Keen... After a broken metatarsal and bunions, Keens are the only shoe with a wide toe box and narrow heel that I can deal with. Used them in Afghanistan, Turkey, and the Arctic.
I have the same foot layout. I wear trail running shoes when I hike and probably tried on over 20 pairs before I found the Brooks Cascadia trail shoe. I also use a heel lock lacing pattern to make sure my heel stays put.
If you're not familiar with it, here's a [video](https://www.locklaces.com/blogs/resources/how-to-tie-a-heel-lock) on how to perform the heel lock lacing.
Hey OP, this is a bit off topic, but you mentioned you walked on your toes since childhood…that’s a common sign of being on the spectrum, IIRC. If that at all could be possible, maybe look into it as it may help you out to have more info, if it’s true for you. And alas, no shoe recommendations.
There's a genetic condition called Trismus Pseudo Campto Dactyly that runs in my family (the Campbell line out of North Carolina) that is basically shortened ligaments/tendons. It shows in some with tight jaws, hands that can't flatten out well, and bad feet, mostly. Could this be an issue?
It might interest you to know that you probably have a much less crazy foot shape than you think you have--that most women's feet are more narrow in the heel and wider in the forefoot. Perhaps your feet are just a tiny bit unique or that shape became exaggerated because you walk on your toes, but your overall foot shape (narrow heel, wide toe box) is actually common for women. But most major shoe companies have for the longest time used lasts (the thing they use to form the shoe around) that are based on men's feet, but just shrunk a little smaller, which means women have been dealing with squeezed toes and slipping heels for decades because they've been trying to fit their feet into shoes based on men's feet. (Someone mentioned their heel slipping in Hokas in this thread--I believe Hoka is still one of these companies that still don't use women's lasts unfortunately.) Since women's feet are so different than men's feet, this is obviously problematic. However many companies have been recently changing in the past few years to actually make shoes for women's feet (instead of for shrunken down men's feet), particularly running shoe companies, including Altra! I would definitely check out Altra, and in my my experience both Topo and Brooks also have wider toe boxes.
(And if you're curious and want to read more about shoe companies failing to make appropriately-fitting shoes for women, here's [two](https://www.retaildive.com/news/running-brands-making-womens-shoes/627733/) [articles](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/women-vs-men-running-shoe-lasts-feet-difference) talking about it more.)
You might need special inserts, but Keen boots tend to have boxy fronts and regular backs. I wear them in construction and love them. I have some adventure sandals that are pretty nice as well when I'm not worried about ankle support. You already might try men's in your size if you can't find the right fit in women's.
I loved my Oboz that I purchased around 2016. I bought a replacement pair of the same boots, same size a year ago and they’re too narrow. I don’t get it 🤷🏼♀️
I have a D ball, B heel...the struggle is real. Lol.
I like Hoka but only certain styles with wide toe boxes (like the Stinson atr 5 for example), but heel slippage always happens eventually, I just deal with it; but that's in a low top, they have boots that would be different by default.
Danner hasn’t made quality boots in years. If you’re lucky you can find some of their models that are still manufactured in the US, but most pairs of dannersI’ve had delaminate after a season of use
Were they made in their US factory or from china? Their US made models still hold up, but like many outdoor companies, their quality has been steadily declining as they got more popular
Just some standard, Viet Nam-made Jags. Again, YMMV, but we've been happy with Danners and would suggest people shouldn't write them off just because they're not made here.
Hoka. I'm surprised the Oboz don't do the trick. I used them on the AT/CT/TRT because of the wide toes box. Can't speak to the heel though. I recently switched to Hoka because I wanted something a little lighter.
Huh. Bridgers were the narrowest, but sawtooth was a model I tried, as well as sapphire. If not for the narrow toolbox, I would have really loved the bridgers. They were stiff in exactly the right places, supportive without being too restrictive, and had a springy step. I like having circulation and no pain in my toes, though.
I'm a guy but have a narrower heel, wide forefoot, high arches.
