Looking for a good touring shoe.

[BikeFreak]

I use normal everyday shoes and not SPD or something similar. I once met a guy who toured with those modern clogs.
I clock around 125 mi pr day.

Lucas

OK, but I know of a guy who would run marathons in combat boots.  I guess it worked for him but most of us used something we found worked better.

My problem is that I have used two different SPD shoes when touring. A Specialized MTB shoe and a soft touring shoe both with SPD setup. Both shoes fit perfectly and a are very comfortable when walking around. They are also very comfortable when biking and not too large and too small. However, when touring, my big toe starts sleeping (feeling numb) after 6h of biking or so. It is so annoying that I step out of the SPD system and start using the other platform side of the pedal ... still with the same SPD shoes. And the problem is gone. My feet just dont like to be fixed in one position.

Lucas

[Pat Lamb]

My problem is that I have used two different SPD shoes when touring. A Specialized MTB shoe and a soft touring shoe both with SPD setup. Both shoes fit perfectly and a are very comfortable when walking around. They are also very comfortable when biking and not too large and too small. However, when touring, my big toe starts sleeping (feeling numb) after 6h of biking or so. It is so annoying that I step out of the SPD system and start using the other platform side of the pedal ... still with the same SPD shoes. And the problem is gone. My feet just dont like to be fixed in one position.

There are a couple other systems which use MTB shoes, but give you more angular freedom.  I've used Speedplay Frogs and Crank Bros. Eggbeaters with good results.  After many hours, you may want to change the lateral point of contact,  I usually get off the bike for 5-10 minutes every hour or two.  After walking a bit during that bathroom, snack, lunch, camera, or scenery break, I'm typically good to go for a few more hours.

[dayjack119]

A thousand miles into my tour this summer, the sole split away from my right cycling shoe.  I was in the boonies and put on my crocs that I used for showers, etc.  After a week or so I forgot I was wearing them and passed right by a bike shop.  Since they were comfortable I just kept them on.  I wore them another 3,700 miles, all the way home.  I heard lots of flack about it and I didn't look pretty, but it just goes to show you.  Big dollar shoes are not necessarily a necessity on a bike tour.

[RussSeaton]

Big dollar shoes are not necessarily a necessity on a bike tour.

On the Nashbar website they have six shoes which take SPD cleats for $29.99 or less.  Before using a 20% off coupon Nashbar frequently has.  On the Amazon site the Crocs shoes are about $25-30.  These are official Croc brand shoes so they might be much more than the copy shoes sold in flea markets.  $30 or less for a pair of shoes does not meet my definition of "Big dollar shoes".  All of the $29.99 or less Nashbar bike shoes looked like sneakers so I would guess they are comfortable.

[DaveB]

Big dollar shoes are not necessarily a necessity on a bike tour.

On the Nashbar website they have six shoes which take SPD cleats for $29.99 or less.  Before using a 20% off coupon Nashbar frequently has.  On the Amazon site the Crocs shoes are about $25-30.  These are official Croc brand shoes so they might be much more than the copy shoes sold in flea markets.  $30 or less for a pair of shoes does not meet my definition of "Big dollar shoes".  All of the $29.99 or less Nashbar bike shoes looked like sneakers so I would guess they are comfortable.

Big dollar bike shoes are as much a fashion accessory as a necessity and are aimed at competitive riders where weight and great stiffness are important. 

There are plenty of well made, comfortable and fully functional road and MTB type shoes by well known manufacturers available in the $100 or less range, sometimes much less if having the latest color or "style" and the most advanced technology aren't issues. 

[Pat Lamb]

Big dollar shoes are not necessarily a necessity on a bike tour.

On the Nashbar website they have six shoes which take SPD cleats for $29.99 or less.  Before using a 20% off coupon Nashbar frequently has.  On the Amazon site the Crocs shoes are about $25-30.  These are official Croc brand shoes so they might be much more than the copy shoes sold in flea markets.  $30 or less for a pair of shoes does not meet my definition of "Big dollar shoes".  All of the $29.99 or less Nashbar bike shoes looked like sneakers so I would guess they are comfortable.

Big dollar bike shoes are as much a fashion accessory as a necessity and are aimed at competitive riders where weight and great stiffness are important. 

There are plenty of well made, comfortable and fully functional road and MTB type shoes by well known manufacturers available in the $100 or less range, sometimes much less if having the latest color or "style" and the most advanced technology aren't issues.

The well made shoes for $100 may be true, but I haven't found them (in my size).  I ended up with some of DaveB's "big dollar shoes" because the less expensive models I tried had soles which were so flexible that I couldn't ride long distances comfortably.  My current (more expensive) shoes have stiffer soles on which I can ride more than 30 miles in a day without hotspots.

[pptouring]

This year, we cycled from Germany down to the very bottom of Greece, then all the way up to Nordkapp, Norway before cycling back to Germany wearing hiking boots! Sent our boots home and are now wearing worn out tennis shoes as we cycle around SE Asia.