Best Mountain Bike Shoes for Wide Feet 2024

We all know that shoes are one of the most critical pieces of gear after a bike in cycling. The reason for this importance is that shoes are sort of like a foundation on which you ride. MTB shoes are more versatile and must fulfill more responsibilities than their road counterparts. They must provide protection, efficient power transfer, and walkability to some extent based on the MTB discipline. But MTB shoes often have a narrow fit and you would have a hard time finding the right shoe if you have wide feet. Luckily, manufacturers have started to acknowledge that and many of them now offer wide sizes for wide feet, although not for all their shoes which would have been great. But something is better than nothing.

1. Shimano XC5 Wide

Pedal compatibility: Clipless
Cleat: 2-hole
Footwear closure: Strap/dial lace
Weight: Not specified

The XC series is among Shimano’s performance-oriented series. The XC5 is their mid-range gravel riding shoe. It is reasonably priced with a few premium features that you expect from a mid-range shoe like this. The XC5 is available in wide sizes which makes it suitable for people with wide feet.

As for the features, you get some really stiff fiberglass soles. Many people would complain about not getting carbon soles at this price but the XC5 makes up for that in other areas. Besides, as we would see later, other shoes on this list don’t offer carbon soles despite being far more expensive than the XC5. That being said, the soles are very stiff providing excellent power transfer. The stiff sole immediately lets you know that the XC5 is for pedaling and not walking.

The outsole is rubber, but not just any rubber, it’s Michelin rubber. Many riders use Michelin tires on their mountain bikes for grip so need I say more? At the toes, you get threaded inserts for spikes to adjust the grip. However, the addition of lugs at the toes along with spikes would have been better because the spikes are sold separately.

The synthetic upper gives a premium feel and has a sleek and aero design. You get a single BOA dial with a toe strap as your closure system. There is no separate tongue and the two edges of the tongue overlap each other providing a secure fit along with the closure system. However, some people may find even the wide version a bit narrow.

What I like:

• Stiff fiberglass soles provide excellent power transfer
• Michelin rubber on the outsole
• The overlapping tongue design offers a more secure fit.

What I don’t:

• No lugs at the toes reducing grip
• The wide version can also feel narrow to some

See the Shimano XC5 Wide

2. Sidi Dominator 10 Mega

Pedal compatibility: Clipless
Cleat: 2-hole
Footwear closure: Techno-3
Weight: 1 lb. 8 oz.

Do you want to feel like your feet have put on a pair of Ferraris? Well, the Italians are equally as good at making premium shoes as they are at making supercars. Sidi is a premium cycling shoe brand. Every shoe is made in-house and by hand even in today’s automated world. But the result is unmatched quality control.

The Dominator series is claimed to be the most versatile by Sidi. The Dominator 10 has been around for a long time. But there have been no serious changes to it other than a few straps and buckles. The good old “don’t fix it if it ain’t broken” mantra.

The soles are not carbon fiber. What did I tell you about far more expensive shoes not offering carbon fiber? But it’s Sidi and they know their game so let’s move on to what else you are getting. The sole stiffness makes it very clear that it is for riding only. You would not want to walk in them. However, the stiff sole prevents vibration-induced hotspots.

The lugs are hard plastic that grips well in muddy conditions but slips on hard surfaces. But you do get the option of replaceable toe studs which you can replace with spikes (sold separately!). But the upper is where it’s a different game altogether.

The upper is extremely plush and molds to the foot’s shape with use. Sidi calls it their Technomicro material. It is water-resistant and breathable. The closure is not BOA but Sidi’s in-house Techno 3 whereby you get two ratchets with half increments for an excellent hold.

But one thing you have to keep in mind with Sidi is the fit. It’s a hit or miss. If they fit you well, you won’t look towards another brand ever again. But that’s the tricky part. While the added width in the Mega size of the Dominator 10 does help, some may still not find it wide enough.

What I like:

• Premium upper molds to the foot’s shape with the use
• Breathable and water-resistant upper
• Excellent closure system including two in-house dials with half-increments

What I don’t:

• High price but no carbon fiber soles
• Plastic lugs don’t provide a grip on hard surfaces

See the Sidi Dominator 10 Mega

3. Five Ten Impact Pro

Pedal compatibility: Flat
Cleat: N/A
Footwear closure: Lace
Weight: Not specified

The Impact Pro was the first mountain bike shoe sold by Five Ten. It was also the first shoe to feature Five Ten’s legendary Stealth rubber, specifically the Stealth S1. Over the years, there have been many improvements to the Impact Pro. Its wide and bulky build makes it suitable for wide feet.

