches aren't a big deal, but the really wide midfoot has been a massive problem for me forever, be it for running shoes, ski boots, or bike shoes. I've been able to address it pretty well for most of those, but bike shoes seem to be a special problem, since they all seem to be designed around the same last width (apparently traced around the foot of some French or Italian ballerina a century ago). Anyways, I've got to thinking that it might be worth seeing what's worked for my duck-footed brethren.

My foot measurements: 10.5" long (heel against a wall, measured wall to tip of big toe), ~4" wide at widest point. Usually wear a 9.5 shoe for length. Almost no arches.

Five Ten Impact Pros: these are the most comfortable out of the box fit for me. The length is right, and the massively wide outsole supports the outer edge of my feet pretty well. The whole inside of the upper (including toe box) is cushioned. Sides of the upper aren't overly stiff. Sole grip is excellent of course. Downsides are weight, water absorption, durability (I get about 1 year out of a pair), and the stock insole packs out really fast. Rubber grip: 9.5/10. Overall feels more like a low top hiking boot.

Five Ten Freerider Pros: length is good but the narrower outsole causes more pressure on the midfoot. They got a bit better as they broke in, but they're still a grade less comfortable than the Impact Pros. They weigh a good deal less and dry faster though. I've kept them for riding at the pump track, or rainy rides where I know they'll get saturated. Rubber grip: 9.5/10. Middle of the road stiffness - you can feel more of the pedals with these, and they walk a bit better than the Impact.

Ride Concepts Tallac: the length seems a bit short or the volume is kind of low (top of my big toe presses against the toe cap). The midsole has a nice amount of cushion that seems to help with foot fatigue. The outsole is wider than the Freerider Pro, but not quite as huge as the Impact Pro, and combined with the flexible fabric sides makes them pretty comfortable in the midfoot. Unfortunately, the rubber grip is maybe 8/10, and I definitely found my feet bounce off the pedals more than with Stealth. If the rubber was better, I'd try sizing up a half size, as they otherwise were pretty comfortable, lightweight, and breathable. They walk really well (aside from toes banging into cap).

Specialized 2FO Roost / DH: the sizing on these is fucking bizarre. If considering these, I suggest using their sizing guide, which placed me in a size 43/10.25 (previously bought and returned a 9.3 and 9.6). The insole shape is identical to that of Five Ten and Ride Concepts size 9.5, but the outsole is very narrow. The shoe itself seems to be high volume (for a 9.5, I guess it'd be normal for a 10). Unfortunately, the insole sits quite low, just below where the upper connects to the midsole, and there is a plastic shank that runs along the edge up from the midsole into the upper material a few mm. This creates painful pressure on the outer edge of the midfoot, no matter how loose the upper is laced. I would discard these shoes from contention but the rubber is even more tacky than Stealth S1, and is my new benchmark for 10/10. So I've been trying to make them work. I squished both shoes at the midfoot in a vice for a few days (helped soften the upper). Last night I had an idea: put a second insole in above the stock one, to get my foot up above the plastic shank. The shoes are high enough volume that this seems to work, and they immediately felt more comfortable in the garage. I used a pair of broken in insoles from a pair of Hoka running shoes. I won't have a chance to try riding these until the weekend though. In terms of materials, the outer material of the upper isn't very breathable, but the interior mesh/foam is very airy, and I'd wager they dry very quickly. Weight is moderate. The toe area bends ok for walking but the midfoot is very, very stiff.

I'd like to try a pair of the Giro Latch, as I hear the midsole is nicely damped and the rubber is supposedly adequate. Giro CS suggested I wear a size 44 (10.5) instead of 43 based on my foot measurements.

One other guy I know with duck feet is wearing Ride Concepts Powerlines, and said he doesn't get foot pain in them. I'd try them if they ever update the rubber.

What's worked for you?

Photos of my avian flipper feet for reference:

[XXX-er]

I got wide forefoot/ high arch/ narrow heel and I thot I had problems

I been rocking specialized for clipless and now the Five Ten for flat pedals

[Eluder]

Are you sure that’s not a pic of my foot?

I’ve been happy with the Shimano skate shoe style options, unsure about the current models but avoid the speed laces on the old ones at least. They just don’t last.

[Andeh]

I haven't tried the Shimano flats in like 5-6 years. I vaguely recall doing 1 ride with them and being so terrified by how often my feet were coming off (especially midair) that I cleaned them up and returned them the next day. Has their sole gotten any better than "dumpster tier" lately?

[plugboots]

Lake?

These are on sale and come in a wide.

