Our Definition of Wide Width Shoes

Wide width shoes are variations of normal-sized shoes where the overall length is the same, but the forefoot and toe box width is increased to accommodate wider feet. Individuals with wide feet often have a similar heel width, but have wider toes and a wider forefoot. Because wide feet are often taller too, these shoes may also have greater depth.

Do You Really Need Wide Width Shoes?

If you regularly try on shoes that fit great length-wise but feel cramped in the sides, it is a clear sign you may need wide width shoes. A common band-aid fix is to move to a longer length shoe. It will offer you a bit of additional width, but the fit will be clumsy with additional space in either the toe box or the heel. This isn’t good for certain reasons: it can cause blisters or chafing, leading to tripping, and even alter your gait. It is always ideal to find a pair of shoes that fit perfectly.

Brannock Device is another method of checking your foot width. Although this device is most often used to measure the length of the foot, it also consists of a slider to measure foot width.