Top 6 Best Running Shoes For Wide Feet In 2024 (Reviewed And Buying Guide)
Do you struggle with finding running shoes wide enough to comfortably fit your feet? Do you find yourself settling for shoes that are too narrow, then you don’t want to run because they hurt?
Shoes that are too narrow can take the enjoyment out of running or walking. Buying shoes that are too narrow with the thought you can ‘break them in’ never converts them to comfortable.
This buying guide to the best running shoes for wide feet will help you find the wide running shoes you want and need. For many years, locating shoes in wider widths was a big challenge. They were not only hard to find but were limited to very few styles.
Even when athletic shoes were first offered in wider widths, wide running shoes still were not readily available. Today several brands offer wide running shoes. We will be highlighting six of the top brands that have the best shoes for wide feet.
We will also provide you with information to make a more informed buying decision by focusing on some of the more frequently asked questions about the best running shoes for wide feet.
Reviews on Best Shoes for Wide Feet
For Men
For Women
The ASICS brand name is an acronym of a Latin phrase that translates to mean, “healthy soul in a healthy body.” When it comes to their footwear, we would still be right if we tweak that translation to be “healthy SOLES for a healthy body.”
ASICS has been manufacturing advanced athletic footwear for more than fifty years. They remain committed to integrating technology and innovation into their unique, high-quality shoes.
The Gel-Kayano 25 Running Shoes, available in wide widths, are no exception. The inclusion of their trademarked gel technology lessens shock during impact through the foot’s gait cycle.
If you have wide feet and/or naturally roll your foot inward, the ASICS Men’s and Women's Gel-Kayano 25 running shoes are built specifically to distribute the impact evenly across the foot.
This shoe is also constructed with materials to provide bounce back to soften the impact and support continued energy throughout your run.
We Know You’ll Like:
Our Verdict
ASICS has incorporated significant technology into its Gel-Kayano 25 running shoes to provide a natural and comfortable running experience as possible.
The sleek, seamless design removes the chance of pressure points or chafing. They have achieved their objective of a multi-surface, stable, supportive long-distance running shoe.
For Men
For Women
Saucony has been making footwear for runners since 1898. Their commitment to the sport includes focus not only on the health of the runner but also on promoting a good running community and promoting good performance experience for each runner.
They offer a variety of running shoes targeted at the type of environment and runs you enjoy. The Saucony Cohesion 11 is an all-around neutral running shoe that slows your natural gait to control your run.
The shoe has a segmented rubber outsole for extended durability, great traction and a smooth feel with every stride. The upper is a breathable mesh that securely holds the foot and incorporates their Grid support system – the first sole based cushioning and stability system – that helps to absorb impact and reduce pressure to optimize comfort on your run.
For those of us who need a wide width, one area of concern can be the toe box. Saucony has considered that with a more rounded toe area and where they begin widening the shoe. Tightness in the arch can also be a sign you need more width.
We Know You’ll Like:
Our Verdict
This running shoe is great for finding challenging larger sizes combined with wide widths.
When looking for a snug, lightweight, running shoe that’s specifically made to comfortably let your feet breathe and flex while you enjoy your run, look for Saucony.
For Men
For Women
Brooks recognizes that since more than 100 million individuals run outside worldwide, taking care of both global clients and the planet itself are critical missions.
Their planetary mission is to innovate sustainable products while controlling waste and chemical usage, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and partner with globally responsible suppliers. They feel so strongly about the quality of the product they provide to their customers that they offer a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, or you may return it to them for free.
The Brooks Women’s and Men's Adrenaline GTS 20 running shoe is turning 20 years old this year. Each year Brooks takes this “go-to” shoe and tweaks it to enhance its performance, improve and/or update its style, and provide a better running experience for the clients.
This year’s added features include the integrated guides that run from the heel cup into the midsole of the foot and help keep the foot stable.
To the heel of the shoe, they added stacked padding to provide a bit of spring-back when the foot hits the ground. They have also changed the mesh fabric on the upper to take out some bulk while retaining stability in this breathable upper.
