Women with wide feet are constantly struggling when it comes to finding good, supportive, and comfortable sneakers for their wide feet. Unfortunately, most shoe stores are now closed due to COVID, so more and more women are buying their shoes online. Wearing shoes that are too narrow can create discomfort, foot issues, and discourage women from staying active and working out. I have put together a list of the best wide sneakers for women in 2022 based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience.
My 10 Years of Shoe Fitting Experience
I have been fitting women’s shoes for over 10 years, working for a specialized shoe store that helps women with “complicated” foot shapes (wide, extra wide, high instep) and foot conditions find the correct pair of shoes for their feet. It requires time and experience to figure out a good fit for a woman with wide feet, but over the years I became familiar with the best wide sneakers for women.
Why Are the Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Women with Wide Feet?
When looking for sneakers to accommodate your wide feet, make sure that you look for shoes that provide these 3 important features:
✅ Round Toe-Boxes: This feature helps prevent your toes from overlapping one another or rubbing against the side of the shoes. This might seem like an obvious feature your shoes need to provide, but you will be surprised at how many shoes have pointier toe-boxes instead of rounder ones.
For example, let’s take a look at the difference in toe-boxes between two shoes that are the same length and width. Both of these shoes are the same length and they are available in wide widths (W), but the New Balance shoe (right image) has a rounded toe-box compared to the shoe on the left (Asics).
✅ Extra Depth: This feature allows your feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevents the top part of your feet (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. Shoes that provide extra depth are also important to prevent you from developing blisters and other foot issues.
For example, take a look at the difference in depth between two sneakers that are the same length and width. Do you notice how the shoe on the right (New Balance) is a lot deeper compared to the shoe on the left?
✅ Wide Widths Available: You will notice that all of the sneakers that I recommend are available in wide widths:
Where Can You Find Sneakers that Provide these 3 Features?
You can visit your local shoe store or buy them online. However, if you prefer to shop online you must be 100% sure of your foot length and shape. Don’t insist on buying the same shoe size just because that’s the size that you have worn for most of your life. Your foot shape and size can change over time, and some of the factors that contribute to this change are pregnancy, aging and weight gain or loss. Over time and because of gravity, our feet might get longer and wider.
As we age, the body’s ligaments and tendons lose their strength and ability to spring back. This means that our arches decrease, which flattens and lengthens the foot and toes.
This often results in an increase in shoe size by a half-size or more. You might also experience a change in foot width, meaning that even though you always ordered wide width shoes now you might have to start ordering extra wide shoes.
Do you know your exact foot length? Do you know whether your feet are wide or extra wide? Do you know whether you have a high instep or not? Some women in addition to having wide feet have high insteps as well.
How Does a High Instep Look Like?
The instep is the top part of your foot, and when it’s high it makes it a lot more challenging to find shoes that fit. Take a look at the image below that shows a foot of a woman with a high instep. Do you notice how there is a lot of extra foot volume that we will need to fit inside the shoe?
It’s important to understand that the instep and the arch are completely unrelated:
Learn How to Order the Correct Shoe Size Online
Buying shoes online can be a challenge. If you are unsure of your current foot length and shape, I suggest that you take a look at a free resource I created where I help women determine their exact foot shape from home:
How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!
Now that you know what features your sneakers shoes must provide to accommodate your wide feet and how to retrieve your exact foot length and shape, let’s take a look at the best wide sneakers for women in 2022. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Wide Sneakers for Women in 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All of the shoes that I recommend are available in wide widths (W), so make sure that you order the shoes in your correct foot length and foot width. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
New Balance 990V5
This shoe style can be worn for everyday activities and it’s ideal for short or long distance walking. This is the deepest style made by New Balance so it’s ideal for women with wide feet and high insteps.
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✅ ENCAP midsole cushioning combines lightweight foam with a durable polyurethane rim to deliver all-day support.
✅ Dual density collar foam offers support and comfort for ankles.
✅ Excellent cushion and stability.
✅ Extra padding around the tongue and heels to increase comfort.
What Shoe Size to Order?
To prevent your toes from rubbing against the front or side part of the shoes, I highly recommend that you order this shoe a half size larger than the size that your feet measure. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.6 centimeters of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoes.
New Balance 840v4
This shoe style can be worn for everyday walking but it’s also ideal for short or long distance running as well as exercising.
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✅ ABZORB midsole is designed for underfoot cushioning and support.
✅ 12 mm drop, providing ample cushioning near the heel.
✅ Excellent cushioning and stability.
✅ Extra padding around the tongue and heels to increase comfort.
What Shoe Size to Order?
To prevent your toes from rubbing against the front or side part of the shoes, I highly recommend that you order this shoe a half size larger than the size that your feet measure. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.6 centimeters of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21
Fits Medium and WideCheck PriceFits Medium and WideCheck Price
- Provides excellent stability and support, great for overpronation while providing high energizing cushioning.
- GuideRails keep you moving comfortably by keeping excess movement in check.
What Shoe Size Should You Order?
To prevent your toes from rubbing against the front or side part of the shoes, I highly recommend that you order these shoes half a size larger than the size that your feet measure. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.6 centimeters of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoes.
New Balance 680V6
This shoe style can be worn for everyday walking but it’s also ideal for short or long distance running as well as exercising.
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✅ An ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance, while ACTEVA midsole cushioning delivers versatile, flexible support.
✅ Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam provides lightweight cushioning underfoot, and the rubber outsole provides a solid, durable base for leisurely jogs or intense runs.
✅ 10 mm drop, providing ample cushioning near the heel.
What Shoe Size to Order?
To prevent your toes from rubbing against the front or side part of the shoes, I highly recommend that you order this shoe a half size larger than the size that your feet measure. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.6 centimeters of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Saucony Cohesion
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✅ VERSARUN cushioning absorbs impact and reduces pressure for comfortable strides at every level of running.
✅ Extra heel support for a more comfortable, secure hold.
What Shoe Size to Order?
To prevent your toes from rubbing against the front or side part of the shoes, I highly recommend that you order this shoe a half size larger than the size that your feet measure. This translates to 0.3 inches or 0.6 centimeters of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me via the comment section below or at my email if you are unsure about which sneaker will work best for your wide feet: comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com
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