We are well known for carrying Lake cycling shoes. Since we opened in 2015, we have been retailing Lake road shoes. As the years progressed, we also began bringing in the Lake MTB shoes as well. Recently we ordered a large range of both road and mountain bike shoes to ensure we can get your fit as accurate as humanly possible. So with all the Lake shoes that are out there, and there are a lot, which is the right one for you?
Lake has created a market largely around being the wider-fitting cycling shoes. This remains true with all the updates that have come on to the market recently. Along with their huge selection of wider fitting cycling shoes, they also do stock some narrower fitting options. As with all cycling shoe brands, not every foot will fit with Lake, but thankfully with such a large range to choose from it’s likely we can get pretty close.
So which is best cycling shoe for you? Let’s run through some of the more common options and discuss their pros and cons. For brevity, we will include both the road and MTB versions in the description. Whilst they are distinctly different shoes regarding their cycling functionality, from a fit perspective they remain quite consistent.
Lake CX/MX 238
Probably the most popular cycling shoe of the range. Why? Because they are wide and spacious. The 238 version has perhaps the widest stock widths available on the market. The standard 238 is already a wide shoe suitable for most medium to wide fitting feet. The toe box remains quite wide suitable for the squarer toe shapes out there. The waist of the shoe and the toe box are also quite roomy. Whilst the 238 fits wide feet well, feet that are wide at the toe box and narrower in the waist may find the leather tends to crinkle a little in the middle of the shoe. This is not ideal and can be managed with either a well-fitted cycling orthotic or a switch to an alternate shoe. The wide fit version of this shoe is SUPER wide. I always maintain that if your foot is too wide for the 238 wide fit, it’s time for custom shoes. If you have genuinely wide feet, then this is the shoe for you. The double boa closure system on this range makes it feel snug despite its width. The shoe also has a nice plush feel through the tongue and into the outer so it feels pretty comfortable although being a shade heavier than stripped down offerings. The 238 is the shoe for you if you value comfort and width over all else, or if you have feet that need the width to avoid compression-based pain.
Lake CX238
Lake CX/MX 219
New shoe alert! This shoe has only been revamped recently and it’s pretty cool. The aesthetics are certainly better than previous versions however the single boa option isn’t to everyones’s tastes. As a fitting option, this shoe is surprisingly wide even in the normal width. As there is no second boa, the forefoot remains relatively free from compression. This is certainly not a shoe for narrow feet. Medium to wide fitting feet will be better suited to this option. If your foot is wide at the toes and narrow in the waist, then this shoe is tricky to fit as the single closure makes it hard to fine tune to compression. The wide fit version is again super wide and suitable for the wider fitting feet. As there is only one boa, getting the foot into the shoe feels tricky initially, but once it’s in, the shoe actually feels very comfortable. The carbon sole on this shoe is as for the 238 so it is super stiff. This shoe is ideal for those who want the performance without the extra money for the 238. It’s a great value for money option coming in under $299.
Lake MX219
Lake CX/MX 177
Another new cycling shoe to the market and one that closely follows the fit of the 219. The main difference here is the resin sole rather than the stiffer carbon offering. Away from this, the shoe fits and feels very similar to the 219. It remains a quality shoe for the wider fitting feet albeit with a ridiculously good price point. This is the best entry option to cycling for wide feet.
Lake CX177
Lake CX/MX 241
This cycling shoe arrived on the scene a few years ago with a lot of fanfare and with some aesthetics that made you double take. Since we ordered our first pair and worked out the pros and cons, we have sold and prescribed this shoe numerous times. The 241 is a great troubleshooting shoe for difficult foot types. Based on a wide-fit option, the 241 has an elasticised inner that maintains compression around the foot more evenly than the 238. The wide fit option is super wide although not quite as roomy around the tips of the toes as the 238. For those with weird protuberances, this is the shoe for you, Bunions and weird looking toes - get in! We love this shoe for its ability to stretch to the forefoot and remain compressed around the arch. This is not a shoe for narrow feet, but great for feet that are wide in one regional area rather than wide all round.
