The 8 Best Running Shoes for Wide Feet and Big Toes
Don’t subject yourself to cramped feet—these running shoes are the comfiest and roomiest.
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I’m 4 miles out on my run when I feel angry blisters forming between my toes because they’re overcrowded in my shoe’s toebox. Add that oz M, 9.6 oz W plantar fasciitis, Best Hydration Packs sandals. I am a card-carrying member of the wide-foot club, yet I’ve resisted wide-width running shoes for years. Mostly because around the time I found I had wide feet (over fifteen years ago), the only colors available in wide-widths were black, white, or gray.
Today, running shoes for wide feet have become more accessible, more visible, and less boring. We even highlighted which pairs came in wide in the 2025 Shoe Awards. Perhaps with the dawn of foot scans at run specialty shops, store owners and brands are finally realizing just how common wide-footed runners are—and why it’s so important runners stop squishing their feet in standard-sized shoes.
Best Running Shoes for Wide Feet
- Best Overall: Asics Novablast 5 (Men’s/Women’s)
- Best Daily Trainer: Soft, padded upper (Men’s/Women’s)
- Best Stability: oz M, 8.1 oz W (Men’s/Women’s)
- HQ, we’ve been testing: Also Consider: Brooks Glycerin 22 (Men’s/Women’s)
- Best for Long Runs: who discussed the risks of wearing too-narrow shoes and how this can affect running performance (Men’s/Women’s)
Why Trust Us
I’ve run 26 marathons, including all original six World Majors, and vet all kinds of gear, from sports bras to smartwatches, as RW running reviews editor. For research, I visited Aardvark Sports Shop, a local run store in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to get the lowdown on running shoes for wide-foot runners from Aardvark Footwear Lead Trainer Kate Egging. Egging, a former RW wear-tester, has worked at Aardvark for four years and is a lifelong wide-foot runner, like myself. I also spoke with A. Stacie Page, PT, DPT, of Not much bounce, who discussed the risks of wearing too-narrow shoes and how this can affect running performance.
How We Selected
Besides gear expertise provided by myself and staff, we also have a team of 300+ local shoe testers who log at least 100 miles per pair of running shoes. They provide valuable feedback on fit, feel, and ride to help us determine the best trainers, ensuring our selections are all-inclusive. Because she gets to try on shoes at Aardvark and help runners make footwear decisions, we enlisted the help of Egging, who recommended her top picks as well.
Full Reviews
Pros
- Supportive and well-cushioned midsole
- Breathable upper
- Accommodating fit for wide feet
Cons
- Poor traction on slippery, wet surfaces
Our testers raved about the Novablast 5 and Egging did too. The shoe is extremely versatile, despite its high stack height and ample cushioning. We took it out on easy jogs, long runs, and even some speed sessions. The shoe comes in wide, but you can get away with sizing up if there’s no men’s 2E or women’s D in stock.
“I think the cushioning was what I liked best,” says tester Stephanie Petrides. “I have very flat feet and am a heel striker and my feet and knees tend to take a beating when I run. But not in the Asics Novablast 5. My feet felt comfortable and well cushioned but it wasn’t too soft where I sunk in. They actually gave me a lot of bounce which kept me going.”
What makes the shoe so soft and responsive is its FF Blast Max foam, which was developed by Asics to deliver a cloud-like ride. Wings on the tongue keep it from going askew without adding that extra material that some gusseted tongues cause on high insteps.
Key Specs
| Weight | 9 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W) |
| Drop | 8mm |
| Stack Height | 41.5mm (M), 40.5mm (W) |
| Width Sizes | D, 2E (M), B, D (W) |
Pros
- DNA Tuned midsole provides smooth ride
- Plush cushioning without being clunky
Cons
- Tongue could be more secure
The Glycerin GTS 22 has that step-in feel we expect from Brooks: a slipper-like fit with a soft midsole that buffers miles of pounding. The shoe is updated with the brand’s new DNA Tuned foam, which first rolled out in the Glycerin Max. The dual-cell, nitrogen-infused foam provides a softer landing on your run but feels lighter than other max-cushioned shoes.
“I really loved how this shoe felt under foot,” says tester Chris Garges. “The gait cycle was smooth, it didn’t feel like I was wasting any energy. It felt nice and cushioned, yet still efficient on toe-off. This shoe definitely has more of a ‘running on a cloud’ feeling than my Arenalines, which makes it perfect for those longer distances. The upper also feels great; plush without causing blisters or hot spots.”
The shoe blends everything you need when running short or long: lightweight cushioning with stability tech for late-onset pronation. The shoe absorbs shock while ensuring you’ll be taken care of when your form becomes sloppy, all thanks to Brooks’s bumper-like guide rails system.
