New 2024 S-Works shoes upcoming?

[RedRacer]

In a shoe I want maximum foot hold at the rear of the shoe (tight heel, sides and top without needing to over tighten) and then have a big toe box so my toes can splay and do whatever they want to. If the shoe is held in the rear, you have arch support and cleats in the right location you can pretty much have the toe box as big as you want.

This is exactly the fit I've been trying to find for many years. Does it even exist? I recently purchased Shimano S-PHYRE SH-RC903 Wide (47) and I wanted so badly for them to fit but the rigid sole/tub mid-foot and toe box width is at least 6mm too narrow for my feet to be comfortable after 20mins of riding. The heel hold is superb.

[StevieB]

In a shoe I want maximum foot hold at the rear of the shoe (tight heel, sides and top without needing to over tighten) and then have a big toe box so my toes can splay and do whatever they want to. If the shoe is held in the rear, you have arch support and cleats in the right location you can pretty much have the toe box as big as you want.

This is exactly the fit I've been trying to find for many years. Does it even exist? I recently purchased Shimano S-PHYRE SH-RC903 Wide (47) and I wanted so badly for them to fit but the rigid sole/tub mid-foot and toe box width is at least 6mm too narrow for my feet to be comfortable after 20mins of riding. The heel hold is superb.

FWIW, I've been in a 42.5 Bont Vaypor S wide for several years and am now in 42.5 Lake CX403's (wide in the older fit, now called regular), and they both fit that bill. I'm a 42.5-43.0 in most shoes and buy wides when I can, with feet that are 263mm X 105mm and a medium-high arch. The CX403's were excrutiating out of the box due to being too narrow from the mid-back, but I took a chance and found they are much more pliable when heat molding than Bont's. Spent some time tweaking them, and they feel great now. They hold snug without overtightening, but still give the piggies lots of room to splay. The Bonts are probably a little better for heel hold (they make that suction cup sound when you take them off), but the Lakes are a bit wider up front and a better match for my arches. Can probably tweak the heels to improve that also, but as they are they're great.

[GaBa]

I have the exact opposite experience. Bont Vaypor S heel hold for me is plain awful, there is a lot of space and movement. Much more than in Lake's Cx 403, even though I have these in wide (probably this only affect front part of the shoe). I also noticed my feet don't agree with bathtub construction, while I didn't have problems with Lake's due to wide model I have a red spot in Bont's - I have a bone going out (don't know how to explain it better) below pinkie of my right foot. When trying them out of the box they seemed fine, but once changing sole and after some time, I get a hot spot that I don't like. Recently tried S-works torch, much much better heel retention and more comfortable due to softer upper.

[StevieB]

I have the exact opposite experience. Bont Vaypor S heel hold for me is plain awful, there is a lot of space and movement. Much more than in Lake's Cx 403, even though I have these in wide (probably this only affect front part of the shoe). I also noticed my feet don't agree with bathtub construction, while I didn't have problems with Lake's due to wide model I have a red spot in Bont's - I have a bone going out (don't know how to explain it better) below pinkie of my right foot. When trying them out of the box they seemed fine, but once changing sole and after some time, I get a hot spot that I don't like. Recently tried S-works torch, much much better heel retention and more comfortable due to softer upper.

I should probably note that Bont's sizing guide for the Vaypor S had me in a 43 regular and I tried a pair in that size, but wasnt crazy about them. A bit loose front/back, and uncomfortable on the sides. I had a pair of A2's in wide before that, and knew the heat moldability was quite limited, so I tried the 42.5 wide and it worked much better. Had to heat up and really work the toe box to get a little more room for my big toe lengthwise, but the end result was worth it. That may explain my heel hold, as the shoe is quite snug, but the extra width up front made it work well for me. I have some differences in my left and right foot shape, and the better moldability of the 403's has really let me customize them to accomodate that.

