No doubt we’re all guilty of squeezing our feet into too tight shoes. Buying the wrong shoe for the width of your feet can cause discomfort and frankly, can deform your feet if left unchecked.
The length of a foot could be the same but the various widths on each size can make finding the perfect fit a challenge. It can be even more difficult if you are looking for shoes for wide feet. See our shoe width chart for exact foot width measurements for men and women.
Since there is no standard width system used by manufacturers to measure the fit of narrow, average and wide, the best way to figure out your width requirements is to use the chart in the previously mentioned link above which is a cookie cutter version of the various widths available to the market and find the fit that is best suited to you.
Ideally you would have a partner help you measure your foot, plot your size against the chart in our previous blog post and use that information when shopping.
Most sports brands carry the full variety of the widths and this is helped along by the fact that sport shoes usually have fastenings that allow for adjustability.
Customizable Shoes and Insoles
Brands like FitMyFoot can cater to the full spectrum of foot widths too because our footbeds are customizable. There are a fair number of brands available today that cater for very wide feet, do some research before buying, your feet will thank you!
It’s important to point out that often, when a shoe is too tight on the arch, it’s not a size-up that is needed but a wider fit. The best way to tell if you’ve got the right width fitting is when the edges of your foot meet and align flush with the edges of the footbed, not narrower and not overlapping (in the case of a sandal). The heel should fit snugly in the heel cup and the general feel without lacing up or fastening it should be comfortable without being restrictive.
Find The Right Orthopedic / Medical Footwear
Most orthopedic/medical footwear brands tend to run wider than the average commercial shoe. But let’s face it, the aesthetics are rather bland on the bulk of what’s available. If you have wider than average feet, it is worth taking the time and finding that perfect pair rather than settling for a style that will only give you limited longevity or wearability because it doesn’t go with much in your closet.
When shopping at specialty health footwear stores, you could request shoes with extra depth, these are helpful when your required size and width still feel a bit tight across the instep.
If you’ve made a purchase that still doesn’t fit you well enough, refer to our article about shoe fit for some pointers on how to make your shoes more comfortable.
Tips on Buying Shoes for Your Foot Width
Narrow feet
One way of ensuring fit is to buy shoes that lace up or have an ankle/ T-bar strap, these can be fastened quite snugly to ensure a better fit, they also compliment narrow feet by emphasizing the curve of the arch. Loafer style shoes with a piece of leather that stretches upward over the arch of your foot works well too because that keeps the shoe on the foot with minimal effort. Buying a half-size smaller won’t really help as it will end up pinching your toes. Rather buy your actual size and insert an orthopedic insole to make the shoe somewhat smaller on the inside.
Medium feet
Well, you’re in luck because pretty much any kind of shoe works as medium feet are by default that standard that manufacturers work with.
Wide feet
This is by far the most challenging kind of feet to find shoes for, that are comfortable but don’t look matronly or boat-like. Short of always wearing sneakers which are always the first go-to for super wide feet, there are brands that most recently have started offering ultra-wide options. Clarks, Merrell, Keen amongst other brands offering sizes that run really wide. Barefoot shoes are also a great idea as they really mimic the shape of your foot. The only drawback with wearing barefoot shoes on wide feet is that most people who have wider feet tend to wear out their shoes faster, so the lifespan of these shoes will be limited. Really flat shoes are not the best buying option for wide feet as they will offer no support for the foot. As with narrow feet, the option of self adjusting closures make for a much more comfortable fit.
If you've already purchased your shoes and are looking for a quick fix, we have some lacing techniques that can help make a shoe more comfortable for your foot width.
For more information look at our guide on how to tell if you have wide feet and what you can do to make it fit better.
