SPD shoe hotfoot fix??

[andyoxon]

I picked up some new XC3 Shimano SPD shoes from XC range, but I'm getting hot foot, which I haven't had for years using the continuous glass fibre sole for previous XC shoes....  Company wouldn't accept shoes back, as a 'fitting issue', not a defect? (and I'd worn them).  I think the hotfoot is due to the pressure point caused by the internal cleat access cover/ hole in rigid sole, under the insole.    ETA.  Original Shimano cleats were fitted in the shoes.

Any thoughts on what may be a good way to remove the probable pressure points?  Anyone else had this issue?

So far, I've replaced the Shimano fibre patch under the thin white ''sealer', with 2mm blue plastic, including filling the small gap at top of mount plate.  All under black gorilla tape to finish.

PXL_SPD1 by a oxon, on Flickr
PXL_SPD2 by a oxon, on Flickr
PXL_SPD3 by a oxon, on Flickr
PXL_SPD4 by a oxon, on Flickr
PXL_SPD5 by a oxon, on Flickr

Glass fibre sole which cause no hotfoot issues...

PXL_SPD7 by a oxon, on Flickr

[Andy64]

I had to do the same with a pair years ago. Bathroom sealant was my solution, and stopped any water ingress from the cleats at the same time 

[Lightning Phil]

A replacement insole with a bit more rigidity or even sorbothane?

[valkyrie]

Shia no insoles are very soft, I always replace with Superfeet.

[andyoxon]

Thanks all.  I've tried some different insoles, prior to adding plastic etc, and they didn't help - will look at the ones mentioned.
Re. silicone sealant - interesting, I've been tempted to try epoxy putty, but will hold off on this.

Can anyone, I wonder, shed light on why Shimano, with all the tech & refinement that goes into cycling shoes, essentially leave an inadequately padded access hole in the very place where 'cleat forces' are concentrated.  I've never had to replace a cleat fixing plate - perhaps some do.  Maybe it's just that my thin (rather than narrow) feet are prone to ache with this kind of design.

[Kim]

I've never had to replace a cleat fixing plate - perhaps some do.

You're confusing design for serviceability with design for ease of manufacture.

[aidan.f]

The plastic 'mesh' sole also contributes to the problem  - I  remember an emergency hotfoot repair stuffing Blu-tac into the various holes 
I'm regretting not having stocked up with a lifetime supply of Specialised 2 Bolt SPD road shoes -  flat outer soled lightweight touring shoes  now being unobtanium -  though womens mtb shoes have fewer redundant projections 

[rogerzilla]

Get some old M737 pedals?  They have a much bigger platform.  The problem is the pedals have become more minimalist (probably starting with M747) and this asks a lot of shoe rigidity.  The original pedal system meant you could have shoes flexible enough to walk or run in but now they need to be almost as stiff as road racing shoes.

20220425_084131 by rogerzilla, on Flickr

Top:M737 (the ur-SPD)
Bottom: M747 (the first "racing" SPD, and pretty much the model for subsequent ones)

[andyoxon]

Thanks all.

Have now done a 40km tester.  Seems better but not right, I still need to find some improvements.  I used some different insoles, but you can see the impression the lattice leaves.

I'm going to move the cleats as far rearwards as poss.  Also tempted to try bathroom sealant to fill the sole lattice.  But, expoxy putty?  Anything else?  Perhaps just a couple of layers of gorilla duct tape...

The plastic 'mesh' sole also contributes to the problem  - I  remember an emergency hotfoot repair stuffing Blu-tac into the various holes 
I'm regretting not having stocked up with a lifetime supply of Specialised 2 Bolt SPD road shoes -  flat outer soled lightweight touring shoes  now being unobtanium -  though womens mtb shoes have fewer redundant projections 

[Oscar's dad]

SPD sandals, worn with socks if the weather's a bit nippy.

No more hot foot and you'll be a fashion icon 

[andyoxon]

SPD sandals, worn with socks if the weather's a bit nippy.

No more hot foot and you'll be a fashion icon 

I have been tempted, but not quite taken the plunge. 