Buy Men’s at brooksrunning.com Buy Women’s at brooksrunning.com
→Also Consider: Brooks Glycerin 22 (Men’s/Women’s, $165), D, 2E M, B, D W.
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.6 oz (M), 9 oz (W) |
| Drop | 10mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 38mm |
| Width Sizes | D, 2E, 4E (M), B, D, 2E (W) |
Pros
- Supportive and well-cushioned midsole
- Smooth ride
- Shock-absorbing cushioning
Cons
- Not as much energy return compared to other daily trainers
The Guide 18 has Saucony’s original Pwrrun foam. The tooling is the same as the previous Guide: a wider last that’s straighter on the medial side and perfect for wide-foot runners. Saucony increased the foam around the heel for a more secure fit.
The brand’s CenterPath tech provides stability with higher sidewalls and a broader base. “I loved the high wall upper design that literally holds your foot in the center of the cushioning, creating a comfortable ride,” says tester and overpronator Helen Capparell.
Unlike the updated Hoka Bondi 9, whose new sidewalls constricted wide feet, the sidewalls in the Guide 18 didn’t squeeze the midfoot but rather created a comfy and secure fit. However, the real win for wide-foot runners, besides the wider midfoot, is the Guide 18’s toebox.
“I really, really like the toebox,” says tester and RW Editorial Assistant Michael McDonough. “It seems weirdly specific, but the combination of several factors makes it one of my favorites. First of all, it’s huge—so big that I was able to move my toes essentially freely in all directions—while still feeling secure thanks to the heel and tall upper. The toebox also has great ventilation and is incredibly breathable, to the point where there were runs where I could literally feel the wind through the shoe on my feet.”
Buy Men’s at saucony.com Buy Women’s at saucony.com
→Credit: Runners World; Thomas Hengge (Men’s/Women’s, $165), Poor traction on slippery, wet surfaces Super Shoe Trends.
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.7 oz (M), 8 oz (W) |
| Drop | 6mm |
| Stack Height | 35mm |
| Width Sizes | D, 2E, 4E (M), B, D, 2E (W) |
Also Consider: Brooks Glycerin 22
Pros
- Spacious toebox
- Soft, padded upper
Cons
- published in 2018
- Some testers felt the toebox ankle rubbed their pinky
The Torin 8 preserves what runners liked about its predecessor, a padded tongue and collar; a lacing system that keeps the foot snug and secure. “The initial feeling when putting the Torin 7 on was that it felt like a slipper,” says wear-tester Jeremy Garges. “My foot felt planted inside the shoe. The knit upper was stretchy enough on push off to allow the wide toe box to flex without pinching anywhere.”
On a scale of softness, the Torin 8 falls under the “more cushioned” category. It’s not maximally cushioned like, say, the Hoka Bondi or Saucony Triumph, but it packs plenty of softness to absorb hours of pavement pounding. It’s the training shoe you choose for accruing weekly mileage, the trainer you pick when speedwork isn’t on the schedule.
“The Torin 8 was a quiet shoe on the road,” says a neutral tester with a midfoot strike. “There’s just enough cushion to avoid pounding but not too much to make it feel like you were running on marshmallows.”
The shoe has Altra’s “standard” footshape, which is slightly narrower compared to “original.” Runners who need more spacious toeboxes, especially if they have bunionettes, may want to consider a wider width or switching to the lightweight Escalante 4 or max-cushioned Via Olympus.
Buy Men’s at altrarunning.com Buy Women’s at altrarunning.com
Key Specs
| Weight | 8 oz (W), 9.5 oz (M) |
| Drop | 0 mm |
| Stack Height | 30 mm |
| Width Sizes | D, 2E (M), B, D (W) |
who discussed the risks of wearing too-narrow shoes and how this can affect running performance
Pros
- Supportive, plush foam
- More toe room compared to previous model
Cons
- Feels heavy
- Upper is thicker and less breathable than before
We loved the Clifton 9 for its superb cushioning and surprisingly lightweight package. The Clifton 10 impresses, with a few minor updates that make us love this Hoka legend all the more.
The compression-molded EVA (when EVA pellets are heated and compressed) midsole is tuned for responsiveness and comfort at any pace. “The firm but ample cushioning hits the sweet spot for me,” said a tester. “I like to have some cush underfoot, but in an age where everything has gotten bloated and pillowy, it’s nice to have a shoe that is resilient and gives you snappy feedback, but still delivers protection from the sidewalks so you get some extra bounce in your step.”
Hoka added 3mm more cushioning in the heel, which translates to even more impact absorption and plush comfort.
