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Lone Peak 3.5 vs Merrell vs New Balance

LesBrass

Likes Walking
Time of past OR future Camino
yes...
Finding a shoe to fit my very wide feet is a punishment... at least that's how it feels. It's a long story... some of you might be familiar with it... (all of these shoes are a man's shoe)
  • Decathlon shoes - too narrow
  • Mammot Boots - too narrow (and heavy)
  • Solomons GTX ultra - lovely
  • Solomons GTX ultra (new pair) too narrow (grrr)
  • Keen's wide fit - too big (tried all kinds so sock and lace combo)
  • Keen's wide fit - too small (size down)
  • Altra Lone Peak 3.0 - worked on the VdlP but got foot pain
    (I asked Altra about foot pain so they suggested...)
  • Altra Olympus (too small and too narrow)
    (Altra Lone Peak not available in France so I asked Altra and they suggested I go up a size with the Olympus...)
  • Altra Olympus too big!
So... I'm 4 weeks away from my next trip. My problems are :

1) I live in France, there are sports shops that sell lots of things for standard sizes but nothing for wide fit; trust me I've tried. I have to go the mail order route.

2) My foot is 3E wide (I'll buy a 2E though) but I have to have a wide fitting shoe - not just a shoe that is cut roomy.

3) We poor folks in europe do not have access to many of the shoes that are widely available in the US. I have no idea why but both New Balance and Merrell will not ship their wide-fit shoes?

After all of this backstory my point is... Altra Lone Peak 3.5 is now available in europe. Should I go with this? Has anyone tried the new version of the shoe? Is it cut smaller than the 3.0?

Alternatively, I could ship shoes to a friend in the US, who can ship to me... it's not a cheap option and if they don't fit I have to pay to ship them back. So has anyone with wide feet tried any of the following?

New Balance Vazee Summit Trail v2 (wide)
New Balance 910v4 Trail (wide)https://www.newbalance.com/pd/910v4-trail-gore-tex174;/191264214460.html
Men's Moab FST - Wide Width

I know I need to try them, but before trying to order from the US I woud be interested to hear from anyone that has tried these already? Especially the new Lone Peaks 3.5?

Many thanks (for reading this and for any suggestions!)
 
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Meindl. I believe they are German. I have worn them daily since I began to train for camino 11 years ago. I can't speak for their shoes for men, but I imagine a peek at their website will answer that for you. If you could locate one near you you could maybe ... nah, you won't... but good luck in your search.
 
@davebugg many thanks for that. I wish I could just buy the 2E here... there are other New Balance shoes available but I'm not convinced on the traction of the other models... they are more road runners? Thanks for the good tip about the older version thanks... it can offset some of the shipping costs

@kirkie I have previously looked at Meindl but they dont have a wide fit... they do a comfort fit? I've emailed them. I think I prefer a more light weight shoe but I'll try anything if it means I dont end up with half a dozen blisters between my toes
 
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I'm all ears if you're successful in finding a wide, preferably non-Goretex shoe, in France / Spain. Currently in Spain walking the CF in a pair of wide Merrills, but I'm not sure they'll go the distance, and I haven't seen any good replacement candidates.
 
I'm reluctant to post my own experience but out of honesty, and to provide a sense of " balance", I feel I must.

New Balance products are on my list of "never buy again".

Some years back I purchased the top line runner model, rated running shoe of the year by a US running magazine. I bought them in Washington DC and they were expensive. Within a fortnight the soles had completely collapsed and it was like running on a wooden board.

A while later I took another chance on a pair of another model, but still very expensive, when I was in Hobart, Tasmania. In even less time the uppers had parted from the soles.

You can't take these things back if in another country or State.

I don't know if they have improved but I wouldn't bet on it. Can't comment at all on the other brands you mention.

There are some others to avoid, too. TheAldi bushwalking boots may just last a Camino provided it doesn't rain,- the uppers part company from the soles. If in Oz, Rivers have recently been selling a boot they call "Hike and Bike". I wore through the soles in less than a fortnight (seems to be a hoodoo time for me), and found my socks coming into contact with the ground at my heel.

I am hard on shoes and boots.

Sorry

Bogong
 

One to try, which also comes in exxtra wide widths, are the New Balance Leadville v3. I've used them, and they have great traction and are meant for trail running like the 910s.
 