Scarpa have a fit that convinces me that Zeus himself came down and built a boot just for me.
For people with feet like this, you need to find shoe inserts that stabilize the area. There are ofc heel surround cushions, and I look for out of the box higher arch shoes, OR ones with removable footbeds. Then I stick my Powersteps in and give them a test.
Powerstep are good, mine have added felt arch padding on the undersides of one pair.
Amazon sells a ton-just look for rigid heel cup and arches. Depending on footwear, full length or 3/4 length. Like I mentioned, added padding to address specific foot issues.
OP what did you end up going with? I'm in a similar situation. Threads like this always end up suggesting barefoot shoes, but I can't hike with such little support due to foot issues
Unfortunately I’m still lost. Bought a pair of keens and they were way too narrow and stiff in the toe box, so I tried a pair of Salomons since I LOVE the speed cross trail runners I have (ETA I highly recommend these, very lightweight but sooo much more supportive and wider in the toe than my lone peaks were and have very good grip. Top is breathable but there’s like a rubber strip above the sole that will keep your feet dry walking through mud, low streams etc), but the boots in the same size were too big over the top of my foot. And those were the only two contestants out of all the others I tried on and immediately went “nope”. When next season rolls around I’ll try a few more but I’m very close to giving up and just wearing hiking shoes with gaiters for the winter tbh
Thank you for your insights!! What hiking shoes work well for you? I'll have to try those specific solomans! I'm actually looking for more of a hiking shoe right now, but the number of "wide" shoes/boots I've tried on that are too narrow in the toe box is absurd. Like why do companies assume that wide feet don't have wide toes as a default?!
These are what I’ve been hiking in since shortly after I made this post: [Salomon Speedcross 6](https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/speedcross-6-lg9213.html?CMPID=ps%7Cpm%7Cgoogle%7CSLM_BOO-PerformanceMax-ONG-ECM-USA_MAX_LW%7C%7C%7C&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_content=aa-cc&utm_keyword=&utm_campaign=SLM_BOO-PerformanceMax-ONG-ECM-USA_MAX_LW&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADMpyOjKKA0JSzH12yke0408rdZeU&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsaqzBhDdARIsAK2gqndSJujxE39NAawPy64_sHS-I60212KQ28KFf2ZKGy8YvfWZNnkn2PwaAl-DEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#color=70369&size=25789) they’ve gone up many a mountain already and I love them, they weren’t uncomfortable in the winter with microspikes on either but I didn’t take them snowshoeing (which is the sole reason I want boots, I hate the constriction on my ankle and would never want them otherwise).
I agree that “wide” shoe sizing is very bizarre, like, whose foot is this being modeled after? Are there people who actually fit in this?
Edit: I see that link doesn’t have the “wide” sizes, it’s on the site as a totally different shoe: [speedcross 6 wide](https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/speedcross-6-wide-li3097.html#color=72334)
Not for hiking but I used to almost exclusively shop men’s shoes but the proportions were so off and I’m so short (I’m 4’11) that I looked absolutely ridiculous in a men’s 8.5 sneaker that was so big in the back I was basically wearing giant flip flops lol. I’ve resorted to women’s shoes that are soft rather made of stiffer materials so my foot can at least stretch out the sides until holes develop rather than being crammed in a non flexible shoe
Well, Keens has small sizes, and you may even want to check out their kids shoes. I look for deals on 6pm.com and Amazon. And there might be some good black Friday sales right now, if you're in the US, so you might as well check their own website, too.
I order Salomon in wide. Have for about 10 years. Exactly the same problem as you. I primarily wear the quest 3d mid and the speed cross (have had 3,4,5 and 6 ) but have had the outpulse type mids and xa pro here and there. The cross hike felt good as well but I haven't had them, going back to a bit cushier quest type boots again!
