Don’t subject yourself to cramped feet—these running shoes are the comfiest and roomiest.
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I’m 4 miles out on my run when I feel angry blisters forming between my toes because they’re overcrowded in my shoe’s toebox. Add that to a long list of annoying things going on with my feet: mild plantar fasciitis, black toenails, gnarly calluses that make me ashamed to wear sandals. I am a card-carrying member of the wide-foot club, yet I’ve resisted wide-width running shoes for years. Mostly because around the time I found I had wide feet (over 15 years ago), the only colors available in wide-widths were black, white, or gray.
Today, running shoes for wide feet have become more accessible, more visible, and less boring. We even highlighted which pairs came in wide in the 2026 Shoe Awards. Perhaps with the dawn of foot scans at run specialty shops, store owners and brands are finally realizing just how common wide-footed runners are—and why it’s so important runners stop squishing their feet in standard-sized shoes.
I’ve run 28 marathons and vet all kinds of gear, from sports bras to smartwatches, as RW running reviews editor. For research, I visited Aardvark Sports Shop, a local run store in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to get the lowdown on running shoes for wide-foot runners from Aardvark Footwear Lead Trainer Kate Egging. Egging, a former RW wear-tester, has worked at Aardvark for four years and is a lifelong wide-foot runner, like myself. I also spoke with A. Stacie Page, PT, DPT, of Johns Hopkins Running Program at Johns Hopkins Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, who discussed the risks of wearing too-narrow shoes and how this can affect running performance.
Besides gear expertise provided by myself and staff, we also have a team of 300-plus local shoe testers who log at least 100 miles per pair of running shoes. They provide valuable feedback on fit, feel, and ride to help us determine the best trainers, ensuring our selections are all-inclusive. Because she gets to try on shoes at Aardvark and help runners make footwear decisions, we enlisted the help of Egging, who recommended her top picks as well.
Compared to the Brooks Ghost, the Brooks Glycerin is broader in the midfoot area, resulting in a more accommodating fit for wider foot shapes. The new triple jacquard knit also provides a stretchier upper that houses wide feet.
The midsole foam provides a supportive, high-energy-return ride stacked at 38 mm in the heel. Brooks added 2 mm of DNA Tuned in the forefoot. What you get is more balanced cushioning throughout the shoe and a lower heel-toe drop.
I’ve worn the Glycerin 23 for base miles and long runs. My feet fit securely in the shoe thanks to the padded border on the interior of the heel collar. The softness underfoot and overall cozy fit make the Glycerin 23 a preferred everyday shoe in my testing pile and one I can depend on when I’m scheduled for hours on the road, according to my training plan.
Shop Men’s at brooksrunning.com | Shop Women’s at brooksrunning.com
Just about everything about the Guide 19 is accommodating. It preserves the same soft, cushioned feel as its predecessor with the same unobtrusive stability tech for, yes, guiding erratic running form.
CenterPath tech lends stability with higher sidewalls and a broader base. The Pwrrun midsole provides max-cushioning, making the Guide 19 a terrific long run and recovery shoe of choice.
One tester gave the trainer his highest rating because of “its strong comfort, support, and cushioning, and the fact that it had no major weaknesses.”
“I was lucky enough to test this shoe’s predecessor, the Saucony Guide 18, and I enjoyed that shoe immensely for the same reasons,” said our tester, Dave Block. “But I think this model has even more cushioning and softness.”
Shop Men’s at saucony.com | Shop Women’s at saucony.com
The Torin 9 showcases several updates that make the daily trainer an even more welcoming intro to zero-drop shoes. The 28 mm stack height houses the brand’s P35X foam, with a dense core and soft carrier that softens landings without masking ground feel.
“I generally prefer cushioning that provides protection without disconnecting me from the running experience, and the Torin strikes that balance exceptionally well,” said tester Don Kuntzman. “The cushioning felt evenly distributed from heel to forefoot, creating a smooth, balanced ride that never felt overly soft, mushy, or unstable.”
The outsole has Vibram rubber, making the shoe’s ride tackier and more versatile. Our testers weren’t afraid to traverse onto the trail after hitting pace on the road.
The non-gusseted tongue provides more room for high insteps. Altra’s signature wide toebox is a bunion-prone, wide-foot runner’s dream. No need to worry about rubbing or hot spots.
