Wide feet and conventional shoes don't mix. Most mainstream footwear tapers toward the toes, squeezing wide forefeet into unnatural shapes. The result: bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, and daily discomfort.
Barefoot shoes solve this problem by design. Their foot-shaped toe boxes let toes spread naturally. But even among barefoot brands, width varies significantly. This guide helps you find the best options for genuinely wide feet.
How Wide Is Wide?
Measuring Your Feet
Width matters as much as length. To measure:
- Stand on paper with full weight on your foot
- Trace the outline, keeping the pen vertical
- Measure the widest point (usually across the ball)
- Compare to your foot length
Width categories (approximate): - Narrow: Ball width less than 38% of length - Medium: Ball width 38-42% of length - Wide: Ball width 42-45% of length - Extra-wide: Ball width over 45% of length
Signs Your Current Shoes Are Too Narrow
- Pinky toe rides on top of other toes
- Bunion pain or visible bump at big toe joint
- Numbness or tingling in forefoot
- Calluses on sides of feet
- Toe box shows bulging
- Relief when removing shoes
Best Brands for Wide Feet
Extra-Wide Toe Boxes
Lems - Widest in the Industry
Lems offers the most generous toe boxes, with many styles available in dedicated wide sizes. Their extra-wide designation means serious room.
Why they're great: True extra-wide options, not just relabeled standard widths. Natural foot shape prioritized in every design.
Best for: Very wide feet, bunions, toe spreaders, post-bunion surgery Price range: $105-160 Top picks: Primal 2, Boulder Boot, Mesa
Altra - The FootShape Standard
Altra pioneered the "FootShape" toe box in running shoes. While technically "wide" not "extra-wide," their toe boxes are among the roomiest in athletic footwear.
Why they're great: Consistent width across entire lineup, proven for high-mileage running, mainstream availability.
Best for: Runners with wide feet, those transitioning from conventional shoes Price range: $130-180 Top picks: Torin (road), Lone Peak (trail), Olympus (max cushion)
Wide Toe Boxes
Xero Shoes - Consistent Width
Xero Shoes builds every shoe around natural foot shape. Their wide toe boxes accommodate most wide feet without needing a special "wide" size.
Why they're great: Whole lineup is foot-shaped, good variety from sandals to boots, reasonable prices.
Best for: Wide feet wanting variety, sandal lovers, budget-conscious buyers Price range: $50-170 Top picks: Prio, HFS, Mesa Trail, Z-Trek sandals
Vivobarefoot - Anatomical Shape
Vivobarefoot uses anatomically correct lasts throughout their range. Premium materials and construction.
Why they're great: High-quality materials, professional styling options, proven durability.
Best for: Professional settings, quality-focused buyers, performance needs Price range: $140-220 Top picks: Primus Lite, Geo Court, Tracker boot
Softstar - Custom Width Options
Softstar handmakes shoes in Oregon with custom sizing available. True made-to-measure options for difficult fits.
Why they're great: Custom width options, handmade quality, unique styles.
Best for: Very difficult fits, supporting American manufacturing, custom needs Price range: $160-200 Top picks: Primal RunAmoc, Dash RunAmoc
Budget Wide Options
Splay - Affordable Wide Toe Box
Splay focuses specifically on wide toe boxes at budget prices. Most styles under $60.
Why they're great: Wide toe box priority, family-friendly prices, simple designs.
Best for: Budget buyers, kids, trying barefoot without major investment Price range: $49-89 Top picks: EXPLORE, REV series
Saguaro - Widest Budget Brand
Saguaro offers surprisingly wide toe boxes at rock-bottom prices. Good starter option.
Why they're great: Cheapest entry point, adequate width, huge variety.