[Conundrum]

I have a neuroma on my bigger foot and have stubbornly avoided surgery with wider shoes. I used to ride in Impacts and Freeriders. Needed wider so gave up on Freeriders. Then only used Impacts. On the last new pair that weren't broken in, they were too tight across the balls and blew up my neuroma. Tried Powerlines and they are working. Grip is useable but not quite 5.10 sticky and seems to be wearing out quicker. Got to about the end of those and have been trying Tallacs sized up a half size. Need to tape my toes and can only go for an hour or so before things start to hurt. Will be buying Powerlines again unless someone recommends something else here. Definitely more toe box room.

[dan_pdx]

Yeah, why are bike shoes sized like ballet slippers? I have tailor's bunions on both feet, but the one on the right is bigger. Eluder, looks like you're in the same boat. My Giro Ventanas have been fine for gravel / light MTB, but I don't have a ton of hours in them.

Does anyone have recs for wider road shoes?

[Eluder]

I haven't tried the Shimano flats in like 5-6 years. I vaguely recall doing 1 ride with them and being so terrified by how often my feet were coming off (especially midair) that I cleaned them up and returned them the next day. Has their sole gotten any better than "dumpster tier" lately?

Mine have the Michelin branded soles. I remember them getting better after use but can't recall my feet coming off. I run Vaults for reference. I plan on ordering some of the newer ones here this winter as they seem to be on major closeout, the soles are different though.

[plugboots]

Yeah, why are bike shoes sized like ballet slippers? I have tailor's bunions on both feet, but the one on the right is bigger. Eluder, looks like you're in the same boat. My Giro Ventanas have been fine for gravel / light MTB, but I don't have a ton of hours in them.

Does anyone have recs for wider road shoes?

I know I’m repeat here, but Lake has at least one in extra wide.

[Andeh]

The one Lake shoe linked here (the one that looks like Keds) will not work at all for my riding, and the rest of theirs are literally clip shoes with screw in rubber plugs for the cleat area. Looking at their charts for the last widths, I'm sure they would fit nicely if I rode clips, but I don't, and am not willing to compromise on grip.

I will take a look at the new Shimano GF6s / GF600. The few reviews I've found seem to indicate that the grip now is at least adequate, and I have heard over the years that the sizing works well for flat feet.

Also nice to get confirmation that RC Powerlines fit well. Fingers crossed that RC ups their rubber game next year.

[Boissal]

I haven't tried the Shimano flats in like 5-6 years. I vaguely recall doing 1 ride with them and being so terrified by how often my feet were coming off (especially midair) that I cleaned them up and returned them the next day. Has their sole gotten any better than "dumpster tier" lately?

Can't comment on the Shimano flats as I'm always clipped in, but in terms of width I'm very happy with the 2 pairs I have, ME7 and AM9. I might beat all the pics above in terms of flat feet, my footprint is basically an oval. Fully collapsed arch, ankle bone damn near touching the ground by now, chunky 6th toe. Ski boots typically require 5-6 shell punches to work in addition to a strong foot bed to create a pseudo arch
My biggest issue with the Shimano shoes is in terms of vertical volume. Flat foot means more room over the instep (for me), meaning I need to add my custom insole on top of the shitty flat one they have in there stock.

If the Shimano sole has improved on flat shoes, they might be worth a try for you Andeh, at least in terms of width.

[Andeh]

Nice, I'm definitely interested now. How are you sizing their stuff? The Shimano website says: If your previous shoe model was a ME, please size down. If your previous shoe model was an AM, please keep the same size. Elsewhere in the FAQ: First, measure each foot’s length in centimeters. Base your sizing on your larger foot. You can find brand specific size conversion charts with each shoe available on ride.shimano.com. If your foot shape is on the wide side, consider choosing a wide model or 1 size larger. If your foot is especially wide, consider choosing a wide model or up to 2 sizes larger.

The Shimano size chart says a size 43 is just under 9 or about 27.25cm, a 44 is about 9-3/4 or just under 28cm. My foot measures right at 27cm. I normally wear a size 9.5 shoe or 27.5 ski boot, so I'm guessing I want the 44.

I find the Specialized red insoles (with the "met button") work well in bike shoes for me, at least in my Impact Pros and Tallacs so far. High arch insoles just cause my feet to ache, as do any with a plastic shank in them. The Ride Concepts D30 insoles were ok too. As long as the insole arch is low-ish and overall has a bit of cushion, I'm ok since my legs/knees are straight.

Getting a bit off topic, but last year I got Atomic Hawx Magna 130s (27.5) and those were the first ski boots I've ever owned that were 100% comfortable from day 1 with no special insoles or punching. The first few days skiing in them it felt like there should be an angelic choir soundtrack. And for my work boots, Danner Bull Run Lux (9.5 / 43.5) are so comfortable that I wear them on weekends or anytime I know I'm going to be on my feet a lot.

