Cycling Shoes: Creating Space for Natural Foot Function

In my last article, I talked about why natural foot function is important for cyclists. Our feet can influence the way we move, transfer power and interact with the bike. However, what happens when we put our feet into cycling shoes?

Cycling shoes are designed to provide stability, efficiency and a strong connection to the pedal. These are all important considerations for cycling, particularly when we are riding for long periods or producing high levels of power. Many cycling shoes, particularly traditional road cycling shoes, are narrow through the toe box. Our toes are designed to spread, move and contribute to our balance and stability. When a shoe compresses the toes together, we limit some of this natural movement. This is where foot freedom becomes important.

I’m not suggesting that cycling shoes need to feel like a ‘barefoot’ shoe. Cycling has very specific demands, and we still need a shoe that provides appropriate stability and allows us to transfer power effectively. I am suggesting that you look for a shoe that provides a more natural shape and adequate space for the foot, particularly around the toes.

When I look at cycling shoes, I consider several things:

• A wider, more anatomical toe box – allowing the toes to spread rather than being squeezed together.
• Adequate length and width – remembering that feet can change shape and swell during a long ride.
• A secure heel – the foot should feel stable without needing to compensate by excessively tightening the shoe.
• Appropriate stiffness – enough to provide an efficient connection with the pedal while still allowing the foot to function.

During my time as a cyclist and bike fitter, I’ve explored a number of cycling shoes. I’ve found that various cycling shoes have marketed their shoes as being wide. Unfortunately this often refers to width across the ball of the foot only. Below, I explore the cycling shoe brands that also are wide in the toe-box, which is an important feature for natural foot function.

Lake

Lake is the brand I most often recommend when a cyclist tells me they cannot find enough room in conventional cycling shoes.

What I particularly like about Lake is that they don’t treat “wide” as a single category. They use different lasts (the three-dimensional forms around which the shoes are constructed) which results in noticeably different shapes.

Their current range includes Race, Competition, Sport and Comfort Plus. These have different combinations of forefoot width, volume and heel shape.

The Comfort Plus last provides Lake’s most generous forefoot platform and is specifically designed to accommodate a greater range of foot shapes and allow toe splay. Their CX201 road shoe uses this last.

Lake also offers a number of road shoes in dedicated wide versions, including models such as the CX239 and CX242. This is a major advantage because you can have a shoe with a more accommodating forefoot without going up in length.

Bont

Bont is another brand worth considering. Their shoes have a distinctive anatomical shape with a generous toe area, and their heat-moldable construction allows the shoe to be customised more closely to the individual foot.

Another interesting development is that Bont Shoes Australia now incorporates Cobra9 insoles into its cycling shoes. This adds another layer to the way the foot can be supported within the shoe. Their range also includes different width options, with some models available in wide and even double-wide configurations.

Bont’s semi-custom program is particularly interesting for riders who have difficulty finding a conventional shoe that accommodates their individual foot shape.

Leviathan

Leviathan cycling shoes are quite different from the sleek, lightweight road cycling shoes on the market. One of their standout features is the generous amount of room through the toe box, allowing the forefoot and toes considerably more space to spread and move. For someone coming from a conventional, narrow cycling shoe, this can feel very liberating. But is it possible to have too much of a good thing?

In my experience, the Leviathan can feel too roomy. The overall shoe is relatively chunky and heavier than most performance-focused road cycling shoes. For this reason, I think they are best for mountain bikers, gravel riders and commuters. Or cyclists who prioritise comfort, durability and foot space over having the lightest and most streamlined shoe possible.

The Leviathan uses a dual BOA closure system, which provides good adjustability across the foot. However, despite this, I found that I still needed to make some additional adjustments to achieve the heel stability I was looking for. I ended up using small heel wedges inside the shoe to help stabilise the heel counter.

This is an important reminder that simply having a wide toe box shouldn’t be the whole story when choosing a cycling shoe. We want space where we want it and security where we need it. The toes and forefoot should have room to function, while the heel needs to remain secure so that the foot isn’t moving excessively inside the shoe during the pedal stroke.

fi’zi:k

fi’zi:k is an interesting example because, traditionally, the brand has been associated with a fairly performance-oriented, streamlined cycling-shoe shape. However, Fizik now offers a dedicated Wide range. For example, the Vento Omna Wide is specifically designed with a higher-volume fit and more room around the ball of the foot and metatarsals.

The Vento Infinito Carbon 2 Wide takes this further, combining a high-performance carbon road shoe with a higher-volume forefoot and differentiated volume adjustment.

More to come…

Buying a cycling shoe with a wider toe-box is just one part of the picture. This alone doesn’t automatically create a healthy, functional foot. Maintaining foot strength, mobility and coordination and incorporating more natural movement into our lives can help provide the variety our feet need. Stay tuned for some practical movement exercises in my next article.