Shop Men’s at altrarunning.com | Shop Women’s at altrarunning.com
Last year, Egging said the Clifton 10 was a pleasant surprise in terms of fit for wide feet. Unlike the Bondi 9, which has a narrower fit than past iterations, she found the Clifton 10’s sidewalls non-intrusive and the midfoot non-constrictive. The same goes with the Clifton 11. Hoka didn’t narrow the shoe’s fit, and it feels just as comfy and accommodating as its predecessor.
The shoe has Hoka’s Active Foot Frame to cradle your foot and help with stability. This means you can run and walk in the Clifton 11 confidently without rolling your ankles or feeling confined and stiff with extra stability features.
The compression-molded EVA foam isn’t as responsive as other supercritical foams you see in running shoes, but the Clifton 11 still has a high energy return ride that boosts everyday runs, long runs, and run/walks.
Egging wants everyone to know the Echelon 10 is not like the old Echelons Saucony was known for. Formerly a clunky run/walker for runners who need orthotics, the tenth iteration is lighter and more nimble, yet still orthotic-friendly. The shoe has the brand’s highly responsive Pwrrun midsole, which is the same foam in the Guide 18.
According to Egging, the Echelon 10 is an excellent choice for underpronators, or supinators (when your foot rolls inward less than 15 percent while running), because of its broad base and comfy cushioning.
“The Echelon gets a little bit overlooked because it falls into such a ‘comfort customer’ category,” Egging says. “But if you’ve got that new runner that has a high volume foot, maybe that 4E runner who needs the extra wide, who supinates and they need a broader base, this shoe is very runnable.”
If you are having issues with other trainers or are a new runner with specific needs, don’t discredit the Echelon 10. It could be your ticket to a perfect ride.
Shop Men’s at saucony.com | Shop Women’s at saucony.com
Brands tend to make super shoes more tapered in the midfoot, like the spiked shoes on a track. But the Rocket X 3 has an accommodating, broad platform that you could slide an orthotic into.
The shoe has dual-density PEBA foam and a winged carbon plate to promote propulsion. The upper is single-layer engineered mesh, which allows for breathability over the course of a sweaty, foot-swelling marathon. It was tester Shane Houghton’s favorite feature.
“The mesh upper is a great part about Rocket X 2,” he said. “When you tighten the shoe it stays securely in place and wraps around your foot perfectly. And it’s so airy and breathable because the holes in the netting are so big. There is no chance of your feet getting hot in these shoes no matter how tight you’re wearing them. I appreciated the padding around the heel. It was nice to have that there when a lot of racers don’t.”
The Lone Peak 9+ offers both a comfy fit with a roomy toebox, providing ample room for toe splaying. “Fit and comfort is something that the Lone Peak 9+ has dialed in,” says Rip Cantelmi, who previously tested the Lone Peak 7 and Brooks Divide 5. “Laced up, the foot feels relaxed, strong, and sensitive. I have observed that the shoe is wide enough to accommodate toe spacers if you use them. The padding around the collar remains optimized for comfort and flexibility. Heat management remains positive.”
The Altra Lone Peak 9+ has an Altra Ego midsole, which provides just enough supportive cushioning as well as some ground feel which testers like Cantelmi appreciated.
“Ground feel is something that many trail shoes ignore for the pursuit of comfort in the form of high-stacked foam, but the Lone Peak 9+ finds the perfect balance of cushion, protection, and feel,” says Cantelmi, who describes the shoe’s cushioning as neither minimalist nor marshmallowy.
Shop Men’s at altrarunning.com | Shop Women’s at altrarunning.com
“I’ve had my feet measured before; I don’t need to do it again”
Getting your foot measured is not a once-and-done kind of deal. Your foot size changes throughout your life, due to aging, work, and having children. “Sometimes when people get pregnant their feet sizes change dramatically,” says Page. “An injury could also cause an arch to drop if you don’t have that same muscle activation.”
She references a study on incorrectly fitted footwear published in 2018, which found a large proportion of the population was wearing the incorrect size shoe and how this can be associated with foot pain and foot disorders. Her recommendation is simple: get a comfortable shoe that fits properly.
Another reason to have your foot scanned: Some runners may think they have a wide foot when in actuality they have a high arch or instep. “That’s when they need a shoe measuring that high profile,” says Egging.
