If you’ve ever felt like your men’s sneakers are too narrow and uncomfortable, it’s possible you might be one of the many people who need shoes for wide feet.
First, we’ll tell you the discomfort is not your fault. Research has consistently shown that human feet vary widely in size and shape, at least, widely enough that footwear manufacturers can’t account for everyone.
Thankfully, though shoe companies do miss the mark for some people with wider feet or higher arches, many brands produce shoes designed for people with wider feet. And if you can buy a shoe that allows you to actually walk around more comfortably, there’s no reason to wait any longer.
Shoe widths are marked on products and frequently specified. For men’s shoes, the industry-standard width is D, narrow shoes are B, wide shoes are 2E and extra wide shoes are 4E. Some shoes will be marketed as wide fit, while others will explicitly say 2E or EE, but they all mean roughly the same width.
To be a little more confident in your purchase, you can also measure the width of your feet and compare the larger width to these shoe charts from Running Warehouse to get a decent sense of fit before buying. There are always podiatrists for advice if that’s more your groove.
Yet even when you do some homework, there are no guarantees that one company’s “wide shoes” will feel the same as another’s because design matters too. That’s why it’s important to shop carefully, check the photos and consider other factors, like the shoe materials. (Stretchy and breathable are good.)
Related Stories
To at least help get you started with options, we rounded up some of the best shoes for wide feet below. You’ll see wide-fit shoes from top brands like Nike, Adidas, Sperry and even a few great wide-fit sandal options for the warmer months.
Check out our picks below and make a purchase that will actually improve your everyday life. Your feet will thank you.
1. New Balance Men’s 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer
BEST OVERALL
When it comes to comfortable sneakers, New Balance knows what’s up. For an all-around great sneaker with wide and extra wide options, check out the New Balance Men’s 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer.
We could list all the technical features, but we’ll just summarize this sneaker’s greatness instead: These sneakers come in a ton of different colorways, they’re extremely comfortable, breathable, flexible and will make your feet wonder where New Balance has been all their life.
2. Adidas Lite Racer Adapt 3.0 Wide Shoes
RUNNER-UP
Needing the best shoes for wide feet doesn’t mean you can have stylish shoes for wide feet. The Adidas Lite Racer Adapt 3.0 Wide Shoes promise the comfort and wide-fit you need and deliver the style you want.
The textile upper will give your feet a little extra stretch room — you can’t say that about leather sneakers! — and the cushioned midsole offers plenty of support for whatever activities you get up to.
3. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Men’s Running Shoes in Extra Wide
HONORABLE MENTION
For that classic Nike appeal and swoosh, pick up a pair of Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Men’s Running Shoes in Extra Wide. These kicks are more or less the exact same as their medium-width counterparts, only they have wider toe room and seaming on the upper for an improved fit for wide feet. Add in great bounce and support from the Zoom Air and a foam tongue that reduces lace pressure and you’ve got one spacious, stylish running shoe for even the widest of feet.
4. Reebok Men’s Bb4500 Hi 2 Sneakers
BEST HIGH TOP
High-top sneakers are always cool and they’re even better when they can actually fit your wide feet too. The Reebok Men’s Bb4500 Hi 2 Sneakers are ultra fly, come in over a dozen different colorways and come in a wide fit for the most common shoe sizes. And, if you find you need a little more room in the shoes, go ahead and remove the EVA orthotics inserts.
5. Dr. Scholl’s Shoes Men’s Sebastian Sneakers
DOCTOR’S FAVORITE
OK, the Dr. Scholl’s Shoes Men’s Sebastian Sneakers aren’t literally all doctors’ favorite sneakers, but they are among the best shoes for wide feet out there. They use a memory foam insole for that walking-on-a-cloud feeling all day and reviewers praised them for their shock absorption and durable construction.
At the same time, a handful of reviewers did say these shoes were too narrow for their wide feet, so if you know your feet are on the wider side of wide, we’d recommend checking out other options.
6. Brooks Ghost 13
BEST RUNNING SHOES
We’ve got a few running enthusiasts at SPY and they agree that Brooks is the place to go for the best running shoes. Though the Brooks Ghost 13 running shoes may not be the best running shoes Brooks has to offer, they’re still excellent overall and, more importantly, they come in wide and extra-wide fits.
Plush midsole cushioning, a soft midsole foam and a mesh upper fill out the package, combining to create some of the most secure and comfortable running shoes for wide feet on the market.
7. Sperry Men’s Authentic Original 2-Eye Cross Lace Boat Shoes
BEST BOAT SHOE
Sneakers are great and all but they won’t work in every environment. That’s what the Sperry Men’s Authentic Original 2-Eye Cross Lace Boat Shoes come in. Boat shoes are the perfect go-everywhere shoes and these come in wide fit so you can rep that casual-classy Sperrys vibe from the office to dinner to the beach and everywhere in between in comfort.
8. Dockers Proposal Moc Toe Loafers
BEST FOR THE OFFICE
If your office is extra stuffy (AKA sneakers and boat shoes don’t fly), you’re going to want to pick up a pair of Dockers Proposal Moc Toe Loafers. Available in wide fit in black or brown, these leather slip-on shoes will fit into any formal setting, whether it’s the boardroom, the courtroom or a fancy dining room.
You won’t mind walking around in these shoes either thanks to the EVA footbed, gel heel pad, lightweight outsole and flexible construction.
9. Under Armour Men’s Ignite VI Slide Sandals
BEST SLIDE
Whether for warmer weather or just trolling around your apartment, the Under Armour Men’s Ignite VI Slide Sandals can’t be beaten. Though not designed with wide feet in mind, the velcro straps can be set to accommodate wide feet. Plus, with the foam on the underside of the straps and the foam sole, these slides are extremely comfortable for any foot.
10. Birkenstock Arizona Birko-Flor Men’s Sandals
BEST SANDAL
Sandals rule and it’s hard to dispute just how incredibly awesome the Birkenstock Arizona Birko-Flor Men’s Sandals are for most people as well as people with wide feet. In fact, unlike pretty much every other footwear maker out there, for the Birkenstock Arizona sandal, the regular fit is the wide fit. So you can buy an all-time great sandal without worrying about it being too narrow because it was designed with you in mind.