Do your feet feel cramped in the biggest footwear brands on the market? Does squeezing on a pair of Nikes feel like your foot is wearing skinny jeans?
If you’re chronically uncomfortable while wearing the major footwear retail brands, you may consider wearing something a bit more specialized. The good news is they do make running shoes for wide feet, which should help you stave off aches and pains, up your running game, and look super fresh on top of it.
Today, we’re covering some of the top-rated running shoes for wide feet so you can have what you need to make the best buying decision for your next pair.
Tie up those laces, grab your water bottle, and let’s hit the ground running with our picks for the best three running shoes for wide feet!
These are the Top 3 Best Running Shoes for Wide Feet
If you have wide feet, consider picking up one of these three.
1. New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v13
The New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v13 both look and feel great.
They come in a variety of stylish color combinations, but what’s most important are the features, like their patented cushy Fresh Foam that makes you feel like you’re walking on clouds, worked into the design.
Slap on a pair of these and you’ll certainly look and feel your best, especially if you’re in the market for wide toe box running shoes that help wide-foot runners perform their best.
2. ASICS GT-2000 v11
Seasoned runners have come to respect ASICS and expect high-quality footwear featuring revolutionary tech that helps them perform at the highest level.
The ASIC GT-2000 v11 is no exception to this. The GT-2000 incorporates FF BLAST cushioning in the midsole for the comfiest ride yet, as well as LITETRUSS technology that helps keep your foot from rolling inward on each stride.
They are stable, energetic, cushy, and, oh, did we mention it’s lovely for us wide-foot folk?
3. HOKA Arahi 6
You could spot a Hoka shoe from a mile away thanks to the oversized maximalist midsole, but that’s what makes them so unique and super comfortable. Overweight and wide-footed runners will especially love a good pair of Hokas, and the Hoka Arahi 6 may be one of their best yet.
Not only do they come in every standard size you’d expect, but you can also go the extra mile for your wide feet and purchase any size in “wide” for even more breathing room.
What Makes a Good Wide Foot Running Shoe?
The best running shoes for wide feet have a lot in common with the best running shoes for, well, regular feet. You’ll still get features that are important to all runners, like stability and support, an effective and innovative lacing system to perfect the fit, and minimal weight so you don’t feel like you’re lugging cement shoes during each outing.
But, perhaps the most important feature of wide foot running shoes is the width of the toe box and the width of the shoe itself. Wider feet, as you’d expect, will be happier with more room, as long as the shoe is not oversized, as this can create problems too.
Top 3 Running Shoes with a Wide Toe Box
Wider feet love a nice wide toe box so those piggies can splay properly after each stride. Here are three of our favorite running sneakers with a wide toe box.
1. ASICS Gel-Kayano 29
Choosing any ASICS shoe is automatically a good purchase, but the Gel-Kayano 29 is a solid buy for runners looking for a wide toe box. There’s plenty of room to be had, plus the shoe’s construction features smart technology like high-density foam in the arch and reinforced laces that keep your foot centered.
The result: an optimal fit for wide-foot runners and a ride that can’t be beat.
2. Saucony Omni 21
Dual-density PWRRUN cushioning, supportive webbing, and FORMFIT design that ensures the perfect fit for maximum stability. These features and more are what make the Saucony Omni 21 one of the best running shoes on the market today.
But what makes them especially attractive for our list today, is the wide toe box, which provides maximum comfort and performance for wide-foot runners.
3. Altra Lone Peak 7
Are you ready to take your morning run to winding trails and technical terrain?
The Altra Lone Peak 7 has got you covered with its lightweight upper, MaxTrac outsole that grips the trail, and super comfy EGO midsole that maximizes the plush foot feel.
You can pick them up in a variety of fun colors, plus there’s an option to get your shoe size in wide for extra breathing room. Comfort, performance, Altra.
Having Wide and Flat Feet
Some people are born with flat feet, but it’s not impossible to, over time, decrease the natural arch of the foot from playing high impact sports, putting on extra weight, or living with other conditions that may contribute to developing flat feet.
