I’ve been told by my various providers that I need to try to find a shoe with a wider toe box. I have been running in Hokas and Newtons most recently. I just bought a pair of Altras and will give those a go, but I wondered what other options there may be out there. I’m interested in running shoes and everyday shoes as well.
TYIA!
Depending on the use for everyday, check out the vibram 5 fingers. I wear these as casual shoes and my feet have never felt better.
INOV8 shoes generally have wide toe boxes: i use a couple of running pairs and (same as you I need a wide toe box) find them great.
Brooks Pureflow
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I have 4E width feet and wear the Hoka Bondi Wide. Fits me perfectly. Casual everyday sneakers are Nikes in a 4E, but several companies make wide shoes including New Balance and Asics.
I wear a 10.5 4E width shoe. I used to wear Asics Cumulus/Nimbus, but they wore out way too fast on the inside. I’ve been running in Saucony Triumph ISOs in an 11 2E width for the last year & I love them. They are even perfect to run sockless in a sprint or olympic distance race.
I thought the pure flow 4 had a great toe box. I returned a pair of the 5’s because they were super tight. I dig Saucony because they have a great toe box.
Ahhh the elusive wide toe box. You’d think with so many of us on the hunt for this it would be easier to find. I’ve had okay luck with Altras. I don’t love, love. love them though. I did love my Adidas adizeros. But I haven’t tried the newest boost version only because my local stores don’t carry them and I’m too lazy to drive to a store that has them.
Don’t be afraid to make strategic cuts in the shoe.
I’ll put the shoes on, use a marker to identify tight spots, then slice about a 1cm slit. You can also shave off some of the insole for more room. Turn that “D” into a 4E!
Don’t be afraid to make strategic cuts in the shoe.
I do this regularly. I have been through various shoes in pretty much every brand. A nick at footbed height works in hot spots. Don;t cut too much because the lace is then able to pull the material over which flattens the top down and likely causes another issue.
I just tried New Balance Vazee Pace and New Balance Zante 2 both in their ‘Wide’ option so i can wear the 13’s again. They have been the best of the bunch so far. The Vazee Pace feels a little like the Kinvara. The Zante feels very similar but with more cushioning. I purchased the non wide versions at the same time to judge where the differences were and the width seems to be all in the mid and forefoot, which is where I wanted it. They look great too, they don’t look big despite being big, which is better than some of the boats I’ve tried.
I use the Zante for mid to longer training and IM. I use the Vazee Pace for shorter, interval or tempo training and Half IM or less.
After many years I finally feel happy with a shoe!
The issue is definitely the toe box. I don’t need a wide shoe, so getting wider models isn’t what I’m after.
I’ve heard Pure Flow is decent for this. Had not heard that Innov8 had a wide toe box, I will check them out too. I tried the Altras last night for the first time. It was only a few miles, but they felt reasonably good.
I’m a bit surprised these guys don’t get more airtime in terms of discussion. I’ve been very happy with mine.
I’m usually looking for the same thing, a wider toe box without going to wide versions of a shoe model. What has worked for me best is: Saucony Triumph ISO 2, Brooks Launch, and surprisingly, Bondi 4.
Always wanted to try Altra, but still unsure of that zero drop.
I have Fred Flinstobe style flat, wide feet. I go brooks addiction 2E
Altra. Exactly what the doctor ordered. Incredibly comfortable to run in.
New Balance - you can find wide on the shelf!
The issue is definitely the toe box. I don’t need a wide shoe, so getting wider models isn’t what I’m after.
So you want a wider toe box but not a wider shoe? There has to be an element of physics at play here. If you want a wider toe box the shoe by necessity has to be wider 
Some shoes add width to the front of the shoe and not the back. Their wider shoe is wider because it has a wider toe box. I have skinny heels. The wide (2E) in the New Balance seems to stem from the front, not the rear. As mentioned, I tried the standard and wide versions of the same shoes in the same size. The 2E width felt wider in the front. I didn’t notice a change in with at the heel cup. From a looks point of view I couldn’t notice much difference at all.
I spent ages looking for a wider toe box shoe without trying a wide because I assumed they would just get wider all over, but they (at least the ones i have tried) don’t seem to.
Whether a shoes is ‘Wide’ or not is semantics really. A wide version just means it is wider than the original. Another shoe might be that wide already but not called wide. You can discount those labelled as 2E or Wide if you like but you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you are struggling to find something that works.
Case in point below. In order (L to R) New Balance Zante2 is ‘2E Wide’. Zoot and Nike are ‘Standard’. The NB Zante has the slimmest heel, roomier toe box and arguably looks smaller.
Don’t be afraid to make strategic cuts in the shoe.
I do this regularly. I have been through various shoes in pretty much every brand. A nick at footbed height works in hot spots. Don;t cut too much because the lace is then able to pull the material over which flattens the top down and likely causes another issue.
I just tried New Balance Vazee Pace and New Balance Zante 2 both in their ‘Wide’ option so i can wear the 13’s again. They have been the best of the bunch so far. The Vazee Pace feels a little like the Kinvara. The Zante feels very similar but with more cushioning. I purchased the non wide versions at the same time to judge where the differences were and the width seems to be all in the mid and forefoot, which is where I wanted it. They look great too, they don’t look big despite being big, which is better than some of the boats I’ve tried.
I use the Zante for mid to longer training and IM. I use the Vazee Pace for shorter, interval or tempo training and Half IM or less.
After many years I finally feel happy with a shoe!
^^^This. I’m on my third pair of Zante’s, I went through two pairs of the V1 and just picked up a pair of V2. They are hands down the best all-around shoe I’ve ever worn - wide, unrestricted toe box, light weight, plenty of cushioning for long runs without feeling bulky, and definitely good looking. They are my everyday running shoe and will be until NB changes something and screws them up. I also have a pair of the Vazee Pace which I use for longer tempo runs and long runs with race-pace efforts mixed in. I don’t like them quite as much as the Zante but they definitely have a roomy toe box. FWIW, I’ve owned many of the shoes mentioned in this thread (Altra, several pairs of Inov-8, and several pairs of Topo). Hated the Altras, like many things about both Inov-8 and Topo but neither of them compare to the Zante for an all-around everyday trainer.
^^^This. I’m on my third pair of Zante’s,
They are my first ever ‘should I buy more now just in case’ shoe.
^^^This. I’m on my third pair of Zante’s,
They are my first ever ‘should I buy more now just in case’ shoe.
Ditto. I went back and forth trying to decide if I should buy the V2 or stock up on a couple pairs of the V1 before they disappear forever. I’m nursing an injury so haven’t put any appreciable mileage on the V2’s yet but my initial impression is they feel pretty much the same. Maybe slightly firmer in the forefoot.