Best for: Testing barefoot shoes, backup pairs, limited budgets Price range: $20-60 Top picks: Vitality, Breeze, various casual styles
Best Wide Shoes by Category
Running (86 wide options)
| Shoe | Brand | Width | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torin 8 | Altra | Wide | Cushioned road |
| Lone Peak 9 | Altra | Wide | Trail running |
| Escalante 4 | Altra | Wide | Lightweight road |
| Mesa Trail | Xero | Wide | Minimal trail |
| Primus Lite | Vivobarefoot | Wide | Minimal road |
Casual (1,500+ wide options)
| Shoe | Brand | Width | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primal 2 | Lems | Extra-wide | Maximum width |
| Chukka | Lems | Extra-wide | Smart casual |
| Prio | Xero | Wide | Everyday versatile |
| Geo Court | Vivobarefoot | Wide | Sneaker style |
| EXPLORE | Splay | Wide | Budget daily wear |
Hiking (60 wide options)
| Shoe | Brand | Width | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Peak Hiker | Altra | Wide | Cushioned trails |
| Mesa Trail | Xero | Wide | Minimal hiking |
| Boulder Boot | Lems | Extra-wide | Widest hiking boot |
| Tracker | Vivobarefoot | Wide | Premium hiking |
| Scrambler | Xero | Wide | Versatile outdoor |
Dress/Professional (42 wide options)
| Shoe | Brand | Width | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nine2Five | Lems | Extra-wide | Office wear |
| Carets | Carets | Wide | Dress shoes |
| Ra II | Vivobarefoot | Wide | Minimalist dress |
| Oaka | Xero | Wide | Smart casual |
Winter Boots (83 wide options)
| Shoe | Brand | Width | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproof Boulder Boot | Lems | Extra-wide | Widest winter boot |
| Alpine | Xero | Wide | Cold weather |
| Tracker Snow | Vivobarefoot | Wide | Snow conditions |
Sandals (129 wide options)
Sandals naturally accommodate wide feet since they don't enclose the forefoot. Best options:
- Xero Z-Trek, Genesis - Adjustable straps fit any width
- Luna Origen, Mono - Huarache style, infinitely adjustable
- Earth Runners - Minimalist with width flexibility
- Shamma - Simple design fits wide feet easily
- Bedrock - Adventure sandals with roomy platform
Tips for Wide Feet Success
Don't Trust Size Alone
A "wide" from one brand may be narrower than "medium" from another. Always check:
- Actual toe box measurements if available
- User reviews mentioning width
- Return policies for trying multiple sizes
Consider Sizing Up
Sometimes a half or full size up provides needed width without being too long. This works best for casual shoes; running shoes need length precision.
Break-In Reality
Leather and canvas uppers stretch slightly. Synthetic uppers rarely give. Plan accordingly:
- Leather: May gain 2-3mm width with wear
- Canvas: Slight stretch possible
- Synthetic mesh: What you get is what you keep
Toe Spreaders Help
Using toe spreaders (like Correct Toes) while transitioning to wide toe boxes helps feet remember their natural shape. Many wide-feet people find their feet actually get wider once freed from narrow shoes.
Time of Day Matters
Feet swell throughout the day. Try shoes in the afternoon or evening for the most accurate fit.
Common Wide Feet Questions
Will my feet get wider in barefoot shoes?
Possibly. Feet that have been compressed for years often spread when given room. This is your natural foot shape returning, not a problem.
Can I wear toe spacers with wide toe box shoes?
Yes, and it's often recommended during transition. Lems and Altra specifically design for this. Make sure the toe box is wide enough to accommodate both your foot and the spacers.
My bunion is severe - which brand?
Start with Lems extra-wide options. Their Primal 2 and Boulder Boot have the most forgiving toe boxes. Softstar can make custom widths for extreme cases.
Are wide hiking boots really wide enough?
Lems Boulder Boot is genuinely wide. Most other "wide" hiking options are more accurately "not narrow." For serious width needs in hiking, consider trail sandals or the Lems options.
The Bottom Line
Wide feet aren't a problem - narrow shoes are the problem. The barefoot shoe industry understands this, which is why nearly every brand offers genuinely wide toe boxes compared to conventional footwear.
Start with brands known for width: Lems for extra-wide, Altra for running, Xero for variety, Splay for budget. Your toes will thank you.