Impact Pro with its heavy build is geared towards park and downhill riding with the primary focus being protection. There is heavy reinforcement and the upper has a durable build with a lengthy lifespan. The Stealth S1 rubber in the Impact Pro is also found in Five Ten’s famous Freerider Pro but it is stiffer in the Impact Pro. The stiffness of the sole makes walking awkward. But the pedal grip is exceptional.

The treads on the outsole are the same dotted treads that you would find on many of the Five Ten’s MTB shoes. They work great on the pedal but are not aggressive enough to provide a good grip off the bike, especially in wet conditions.

The upper is synthetic with a quick-drying feature. There are no mesh panels on the Impact Pro, only a few perforations, and with a heavy build, the breathability is limited. The Impact Pro is certainly not a shoe for warm seasons.

What I like:

• Legendary Stealth S1 rubber sole
• Proven dotted tread design provides exceptional grip on pedals
• Heavy reinforcement on the upper for excellent protection
• Exceptionally durable build quality that would long

What I don’t:

• Heavy and bulky
• Non-aggressive tread doesn’t provide a good grip on wet surfaces
• No mesh panels on the upper and only a few perforations make for a hot shoe

See the Five Ten Impact Pro

4. PEARL iZUMi X-Alp Canyon

Pedal compatibility: Clipless
Cleat: 2-hole
Footwear closure: Lace
Weight: Not specified

The X-Alp series from PEARL iZUMi is popular for its bike-packing and hike-a-bike capabilities. The Canyon is no exception. The Canyon is made to look like a running shoe. It even has a low-cut ankle just like in running shoes. The reason for the Canyon to be on this list is its wide toe box which makes it suitable for wide feet.

Being a shoe partly made for hiking, the upper has generous mesh panels. In fact, almost all of the toe box is mesh which reminds me of Five Ten’s Trailcross LT. But unlike the Trailcross, the Canyon is a clipless shoe. Such generous mesh panels mean that the Canyon won’t provide much protection against the cold.

The performance of the shoe is not the best. There is flex in the sole that doesn’t provide the best power transfer. But there have to be some compromises to achieve versatility. Walking in the shoe is easier. The cleats are well recessed and you only feel them when climbing hard rocks.

The outsole is the weak part of the Canyon but that is common throughout the X-Alp range. Just look at the X-Alp Flow. As durable as the upper is in the Canyon, the sole can be a bit disappointing. However, this is a budget option priced just above $100, however, you can easily find this shoe in sales and deals well below $100.

What I like:

• Versatility on a budget
• Shaped like a running shoe
• Generous mesh panels on the upper make it a very breathable shoe
• Easy to walk with

What I don’t:

• Flex in sole doesn’t provide the best power-transfer
• The outsole doesn’t last long

See the PEARL iZUMi X-Alp Canyon

5. Lake MX238 Wide

Pedal compatibility: Clipless
Cleat: 2-hole
Footwear closure: Dual Li2 BOA
Weight: 1 lb. 8.6 oz.

Lake’s MX238 Wide is a premium option with premium features for riders with wide feet. But unlike other shoes, the wide size is actually wide. It’s impressive because the MX238 doesn’t look that wide with its lightweight and low-profile design. But you would be surprised at how comfortable your wide foot would feel in this shoe.

The MX238 is designed for cross-country racing. With its premium price tag, come premium features. To begin with, you get 100% carbon soles. The soles are stiff for excellent power transfer. The sole is protected by what Lake calls its Mountain Race X rubber. The rubber provides a confidence-inspiring grip on almost all surfaces, especially in mud. You also get interchangeable spikes at the toe.

Impressively, the shape of the lugs and the rubber on the outsole also provide the MX238 with excellent running performance. Lake has also added its Hook Lyrca heel cup liner to prevent heel slip during running and hard pedaling.

The upper is made of real leather and is water and abrasion-resistant. It also feels nice and high quality which should be the case given the high price of the shoe. There are mesh panels and perforations for breathability but leather can only be so much breathable. The closure system features dual BOA IP1-S dials which is the gold standard of closure systems. Its micro-adjustability means you can get the shoe to grip your feet exactly the way you want. There is nothing to complain about in the MX238 except for breathability.