Back on topic with new S-Works shoes, I tried a pair of Ares before I got the 403's, and while I liked the closure system they were way too narrow for my feet. Looks like Spesh is generally going wider with their newer shoes, but I think I'd still almost certainly take a wide. And unless they start doing wides in something other than black, that would leave me out. Newly into the 403's, but first impressions are that they could be lighter and more ventilated. We shall see!

[GaBa]

I have the exact opposite experience. Bont Vaypor S heel hold for me is plain awful, there is a lot of space and movement. Much more than in Lake's Cx 403, even though I have these in wide (probably this only affect front part of the shoe). I also noticed my feet don't agree with bathtub construction, while I didn't have problems with Lake's due to wide model I have a red spot in Bont's - I have a bone going out (don't know how to explain it better) below pinkie of my right foot. When trying them out of the box they seemed fine, but once changing sole and after some time, I get a hot spot that I don't like. Recently tried S-works torch, much much better heel retention and more comfortable due to softer upper.

I should probably note that Bont's sizing guide for the Vaypor S had me in a 43 regular and I tried a pair in that size, but wasnt crazy about them. A bit loose front/back, and uncomfortable on the sides. I had a pair of A2's in wide before that, and knew the heat moldability was quite limited, so I tried the 42.5 wide and it worked much better. Had to heat up and really work the toe box to get a little more room for my big toe lengthwise, but the end result was worth it. That may explain my heel hold, as the shoe is quite snug, but the extra width up front made it work well for me. I have some differences in my left and right foot shape, and the better moldability of the 403's has really let me customize them to accomodate that.

Back on topic with new S-Works shoes, I tried a pair of Ares before I got the 403's, and while I liked the closure system they were way too narrow for my feet. Looks like Spesh is generally going wider with their newer shoes, but I think I'd still almost certainly take a wide. And unless they start doing wides in something other than black, that would leave me out. Newly into the 403's, but first impressions are that they could be lighter and more ventilated. We shall see!

Oh yeah, 403's are a brick!

[maxim809]

I’m hearing March for next gen shoe. Anyone else hear different?

[alexanderp1991]

I have the exact opposite experience. Bont Vaypor S heel hold for me is plain awful, there is a lot of space and movement. Much more than in Lake's Cx 403, even though I have these in wide (probably this only affect front part of the shoe). I also noticed my feet don't agree with bathtub construction, while I didn't have problems with Lake's due to wide model I have a red spot in Bont's - I have a bone going out (don't know how to explain it better) below pinkie of my right foot. When trying them out of the box they seemed fine, but once changing sole and after some time, I get a hot spot that I don't like. Recently tried S-works torch, much much better heel retention and more comfortable due to softer upper.

I should probably note that Bont's sizing guide for the Vaypor S had me in a 43 regular and I tried a pair in that size, but wasnt crazy about them. A bit loose front/back, and uncomfortable on the sides. I had a pair of A2's in wide before that, and knew the heat moldability was quite limited, so I tried the 42.5 wide and it worked much better. Had to heat up and really work the toe box to get a little more room for my big toe lengthwise, but the end result was worth it. That may explain my heel hold, as the shoe is quite snug, but the extra width up front made it work well for me. I have some differences in my left and right foot shape, and the better moldability of the 403's has really let me customize them to accomodate that.

Back on topic with new S-Works shoes, I tried a pair of Ares before I got the 403's, and while I liked the closure system they were way too narrow for my feet. Looks like Spesh is generally going wider with their newer shoes, but I think I'd still almost certainly take a wide. And unless they start doing wides in something other than black, that would leave me out. Newly into the 403's, but first impressions are that they could be lighter and more ventilated. We shall see!

Weird how I feel the exact opposite and think my Ares are wider than my 403s
They are both a 47 and I do think Lake is a physically smaller shoe

[Karvalo]

I'm lucky to have fairly narrow feet with no arch problems. I can wear pretty much anything. I'm a standard in 403 and narrow in the new 333.