[andyoxon]

Ok, I've done a XC50N transplant to the new shoes.  Taken out the glued down high density fibre mat, and the cleat cover on the XC50N and transferred it.  The fibre mat insole will hopefully even out pressure from the lattice.  Will see how this goes.  Interesting to see the design of the shoe itself in comparison.

PXL_t1 by a oxon, on Flickr

PXL_t2 by a oxon, on Flickr

PXL_t3 by a oxon, on Flickr


Without the standard insoles inserted yet.

PXL_t4 by a oxon, on Flickr

[Oscar's dad]

SPD sandals, worn with socks if the weather's a bit nippy.

No more hot foot and you'll be a fashion icon 

I have been tempted, but not quite taken the plunge. 

It’s a bold step, but once you’ve taken it you’ll never look back… life changing 

[LittleWheelsandBig]

The currently available selection of SPD sandals is pretty piss-poor.

[PeterM]

The currently available selection of SPD sandals is pretty piss-poor.

Selection?  Is there more than one choice?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Spa Cycles lists a couple of Exustar 3-strap sandals.
https://spacycles.co.uk/m6b0s154p0/Shoes-%7C-Clothing-%7C-Helmets/Shoes
Shimano has a single floppy model.
https://www.tweekscycles.com/uk/shimano-sd5-spd-sandals-2013237/
That is it AFAIK.

[rogerzilla]

You should all be put in a re-education camp, you sick weirdos.

[Oscar's dad]

You should all be put in a re-education camp, you sick weirdos.

One day you will see the light!

[toontra]

I had to do the same with a pair years ago. Bathroom sealant was my solution, and stopped any water ingress from the cleats at the same time 

The problem there is, when water gets in the shoe (and it will if it's raining), if it has no way of draining you end up with your feet squelching around in fetid water and (on long rides) possibly getting nasty feet issues.  DAMHIKT.

[Lightning Phil]

Have you tried SPD pedals with a cage to spread the area of force and thus reduce the pressure?

[giropaul]

Have you tried SPD pedals with a cage to spread the area of force and thus reduce the pressure?

Or using Shimano stabilisers?

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjvn8DI5ML3AhVX4O0KHZO6DAcYABAOGgJkZw&ohost=www.google.co.uk&cid=CAASJeRoYEbYZB9OMn0aF0Kj6NWfUGJyeiIxMyaE7EaiOa-Qz8X3-uY&sig=AOD64_2oqq2R87oc5ZHj9A8pY3CBPTN_tw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwijpLnI5ML3AhXUT8AKHS9dDWYQ5bgDKAB6BAgBEFY&adurl=

[giropaul]

Going off on a bit of a tangent; but how tight are your shoes?
I ask because a few years ago I had real problems with hot foot.
I changed shoe make, but also checked my sizing.
In fact, around 50-65 years of age I’ve gone up over a size; in street/ formal shoes as well as cycling shoes. Until then, I’d been size 8, Continental 42 since my teenage years.
I’m now a size 9 in formal shoes, and I’ve gone from 42 to 44, via 43, in cycling shoes.
No more hot foot thankfully.
Speaking to friends, this seems to be a very common experience.

[Andy64]

The problem there is, when water gets in the shoe (and it will if it's raining), if it has no way of draining you end up with your feet squelching around in fetid water and (on long rides) possibly getting nasty feet issues.  DAMHIKT.

Never thought of that 

[andyoxon]

Going off on a bit of a tangent; but how tight are your shoes?
I ask because a few years ago I had real problems with hot foot.
I changed shoe make, but also checked my sizing.
In fact, around 50-65 years of age I’ve gone up over a size; in street/ formal shoes as well as cycling shoes. Until then, I’d been size 8, Continental 42 since my teenage years.
I’m now a size 9 in formal shoes, and I’ve gone from 42 to 44, via 43, in cycling shoes.
No more hot foot thankfully.
Speaking to friends, this seems to be a very common experience.

Yes, the XC3 are definitely more restricted around the toe due to 'wrapped' BOA design, so this may be a factor.  I'm normally UK11, & Shimano UK11.5 (47) have been very good to date.

[andyoxon]

Hopefully sorted my hotfoot issues, with some new Triban 'Road' SPDs from Decathlon...

Thread if interested...  https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=123174.msg2726767#msg2726767

PXL_Triban1 by a oxon, on Flickr