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I have this problem too LesBrass, my feet are what's called Duck feet( a big duck). I have realised that the better made( more robust shoes) are useless on my feet, on multiple day/week walk my feet are tortured, they are in a firm vice grip from the sides and upper area. My solution has been to go for fabric, or soft textile uppers, with hopefully a wide fit, these type of shoes have a give which I can live with and my feet don't feel too imprisoned. I have tried New Balance 2ee/ 4ee still a bit tight and the box area isn't great, it cuts off too quickly not giving a good box area at the front. I had look at Altberg boots and even went to their factory in Richmond, still to narrow even with the double width, they did consider making a boot for me, but going up there was a one off which I could not keep repeating and if it was no good I would have spent a mini fortune on it.
I took Solomon ultra from Montpellier to Santiago, they were ok but they probably made my plantar fascias worse by pinching my Achilles's, I felt they were a bit restrictive in a painful way. I have used keen and the width has been ok, I have not had the extra wide, if you thought the wide were too big then try to find somewhere that stocks regular, the only problem if you have too ship them is they are really ambiguous on sizes, and have seen many comments to that effect. Meindl are ok, I had a Alicante model, and I quite liked it but they stopped making it, the replacement( whose name I don't remember) promised to be better, was actually next to useless. My first Camino I walked with a North Face assailant, a fabric mid, perfect, they stopped making it, the North Face Hedgehog might be quite close too it but have never tried it on.

Other shoes I have won are a Scarpa zg, it was too robust and after my the 1st 8 miles outside of the shop, where it felt good, I was reduced too taking my boot off and massaging my feet, for some strange reason I walked the Frances with it, on one hand it was torture on the other I took my time and had a special Camino, I wouldn't want to try and recreate it again, once was enough. Also I have had a Meindl Tibets , very wide, I realised after practising in them they were too robust and felt like deep sea divers boots. I bought Meindl Merans for a winter Camino, too robust again and went with the Keens instead.

I'm not sure if this is off any help but it gave me an excuse to list my experiences so thank you, hopefully some of the models you have listed I can have a look at.

Buen Camino
 

Greetings fellow duck foot. I have not found a great wide trail shoe either. I used the old version of the Merrill MOAB and it was OK, but really too narrow, even in the wide version. The new version of the MOAB is significantly better for me than the old, but you may be of a different feather. If you could wear the old MOAB, the new one should be at least no worse for you. As Dave Bugg suggested, I tried the NB Leadville, and found the width good, but the overall fit not so good for me in the heel. I can't comment on the others you are looking at. Good Luck and Buen Camino!

Edit - My go to is a Saucony 3E wide Echelon 5 runner....perfect fit for me. Why not use your favorite runner? I found these more than adequate under dry conditions on the Camino. Wet of course, is a different story!
 
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LesBrass said:
Altra Lone Peak 3.5 is now available in europe. Should I go with this? Has anyone tried the new version of the shoe? Is it cut smaller than the 3.0?
Click to expand...
The word on the thru-hiker (AT &PCT) forums is that the Alta Lone Peak 3.5 is shorter than the earlier 3.0 model, due chiefly to reduced height in the toe box. Supposedly they used the same last for the width, but people report having to "size up" because of the way the toe box slopes downward towards the tip.
 
@LesBrass : I sympathise with you. I too have wide feet and combined with pes cavus aka high arch ( and also hallux valgus or bunion ).
Since a couple of years I found myself the best shoes for me : Hanwag.
They have them in shoe or boot form.
The inside feels like stepping in butter...so soft and smooth...
They do not come cheap...I nearly cried when I took out my bankcard...

http://www.hanwag.com/alta-bunion-lady-gtxa

Stores in France.
http://www.hanwag.com/storelocator/

Good luck with the search.
 
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@LesBrass , I'm also a duck-foot but am not much help as I find Keens work really well for my feet.
I tried on a pair of Hanwegs but they didn't work for my particular kind of duck foot - maybe they will for you. I hope so. Have you tried Lowa ? They have various models in wide sizes, and are made in Europe (Germany, I think) so should be easier for you to find than US shoes.
(Edit: Available in France:
Sportpulsion
PAE de la Caille
74350 Allonzier-la-Caille
Tel. +33 4 50465050
@ info@sportpulsion.fr

MP-Sec France
Voie Hélios-ZI Lavigne
31190 Auterive
Tel. +33 561 500904
@ info@mp-sec.fr)
 
LesBrass said:
Altra Olympus (too small and too narrow)
  • (Altra Lone Peak not available in France so I asked Altra and they suggested I go up a size with the Olympus...)
  • Altra Olympus too big!
Click to expand...
I think New Balance is phasing out the Leadville v3. I was able to get a pair from amazon, but returned them after I got my Altra Olympus. I had to go up 1.5 sizes in the Olympus. At first I thought they were way too big. But, after I put my insoles, liner socks, and socks they felt great. They have a wide toe box. I have lace locked them (last couple of eyelets), or used lock laces (elastic) to eliminate heel slippage. They do have a little deeper heel cup / back than the NB Leadville had. They are super cushioned. They do look a little funky.
 
I have altra lone peak 3.0 and about a month ago bought the 3.5. I think the fit is different on the 3.5 and I don't like them. I leave in less than a week and still deciding between Altra lone peak 3.0 and Saucony Peregrine 6. I get foot pain with either (hallux rigidis) but will still walk. I will probably go with the Saucony since I wore them for Camino Francés last year.
 