[Boissal]

My ME7 are EU44, US 9.7 (!!!), and 27.8 cm. Unfortunately the tongue of the AM9 is all rubbed off and I can't tell what size they are, of find the purchase receipt. I'm 90% sure I got a 44 though as I didn't read Shimano's recommendation of sizing down. The AM9 feels roomier for sure, I have some heel lift when pushing the bike up steep shit. The heel pocket is not as pronounced which probably contributes to the loose feel as well. I'd probably be happy in a 43.5 (if they make it), not sure a 43 would work

I just measured my feet at 27 cm (R) and a tad over 27 cm (L). I used to ski in 27 boots but went down to 26.5 with my ZGTP. Absolute race fit though, less than a finger in the shell and some mods in front of the boot to make them work.

Based on this you definitely want a 44, unless the unicorn 43.5 is out there.

[Conundrum]

I know I’m repeat here, but Lake has at least one in extra wide.

Was a good rec but can't find any Lakes for flats in my size.

[plugboots]

Was a good rec but can't find any Lakes for flats in my size.

Yeah, I don’t have every company’s whole product line memorized. I have three pair of Lakes in 2 different sizes and I’ve been happy with them all after many years of buying bike shoes on the cheap and kind of making them work .

[Andeh]

Well, Shimano GF6s / GF600s arrived. I tried them on, and just like you guys said, they're at least as roomy as Impact Pros if not more. Toe box in particular seems roomier although part of that might be due to them only coming in whole euro sizes (so I'm wearing a 44/10 instead of 9.5). They do feel way, way lighter than Impacts though, despite the sole feeling similarly stiff. They kinda remind me of Impact Pro bottoms with Freerider Pro uppers (but more room). I'm setting them aside as a Christmas present for myself, but am definitely interested to see how they feel on pedals.

[Andeh]

I've gotten a couple rides in the GF6s, and they're pretty comfortable but the rubber grip isn't up to snuff for aggressive riding in questionable conditions. I've had my feet come off the pedals twice jumping while riding in the rain or muddy conditions, which isn't an issue with Impact Pros for me. Still, they're nicer to walk in, lighter, and dry well, so I'll definitely reach for them when doing trail work or riding at the pump track.

[Andeh]

I picked up a pair of Fox Union Canvas shoes on clearance from the Colorado Cyclist "going out of business" sale, and have some impressions following a half dozen rides.

Sizing - I suggest disregarding Fox's US sizing on the size chart, and go by the EU sizing. I previously had ordered a pair of Unions in my US size (9.5) and my toes were touching the end and could barely get them on. This time, I ordered the same EU size that I wear for Five Ten (43.5), and the interior length feels nearly identical to my 43.5 Impact Pros. Exterior dimensions are almost identical too, with the sole of the Union being maybe 2mm narrower on each side. On the inside, they have a very roomy toebox, especially given that they don't have as much padding in the front as the Impact Pro. The heel cup is more pronounced/defined, and superior to the Impact Pros in my opinion. The canvas upper is unsurprisingly very flexible, and conforms to the shape of my foot nicely, and didn't seem to need any breaking in to get comfortable.

The midsole is more flexible than the Impact Pro (closer to the Freerider Pro) but has a moderately cushioned feel to it, in contrast to the Freerider Pro. They're quite comfortable to walk around in, even on my concrete garage floor. The outsole grip was surprisingly good. It's not quite as grippy as Stealth S1 or the latest Specialized SlipNot, but it's very close. On a 1-10 scale, I'd rate S1 & SlipNot at a 10, Fox's Union rubber a 9.5, Ride Concepts MaxGrip an 8, and Shimano's Ultread a 6 or 7.

On the trail, I feel like these could work for a lot of people. The grip is very close to the best, and I didn't have any issues with my feet coming off, although they were easier to reposition, and I did find them a little bit more out of place at the end of a descent. The canvas upper breathes much better than the full synthetic uppers of the Impact & Freerider Pro, and would be great for anyone riding in hot, dry conditions. The shoe is flexible and cushioned, plus has great heel hold, which makes it walk well. However, that same flexibility did lead to a bit more foot fatigue for me when riding multiple laps on blown up, brake bump cratered trails. I was able to mitigate that a little bit by running as large of a platform pedal as possible (Deity T-Mac instead of a Hope F22), but it still was an issue for me, especially when doing a bunch of quick ebike laps.

So, my verdict is the Union Canvas are my second favorite flat pedal shoe. For my typical riding, I'm going to stick with Impact Pros for slightly better grip and reduced foot fatigue, but the Unions are now my go-to shoe for trail work, pump track, and flow trails or very hot days.

One final note: in some of the reviews of other Fox Union shoes (especially the BOA clip versions), they mention that they come with insoles with 2 different arch wedges that can be swapped out. Neither the lace-up Union Flat nor Union Canvas Flat have those, just traditional, low arch foam insoles.