But super narrow? No. Compare to Fizik, Sidi etc and even regular Lakes aren't narrow in comparison IMO. I haven't worn either of those Specialized because they're the one make that I can't tolerate.

IMG_7858.jpeg

44-44.5 in Lake CX302s.
43.5-44 in Giro Empire SLXs.
43.5 in Shimano RC903s, 44 in RC902s.
43.5 in Gaerne G.STLs.
43.5 in S-Works Ares.
44 in Bontrager XXX.

Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2s in size 43.5 honestly felt like size 45.5-46 to me. They were loose everywhere.

Just be aware that's not a direct comparison of width. For instance the CX302 is just a smaller shoe than it should be - it's between a half and full size shorter than standard.

Similarly Fizik are mostly at least a half size longer than average.

[StevieB]

I have the exact opposite experience. Bont Vaypor S heel hold for me is plain awful, there is a lot of space and movement. Much more than in Lake's Cx 403, even though I have these in wide (probably this only affect front part of the shoe). I also noticed my feet don't agree with bathtub construction, while I didn't have problems with Lake's due to wide model I have a red spot in Bont's - I have a bone going out (don't know how to explain it better) below pinkie of my right foot. When trying them out of the box they seemed fine, but once changing sole and after some time, I get a hot spot that I don't like. Recently tried S-works torch, much much better heel retention and more comfortable due to softer upper.

I should probably note that Bont's sizing guide for the Vaypor S had me in a 43 regular and I tried a pair in that size, but wasnt crazy about them. A bit loose front/back, and uncomfortable on the sides. I had a pair of A2's in wide before that, and knew the heat moldability was quite limited, so I tried the 42.5 wide and it worked much better. Had to heat up and really work the toe box to get a little more room for my big toe lengthwise, but the end result was worth it. That may explain my heel hold, as the shoe is quite snug, but the extra width up front made it work well for me. I have some differences in my left and right foot shape, and the better moldability of the 403's has really let me customize them to accomodate that.

Back on topic with new S-Works shoes, I tried a pair of Ares before I got the 403's, and while I liked the closure system they were way too narrow for my feet. Looks like Spesh is generally going wider with their newer shoes, but I think I'd still almost certainly take a wide. And unless they start doing wides in something other than black, that would leave me out. Newly into the 403's, but first impressions are that they could be lighter and more ventilated. We shall see!

Weird how I feel the exact opposite and think my Ares are wider than my 403s
They are both a 47 and I do think Lake is a physically smaller shoe

My 403's are wides of course (using the old sizing; regular in the '24 sizing scheme), so that might explain it. They are hugely wider than the Ares were in the same size, and a bit wider up front than my Bont Vaypor S wides. They were still too narrow back around the rear Boa and would have been unwearable out of the box, so I had to heat them up and open up the "tub" in that area to match my Platypus feet!

[guyc]

403's have to be moulded. The heel area isn't designed to be worn cold.

[chris1234]

Specialized are the best shoe for heel grip and roomy toe box and I have tried everything else.

[guyc]

Specialized are the best shoe for heel grip and roomy toe box and I have tried everything else.

For your feet

[ome rodriguez]

Just Torch laces.

[Lina]

Specialized are the best shoe for heel grip and roomy toe box and I have tried everything else.

I've tried every single Specialized road shoe and I'm perplexed how people claim they have a roomy toe box. And every single time there's a new shoe I get baited into trying it by people claiming it's even roomier than the previous one.

[TobinHatesYou]

Specialized are the best shoe for heel grip and roomy toe box and I have tried everything else.

I've tried every single Specialized road shoe and I'm perplexed how people claim they have a roomy toe box. And every single time there's a new shoe I get baited into trying it by people claiming it's even roomier than the previous one.

This guy makes plaster casts from various shoes. We can see that the Torch is wider than the Ares at the metatarsals, but tapers to roughly the same width at the toes themselves. The biggest difference is the extremely tall instep on the Torch. Anyone with narrow, low-volume feet should stay clear of the Torch series from Specialized.