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On the past I used to have a shoes for Camino de Santiago , I think they are Italian made the label is Técnica they where quite wide for me !
Maybe you can check on this name.
 

Ah... that is what worried. I think I will order 2 sizes and try. Interesting when I wrote to Altra they said no difference but they also told me to buy the other two pairs (is feels like a good sales technique!)

many thanks
 

Many thanks. I wrote to Hanwag as my dutch friends all suggested them... they never replied but I think I might order a pair and see how I get on! I know the store in Bordeaux so I might see if I can go there... but I'm short on time so mail order might be the only option
 
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I will give them another go with double socks... and I'll really try to lock the heel. I was getting hot spots under foot and on my heel, where my foot was slipping... a first for me as my blisters are usually between the toes
 

Many thanks... this is my fear with the Lone Peaks! I loved the width of them on the VdlP
 
Folks and fellow duck-feeters! Thank you so much for the replies. My husband called me Sponge Bob Square Feet!! My feet are just wide across the forefoot and normal elsewhere... except that my second toes are longer than my big toes... just to add even more trouble

I am going to order a couple of pairs of Altra Lone Peaks and try them... and I think I will try some Hanwag's and Inov8's... I have until 7th October so I still have time! (I also found a new shop in Perigueux today... it's a specialist sport store and they stock a few brands so I'll drop by and see what they have too!

Thank you so much for the replies though... soooo helpful! you lovely people!
 
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Quack quack, another duck here! I love my Altra Lone Peaks. I wear the men's version, as it is wider than the women's. What kind of foot pain do you get? I
LesBrass said:
Ah... that is what worried. I think I will order 2 sizes and try. Interesting when I wrote to Altra they said no difference but they also told me to buy the other two pairs (is feels like a good sales technique!)

many thanks
Click to expand...

I WISH Altra would make the Olympus as wide and roomy as the Lone Peak. Someone mentioned that the new 3.5 Lone Peak is shorter than the 3.0. I recommend looking on their website, because as soon as they come out with a new model, they sell the last model at steep discounts. I just bought the 3.0 Lone Peak on sale through them.
 

I started getting pain around the metatarsal between little and next to little toe... it was on the top of my foot and nut underneath... I did wonder if it is a morton's neuroma? It only really hurt at the end of the day when I took my shoes off... like a stabbing throbbing pain... but it eased and fine once walking. Most of the time now it's ok but it starts now and again. I'd never had it before and it started on day 2 of the VdlP? Could be a coincidence? It was only really one foot?

I've tried to buy the old Altra Lone Peaks but they dont have my size... I tried for weeks but no luck. A few places said they had them but then came back with a no
 
Pain on top of the foot. I wonder what that could be? I think Morton's neuroma causes pain on the bottom. Have you seen the book and/or website FixingYourFeet.com? The guy who wrote it is an ultra-marathoner (50-100 mile races). He is, as far as I can tell, the absolute expert on feet. Knows more than my podiatrist does. I wrote him a question and he wrote back and gave me a great solution, so you might try asking him.
 
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LesBrass said:
Finding a shoe to fit my very wide feet is a punishment... at least that's how it feels. It's a long story... some of you might be familiar with it... (all of these shoes are a man's shoe)
Click to expand...
I feel your pain, they stop making women's shoes well before they reach my clod hopping size and I've long brought mine from the mens wear section. As an aside why are there male and female shoes anyway, is there some thing about feet that I am missing here? Likewise how come men's clothes come with pockets and have sleaves that can accomodate shoulders and a bit of arm muscle but women's clothes can deal with neither.

I digress Solomn do a great tramping boot, and the best wide fit walking shoe I've found are the Merrell Chameleon. I hate mail order as I really need to try things on for fit, but my daughter who has the same wide sized feet as me has had no probs ordering these to be shipped to the UK, not from Merrell direct but from other tramping supply outfitters.

Good luck with your search, finding a good fitting walking shoe can be as a hard as finding a good sports bra.
 
Greetings all Duck Feet! I've spent a few days having a good search around the internet... and emailed several companies. One of the biggest oddities are the number of companies who actually make and sell 2E and 4E wide shoes but they are not licensed to sell them in europe? I just dont understand this but many replied saying sorry... but we can't help... including REI who do ship some items to europe but not if there is no license?

I could take a chance with a couple of companies but by the time I factor in shipping cost and the French import taxes it's an expensive exercise if they dont fit... so sadly many of the shoes are not available to me.

However, with the ones I could buy, I wrote to all of the brands and from their responses I've ordered 5 pairs of shoes... 3 brands but 2 in different sizes (Altra, Topo and Inov8). I can try them for a week at home and decide on the ones I will keep... but I know from experience that sometimes it takes 2okm on the trail before you know if they really are right.

I start on the Rota on 8th October so I only have a short time to make my choices... wish me luck!

And thanks for the ideas!
 
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