Got Wide Feet? Here’s How to Find Good Shoes

If you’ve got wide feet, you typically have a tough row to hoe when shopping for shoes. Most of the time, you end up buying a pair which you’re not enamored to, simply because they’re the only ones that can fit your feet perfectly. Though there’s indeed some challenge involved when shoe shopping with wide feet, it doesn’t mean you can’t make things right.

First and foremost, look in the right place. There’s literally a specified wide section intended for shoe shoppers with wide feet in almost any store you walk in, so always shop in that category first. Chances are you’ll find something you’ll like better than the good-looking pair you saw earlier in the non-wide section if you look hard enough (and ask for help).

Next, if the shoes feel funky, don’t buy them. Period. Once you try on a pair and they feel like they’re rubbing on your skin the wrong way, move on to the next prospect. Shoes gradually stretch to accommodate feet sizes, sure, but this process can take too long—months, at most. Furthermore, choosing a narrower pair while hoping they’ll stretch out means you’ll be in pain for a length of time.

Lastly, always keep an eye on adjustable features. Whether it’s an extra set of buckles or a section of elastic material, anything that makes the shoe versatile enough to fit your feet makes it a worthy candidate.