We Know You’ll Like:
Our Verdict
The updated features of this shoe fit what runners are looking for today – style, support, stability, and structure.
We also really like the comfortable low profile cut of the shoe and the padded collar where it surrounds the ankle.
For Men
For Women
The Under Armour brand is known for its contribution to athletic wear, and its shoes are no exception.
Many of the Under Armour brand values are the same as those of their customers: love athletes, stand for equality, fight on together, always connect, think beyond, stay true, create fearlessly, and celebrate the wins.
The Under Armour Charged Rogue running shoes are for individuals who need a neutral shoe with added flexibility and versatility.
The very light and breathable mesh upper provides strategic support without bulk. The shoe’s compression molded foam at the midsole provides durability, responsiveness, and optimal energy return.
This high-performance shoe also has a removable sock liner for comfort, responsiveness, and cleanliness. It has integrated reflective safety details on the shoe, increasing runner visibility during low-light runs. Its solid rubber outsole at the points of high impact helps absorb the contact during a run.
This is very visible at the heel of the shoe, where the length beyond the heel provides added support to the heel at the point of the strike when running. The dual lace placement at the collar of the shoe allows for tightening to narrow ankles.
We Know You’ll Like:
Our Verdict
This is a high-performance shoe that combines style with practicality and added safety features.
The extended size ranges make this shoe very appealing for those who need harder to find sizing.
For Men
For Women
New Balance is committed to making shoes in America. They have always made shoes in America and state they always will. It’s not their plan; it’s part of their mission.
Another part of their mission is to keep the body in motion with their most advanced technology, which we see in the Ventr V1 Running Shoe.
The New Balance Ventr V1 running shoe has several unique innovations incorporated into its design, while coupling an appealing look with a neutral, cushioned running shoe.
The Ultra Heel has an extended heel cup that hugs the back of the foot and ankle for a supportive, comfortable fit. The midsole has fresh foam to provide an ultra-cushioned, lightweight design.
The sole of the shoe has been beefed up with endurance rubber providing superior durability in high-impact, harder wearing areas of the sole and is designed with a drop from heel to toe to mimic the rolling, heel-toe motion of a stride.
The breathable mesh upper is comfortably supportive and snug, while webbing is across the midfoot for added comfort. This shoe is offered in sizes up to 15 Extra Wide, making it available to a very broad consumer audience.
We Know You’ll Like:
Our Verdict
Although marketed as running shoes, many individuals purchase these to wear as they go about their days.
New Balance has struck a successful combination of the lightness of the shoe, the Ultra Heel support, the wide toe box, and the sole design wherein the sole on the back of the shoe extends behind the heel to reduce the strike impact.
All this makes for an extremely comfortable shoe for running miles or just running around!
For Men
For Women
Adidas is a global sports company, employing over 100 nationalities and having sold over 448 million pairs of footwear. Their teams act with a focus on creativity, collaboration, and confidence, as well as ongoing sustainability efforts.
The results of their focus can be seen in the Adidas Men's and Women’s Duramo 9 running shoes. These are wide toe box running shoes, with a flexible webbing stretch upper that conforms to your foot as you lift it in your stride, as well as when you are at impact with the ground.
The fabric’s ability to conform to your foot as it flexes, and changes seems to energize the foot. The rubber sole of the shoe has great traction and durability, and the midsole has a built-in torsion spring for 20% more bounce to boost you forward.
This model also has an extended heel that is both soft and supportive and makes for a snug fit on the heel. The overall fit of the shoe is snug like a sock and is considered a high-performance running shoe. Sizing goes to 14 wide.
We Know You’ll Like:
Our Verdict
The Adidas Duramo 9 is a high-performance running shoe with a snug, sock-like fit.
Its midsole bounce will boost your run performance and keep you running back for more of these.
Buyers Guide to Wide Width Running Shoes
We want to make choosing your wide width running shoes as easy as possible, so we will go over several things for you to consider.