Lake CX241
Lake CX/MX 332
The entry level into the kangaroo leather domain. The 332 is a beautiful cycling shoe whose aesthetics sell it more than anything else. The 332 is certainly in my eyes the best looking shoe in the range. especially now they have moved to the newer lower profile boas. That said, this shoe isn’t the safe wide option we see with the 241 and 238 range. The standard width 332 is the shoe of choice for feet that are narrow to medium widths. If you have a super skinny foot, then this shoe will likely be too narrow for you unless you have a well fitted orthotic to balance the volume. To be honest, if you have skinny feet, you’re probably off better embracing shoe options from Fizik, Shimano and Specialized that will get it done. The 332 does come with two further widths, the 332 wide and the 332 extra wide. The big difference here when compared to the 238 and 241 is the majority of the extra width is in the forefoot. I still don’t find the 332 as safe for problematic wide feet as the 238 and 241, but the wide fit 332 option is great for the medium to slightly wide foot that wants comfort and a little ‘style’. Double boas make it a secure fit, but you will need to moisturize the tongue on these shoes as it’s thin and needs care to avoid it becoming fragile over time.
Lake CX332
Lake CX 403
If you want this cycling shoe, you need to come and visit us. Why? Because whilst it’s an awesome shoe, it is also the hardest to fit. From a fit perspective, it suits the standard foot width in the normal fit, and the medium width foot option in the wide fit. It is not the shoe for super wide feet and certainly not the shoe for bunions or problematic lumpy feet. The carbon ‘boat’ in this shoe feels awesome and solid but can also cause irritation. When they fit well, you will never ride any other shoe. When they don’t fit well, then we are sure to get a phone call. The fit of the shoe initially feels very uncomfortable in the heel prior to heatmolding, To be honest, this shoe cannot be worn without being heatmolded first. Unlike other options on the market like Bont that I’d encourage clients to ride without being heatmolded first, the 403 needs to be heatmolded to release the pressure on the side of the heels. Once this is heatmolded, the entire shoe fit changes enormously. The heel sits further back and the the real size and length of the shoe becomes apparent. This is not a cheap shoe and this is the reason why I would encourage anyone who wants to wear a pair to make a time to see us first. Like other carbon boat offerings from Bont, this shoe is best worn with an orthotic to balance the stiffness with your ‘less stiff’ foot.
Lake CX403
Lake CX 302
We’ll end our Lake shoe discussion with the revamped 301 - now called imaginatively, the 302. The main difference between the 301 and 302 is the 2nd boa dial. This certainly makes the shoe a more even fit across the waist although it does add a little weight to the original lightweight offering. The 301 was actually a brilliantly modifiable triathlon shoe for those who wanted structure and an easy entry. The new CX219 will likely take the mantle as the best alternative tri shoe for medium length events given the easy single boa access and stiff carbon sole. The 302 is a nice light shoe for medium fitting feet. The synthetic upper gives a lot over time and becomes looser as it wears. This actually allows it to handle bunions and protuberances quite well. The wide fit version is a great fit for the wider foot wanting a lightweight offering. The material is shiny and easier to clean than the natural leathers. I’ve ridden a pair of these for a few years and they remain incredibly easy to clean. The shoe doesn’t feel as stiff or secure as the other offerings from Lake. It was initially released as a lightweight climbing option. That said, it is a lovely comfortable shoe and it does feel incredibly light. The carbon sole remains suitably stiff.
CUSTOM FOOT MOLDING PROCESS FOR COBRA9 CYCLING ORTHOTICS
There is a lot more information pertaining to these shoes and how we fit them than we can fit into a concise discussion here. We love the Lake cycling shoe range and have invested in stock to ensure we can fit most people. We still do all fitting as consults with our Podiatrists to avoid returns and problematic outcomes. We will soon release an online store for our interstate clientsto buy online. We would still encourage those who can make it to a fitting consultation in our Brisbane locations to do so. We cover a lot of territory in those appointments and often will recommend alternate shoes or other forms of therapy / interventions based on the findings. We can then also guarantee the shoe will be right for you as well. No buyer beware to worry about!
If you have any queries about shoes, fire us an email info@thepedaler.com.au or make a time to pop in.
Lake CX301