What I like:

• Real-leather upper with water and abrasion-resistance
• Dual IP1-S dials are considered the gold standard of closure systems
• Mountain Race X rubber on the outsole provides excellent grip on almost all surfaces
• Roomy and comfortable inside despite the aerodynamic low-profile shape

What I like:

• Leather upper limits breathability
• Expensive

See the Lake MX238 Wide

6. Bontrager Foray

Pedal compatibility: Clipless
Cleat: 2-hole
Footwear closure: Cable lace BOA
Weight: 1 lb. 10.2 oz.

The Bontrager Foray is a mid-range, versatile, durable, and clipless shoe. It works extremely well on trails and dirt roads. For casual riding, you can also make them work on the road and they’d be fine. What’s most impressive about this shoe is that even though it looks low-profile, it has ample space inside. The high volume on the inside also makes this shoe suitable for riders with wide feet.

The sole is made of a nylon composite and is stiff. It allows for relatively harder riding than many other shoes. But somehow, the Foray is still easier to walk in. Perhaps, the shape of the lugs contributes to the shoe’s walkability, we don’t know. But the lugs themselves are aggressive and provide good grip, especially, on dirt. However, the rubber of the lugs is hard. It makes the outsole more durable but on hard surfaces, the grip is reduced. The toes also get replaceable spikes for grip adjustment.

The upper is made of a tough synthetic leather-like material. The closure system consists of a single BOA L6 dial along with a Velcro strap on the toe box. The strap provides more adjustability of the toe box for people with wide feet. There are no mesh panels on the upper, only perforations. But less padding and insulation on the inside make the shoe more breathable than it looks. While less padding does reduce protection, the toe and heel have GnarGuard rubberized coating for protection.

What I like:

• Walking is easy despite the stiff soles
• Aggressive lugs provide a good grip on all surfaces
• Tough upper material adds to the durability

What I don’t:

• Reduced padding and insulation reduce protection
• Even though aggressive, the lugs are hard reducing grip on hard surfaces

See the Bontrager Foray

7. Five Ten Kestrel Lace-up – Women’s

Pedal compatibility: Clipless
Cleat: 2-hole
Footwear closure: Lace-up
Weight: 1 lb. 9.7 oz.

Shoe manufacturers have this notion that women have narrow feet. It is especially difficult for women to find the right shoes if they have wide feet. Wide shoes for women are a hard fine. But the reason to include the Five Ten Kestrel Lace-up Women’s shoe in this list is its wide and bulky build. Like the Impact Pro, the Kestrel Lace-up also has a wide and bulky build that makes it suitable for women with wide feet.

The Kestrel Lace-up has been around for some time now. While its design does demand a few updates, it still holds up well against the competition. Because the Kestrel is a clipless shoe, the sole is a less grippy C4 rubber than in the Impact Pro mentioned above. The carbon-infused nylon shank has a long cleat bed with ramping to support clipping. But the fore and aft adjustability of the cleat is only 24mm compared to 34mm in others. Some riders may have to push the cleat all the way back for adequate power transfer.

The heel has a step to it and it is also heavily padded. The toe box, in contrast, has little padding which feels awkward. It takes some time to get used to this disparity. But both the heel and the toe are reinforced. The heel is also shaped to prevent slipping.

The quality is top notch as always from Five Ten. The upper gives a durable and plush feel. You get a mesh tongue, mesh above the heel, and perforations on the toe box. But the bulky build of the Kestrel limits breathability and needs more measures to make the shoe more breathable.

What I like:

• Excellent build quality
• The heavily padded heel adds to the comfort
• Carbon-infused nylon shank for good efficiency
• The rubber sole makes walking easier

What I don’t:

• Little mesh and a bulky build limits breathability
• The padding difference between the tongue and heel feels awkward in the beginning
• Limited fore and aft cleat adjustment

See the Five Ten Kestrel Lace-up – Women’s

8. Shimano RX801 Wide

Pedal compatibility: Clipless
Cleat: 2-hole
Footwear closure: Boa
Weight: 1 lb. 3 oz.

The Shimano RX801, or simply, RX8 became an instant hit after its release. In 2022, Shimano introduced a new version of the RX801 with a few improvements here and there which we will get to. But the most notable improvement is the reworked toe box. With this latest iteration, the toe box has been made wider and roomier which makes it more comfortable for riders with wide feet.

