What To Look For in Running Shoes for Wide Feet? (5 Things)

Most runners care a lot about their shoe size when looking for new shoes, but few of them will consider the width of their feet as much as their length.

Runners come in all shapes and sizes, and running shoes have to do the same, but buying running shoes for wide feet can be especially challenging due to how rare and limited their sizing options can be.

If you plan on getting your first pair of dedicated running shoes or need a replacement, you need to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need.

It’s not just about finding sufficient shoes, as runners with wide feet deserve to have shoes that perform just as well as any other runner.

Since finding running shoes for wide feet is already especially difficult, these questions and tips should give you a better idea of what to look for in a wide-width shoe for running.

Contents:

• 1. Women’s Wide Running Shoes vs Men’s Wide Running Shoes
• 2. How Can You Tell You Need Wide Running Shoe Sizes?
• 3. How Can You Tell Your Running Shoes Are Too Wide?
• 4. How Do You Lace Running Shoes For Wide Feet?
• 5. What If Your Heels Slip In Wide Running Shoes?
• 6. Conclusion

1. Women’s Wide Running Shoes vs Men’s Wide Running Shoes

Before anything else, it’s important to mention the unique sizes for wide running shoes, as it’s the primary difference between a men’s and a women’s wide-width running shoe. Generally speaking, the terms are similar, but their meanings can vary slightly since women’s wide sizes can take a different shape.

The general sizing for a men’s wide-width shoe primarily includes 2E, 4E, and 6E, with a few rare products going wider than 6E.

Women’s shoes are slightly down the scale, with their lowest wide running shoe size being D, with 2E being their middle, and 4E being their usual highest.

Just like shoe sizes vary in length from person to person, they also vary in width. It’s important to check which width you need since not all wide running shoes will fit the same.

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Sources consulted: healthline.com

2. How Can You Tell You Need Wide Running Shoe Sizes?

It seems obvious to say that you need a wide running shoe with wide feet, but you might not necessarily understand what makes wide shoes different from regular sizes if you’ve never bought them before.

Wide shoes are normally wider on the bottom section of the shoe, including the toe box, heel, and midsole whereas other shoe sizes scale primarily based on length.

As a result, runners with wide feet need a wider base to get the necessary support from the sole of their shoes and to get a comfortable fit.

You can usually tell you’re wearing the wrong size by feeling the middle of your foot, which is constrained in normal running shoes, and your toes, which should have enough space to loosely wiggle in the toe box.

Must read: Vibram vs Salomon Contagrip Technology: Which is Better?

Sources consulted: healthline.com

3. How Can You Tell Your Running Shoes Are Too Wide?

It’s already clear that you will feel quite uncomfortable wearing normal running shoes if you have a wider foot, but it’s also possible to have shoes that run far wider than you need.

Just because it feels more comfortable than a constrained running shoe, it doesn’t mean you’ll feel comfortable in any given wide shoe size.

You’ll often know this if you find bunions or corns on the side of your toes, which is usually caused by the shoe rubbing against your foot too much with steps from the unnecessary space.

Once again, there’s more than just normal running shoes and wide feet running shoes, and instead, it’s important to find wide shoes that are perfectly matched to your wideness.

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4. How Do You Lace Running Shoes For Wide Feet?

There are a few different ways you can lace shoes with any shoe size, but wide feet have a few options that can generally be quite superior. Run Repeat has a great variety of strategies you can try, but two general methods are worth trying to help you get the most out of your wide feet running shoes.

The first is to not cross laces over the bottom loops instead of starting the crossing near the middle of the shoe, creating a wide toe box to give more comfort if you might be wearing shoes slightly above your size.

Otherwise, another option is to skip every other lace loop, meaning your feet will overall be less constrained by the shoe and lets you use smaller shoes with significantly more ease and comfort.

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5. What If Your Heels Slip In Wide Running Shoes?

Heels slipping is extremely common for those running with wide running shoes since your sizes are significantly more general and might not always fit perfectly.

That said, there’s not a big difference between when your heels slip in wide running shoes vs regular running shoes, since both are usually just a sign that your shoes are laced too loosely.

The main tip for this issue is to tie them tighter. For wide running shoes, you may want to replace the laces for longer ones so that you can loop them easier, but otherwise, you just need to tie the shoes tighter and higher on your foot than usual.

If this does not work, you may instead just be running in shoes that are too large for your size.

6. Conclusion

Hopefully, this can shed some light on your search for wide running shoes. While many brands won’t carry wide sizes for every product, it’s important to make sure that you’re getting the size and quality you need.

It’s not enough to get a wide-width running shoe, as you also need a wide running shoe that fits comfortably and works effectively.

Never feel like you have to settle for the first pair you find. There’s much more that you need from a wide running shoe besides a slightly better fit, and finding a pair that’s strong and comfortable is important for runners of any shoe size.