looking for wide-toe-box-only sneakers (not 'zero drop')

November 13, 2022 8:32 AM

Have loved Brooks Ghost for years, but would like wider toe box now. The rest of the sneaker is great for me. Have tried Altras, they're not better in that respect, and worse in others. Do not want 'barefoot' sneakers, nor 'wide foot' sneakers. Just the toe box.

Wide enough that I might fit toe spacers in there, if such a shoe exists. Suggestions?
Thx mefiters : )

posted by bitterkitten to Health & Fitness (26 answers total)

My hokas have a really wide toe box and which is why I’ve used them predominantly. Different models have different toe boxes so make sure to try them on first.
posted by Sassyfras at 9:03 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Are they for actual running? If not, Rykas have a wider toe box than Brooks Ghosts (but in my experience they're not terribly durable).
posted by HotToddy at 9:52 AM on November 13, 2022

I need a wide toe box. ASICS Supernovas have worked for me. Looks like they're no longer made, though some stores still have them in stock. perhaps Novablast is the current equivalent?
posted by BrashTech at 10:02 AM on November 13, 2022

The Topo Phantom line has a wide toe box.
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:04 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Hot - no running really. I pretty much wear them 24/7, have multiple pairs to rotate. A lot of standing at work. Sometimes I walk or occasionally hike in them.
posted by bitterkitten at 10:04 AM on November 13, 2022

Topo
I don’t know why this brand is not more well known. I’ve had surgically remediated neuromas in both feet and I can walk for miles in these on the concrete floors at work (Women’s UltraFly 4). Removable arch support, if the high arch support isn’t right for you.
posted by gryphonlover at 10:07 AM on November 13, 2022 [6 favorites]

Also—have you tried any of the wide width Brooks Ghosts? They’re harder to find but are made. I have very narrow heels and wide fronts and the wide width Ghosts were fine for me, not overly roomy in the rest of the shoe.
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:08 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

I was literally going to ask the same question (but haven't yet gotten around to it). I have very wide feet and although zero-drop minimalist shoes are the right fit in the toe-box area, I absolutely do not want zero-drop. I am the occasional runner but am increasingly using running shoes just for walking. Here is where I am at:

I've tried several brooks shoes and the ones that give me the best fit for toe box are the Launch and the Catamount (trailer runner) with the caveat that I need to size up. Whereas I would normally wear a size US 10.5, I get the 11.5 and they fit perfectly.

Other shoes I've had or have been suggested to me are (these mostly trail shoes, but you can just wear them for walking around):
- Saucony Mad River
- Merrell Nova 2 (these fit better for toe box than the more popular moab)
- Topo MTN Racer 2
- Various Hokas
posted by piyushnz at 10:15 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Rereading your question, I do encourage you to just try sizing up half or one size in whatever your favourite shoe is. (Of course, so long as your heel doesn't slide up and down when you walk)
posted by piyushnz at 10:20 AM on November 13, 2022

Heel lifts?
posted by lokta at 10:22 AM on November 13, 2022

I know you said not for running, but I used to run in Brooks ghosts and switched to saucony rides as my feet got a bit wider. Very similar experience, wider toe box.
posted by gaspode at 10:25 AM on November 13, 2022

I see you've tried Altras, otherwise I was going to suggest the Lone Peak 6 from them if you haven't tried that model specifically. I like the rest of my shoe to fit snugly with room at the toes, so they're the widest I've gone so far (after getting frustrated with the wear and squeakiness of On Running's CloudX model, which are otherwise ideal for my feet). Keens for me are too wide in the heel for me but do feature wider toe boxes if you haven't tried them.
posted by deludingmyself at 10:29 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

New balance and Keens both do well for me for extra toe box room.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:36 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Coming in to say NB (New Balance)
posted by BoscosMom at 10:53 AM on November 13, 2022

They are not "doing things" sneakers, more just comfy to stand in and wear around casually, but Rocket Dog sneakers are so very nice for my toes. I wear other shoes and my toes are so pissed off, and I really don't even have wide toes/feet.

They go on sale constantly, there's usually always a promo code, you shouldn't pay more than about 30 bucks for Rocket Dog sneakers.
posted by phunniemee at 11:07 AM on November 13, 2022

I'm an absolute Hoka convert. *Especially* if you're doing a lot of standing at work. I don't know what their sneakers are made of but they've absolutely changed my relationship with walking/standing/general exercise. I have multiple pairs, but I'd say you should go to a running store and try on several models in person.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:08 AM on November 13, 2022

New Balance wides are actually wide, compared to other manufacturer's wides. They have both wide and extra-wide (4E), but selection is lacking for the latter.

Topo is also good, they have wide toe boxes and relatively normal midfoot and heels. Merrell wides are ok, but they might be more hiker-y than you want.

Altra has pivoted and most of their shoes aren't particularly wide - they have three different shoe shapes now, and only one or two have the "original" shape that they used pre-2020.
posted by meowzilla at 11:37 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

You can also hack this by starting with barefoot shoes, removing the existing insole (easy to do in most cases), and substituting a thicker innersole to make them non-zero-drop. My Xero sneakers + cushy supportive memory foam insoles are just about the roomiest, comfiest shoes I've ever had. Just make sure to get shoes reviewed as "high-volume" to ensure you have room for the thicker insert.
posted by Bardolph at 11:46 AM on November 13, 2022

i agree with what bardolph said! also love lems shoes, which are zero drop but they have more cushioning than barefoot shoes. i love the boulder boots and chillums for casual and even some hiking (boulder boots). i also use their trailheads for exercise at the gym and hiking. i’ve worn non-zero drop insoles in all of them with great success
posted by gooch at 5:02 PM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

So I got a pair of the really wide altras and I like them but they were a bit pricey for when I work and get sawdust all over so I did some digging and found these on Amazon , and wouldn't you know it, I like them much more for a significantly lower price. I'm not a shoe expert but they are much more comfortable and seem better-made than the Altras.

They also have men's.
posted by jenjenc at 6:50 PM on November 13, 2022

I wear the wide width version of this sneaker because I need a wide toe box. I have normal—dare I say petite—back of feet and heels and I’ve never noticed any excess room. I run in these so poor fit/slipping heels would be immediately noticeable, and unacceptable.
posted by kapers at 11:20 PM on November 13, 2022

I just picked up a pair of these Salomon Predict Soc 2 on super sale at DSW and they are really comfortable and feel like the they have a ton of room in the toe box (plus the front part is really stretchy so maybe that's part of it). The heel is more snug than other shoes I've worn but I've never tried Salomons before so maybe that's a brand feature.
posted by jabes at 7:47 AM on November 14, 2022

Topo Athletic!

I have worsening bunions and an otherwise narrow foot, and the several models of Topos I've tried have all provided me with very good toe box width and volume. None of them were zero drop. Also they tend to be pretty tame/minimal in terms of colors which I much prefer.

Multiple models of Hokas and Altras have not worked for me.
posted by sweetpotato at 10:49 AM on November 14, 2022 [1 favorite]

I will say that Brooks Adrenalines in 4E width have wider toe boxes than even other Brooks models, although not wide enough to wear with toe spacers (at least not for me). When I'm not wearing Xeros I go with the Adrenalines.
posted by pdb at 4:55 PM on November 14, 2022

Several people have already mentioned Topo but I think it's worth adding that though some of their models are zero-drop, others aren't, and different models are variously cushioned. They have a 30-day return policy so you can try a few models and see what works best for you. They're great shoes.
posted by tangerine at 7:15 PM on November 14, 2022

KEEN
posted by neuron at 5:45 PM on November 16, 2022