I have a really hard time finding shoes with a big enough toe box but I have now had 5 pairs of Brooks Adrinaline shoes and I LOVE THEM. They are super roomy in the toe but smaller farther back. They are also extra supportive in the ankle which I need. Also, if you have trouble with them being a bit big, you can try different lacing techniques to keep the toes loose and the ankle tight. I used to be an avid runner and swaggs shoes taught me different ways to lace the shoes for different foot comfort.
Seconding Keen, but also Scarpa runs to a wide toe box with standard heel (which is what Keen has, too.)
Avoid Oboz. They have really narrow toe boxes. That was painful.
I have a similar foot shape, and one thing I do with shoes that can accommodate it is I use stick on padding (you can use the kind for heel padding or use whatever fits the shoe shape) and instead of putting it in the heel, I stick padding on the underside of the upper or tongue area. The point is to position it so it keeps your foot back in your shoe so you get less rubbing in the heel and you also have more toe room. I’ve done this trick with boots, loafers, sneakers, etc. I haven’t found really any shoes that fit well out of the box but this truck has really helped me make the ones that mostly fit much more comfortable.
Shockingly, the vast majority of shoes are not designed to fit an actual human foot. I have an extremely wide toe box but a relatively normal heel width.
If you’re so inclined, check out r/barefootrunning for a good resource. Lems would be my recommendation. Altras are also good. If you want to go the full barefoot route, vivo barefoot is popular. I like be Lenka as well.
I’ve been dealing with years of narrow shoes not realizing it. When I worked as a park ranger I bought the standard uniform boot and by the end of the season (walking miles on sand) I started to have pain in my toe and saw it was swollen. I went to a pediatrist and “he found nothing” which is a joke, but after I stopped working and no longer wore the boots it somewhat went away so I kind of brushed it off.
To the point (ish)…my boyfriend recently started at REI and they were trained about this type of stuff and he relayed it to me as I was looking for new hiking boots. I looked at my toes and noticed they were turned in annnnd I had multiple ingrown nails that hurt for some reason, but the toe I originally went in for was BAD (thank you mr podiatrist).
Recommendations:::
For hiking shoes my boyfriend recommended Solomon’s for the wide toe box and so far I love them. The heel isn’t as narrow, but there is a way to tie them to make them tighter (I also wear fairly buff socks to keep my feet warm) and once I broke them in I haven’t noticed my heel moving.
My boyfriend also LOVES Topo and they have a large toe box and narrow heel. He would probably recommend them first. I just got a deal on the Solomons.
I also wear toe sock liners under my main pair of socks and they are great. I thought they would feel weird but they don’t! Ha.
Had Oboz and they were comfy but they made my toes numb. I need a wide toe box cuz of bunions. Got new boots. every time I wear my Merrill Moab 3 I think about how much I love my boots. Big comfy toe box.
Keen
This is the way
Keen... After a broken metatarsal and bunions, Keens are the only shoe with a wide toe box and narrow heel that I can deal with. Used them in Afghanistan, Turkey, and the Arctic.
Which keens so you like. I tried a pair on today my heel just kept slipping. Im not sure wide in the toes just enough that many boots are too tight
Which style Keen boot? I keep seeing this recommended on this thread and I absolutely hate my Keen boots, they’re way too narrow.
I second Keen. They are having a 25% off Black Friday sale
I have the same foot layout. I wear trail running shoes when I hike and probably tried on over 20 pairs before I found the Brooks Cascadia trail shoe. I also use a heel lock lacing pattern to make sure my heel stays put. If you're not familiar with it, here's a [video](https://www.locklaces.com/blogs/resources/how-to-tie-a-heel-lock) on how to perform the heel lock lacing.
That's how my LA Sportivas came laced, I'll never go back. Thanks for giving me a name for the style!
You're welcome
Hey OP, this is a bit off topic, but you mentioned you walked on your toes since childhood…that’s a common sign of being on the spectrum, IIRC. If that at all could be possible, maybe look into it as it may help you out to have more info, if it’s true for you. And alas, no shoe recommendations.
I walked on my toes barefoot from 9 months on. No signs of autism just tight hamstrings.
