Are you having the hardest time finding a pair of winter boots to accommodate your wide feet with a high instep? Have you tried several different boot brands and styles but none of them are comfortable enough to wear? Women with wide feet and high insteps have the hardest time finding shoes that fit. When it comes to seasonal footwear such as boots, it gets even more challenging. The good news is that I have put together a list of the best wide width winter boots for women with high insteps based on my shoe fitting experience.
Most winter boot brands usually only carry standard sizes, and women find themselves having to keep going up a size to have enough room for their toes. Buying longer boots also helps take some pressure away from the width area. However, I strongly suggest that you don’t do this as it might not only compromise your stability, but lead to foot issues such as blisters as well. When there is too much foot movement inside the shoes that constant friction and rubbing between the toes and the boots might lead to blisters, calluses, and corns.
You will be surprised at how many women have wide feet but have no idea that they have a high instep. They tend to realize this when they come to the shoe store and tell me how the shoes feel comfortable width wise but they feel like the shoes put too much pressure on the top part of their feet.
How Does a Foot with a High Instep Looks Like?
Take a look at the image below to better visualize where the instep of your foot is located. As you can see, the instep and the arch are unrelated. I mention this because some people believe that having high arches is the same thing as having high insteps.
Below you can find an image of a woman with wide feet and high instep:
What Makes the Boots that I Recommend Ideal for Wide Feet and High Insteps?
In addition to being labeled as wide (“W”, “EE”), the boots that I recommend provide rounder toe-boxes (to accommodate your wide feet), and extra depth (to accommodate your high instep).
☑️ Extra Depth: This important feature allows the feet to fit deeply inside the boots and prevents the top part of your feet (instep), from rubbing against the top part of the boots. When women have wide feet and high insteps, there is a lot of extra foot volume that needs to be fitted inside the boots. Boots that provide extra depth are ideal for women with wide feet and high insteps.
Let me show you the difference between one of the winter boots that I recommend and a different style. Do you notice how the boot on the right is deeper compared to the boot on the left? This is exactly the type of winter boots that we need to accommodate your wide feet and high instep.
☑️ Round Toe-Boxes: This feature is going to help prevent your toes from rubbing against one another or the side of the boots.
Below you can find another example of the difference between two winter boots that are the same length and width but provide very different toe-boxes. Do you notice how the winter boot on the right has a rounder toe-box compared to the winter boot on the left?
These are exactly the types of features that we need to look for to accommodate your wide feet and high instep.
Read This Before You Order Your Shoes Online!
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 medium width shoes now you might have to start ordering wider shoes.
How to Retrieve Your Exact Foot Length and Shape
Buying shoes online can be a challenge. If you are unsure of your current foot shape or foot length, I suggest that you take a look at a different resource I created where I help women determine their exact foot shape from home. This is a free service:
How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!
Now that you know how to retrieve your exact foot shape and length and what features your winter boots must provide, you can find a list of the best wide width winter boots that I have fitted before. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Wide Width Winter Boots for Women with High Insteps ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All of the boots that I recommend below are available in wide and extra wide widths so make sure that you choose your shoe width accordingly. You should also know that the boots open up nice and wide to allow you to easily slide your feet inside 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
Do You Need Personalized Shoe Recommendations?
If you are looking for a different boot style to accommodate your wide feet and high instep or if you have any other questions you can email me at:
comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com
Winter Socks for Women with Wide Feet
Sometimes when we are in a bit of a hurry we decide not to wear socks and that is an awful mistake. Socks will also make you feel more comfortable and in the cold weather they can even make you feel warmer!
If you need a pair of socks to go with your winter boots, you can find a selection of the warmer, yet most breathable socks for the winter.
