Women with extra wide feet and high insteps are very limited to the types of shoes that they can wear, and when it’s time to look for seasonal shoes such as winter boots the selection gets even more limited. The good news is that I work for a shoe store that helps people with “complicated” foot shapes find the correct pair of shoes. I have helped several women with extra wide feet and high insteps find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet, and I believe I will be able to help you as well. That’s the reason I have put together a list of the best winter boots for women with extra wide feet and high insteps in 2023.
First Things First: Not All Extra Wide Feet Are The Same
Some women in addition to having extra wide feet have high insteps. The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it even more challenging to find shoes that fit. Below you can find an image of a woman’s foot that is extra wide and also has a high instep:
I want to emphasize that not all extra wide feet are the same. I mentioned this because some women read reviews about certain shoes that worked well for other women with extra wide feet and high insteps and automatically assume that the same shoes will work well for their feet. Simply because one shoe worked well for an extra wide foot, that doesn’t mean that same shoe will accommodate your extra wide foot.
Keep in mind that some women might also be dealing with specific foot conditions such as bunions, ingrown toenails, flat feet, high arches, etc. These are all factors that determine what shoes you can wear and the final shoe size that you should order. If you identify with this, feel free to contact me via email so I can guide you in the right direction:
comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com
Unsure of Your Exact Foot Length and Shape?
If you are unsure about your exact foot shape and whether you have a specific foot condition you can use a free resource that I created and will help you figure this out:
How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!
As far as winter boots are concerned, I have found certain models that have worked really well for women with extra wide feet and high insteps. I will show you a list of these boots but first I want to show you why these boots are ideal for extra wide feet and high insteps.
What Makes the Boots I Recommend Ideal for Extra Wide Feet and High Insteps?
1️⃣ Extra Depth
Boots that provide extra depth are ideal for women with high insteps as they allow the feet to fit deeply inside the boots and prevent the top part of your feet (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the boots. Let’s take a look at the image below to better visualize what I mean:
2️⃣ Rounded Toe-Boxes
This feature helps prevent your toes from overlapping and rubbing against one another or the side of the boots. Let me show you the difference in toe-boxes between one of the boots I recommend and a different style:
3️⃣ Available in Wide and Extra Wide Widths
All of the boots that I recommend below are either available in wide or extra wide widths to help accommodate your foot shape.
What Are The Best Winter Boot Shoe Brands for Extra Wide Feet?
This is a common question that several women who visit the shoe store that I work for ask me. Even though there are certain shoe brands that are more consistent when it comes to accommodating a certain foot shape (in your case extra wide feet), I don’t suggest assuming that all shoes from one specific shoe brand will work well.
I have found that there are specific styles among each shoe brand that work a lot better than others. With that that said, you will notice that the list of winter boots I have put together has several recommendations from the shoe company Propet, so you might want to start getting familiar with this brand as it makes snow boots in wide and extra wide widths.
Propet snow boots are great because they are lightweight, flexible, and provide great traction! They come temperature rated to -30 Fahrenheit and with an anti-microbial insole that provides odor protection to keep your feet feeling fresh.
Other shoe brands that you might want to look into are Orthofeet, Kamik, and Clarks. If you believe there is a specific shoe brand of winter boots for women with extra wide feet and high insteps that I didn’t mention please add your recommendations in the comments section below.
To make things easier for you I have put together a list of the best winter boots manufactured by the shoe brands I mentioned above. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Winter Boots for Women with Extra Wide Feet and High Insteps in 2023
Please note that I only recommend shoes that I have fitted before, as that’s the only way for me to know how they fit, the type of support the shoes provide, and the quality of the materials the shoes are made of. There might be other winter boots capable of accommodating an extra wide foot, but these are the ones I am most familiar with.
