Topic: The Best Hiking Shoes for Wide Feet of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 32 times)
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Topic: The Best Hiking Shoes for Wide Feet of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 32 times)
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One downside to having wide-width feet is that you don’t always have access to the same variety of colors and styles available in regular-width shoes. Fortunately, Merrell’s collaboration with Unlikely Hikers has wide-shoe options available in all cuts and sizes, making it much easier to find the right fit.
Testers noted that the Merrell wide was similar to the standard KEEN fit and that this was most noticeable at the instep. However, this may be due to the more significant arch support in this shoe co*pared to others tested. One thing that testers did appreciate about this shoe was the co*paratively large volume of the toebox. The top of some other shoes presses down against the ball of the foot, constricting movement (a problem frequently solved by removing the insole). But testers had plenty of room to move toes around in the Moabs.
Flat and wide often go together when it co*es to feet, making the more structured support of hiking shoes like the Merrell Moab unco*fortable or distracting. Fortunately, there’s the Freet Tundra, which in addition to being the widest shoes we looked at (Freet doesn’t even bother making a narrow version), also had the least arch support of anything I looked at (essentially none).
Another group that should look seriously at the Freet Tundra is individuals with a larger foot volume, particularly if that volume extends to the forefoot. This was easily the roomiest shoe I’ve ever tried. It was so large, in fact, that when I stuck the Merrell insole on top of the existing insole, I still found the shoe’s interior quite spacious.
The only downside to this shoe was the stiff upper which requires significantly more break-in time than other models in this test.
One issue that came up time again while searching out wide-width hiking footwear to test is that there just aren’t that many co*panies making anything extending past an E width for men or a D width for women. The exception is New Balance, which has numerous models that go out to as wide as 4E, ensuring that just about anyone can find something that will fit. While their shoes are typically designed for more frontcountry use than backcountry, there are a few trail-ready models, including the Hierro.
One thing to note is that because these shoes are trail runners rather than traditional hikers, they will have a shorter lifespan—expect to switch these out every five hundred miles or so, sooner if you’re backpacking with an unusually heavy load in your shoes.
The more impact you put on your feet, the larger your feet will beco*e. Possibly no group knows this better than thru-hikers: The general advice for someone’s first long trail is to avoid purchasing all the shoes you’re going to need for 2,500 miles in advance, as the odds that your feet will expand while hiking is simply too high. (And there is no guarantee that they will return to their original size at the end of your hike, either.) So if you’ve noticed that your typical brand or style of hiking shoes has started to feel tighter than you’d like, it may be time to switch to the Altra Lone Peaks.
The ample width at the instep and forefoot is no small part of the popularity of the Altra Lone Peak, the most popular choice for thru-hiking and OL‘s pick for the best hiking shoe. The heel of this shoe is similar to traditional-width shoes, locking most people’s feet into place (important for preventing rolled ankles). But as you extend down the instep, the shoe’s shape starts to widen until you reach the toebox, which is wide enough to splay your toes. If your heel is locking into place fine in regular-width hiking shoes, but there is undue pressure on your forefoot, this may be the shoe for you.
Read our full review of the Altra Lone Peak 6 here.
During testing for the best water shoes for hiking, I noted that the Vivobarefoot Ultra Bloom was really wide. Not only was it wider than the other shoes in that test, but it was also significantly wider than the other Vivobarefoot shoes I looked at for our test of the best minimalist shoes for hiking and trail running. It’s possibly the widest shoe I’ve ever tried.
While the Vivobarefoot Ultra Bloom is not a suitable choice for long hikes due to its inadequate traction, it is a serviceable shoe for shorter, easy hikes and a great casual water shoe with excellent drainage and stability. The other unique feature of the Vivobarefoot Ultra Bloom III is its eco bonafides. The upper is foam derived from algae, which was harvested from waterways around the world where an excess in algae (which can occur as a result of both rising temperatures and agricultural runoff) has the potential to result in toxins entering waterways.
While finding the correct width hiking shoe is essential for having a positive experience in the outdoors, you should also consider the level of ankle protection you are looking for, your preferred heel drop, and whether you value breathability over waterproofness or vice versa.
One way to check whether the width of your shoe is the issue (rather than the overall size or shape) is to take out the insole. During testing, I noticed that several of the models I looked at had narrower insoles than the base of the shoe would have otherwise supported. If your shoe is more co*fortable without the insole, it’s worth looking for a custom insole that reduces both the overall bulk on the inside of your shoe or allows for a wider foot to fit inside.
While talking through issues of fit and co*fort with my testers, it became clear that there was a secondary issue that individuals with wide feet are also dealing with, which is the interior volume of the shoe. I have noted above that a shoe had a co*paratively low or high interior volume, but one trick to creating more interior space in a shoe is to wear it without the insole. While most insoles are designed to maximize co*fort and support, having enough space for your foot on the inside of your shoe is more important.
One problem with having a wide foot is that a lot of times, even when the best boot brands are making wide-width hiking shoes, they aren’t available in stores to test out before you buy. Given the surprising variability in widths found in regular-width and wide-width hiking shoes, you may benefit from ordering a number of likely candidates online, and then returning the ones that aren’t right for you. Check for a generous, easy-to-use return policy before you buy.
If you’re feeling sideways pressure along your mid and forefoot, particularly at the ball of the foot, that’s a good indication that your hiking boot or shoe is not wide enough. Your hiking boot should be locked in at the heel, which will help prevent your ankle from rolling, but feeling undue pressure anywhere along the length of your foot is a sign that a wider shoe might be a better fit.
No, hiking boots do not stretch. If your hiking boot feels more snug on your foot than is co*fortable, you should size up or choose a wider-width option.
Hiking shoes should be locked in at the heel, but then loosen up as the foot moves forward. If the balls of your feet feel constrained or your toes are unable to splay (inhibiting shock absorption), then the shoe’s volume is too small for your foot. One option to increase the volume of the shoe is to take out the insole.
You should have about a 1/2-inch of length between the end of your toes and the front of your boot, and there should be enough sideways width that you can wriggle your toes. Keep in mind that your feet also expand as the mileage and years rack up, due to a number of factors, including loosening ligaments and loss of fatty padding on the soles.
Trail runners and hiking shoes both cost in the neighborhood of $100 and $200.
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Whether you’re backpacking, trail running, or just heading out for a casual hike, choosing the best hiking shoes for wide feet can vastly improve your experience. We’ve rounded up our picks based on years of experience hiking, backpacking, and hunting, as well as input from individuals with wide-width feet.
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