The shoe has a very low-profile shape. From a distance, you may mistake them for road shoes, and rightly so as these shoes do give a more road shoe-like feel. The cleats are more exposed than you would expect in an MTB shoe, although not as much as a road shoe. The sole is hard because it is made of a carbon composite which also provides stiffness that is closer in feel to a road shoe. Needless to say, the RX801 is a performance-oriented shoe. The performance tilt should be expected because that is the only way the RX801 justifies its high price.

The outsole shape is reminiscent of football cleats. The treads are not aggressive and there are no removable spikes. They work great on dirt, gravel, and loose surfaces. But they are not good enough for truly hard mountain surfaces. The shoe comes with medium and high insole spacers to increase arch support if you want. There is also a built-in heel stabilizer for running. But with the stiffness of this shoe, running isn’t pleasant.

The latest iteration replaces the old BOA dial with the Li2 dial which has half increments. With more perforations in the upper, there has been an attempt to increase the breathability of the shoe. Although welcomed, it wasn’t necessarily needed. The low-profile, sock-like, minimalist fit of the shoe is already breathable enough. One downside of the upper is that the cuff doesn’t prevent dirt and small rocks from getting in. You would have to upgrade to the RX801 RALLY version for that feature.

What I like:

• Being one of the lightest shoes, feel like wearing a pair of socks
• Built-in heel stabilizer along with two included insole spacers
• The Reworked toe box is more suitable for wider feet

What I don’t:

• The cuff doesn’t prevent dirt and stones from getting inside the shoe
• The feature set doesn’t justify the high price

See the Shimano RX801 Wide

Best Wide Feet MTB Shoes: Comparison Table

How to choose MTB shoes for wide feet?

There are many guides on how to choose ordinary MTB shoes. But there is not a lot of information on how to choose MTB shoes if you have wide feet. There are only a few differences while everything else is essentially the same. But here are a few tips on how to choose MTB shoes for wide feet.

Wide vs. high-volume shoes

When buying shoes for wide feet, you might come across two types of shoes: wide-sized and high-volume. Manufacturers use both terms interchangeably which confuses the customer. But keep in mind that wide-sized and high-volume shoes are different.

Wide shoes are actually wide. More specifically, wide refers to the wider toe box in such shoes. Some companies also rework the whole sole for wide feet. It has a different shape to better accommodate wide feet. But that is not the case with high-volume shoes.

High-volume shoes basically have the same sole as the normal shoe. But the upper is different. There are two ways to do that. Either a manufacturer adds more material to the upper to expand its proportions. The other way is that the manufacturer simply decreases the insulation and padding inside the shoe. The latter is rare but it happens.

High-volume shoes can mostly have fit issues. The “high volume” is not just added to the toe box, but also to the other parts of the shoe like the heel and the sides. Heel slip is a common problem in high-volume shoes. They can also feel loose. Be mindful of such differences when choosing between high-volume or wide-sized shoes.

Don’t rely solely on the size charts

You can think of size charts as just a guide that will give you a general idea of what size shoe would be suitable for you. But don’t rely on size charts too much. There is no guarantee that the right-sized shoe would be comfortable or fit you fine.

The shape of the shoe also determines the comfort of it. Sometimes, the toe box is too narrow or the heel is too big or the mid arch doesn’t work with the foot. While online buying has made it easy to get shoes in the comfort of your home, you should try them before buying. Otherwise, you would have to deal with returns or replacements which are not always smooth.

When trying shoes, don’t just walk and approve them if you find them comfortable. Walking doesn’t imitate the motion and forces you experience on your bike. Try riding with the shoe for a short distance to know how it would feel during a ride. Most of the time, you get to know if the shoe would cause discomfort during the ride. A better but more expensive option is to get a custom fit.

Sole stiffness

Sole stiffness is another factor that determines the comfort of the shoe. Performance-oriented shoes have stiffer soles for more efficiency. But they make walking awkward and uncomfortable. Such shoes have soles made of carbon fiber or some carbon composite, nylon composites, or fiberglass.

Bike shoes for casual riding would have soles made of soft materials like rubber with a nylon shank. These shoes provide decent efficiency and walkability. Shoes for riding in parks, downhill, or hike-a-bike usually have soft soles.

Pricing

Bike shoes are available for less than $100 to more than $500. How much money you spend depends on your budget. Paying high would get you the best of features as expected. But the kind of rider you are also determines how much you should be spending on your shoes.

If you are a competitive rider who will spend most of his day on the bike, then you should definitely invest in a high-end pair. But if you are just a casual rider, getting the latest and greatest would be useless. You can easily get away with somewhere around $100-$150 and spend the rest of the money somewhere else.