Comfort Feel
What is the best indicator of whether you have chosen the right shoe? The feel of the shoe while running. If you have ever, even temporarily, worn shoes that do not correctly fit your feet, you know how painful it feels to your feet.
However, you should realize that incorrectly fitting shoes can affect much more than just your feet. When you think about the jarring that occurs throughout your body when you run, it makes sense.
Each time your foot hits the ground, it briefly takes the impact and weight of your entire body. Running with incorrectly fitting shoes can lead to muscular imbalances in the body, making you more vulnerable to hip, knee, and foot injuries.
Testing for fit does not require a mile of running. If at a store, run in place or up and back an aisle.
If you’ve purchased through e-commerce, you can do the same at home. You will want to ensure the heel fits snugly in the heel cup in general – even before fastening or lacing up the shoe.
It should be comfy but not restrictive. When a shoe fits properly, it will allow sufficient expansion when standing with the foot on the ground, so it supports the foot’s natural motion and expansion without feeling like it pinches or binds. However, you do not want it so loose that you feel like your foot will slide around.
If you feel like there is tightness in the arch area of the shoe, consider going to the next width up instead of increasing the size/length. Usually, this tightness is because the foot needs more width versus length.
Neutral vs. Stability Shoes
How do I know if I need a Neutral running shoe or a Stability running shoe? What does that even mean?
When a runner’s foot hits the ground, the foot naturally rolls to some degree. If the roll is “normal” identified as no more than 15%, then a Neutral shoe is fine. Neutral running shoes allow the foot to naturally flex and roll without any specific guidance or stability.
However, if the roll exceeds approximately 15%, then the runner can benefit from some stability assistance. This assistance can take the form of an insert in a Neutral running shoe if the roll is not too excessive. Or the runner may benefit from purchasing a Stability running shoe.
What is the risk if you need stability support and don’t get it?
The biggest concerns are overuse injuries such as shin splints, Achilles tendinitis, or runner’s knee, to name a few.
If you’re unsure how your feet roll, have a friend use their smartphone to video your running stride on a treadmill or flat surface.
Then you can play it back and see if you can see a noticeable inward rotation. Another sign would be to take a look at your used running shoes and see if there is an excessive wear pattern on the inside edge.
If the inside is noticeably more worn than the outside, you could probably benefit from stability support and/or shoes. And in most cases, people with lower or no arch, need stability shoes.
How do I know if my feet are wide?
If your feet are wider than the sole of the shoe, it is not wide enough for your foot. If your shoes have a bulge at the sides around the ball of the foot, the shoe is not wide enough. You may only notice bulging on one shoe. Frequently one foot is larger than the other, so it’s important to fit the largest foot.
If you are unsure, you can find a shoe store and have them measure your feet, or you can do it yourself at home.
Wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of your foot, holding it snug but not tight.
Place your foot on the ground with your standing weight on it.
Either mark the tape or jot down the dimensions.
If you don’t have a soft tape measure, you can use a string then lay it on a ruler to get the dimensions.
The following are the size charts that include both dimensions and the letter designation for the width.