- 74% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon, 6% Lycra Spandex
- Impact Support Zones(strategically reinforced zones) for added durability
- Machine washable
- 59% Merino Wool, 39% Nylon, 2% Lycra Spandex
- Micro crew height which means that the sock peeks just above the top of a standard hiking boot
- Machine washable
- 56% merino wool, 31% recycled nylon, 11% nylon, 2% elastane
- Breathable body-mapped mesh zones
- Virtually Seamless™ toe for enhanced comfort
- Machine washable
- 65% merino wool, 24% recycled nylon, 10% nylon, 1% elastane
- Utilizes full cushioning at the heel and sole of the foot to provide warmth and a little impact absorption
- Bracing on the arch provides additional support for all day comfort
- Machine washable
Have you found a specific pair of boots that worked well in accommodating your wide feet and high instep? Let us know in the comment section below so other women can benefit from your findings.
Looking for 7 1/2 xw high instep fashion bootie low heel.
Hello Carol,
Have you already taken a look at the boots that I recommend on the article below? Most of them are available in extra wide widths (XW):
Fashion Boots for Women with Wide Feet and High Insteps – Stylish and Comfortable!
This helps get me on the right track, but I must strongly disagree with ordering a whole size larger than foot size for the Propets. I am a 6.5W with an extra high instep. I bought 7WW. I added an additional insole to the two insoles that came with the boot (so tried with three insoles), and my feet were still turning circles at the front because they were so wide. They were also very long, even with an extra insole in there. With ultra thick socks (mountaineering mountaintop hiking socks) and three insoles, they kinda sorta worked but felt like they had no support because of adding padding onto a shoe that already has very little shape. I imagine these would in fact work for me in some size, but I’m not sure which. I suspect 6.5WW. I think it would bode well for me to get a boot with more support and a higher calf though. HTH
Hello Deborah,
This is really helpful to know. I have updated the article accordingly. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
You’re welcome!
Update: I did purchase the Propet Dani in the red color (so many brands have sizing dissimilarities between colors that I’m trying to include that detail in reviews now) in 6.5WW. I am normally a 6.5W on my biggest foot and have truly ridiculously high insteps. Here is how that’s going after two try-ons:
If I remove all Propet insoles and spacers and throw down a Spenco Arch RX Cushion insole and put on my thickest summit mountaineering socks, they fit.
I remove the extra spacer, put in aforementioned Spenco insoles, top these with Propets thin fuzzy thermal insole and wear them with my thin socks (for reference the thinnest socks made by Darn Tough) they… almost fit. I might be able to get away with this combo, but I definitely feel the stitching over my right instep, which is my highest instep. (i always try to look for winter boots where you can in some form wear the socks you’d be wearing with your normal shoes if switching out at work or the like.)
If I remove all insoles, put in the Spenco and wear my usual thin socks with medium hiking socks on top they borderline fit (fit in most ways but again iffy on the right foot instep).
I suspect that to just wear these with thin socks I should have a 6.5W and use my Spencos only. But I’ll hold onto these 6.5WW and see if I can get away with these diverse sock uses inside them.
I did well with a pair of Propet snow boots before my insteps increased in their size. So i was easy to convince to try these. I could wish they are a lot of things they’re not, but to have anything you CAN wear is a feat for those of us with trouble feet.
I also purchased Wolky WP Ambient boots from an eBay re-seller I’ve had good experiences with. I wouldn’t want to mess up the nubuck in too much salt and snow, but these do have a dry modest fuzzy lining as well as a water barrier that potentially could allow them to be used in snow. I used different insole combos (Spenco or Spenco plus fuzzy Wolky) for either medium hiking socks or for my thin socks in these. The bottom of the tongue of the left boot can be slightly irritating, which is a concern (and odd because that’s my lower instep, but overall, I’m happy about the potential of these cold weather boots that are true walking boots.
As I stated on some blog or another of yours, the Wolky brand is my new friend. Depending on which of their standard insoles a shoe line uses (researching to discern this is admittedly tricky) and depending on the visible cut of the toe and the presence of laces for adjustability, I’m not doing too badly at guessing which models will fit me and whether they’ll fit me in a 38 (usually) or a 37. The real problem is the enormous price tag and waiting for them to show up at steep discounts.
HTH someone!
Hello Deborah,
That’s great news that you did well with the Propet snow boots and what a great find about the Wolky boots! I guess the downside is that not a lot of online retailers sell them.
P.s.—My comment was for the Propet Dani Ankle