Sizing varies widely between brands and individual models, so take a look at the last bullet point below each boot recommendation to find out what shoe size you should order to prevent your longest toe from rubbing against the front part of the boots.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Faux shearling lining and a waterproof and scotchgard-treated upper
- Heat retaining insole
- Order this boot a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Scotchgard® treated suede and knit upper with soft pile lining sealed
- Double-insole system for extra insulation
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Scotchgard treated nylon upper that repels water plus a faux fur lining
- Vaporex heat-retaining insole system for extra insulation and cushion
- Order this boot a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seam-sealed waterproof snow boot featuring plush faux-fur collar
- Quick bungee lacing
- Rated to -25F
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Pull-on ankle boot with hook-and-loop strap for custom fit
- Double insoles, scotchgard, vaporex, water resistant, diabetic friendly
- Cushioned footbed with Vaporex® heat-retaining system offers added insulation and cushioning
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Molded EVA toe for weather resistance
- Vaporex heat-retaining insole system for extra insulation and cushion
- Order this boot a whole shoe size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Faux shearling lining and a waterproof and scotchgard-treated upper
- Heat retaining insole
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Zippered closure
- Waterproof, faux fur cuff can be worn up or down
- Removable insoles
- Order this boot a whole shoe size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Side zipper allows feet to slip into this low boot with ease
- OrthoLite footbed offers targeted cushioning to support your foot
- Water-friendly
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Thinsulate
- Eva midsole with high-traction
- Order this boot a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Rubber outsole with wave tread pattern designed for positive traction on wet and dry surfaces
- Eva midsole with high-traction
- Removable insoles
- Order this boot a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Leather/suede
- OrthoLite footbed offers targeted cushioning to support your foot
- Order this boot a whole shoe size larger than your foot size
Another awesome feature of these winter boots is that they all come with oversized openings, so you can easily slide your feet on and off the boots. Most women with extra wide feet and high insteps usually struggle to get their feet inside the shoes, so the fact that these boots open up nice and wide is a huge plus!
What Can You Do If These Winter Boots Are Still Too Narrow?
Assuming that you ordered the correct size and the boots still feel too narrow you should consider trying them in a half size larger. If after trying the boots in a larger size they still pinch your toes or place too much pressure on the top part of your feet then you need to move on to a different style.
Feel free to contact me through the comments section below or via email and I will guide you in the right direction:
comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com
Your Socks Matter – Warm Yet Breathable!
If you are using your winter boots for a quick trip outside you can get away with just about any sock design. The only sock material I strongly consider staying away from is cotton as cotton socks don’t wick away moisture or insulate when wet, which is a bad combination for winter use.
If you will be hiking or working for long periods of time in harsh weather, it’s worth dialing in your sock selection.
I have found that merino wool works best for women with extra wide feet for its high level of warmth, breathability, and stink prevention.
You don’t really have to invest in a pair of expensive socks, just find warm socks that fit well (not too loose and not too tight) that will still fit into your boot. Socks that are too big can bunch up and create discomfort, while socks that are too small can cramp your toes together and make the rub or overlap against one another. Here is a different article that describes good winter socks for women with wide feet:
The Best Women’s Winter Socks for Wide Feet – Seamless, Warm, and Affordable!
Best Resources for Women with Extra Wide Feet and High Insteps
I have created several resources throughout the years that I keep updating with the most up-to-date shoe recommendations. I understand how frustrating it is to be in pain from wearing the wrong types of shoes or simply not being able to find a single shoe style capable of accommodating your foot shape. If you are looking for a different type of shoe to accommodate your extra wide feet and high insteps you can check out the resources below:
Extra Wide Width Shoes for Women — The Best Shoes for Extra Wide Feet and High Insteps!
The Best Extra Wide Women’s Sandals – Supportive, Lightweight, Flexible, Durable, and Affordable!
Do You Happen to Have a Child Who Has Extra Wide Feet?
If you happen to have a child who has extra wide feet and needs a pair of winter boots, I created a different article where I describe the best snow boots for children with extra wide feet:
The Best Kids Extra Wide Snow Boots – Extra Deep, Rounder Toe-Box, and Available in Wide Widths!
If you really want to enjoy the winter season you must find a pair of good snow boots that are also available in your size (length and width)! If you want to be out in the freezing weather and play in the snow the only way to do it comfortably is by wearing a pair of waterproof, insulated snow boots, that can fit your unique foot shape perfectly!
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