Foot shapes and cycling shoes

The 10 main foot shapes

It’s not that you are obviously genetically related here per se, as in some minor way, we are all related after all. It’s how your feet have evolved within your predominant culture and family genetics over the many generations and thousands of years that have come before you. Add to this, how you live your life will also have a bearing on width etc. Anyway, back to those foot shapes. The most common ones that are dealt with are as follows:

Egyptian

With this foot shape, the big toe is the longest, and the other toes step or flow down in a straight, slanting line at a generally 45-degree angle. This is the most common shape for people in most cultures and parts of the world.

Greek

With the Greek foot, the second toe is longer than the big toe, making the front of the foot look slightly pointed. It isn’t of course, but it does have a bearing on the shoe last and cycling shoe that will best fit your foot.

Roman

Now, with the Roman foot, the first, second, and third toes are roughly the same length, creating a straight, squared-offline across the top. This foot shape always requires a wide foot area in the cycling shoe. Our comfort last is a good choice for this foot shape. And, as we develop more lasts in a natural foot shape, the options will of course be extended.

Germanic

The Germanic foot shape features a long, big toe with the remaining four toes staying roughly equal in length and shorter than the first. And, just to confuse things a little, in some standard 4-type foot shape lists, this fourth slot is alternatively filled by the Celtic foot shape, where a long second toe is flanked by a big third

Orient

As well as being generally smaller and shorter than European foot shapes, on the Asian foot the instep is often lower, and they are wider and less bony. Then, the heels are more which can make a difference between Asian manufacturers’ shoes and European. Thankfully, here at Lake we offer cycling shoes such as the CX333 which has a moldable heel counter, helping to fit this area better.

Mongolian

The Mongolian foot shape is almost identical to the Egyptian foot, except for one obvious difference. The big toe on the Egyptian foot looks typically round, whereas on the Mongolian foot shape, the big toe is boxy and square-shaped. Again, our Comfort last may be a good choice here, or a cycling shoe with a wider forefoot area. Certainly not a seemingly standard and narrow cycling shoe that too many brands expect cyclists to squeeze their unique feet into.

Norwegian or Northern European

Foot shapes in the north of Europe people are generally wider at the ball of the foot. The rear of the foot and heel tend to be more standard in width. We haven’t yet discussed volume and arches either, which can then make a difference in the volume of the foot.

African

This foot shape generally has a broad, wide forefoot and relatively even or slightly graded toes. Variations can show a slightly longer big toe. However, with such a large cultural spectrum, it can vary significantly.

Making a lasting impression on cycling shoe comfort

Without going into too much detail, you begin to see the reason why it’s important to know the shape of your feet, as well as the length, the width and the volume. We’ve been creating some of the most innovative and best cycling shoes in the world for over 40 years, and our highly trained shoe fitting partners can and will help you to find your own perfect fit, making a lasting impression on your cycling comfort – pardon the pun! Yes, the shoe last is the key ingredient in all of this, and it’s why here at Lake we continue to talk about it.

At Lake, we don’t believe that every rider should fit into the same cycling shoe, and we continue to develop and innovate in designing a selection of cycling shoes in different width fittings: narrow, regular and wide. And, whichever shape or width your feet are, our goal is always the same:

1. Reduce pressure points
2. Improve comfort
3. Increase stability – and therefore power
4. Help you to ride further without foot pain.

Ultimately you see, we understand that comfort is key to performance. And remember always that comfort isn’t simply about the width – the shape of your feet is critical and should always determine the cycling shoe last that you wear. Understanding more about your feet will only enhance your cycling comfort and help you on the road to finding that perfect ride – and, ultimately, isn’t that what all cyclists seek! 

Book a visit with one of our expert shoe fitting partners today and wrap yourself and your hard-working cycling feet in our legendary Lake comfort.