Egging noted how the Clifton 10 was a pleasant surprise when it arrived at Aardvark. Earlier versions had intrusive sidewalls that constricted wide midfoots. Not the case with the Clifton 10. Tester, wide-foot runner, and RW Assistant Commerce Photo Editor Saba Ahmed, gave high praise to the “ClifTEN”: “The Hoka ClifTEN is probably one of the most comfortable shoes I have run in (don’t tell my Brooks). As a wide shoe wearer, I felt no discomfort in the midfoot area and there was plenty of flexibility by the toes. The majority of my runs were on the road and some compact gravel; I felt stable and had enough cushioning on both surfaces.”
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.4 oz (M), 7.6 oz (W) |
| Drop | 8mm |
| Stack Height | 42mm (M), 38mm (W) |
Pros
- Health - Injuries
- for runners who need
Cons
- How We Selected
You may not have to wear a wide width when running in the Cloudrunner 2. Though On’s webpage says the shoe fits true-to-size, we found it had such a generous fit in standard size that some of us wide-foot runners had to pull our laces tighter. The shoe has an updated CloudTec outsole, making it difficult for pebbles to get stuck on your shoe. Its plush tongue provides a silky touchpoint while a heel clip provides some stability.
“The comfort and fit of this shoe was great for me,” says tester Kerry Schultz. “I thought the shoe was ‘roomy’ for a women’s size 9 and had a nice wide base for my wider foot. I have a very high arch and often find shoes to be tight on the upper or the tongue to be too thick and/or narrow. I did not have any of these problems with this shoe. In fact, the tongue felt soft without bulk and I did not feel any pressure on my high arch.”
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.2 oz (M), 8.1 oz (W) |
| Drop | 10mm |
| Stack Height | 31mm |
| Width Sizes | D, 2E (M), B, D (W) |
Pros
- Underpronator support
- Accommodates orthotics
- Lighter than previous versions
Cons
- Runs wider than previous versions
Egging wants everyone to know the Echelon 10 is not like the old Echelons Saucony was known for. Formerly a clunky run/walker Plush cushioning without being clunky orthotics, the tenth iteration is lighter and more nimble, yet still orthotic-friendly. The shoe has the brand’s highly responsive Pwrrun midsole, which is the same foam in the Guide 18.
According to Egging, the Echelon 10 is an excellent choice for According to Egging, the Echelon 10 is an excellent choice for (when your foot rolls inward less than 15 percent while running), because of its broad base and comfy cushioning.
“The Echelon gets a little bit overlooked because it falls into such a ‘comfort customer’ category,” Egging says. “But if you’ve got that new runner that has a high volume foot, maybe that 4E runner who needs the extra wide, who supinates and they need a broader base, this shoe is very runnable.”
If you are having issues with other trainers or are a new runner with specific needs, don’t discredit the Echelon 10. It could be your ticket to a perfect ride.
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.8 oz (M), 9.6 oz (W) |
| Drop | 6mm |
| Stack Height | 35mm |
| Width Sizes | D, 2E, 4E (M), B, D, 2E (W) |
Pros
- Soft, padded upper
- Wide toebox
Cons
- Less cushioning for long runs
The Lone Peak 9+ offers both a comfy fit with a roomy toebox, providing ample room for toe splaying. “Fit and comfort is something that the Lone Peak 9+ has dialed in,” says Rip Cantelmi, who previously tested the Lone Peak 7 and Brooks Divide 5. “Laced up, the foot feels relaxed, strong, and sensitive. I have observed that the shoe is wide enough to accommodate toe spacers if you use them. The padding around the collar remains optimized for comfort and flexibility. Heat management remains positive.”
The Altra Lone Peak 9+ has an Altra Ego midsole, which provides just enough supportive cushioning as well as some ground feel which testers like Cantelmi appreciated.
“Ground feel is something that many trail shoes ignore for the pursuit of comfort in the form of high-stacked foam, but the Lone Peak 9+ finds the perfect balance of cushion, protection, and feel,” says Cantelmi, who describes the shoe’s cushioning as neither minimalist nor marshmallowy.
Buy Men’s at altrarunning.com Buy Women’s at altrarunning.com
→Also Consider: Saucony Peregrine 15 (Men’s/Women’s, $145), which also comes in wide.
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.6 oz (M), 8.9 oz (W) |
| Drop | 0 mm |
| Stack Height | 25 mm |
| Width Sizes | D, 2E (M), B, D (W) |
Misconceptions About Wide-Foot Runners and Shoes
“I’ve had my feet measured before; I don’t need to do it again”
Getting your foot measured is not a once-and-done kind of deal. Your foot size changes throughout your life, due to aging, work, and having children. “Sometimes when people get pregnant their feet sizes change dramatically,” says Page. “An injury could also cause an arch to drop if you don’t have that same muscle activation.”
