After a week and change of internet research, I am now deeply resentful of most brands and their weird, one wide offering in a random low-midrange model.
Ordered a pair of Lake MX241s in the W I D E last to see if they’ll do it for me. “Extra Wide” is a designation for their super racey last that is narrower than “Wide” in the less racey last, or something. I don’t really get that designation, but it should be pretty fucking wide.
I also ordered a pair of the Shimano RX8 in the wide (E) version, which showed up today. I probably am a full size big in length but am still hanging off the edges of the shoe a bit on the inside, though nowhere near as badly as on the Giros, where I’m just hanging out all around the sole, which I somehow thought was normal when I bought them.
My toes are a lot less squished and my feet look a lot less like sausages in these. I think they’d be a bigass improvement on the bike, but I am going to wait until the Lakes show up before I pick one to actually mount cleats to and ride, since at that point I have to commit to not returning.
These Shimanos really are light AF and look good. Is there a trick to getting them on without putting a crease in the tongue? That seems a little fiddly and irritates the bone spur on top of my foot unless I get them adjusted just right.