Woman’s shoes are too narrow?

[ThanksAntsThants23]

I am a woman with quite wide feet and high arches. I have never been able to buy shoes that really fit properly. I run a lot and buying running shoes has away a been difficult, I also work outdoors and have never been able to find a pair of boots that fit so I spend my entire life flaunting risk assessments and having very wet feet by wearing my running shoes to work as they are generally the only thing that I can walk in relatively comfortably.

This year I have developed a bunion and Even the widest trainers I can feasibly buy are now too narrow for one of my feet. I’m seriously beginning to consider just walking everywhere in socks.

The thing is that I know I’m not the only woman who finds woman’s shoes too narrow, I hear it from a lot of woman, especially other runners. Lost of people say they just buy men’s shoes but thats not an option if, like me you have feet smaller than a uk 6. I’m starting to get quite enraged by the lack of shoes available for wider feet.

Are standard woman’s shoes too narrow for the average woman’s foot.

YANBU -standard woman’s shoes are too narrow for the average foot

YABU - standard woman’s shoe width is fine for the average woman and you have no business expecting your weird troll feet and bunion to fit in shoes made for delicate ladies.

I have big problems finding wide fit shoes. I've always had wide feet but either my feet are wider or shoes are narrower since having my dc 6 years ago. And the styles available in wide fit are awful. Generally, not my chosen style. I got some boots from M&S 3 years ago and I keep going back to buying them every year. I have just the one pair so they get worn out after only a few months.

For running try Hoka Bondi 8s, men's. They are brilliant and fit my giant bunion.

Barefoot shoes and boots are the way forward. Should improve your bunion as well as improving your foot health and strength.

It’s extremely difficult to find shoes for narrow feet, lots come in wide fitting though.

YANBU

'Wide fit' shoes are a joke. They are usually a D fitting - I am an L.

Some Hotter boots fit me in Extra Wide if I size up. But many of their shoes are still way too narrow, even in Extra Wide.

I have Sketchers Arch fit trainers in their men's extra wide in their smallest size (39.5). They are OK but not really supportive enough (soles flex too much and I need an ankle replacement). Before I bought them I tried about 10 pairs, all bought online and returned (very time consuming as I couldn't afford to order more than a couple of pairs at a time) because shops never seem to stock the wider fittings.

Summer is a nightmare because I cannot find any vaguely smart shoes (or sandals) that I can walk in. In winter I wear plain boots under trousers and hope nobody notices.

I struggle to find shoes narrow enough!

It's always been D in the adult section.

YANBU
I tend to buy barefoot shoes now as they're the only thing reliably wide enough. I prefer something more cushioned for high impact though.

Mens size 6 in specialist shops online too but yes tricky at size 6, next to impossible in smaller sizes.

I was shocked to hear that Ecco don't do wider fits anymore. I thought well fitted comfort up to bunion sizes was their thing.

Honestly, try mens. I'm a 7 a nd my son got some boots that where a bit too big for them. So I have them and they are so comfortable compared to any women's shoes I own. My husbands trainers always seem co comfortable too

I also struggle as I need a 4.5 and few high street brands do half sizes.

I think part of that is because most of the shoes sold in the UK are based on EU sizes, and not all companies use the same conversion.

I'm a size seven. Some retailers call their EU size 40 a UK 7, some shoes sold as a UK 7 are an EU 41.

But even going by the EU sizes, there's still a lot of variation between manufacturers. My Tamaris shoes are a 41, Jones Bootmaker a 40, and Moshulu a 39. But they all fit fine!

I have not read all the thread so I apologise if this has already been suggested.
I have very wide feet and a bunion and find the only brand that fit are hotter.
They are not brilliant for running shoes but they do every day boots and shoes and some walking boots in extra extra wide they have been a game changer for me I was previously wearing clarks wide trainers in two sizes too big.

I have wide feet, you need some orthotic insoles for your work boots to support your arches

And have a look at brands like Fitflop or brands like hotter for wider feet. Just Google wide fitting shoes and different brands come up including trainers. Some of them are awful but you’ll find something.

Have You been to a specialist running shop where they’ll measure your feet and tear your gait and advise on runners based on that?

My mum has the opposite problem, she says all the shoes are wide fit and she has narrow feet.

Maybe you need to shop where she does and vice versa!

@theduchessofspork yes I’ve been back to my local running store and tried on every wide fits shoe the could get for me nothing fits my bunion foot. I have an ultra coming up soon (first one since the bunion) and seriously considering selling my car to buy some custom made running shoes 🤣

I have hobbit feet, size 3, and need a really wide toe box and a narrow heel. All shoes are wrong.

I have wide feet, high instep and narrow heels , aka duck feet, I've just discovered. Jack Wolf skin which fit me beautifully.

This however may be more suitable for you

https://www.vivaia.com/item/round-toe-sneaker-p_10010853.html?gid=10010843

I feel your pain. I'm another one with duck feet. Chelsea boots fall off me because, while they are too small round the toes they're too wide round the heels. I'm also a size 4/5 so can't fit into men's shoes. Never found a pair of sandals that fit. Last year I got some birkenstocks in standard width and even they felt a bit tight and gave me blisters around the arches.

I did have some success this year with a pair of M&S wide fit boots. I still have the too-big-round-the-heels issue but they have laces so they stay on.

I had a pair of Fly boots that were ok but not keen on the style. I got a pair of Fly sandals a few years ago but they were nowhere near wide enough. The reviews said they were so wide they were like 'boats'

I have narrow feet and most shoes are too wide. I’ve always found most places sell shoes that are far too wide anyway (and then some also offer wide fit!). I use ASICS trainers which come in two widths, which might be why lots of people seem to wear them. For walking boots, I had to buy AltBerg which come in five widths.

I've remembered another issue. Why don't online shops show the site from directly above so you can see the shape? Seems such a basic thing but the shops prefer the stylistic photos rather than the useful ones.

I’m quite the opposite. I find most women’s shoes are far too wide for me.

You used to be able to get shoes in a wide range of width fittings from makers like Clarks . I don’t know when I last saw a B which is what I am.

I don’t even bother with Clarks, M&S, Office etc anymore as they never have anything to fit.

Skinners are fab if you want to go out in socks! they are basically socks but tougher and with a kind of rubber crumb base. I love mine.

I also wear Freet Feldom and Xero trainers. I have wide feet at the toe end anyway and also hate the feeling of my toes being together.

Oh goodness, what a pain!

I've found fitville a godsend lately.

My children's feet were often too wide for Clarkson widest so always had to size up,nightmare for years and years

I. Have wide feet, high arched,, and bunions, and 11W/43. Many womensshoes don'tgo to a 11/43 in general. I find womens Merrells in a wide are a good option. They have sandals, trainers, boots, etc. Their MOAB line fits great. I've discovered Ryka and Propet in womens wide. New Balance and Saucony too. I've bought Mens regular which is essentially womens wide, but find the toe box is too big and it shows. Dress shoes are a whole other issue. Because Amazon and Zappos have variety and s/h costs are free or reasonable I will order 3-5 pairs and try them around the house. I used to wear narrow, and yes there needs to be more variety as even of I'm in the city with access to try on, my size is rarely in stock.