Men’s Shoe Width Chart | |||
US Size | Narrow (C) | Average (D) | Wide (E) |
6 | 3 5⁄16" | 3 1⁄2" | 3 11⁄16" |
6.5 | 3 5⁄16" | 3 5⁄8" | 3 3⁄4" |
7 | 3 3⁄8" | 3 5⁄8" | 3 3⁄4" |
7.5 | 3 3⁄8" | 3 11⁄16" | 3 15⁄16" |
8 | 3 1⁄2" | 3 3⁄4" | 3 15⁄16" |
8.5 | 3 5⁄8" | 3 3⁄4" | 4" |
9 | 3 5⁄8" | 3 15⁄16" | 4 1⁄8" |
9.5 | 3 11⁄16" | 3 15⁄16" | 4 1⁄8" |
10 | 3 3⁄4" | 4" | 4 3⁄16" |
10.5 | 3 3⁄4" | 4 1⁄8" | 4 5⁄16" |
11 | 3 15⁄16" | 4 1⁄8" | 4 5⁄16" |
11.5 | 3 15⁄16" | 4 3⁄16" | 4 3⁄8" |
12 | 4" | 4 5⁄16" | 4 3⁄8" |
12.5 | 4 1⁄8" | 4 5⁄16" | 4 1⁄2" |
13 | 4 1⁄8" | 4 5⁄16" | 4 5⁄8" |
13.5 | 4 3⁄16" | 4 3⁄8" | 4 3⁄4" |
Women’s Shoe Width Chart | ||||
US Size | Narrow (AA) | Average (B) | Wide (C/D) | Extra-Wide (E) |
5 | 2 13/16" | 3 3/16" | 3 9/16" | 3 15/16" |
5.5 | 2 7/8" | 3 1/4" | 3 5/8" | 4" |
6 | 2 15/16" | 3 5/16" | 3 11/16" | 4 1/16" |
6.5 | 3" | 3 3/8" | 3 3/4" | 4 1/8" |
7 | 3 1/16" | 3 7/16" | 3 13/16" | 4 3/16" |
7.5 | 3 1/8" | 3 1/2" | 3 7/8" | 4 1/4" |
8 | 3 3/16" | 3 9/16" | 3 15/16" | 4 5/16" |
8.5 | 3 1/4" | 3 5/8" | 4" | 4 3/8" |
9 | 3 3/8" | 3 11/16" | 4 1/16" | 4 7/16" |
9.5 | 3 3/8" | 3 3/4" | 4 1/8" | 4 1/2" |
10 | 3 7/16" | 3 3/4" | 4 3/16" | 4 9/16" |
10.5 | 3 1/2" | 3 7/8" | 4 1/4" | 4 5/8" |
11 | 3 9/16" | 3 15/16" | 4 5/16" | 4 11/16" |
12 | 3 11/16" | 4 1/16" | 4 7/16" | 4 13/16" |
Note that the width of your feet can change over time. This can happen if you have circulatory problems in your legs, diabetes, pregnancy, significant weight gain, and so on. If you bought the same brand of shoe you “usually” wear and it seems tight, you may want to measure the width of your feet.
What do I do if my heel slips, but I need a wide shoe?
There are back heel cushion inserts you can purchase and put against the back of the heel. They need to line the back-heel wall of the shoe. This will push the foot slightly forward and fill out that space that’s allowing the slippage. Heel cushion inserts are available at some shoe stores and multiple online stores such as Amazon.com.
Do Trail Running Shoes Come in Wide?
Yes, trail running shoes do come in wide. The top 10 wide trail running shoes are as follows:
ASICS Men's Gel-Venture 7 Trail Running Shoes
New Balance Men's Nitrel V3 Trail Running Shoe
ASICS Women's Gel-Kahana 8 Trail Runner
Saucony Men's Peregrine 7 Trail Running Shoe
HOKA ONE ONE Men's Challenger ATR 4 Trail Running Shoes
New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Trail
Merrell Women's Vapor Glove 3 Trail Runner
ALTRA Women's Lone Peak 4 Trail Running Shoe
Are Running Shoes Available if I Have Bunions?
Yes, they are available.
Bunions are common with runners and can be very painful. You will need to seek out running shoes specifically for bunions. Our top 10 suggested shoes, all chosen for comfort, breathability, flexibility, durability, and weight, are available at Amazon.com.
What Are the Best Running Shoes for Wide Feet?
Evaluated for comfort, stability, durability, fit, and flexibility, the following are our top 10 suggested running shoes for wide feet, and all are available at Amazon.com.
Adidas cloudfoam Pure Running Shoes
Conclusion
The brands we reviewed in this article all offer selections of shoes for customers who need wide widths for the proper fit.
You are willing to invest time in running for your health, so be willing to invest in the best shoes for your wide feet.
Just as a solid foundation is critical for the stability and integrity of a building, maintaining the health of your body’s foundation – your feet – is important for your health and integrity.
