Best running shoes for wide feet
Wide feet are not a niche problem, they are just badly served. Most running shoes are built on one last, in one width, and the advice you usually get is to size up. That does not work, because going up a half size makes the shoe longer, not wider, and you end up with a heel that slips and a toe box that still pinches.
There are two real answers. The first is a shoe sold in an actual wide fitting, usually labelled 2E for men and D for women, or 4E and 2E for extra wide. New Balance, Brooks, Asics and Nike all do this properly, and the shoe is built on a genuinely wider last rather than just being cut looser. The second is a shoe with a naturally generous toe box in its standard width, which is what Altra, Topo Athletic and Hoka are known for.
The list below prefers the first over the second, because a real wide fitting holds your midfoot while giving your toes room, and a roomy standard shoe often does neither.
The shortlist
These are the shoes the Shoe Finder quiz returns when you answer it as someone in this situation. Same database, same scoring, nothing added by hand. Answer it yourself and you will get a list shaped around your own feet, weight and budget rather than an average.
Nike Vomero 18
£134.99 · Max cushion · 298g · 10mm drop · 46mm stack · 4E available
Thick, soft and forgiving underfoot. Great value if you want maximum comfort on easy runs.
- Comes in a 4E extra wide fitting
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Asics Gel-Nimbus 28
£179.99 · Max cushion · 278g · 8mm drop · 43mm stack · 4E available
Soft, protective and forgiving. The default choice for comfortable everyday miles.
- Comes in a 4E extra wide fitting
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Nike Vomero Plus
£154.99 · Max cushion · 289g · 10mm drop · 45mm stack · 4E available
Nike's softest everyday shoe. Bouncy foam that makes long, slow miles feel much easier.
- Comes in a 4E extra wide fitting
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15
£140 · Everyday trainer · 304g · 6mm drop · 40mm stack · 4E available
A sturdy, no drama trainer that lasts. Widths up to 4E if you need room.
- Comes in a 4E extra wide fitting
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v15
£155 · Everyday trainer · 255g · 6mm drop · 40mm stack · 4E available
Soft, roomy and light for its size. Comes in 2E and 4E widths.
- Comes in a 4E extra wide fitting
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Asics Gel-Cumulus 28
£139.99 · Everyday trainer · 252g · 8mm drop · 41mm stack · 4E available
Softer and cheaper than the Nimbus. A sensible first proper running shoe.
- Comes in a 4E extra wide fitting
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Brooks Ghost 18
£135 · Everyday trainer · 289g · 12mm drop · 36mm stack · 4E available
The safe, do everything trainer. If you are unsure what to buy, start here.
- Comes in a 4E extra wide fitting
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
Saucony Triumph 24
£170 · Max cushion · 264g · 10mm drop · 40mm stack · wide fitting
Deep, soft cushioning that stays surprisingly light. One of the best long run shoes.
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
How this list was put together
Every shoe in our database is scored against a set of rules, and this page shows the top eight for this particular need. The rules are written down in full on the how it works page, including which ones rule a shoe out completely. Nothing on this page is ordered by commission, and the prices are RRP, so shop around because they are very often discounted.
This is a starting point rather than a fitting. Where you can, try shoes on, and if you are running through pain see a physio rather than buying your way out of it.
Common questions
How do I know if I need a wide fitting?
Take the insole out of a shoe you already own and stand on it. If your foot spills over the edge at the widest point, near the base of your little toe, you want a wide fitting. Pressure on the little toe joint, numbness after a few miles, or wear on the outside of the upper are the other giveaways.
What do 2E and 4E mean?
They are width codes. For men, D is standard, 2E is wide and 4E is extra wide. For women, B is standard, D is wide and 2E is extra wide. A shoe listed as available in 4E is built on a wider last, not simply made of stretchier material.
Is a wide toe box the same as a wide fitting?
No, and the difference matters. A wide toe box gives your toes room to splay but the shoe may still be narrow through the middle. A wide fitting widens the whole shoe. If your foot is broad across the ball but normal at the heel, a wide toe box in a standard width often works better.
Get a list for your feet, not an average one
The shortlist above assumes a fairly typical runner. The shoe finder asks about your width, how your ankles roll, your weight, where you run, your budget and any recurring niggles, then gives you three shoes and tells you why each one made it. It takes about a minute and there is no email or sign up.