Big wide feet seeking big wide shoes
January 11, 2015 3:33 PM Subscribe
I just got a stand up desk at work and I'm really liking it, but if I don't get some proper fitting shoes its going to be a lot less comfortable than it could be....shoe shoppers of mefi, please help!
To go along with my standup desk at work I just bought a really nice standing mat. However I've realized that wearing my thick-soled clunky shoes on top of it is defeating the point of using it.
I've struggled to find proper fitting shoes all my life. I typically wear a size 13 or 14 (US), which is problematic enough, but my feet are also wide and pretty flat. When I find shoes that actually fit I tend to wear them for years and years because finding shoes I can wear is such a pain. At this point I am willing to spend $100 - $150+ if necessary to get comfortable shoes I can wear to work - which is (Office) business casual on the casual side of the spectrum.
What I'm looking for I guess is a "minimalist" type shoe with a thin sole that is lightweight so that I can actually get the benefits of using the quality standing mat I've purchased. The problem is that these shoes seem to run kind of narrow and lot of them have low profile toe boxes which press down on my toe nails. Past mefi threads I've found have been somewhat helpful, and Ive been thinking about buying a pair from Vivobarefoot, but the consensus I've seen seems to be that their shoes run on the narrow side.
If I could just wrap a piece of soft leather around my feet and head into work I would, but since that's not an option I think I just need to spend the money and time to find something good. Suggestions?
To go along with my standup desk at work I just bought a really nice standing mat. However I've realized that wearing my thick-soled clunky shoes on top of it is defeating the point of using it.
I've struggled to find proper fitting shoes all my life. I typically wear a size 13 or 14 (US), which is problematic enough, but my feet are also wide and pretty flat. When I find shoes that actually fit I tend to wear them for years and years because finding shoes I can wear is such a pain. At this point I am willing to spend $100 - $150+ if necessary to get comfortable shoes I can wear to work - which is (Office) business casual on the casual side of the spectrum.
What I'm looking for I guess is a "minimalist" type shoe with a thin sole that is lightweight so that I can actually get the benefits of using the quality standing mat I've purchased. The problem is that these shoes seem to run kind of narrow and lot of them have low profile toe boxes which press down on my toe nails. Past mefi threads I've found have been somewhat helpful, and Ive been thinking about buying a pair from Vivobarefoot, but the consensus I've seen seems to be that their shoes run on the narrow side.
If I could just wrap a piece of soft leather around my feet and head into work I would, but since that's not an option I think I just need to spend the money and time to find something good. Suggestions?
6pm is great, but be aware that to return shoes you have to pay for your own postage (no prepaid label). That can get expensive fast because shoes are heavy.
posted by serelliya at 4:51 PM on January 11, 2015
posted by serelliya at 4:51 PM on January 11, 2015
Have you looked at REI or other similar-type stores? They might be a little informal for your work, but my husband has been able to find good size 13 shoes.
posted by leahwrenn at 5:20 PM on January 11, 2015
posted by leahwrenn at 5:20 PM on January 11, 2015
I have a standup desk and standing mat at work, and honestly the best option for day-long comfort for me is to be shoeless. If that's an option, then I'd do that, then put the business casual shoes back on when you need to roam around the office.
If that's truly not an option, I've also enjoyed working in merrell barefoot shoes that run fairly wide - here's the leather version, which you could probably get away with as biz-casual shoes.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 6:06 PM on January 11, 2015
If that's truly not an option, I've also enjoyed working in merrell barefoot shoes that run fairly wide - here's the leather version, which you could probably get away with as biz-casual shoes.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 6:06 PM on January 11, 2015
Wide shoe wearer here. I buy online from Hitchcock Shoes.
I also find that some styles of Crocs run wide, if that seems interesting. I wear them around the house.
posted by BillMcMurdo at 7:38 PM on January 11, 2015
I also find that some styles of Crocs run wide, if that seems interesting. I wear them around the house.
posted by BillMcMurdo at 7:38 PM on January 11, 2015
Best answer: I have wide feet and I find Merrels to run nice and wide.
Keens also run wide. I wear Keens at my standing desk when no one will be watching. If I need to be at a meeting I bring along more professional looking shoes.
posted by blurker at 7:51 PM on January 11, 2015
Keens also run wide. I wear Keens at my standing desk when no one will be watching. If I need to be at a meeting I bring along more professional looking shoes.
posted by blurker at 7:51 PM on January 11, 2015
Try "sportsmans guide.com" they have piles of closeout stuff and you can sort by size. I wear a size 14 so I can't shop in stores much.
posted by boilermonster at 9:29 PM on January 11, 2015
posted by boilermonster at 9:29 PM on January 11, 2015
I don't know anything about the store itself, but there is a shoe store here in Spokane that specializes in big and wide shoes - they have a banner that takes up half a city block that says so - so maybe you could check your city for a place like that.
Good luck.
posted by aryma at 11:14 PM on January 11, 2015
Good luck.
posted by aryma at 11:14 PM on January 11, 2015
I think vivos are pretty wide myself, certainly worth a try from zappos with the free shipping and all.
posted by fshgrl at 11:29 PM on January 11, 2015
posted by fshgrl at 11:29 PM on January 11, 2015
Best answer: I've been doing this exact same search on the lady end of things, also with very wide feet (plus bonus high arches).
My info seems to support Vivobarefoot running not-overly-wide. I ordered a pair of their women's flats that's lauded in reviews for its roominess, and it was at least 1/2" too narrow for my foot all along the side, even after ordering up a full size.
Likewise, I've heard that Merrels are actually fairly narrow in the toe box.
I did find this list, by a podiatrist vendor of expensive toe spacers, that lists barefoot shoes wide enough, with roomy-enough toe boxes, to fit his orthotics. From that list, the ones I've found praised in similar discussions online are:
Soft Star Shoes
Lems
Good luck!
posted by Bardolph at 3:52 AM on January 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
My info seems to support Vivobarefoot running not-overly-wide. I ordered a pair of their women's flats that's lauded in reviews for its roominess, and it was at least 1/2" too narrow for my foot all along the side, even after ordering up a full size.
Likewise, I've heard that Merrels are actually fairly narrow in the toe box.
I did find this list, by a podiatrist vendor of expensive toe spacers, that lists barefoot shoes wide enough, with roomy-enough toe boxes, to fit his orthotics. From that list, the ones I've found praised in similar discussions online are:
Soft Star Shoes
Lems
Good luck!
posted by Bardolph at 3:52 AM on January 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
I also have wide feet (EEE) and find the toe box very accommodating on my Vivo Barefoot shoes. I wear the "Dharma Men's Slip On". It appears there is a size 14 available on the site. I would not describe them as narrow, at all.
posted by chocolate_butch at 6:00 AM on January 12, 2015
posted by chocolate_butch at 6:00 AM on January 12, 2015
I would like to highly recommend Soft Star Shoes, too. They have excellent customer service. Added bonus: made in the USA!
posted by jillithd at 8:44 AM on January 12, 2015
posted by jillithd at 8:44 AM on January 12, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
6pm is Zappos's flog-off site. It's where the clearance stuff is.
Of course there's always Zappos. Check out these Italian loafers.
I have narrow feet in a weird size and my best luck it at Zappos/6pm.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 3:44 PM on January 11, 2015