“I’ve worn this shoe forever; the newest version will fit the same”
“I think it might be even more important for a wide-footed runner to revisit a run specialty store for a fit because the models as they update, don’t always fit the same,” says Egging.
The Hoka Bondi 9, for example, fits narrower than the previous iteration. This is because of Hoka’s sidewalls which are built up to hug your foot, which can result in a tighter fit for wide-foot Bondi lovers.
Altra also requires some probing. Even though the brand is known for its accommodating footshapes and roomy toeboxes, some Altra shoes can fit narrower in the midfoot due to updates. Upper “upgrades” to look out for in any kind of shoe when you’re a wide-foot shopper are gusseted tongues, which can make the fit tighter due to more material on the instep, and overlays.
Black toenails are not a badge of honor. Egging is an ultrarunner and she’s never lost one toenail because she received a proper shoe fitting early in her run career. Other signs of needing to get refitted and change your shoe size: numbness, tingling, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis.
“Movement is good!” Egging says, when runners are concerned about a little looseness in a road shoe. “A lot of plantar fasciitis in wide-foot runners is coming from that arch being crunched by tight-fitting shoes.” (Trail shoes are a different story; you’ll want a more secure hold around your foot.) Tightness and constriction can also negatively affect your performance. That kind of discomfort, Page warns, can change your running pattern and lead to pain or injury.
When it comes to choosing running shoes, you want some wiggle room. If you see bruising, blood blisters on the tops of your toes, or experience toe curling, you probably need a wider toebox—this also includes runners with hammertoes, bunions, bunionettes, and Morton’s neuroma.
With your bare foot, step on a blank piece of paper. Outline your foot with a pen or pencil. Use a ruler to measure the widest part in inches of your stencil horizontally (across the ball of your foot); be aware you’ll need a wider toebox if you have bunions or bunionettes. Write this number down and refer to the men’s or women’s chart to find your width
Related: How to measure your feet: A guide for runners
What can I do when the shoe I want to buy isn’t available in wide?
If you’re a bra wearer, you may have heard the term “sister sizes.” Shoes also have sister sizes. For example, I wear women’s 5.5 in street shoes, but most of my running shoes are 6.5 because they’re the standard width (B). I size up for foot swelling (it’s recommended to size up your running shoes) and size up again for width. I’m actually a size 6, C width in women’s running shoes.
It’ll take several try-ons to get the right feel and the right shoe, but it can be possible to find a women’s B or men’s D size shoe if there are no wides available, or wide if your foot is extra wide. Women can also pivot to a men’s size, but be forewarned: men’s shoes tend to run longer and have more space in the heel area.
“Socks are super, super important,” says Egging. “I think people neglect that. The price point is frightening at first. You’re like, $18 for one pair of socks? That’s insane! But eight years later when you still have that same sock and that six-pack you got at T.J. Maxx has come and gone in the meantime.” She recommends Injinji, Blister Resist, and Balega.
At RW HQ, we’ve been testing Wide Open, a company that specifically designs socks for wide feet—and that’s been a game changer. Instead of getting blisters in between my toes or second-guessing the wide toebox of an Altra or Topo Athletic shoe, I’ve discovered just how much socks can affect your run like Egging says.
What racing shoe options are there for wide-foot runners?
Wider width options for racing shoes are still a rarity. I’ve found through personal experience that Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB, Hoka Rocket X 2, and Hoka Cielo X1 2 have the most accommodating lasts compared to other super shoes, which taper in the midfoot resulting in narrower fit. A major thing to consider is that your feet swell over time as you run, especially on a hot day. Consider sizing up, but take into consideration most racing shoes are unisex, so they may run longer or be wider in the heel.
Cat Bowen, senior editor of commerce; reviews, is a seasoned runner with more than 20 years of distance running experience, including dozens of marathons, half marathons, and even a few ultra marathons. For over a decade, she has tested parenting, fitness, home, and running gear and written in-depth guides to help readers with their next purchase. Holding multiple advanced degrees and currently studying kinesiology, Cat Bowen brings research-backed insight to all of her guides. Passionate about women’s health and neurodivergent inclusion, she advocates for closing research gaps and helping others—especially AudHD people—find joy in running and fitness.
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
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