Where to shop online for mens' winter x-wide boots for edema?

September 15, 2022 4:53 PM

I'm shopping for my dad, who lives in a small town in Alaska and needs boots that fit his very particular needs. What brands am I looking for or what websites should I be looking at?

Probably Essential:
* Lightweight
* Extra-wide and/or extra deep to accommodate his periodic edema (equivalent to EEEE or more)
* Laces rather than velcro straps
* Moderate insulation (80+ grams?)
* Light waterproofing

Ideal but negotiable:
* 4-6" high
* Rated for 0 degrees

posted by QuakerMel to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (5 answers total)

Get him some Native made authentic mukluks. They’ll be measured to fit, warm and water tight. They won’t be cheap, but this time of year the makers aren’t too swamped and you should be able to get them in a timely fashion. They’ll also last forever. The women I know sell through Instagram and Facebook, not a website storefront. If you are interested in going down this path, I would be happy to pass along groups and pages where you can get in touch with the artisans.
posted by Bottlecap at 5:34 PM on September 15, 2022 [3 favorites]

Xero barefoot winter boots match these criteria. I have them, and they're comfy and waterproof. Plus, fall sale right now.
posted by Bardolph at 5:37 PM on September 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

Feelgrounds Patrol Winter (not Lite) fit all your criteria. I've worn mine through two Canadian winters without issue. They're the only boots I've ever owned where I didn't fall once on the ice.

I will say that they are wide at the toe box, but I don't know the EEEE stuff. You'd have to email and ask them that.

I will also add that I have not worn the Xero winter boots Bardolph links to, but the Xero shoes and sandals I purchased in 2017 were the worst I've ever worn. The shoes felt like I'd stuck my feet in kleenex boxes. The sandals developed a hole in them within a month which is how I discovered that Xero's warranty meant that I had to pay to return the clearly defective sandal in order to get a "free replacement". I would avoid that company at all costs.

Also, on the off chance that someone else recommends VivoBarefoot's boots (due to their width), they are not truly waterproof. They may be fine in the occasional puddle, but my feet were wet all winter the year I had them. The sole on the Feelgrounds are unquestionably better for ice, as well.
posted by dobbs at 6:03 PM on September 15, 2022 [3 favorites]

I have found shoes at Dr. Comfort to work great with my very wide feet (bunions/neuropathy/other toe stuff) and are really well-made. I get both men's and women's shoes since I wear an 11 in woman's. I have not gotten any boots from them.
posted by agatha_magatha at 8:47 AM on September 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I ended up with this boot: Propét Men's Blizzard Mid Lace Snow Boot. It has extra depth, and the XX-Wide is a 5E. Each boot weighs just over 1 pound.
posted by QuakerMel at 10:21 AM on September 19, 2022