I was at an XXL store nearby yesterday and tried on a pair of Northwave Extreme GT 2 in 44, a Ghost XCM 2 in 43 and a pair of Shimano RC300 standard width.bikeboy1tr wrote: ↑Thu May 06, 2021 4:54 amA few years back I purchased a pair of the Lake MX 331 and took the chance of a sz43 wide which are likely the best fitting shoes I have had. My left largest foot measures out at 276 by 110 and according to the shoe chart they have now and the one I went by back then nothing has changed. Their chart shows a sz43 to be 273 long by 110 in the wide. That said I normally cut the forefoot portion of my insole on the left which buys me a bit of room and gives me a little more arch support while my right foot is 274 in length and 108 wide the insole is uncut and the shoe fits like a dream. I was looking at one time to purchase the road CX403 but at the time it was not available in wide.
For the road I have been using Northwave for many years and the 43 fit nicely but the latest Extreme RR was supposed to be a little tighter according to reviews and I went to the 44 when I could have been fine with 43.5 so I just ran the ITS Wedge and it was okay for fit.
The latest Extreme Pro is tighter and I got it in the 44 as well and good thing because its noticeably tighter but it fits very well and the width on all the Northwave have been good for me at 110 wide. The sole on the Pro is definitely more ridgid than any of the Extremes before it though. If I was to go to another shoe I think the Lake 403 wide would be something of consideration for sure.
The Extreme GT 2 was way long for my 273mm feet, but the width felt pretty much spot on. So i wonder how they would be in 43 or 43.5. The Ghost in 43 where almost the right length, my toes were touching in front though when I wiggled them. 43.5 would probably be good but the width was quite a but tighter than the Extreme GT 2.
Lastly, the RC300 non wide actually didn't feel that bad, except for being a little tight at the balls of the feet. Midfoot they were pretty much perfect in width. Which leads me too believe that wide will fit me. So I went ahead and ordered a pair of XC300 Wide for the mtb.
That made me think of something. I have pretty much only been buying top end shoes and have forgotten that they tend to be tighter than the lower end to midddle, which they are supposed to be of course. Also, the fact that more expensive shoes are more stiff generally, doens't really help if you have some kind of foot pain.