Having flat feet may increase your risk of ankle injuries or nagging foot pains. So, wearing proper footwear will go a long way in staving off these symptoms and allowing you to live your best life despite having flat, wide feet.
Running Comfortably with Wide Feet
Running comfortably with wide feet is all about finding the best shoes and taking care of your body. You’ll know you need running sneakers for wide feet if you’re experiencing numbness while running, discomfort, and swelling during or after the run.
Blisters and bunions are often a telltale sign that something is amiss with your footwear sitch as well, as friction from rubbing aggressively against the inside of your shoe contributes greatly to their formation.
How to Properly Measure Your Feet
The best way to measure your feet is to visit a local retailer that specializes in footwear. You may have good results at the big box if the staff is well-trained or highly motivated, but often the smaller neighborhood retail chains have people available who know how to properly measure your feet, observe your walking gait and running stride, diagnose where you’re applying pressure during everyday movement, and making an informed recommendation based on this analysis.
Does that sound complicated? There’s a lot more to buying the right shoe than just grabbing something “in your size” and assuming it’s going to be tailor-made to you. But, it’s important, as the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research states that “a large proportion of the population wear[s] incorrectly sized footwear, which is associated with foot pain and foot disorders.”
It’s well worth your while to find a specialist who is familiar and experienced with properly measuring your foot and following their recommendations for what footwear to use.
Top 5 Best Running Shoe Brands for Wide Feet
We’ve got nothing negative to say against the footwear giants like Nike and Adidas, but they may not measure up to these five companies we’ve listed below who all do a bang-up job at making and manufacturing shoes for wide feet.
Asics
Buying a pair of ASICS, whether you have wide feet or regular, is an excellent purchase. The engineers and design team do tons of R&D to ensure the shoes they bring to market both look and perform as well as, if not better than, anything else available.
ASICS is a grade-A purchase, for wide feet or otherwise.
Hoka
Hoka isn’t for everyone. I mean, sure, they make one of the best shoes for wide feet on the market with a maximalist design that most runners who are familiar with the brand could spot from miles away.
But that’s why not everyone will gravitate to this top-tier brand. Hokas are a “love it or hate it” kind of company. If you love the look of the shoe with its oversized outsole, you’ll love the ride, but, if you can’t get around the aesthetics and it’s not your cup of tea, at least there are many viable alternatives available instead.
Altra
The minds behind Altra do a lot to ensure their shoes encourage a natural toe splay and plenty of support with every added feature and technology incorporated in their shoes. They’re also one of the very best for trail runners, so wide-footed runners who prefer trails to treadmills will fall in love with Altra quite easily.
Saucony
Saucony is a high-quality shoe manufacturer that makes comfortable, durable, fashionable shoes both for everyday purposes and high-level athletics.
Whether you’re an average person going out for a leisurely mile run or an athlete looking to set a new personal record on your 5K, Saucony is a solid choice for footwear whether you have wide feet, regular feet, or anything in between.
New Balance
Often mocked for being the “dad shoe,” New Balance has both shed and embraced this reputation in many ways. For one, the comfort is next level, so you must give it up to the OG dads that knew New Balance made a winning shoe well before the rest of us came around to it.
On the other hand, New Balance pours plenty of smart features into their high-performance models, meaning their shoes will support an athletic performance that no dad (well, most dads) simply can’t achieve.
So, don’t count New Balance out. They’re comfy, competitive, and cool, despite what anyone else may say or think.
Are Wide Running Shoes Heavier Than Normal Ones?
Wide running shoes must be heavier than regular ones, right? I mean, after all, you need to use more material to make it that teensy bit wider for the big dogs that they’re made for.
You may be surprised to hear, but wide running shoes are often not heavier than normal ones. They’re often the same, but some may even be lighter thanks to some intelligent design and engineering on behalf of the respected and reputable manufacturers that specialize in making them.
So, don’t worry about feeling a major difference when switching to wider running shoes. The only difference you should expect is relief from all the nagging foot pains you’ve suffered from wearing the wrong fit this whole time!
What do you have to lose?
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