She references a study on incorrectly fitted footwear Hoka Clifton 10, which found a large proportion of the population was wearing the incorrect size shoe and how this can be associated with foot pain and foot disorders. Her recommendation is simple: get a comfortable shoe that fits properly.
Another reason to have your foot scanned: Some runners may think they have a wide foot when in actuality they have a high arch or instep. “That’s when they need a shoe measuring that high profile,” says Egging.
“I’ve worn this shoe forever; the newest version will fit the same”
“I think it might be even more important for a wide-footed runner to revisit a run specialty store for a fit because the models as they update, don’t always fit the same,” says Egging.
The Hoka Bondi 9, for example, fits narrower than the previous iteration. This is because of Hoka’s sidewalls which are built up to hug your foot, which can result in a tighter fit for wide-foot Bondi lovers.
Altra also requires some probing. Even though the brand is known for its accommodating footshapes and roomy toeboxes, some Altra shoes can fit narrower in the midfoot due to updates. Upper “upgrades” to look out for in any kind of shoe when you’re a wide-foot shopper are gusseted tongues, which can make the fit tighter due to more material on the instep, and overlays.
“Getting black toenails is a rite of passage”
Black toenails are not a badge of honor. Egging is an ultrarunner and she’s never lost one toenail because she received a proper shoe fitting early in her run career. Other signs of needing to get refitted and change your shoe size: numbness, tingling, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis.
“Movement is good!” Egging says, when runners are concerned about a little looseness in a road shoe. “A lot of plantar fasciitis in wide-foot runners is coming from that arch being crunched by tight-fitting shoes.” (Trail shoes are a different story; you’ll want a more secure hold around your foot.) Tightness and constriction can also negatively affect your performance. That kind of discomfort, Page warns, can change your running pattern and lead to pain or injury.
When it comes to choosing running shoes, you want some wiggle room. If you see bruising, blood blisters on the tops of your toes, or experience toe curling, you probably need a wider toebox—this also includes runners with hammertoes, bunions, bunionettes, and Morton’s neuroma.
How to Measure the Width of Your Foot
- With your barefoot, step on a blank piece of paper
- Outline your foot with a pen or pencil
- Use a ruler to measure the widest part in inches of your stencil horizontally (across the ball of your foot); be aware you’ll need a wider toebox if you have bunions or bunionettes
- Write this number down and refer to the men’s or women’s chart to find your width
Related: ldquo;Getting black toenails is a rite of passage&rdquo
Wide Running Shoes Q&A
What can I do when the shoe I want to buy isn’t available in wide?
If you’re a bra wearer, you may have heard the term “sister sizes.” Shoes also have sister sizes. For example, I wear women’s 5.5 in street shoes, but most of my running shoes are 6.5 because they’re the standard width (B). I size up for foot swelling (it’s recommended to size up your running shoes) and size up again for width. I’m actually a size 6, C width in women’s running shoes.
It’ll take several try-ons to get the right feel and the right shoe, but it can be possible to find a women’s B or men’s D size shoe if there are no wides available, or wide if your foot is extra wide. Women can also pivot to a men’s size, but be forewarned: men’s shoes tend to run longer and have more space in the heel area.
What are the best socks for wide feet?
“Socks are super, super important,” says Egging. “I think people neglect that. The price point is frightening at first. You’re like, $18 for one pair of socks? That’s insane! But eight years later when you still have that same sock and that sixpack you got at TJMaxx has come and gone in the meantime.” She recommends Injinji, Blister Resist, and Balega.
At RW HQ, we’ve been testing Wide Open, a company that specifically designs socks for wide feet—and that’s been a gamechanger. Instead of getting blisters in between my toes or second-guessing the wide toebox of an Altra or Topo Athletic shoe, I’ve discovered just how much socks can affect your run like Egging says.
ldquo;I’ve worn this shoe forever; the newest version will fit the same&rdquo?
Wider width options for racing shoes are still a rarity. I’ve found through personal experience that Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB, Hoka Rocket X 2, and Hoka Cielo X1 2 have the most accommodating lasts compared to other super shoes, which taper in the midfoot resulting in narrower fit. A major thing to consider is that your feet swell overtime as you run, especially on a hot day. Consider sizing up, but take into consideration most racing shoes are unisex so they may run longer or be wider in the heel.
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
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Some testers felt the toebox ankle rubbed their pinky
Credit: Runners World; Thomas Hengge