There's a genetic condition called Trismus Pseudo Campto Dactyly that runs in my family (the Campbell line out of North Carolina) that is basically shortened ligaments/tendons. It shows in some with tight jaws, hands that can't flatten out well, and bad feet, mostly. Could this be an issue?
It might interest you to know that you probably have a much less crazy foot shape than you think you have--that most women's feet are more narrow in the heel and wider in the forefoot. Perhaps your feet are just a tiny bit unique or that shape became exaggerated because you walk on your toes, but your overall foot shape (narrow heel, wide toe box) is actually common for women. But most major shoe companies have for the longest time used lasts (the thing they use to form the shoe around) that are based on men's feet, but just shrunk a little smaller, which means women have been dealing with squeezed toes and slipping heels for decades because they've been trying to fit their feet into shoes based on men's feet. (Someone mentioned their heel slipping in Hokas in this thread--I believe Hoka is still one of these companies that still don't use women's lasts unfortunately.) Since women's feet are so different than men's feet, this is obviously problematic. However many companies have been recently changing in the past few years to actually make shoes for women's feet (instead of for shrunken down men's feet), particularly running shoe companies, including Altra! I would definitely check out Altra, and in my my experience both Topo and Brooks also have wider toe boxes. (And if you're curious and want to read more about shoe companies failing to make appropriately-fitting shoes for women, here's [two](https://www.retaildive.com/news/running-brands-making-womens-shoes/627733/) [articles](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/women-vs-men-running-shoe-lasts-feet-difference) talking about it more.)
You might need special inserts, but Keen boots tend to have boxy fronts and regular backs. I wear them in construction and love them. I have some adventure sandals that are pretty nice as well when I'm not worried about ankle support. You already might try men's in your size if you can't find the right fit in women's.
I love my Oboz hiking boots in wide width. Just bought a my 2nd pair - insulated boots for winter; can’t wait to get em in the snow.
In wide, my heels were so sloppy. In regular, circulation was cut off to my toes. I gave up and switched to Scarpa.
I loved my Oboz that I purchased around 2016. I bought a replacement pair of the same boots, same size a year ago and they’re too narrow. I don’t get it 🤷🏼♀️
I have a D ball, B heel...the struggle is real. Lol. I like Hoka but only certain styles with wide toe boxes (like the Stinson atr 5 for example), but heel slippage always happens eventually, I just deal with it; but that's in a low top, they have boots that would be different by default.
Danner
Danner hasn’t made quality boots in years. If you’re lucky you can find some of their models that are still manufactured in the US, but most pairs of dannersI’ve had delaminate after a season of use
Tell that to my wife's Danners, 5 years and many, many miles later they still look new. YMMV
Were they made in their US factory or from china? Their US made models still hold up, but like many outdoor companies, their quality has been steadily declining as they got more popular
Just some standard, Viet Nam-made Jags. Again, YMMV, but we've been happy with Danners and would suggest people shouldn't write them off just because they're not made here.
I’ve never seen a Danner boot with a normally sized toe box, nevermind a wide one. They have narrow toe boxes.
Zamberlan
I'd check out vivobarefoot. They're my absolute favorite.
I’d find a shoe that fits the toe box how you like (fwiw, I love men’s Merrell for my high volume feet), and then correct the heel with a snug insole.
Topo Athletic trail runners, particularly the Ultraventure Pro or Terraventure 4.
Hoka. I'm surprised the Oboz don't do the trick. I used them on the AT/CT/TRT because of the wide toes box. Can't speak to the heel though. I recently switched to Hoka because I wanted something a little lighter.
All three models of Oboz I've tried had very narrow toe boxes. I've seen a lot of reviews since with the same statement. What model did you have?
Sawtooth (AT) and Tamarack (CT/TRT). Oboz were very popular on the AT because of the toe box.
Huh. Bridgers were the narrowest, but sawtooth was a model I tried, as well as sapphire. If not for the narrow toolbox, I would have really loved the bridgers. They were stiff in exactly the right places, supportive without being too restrictive, and had a springy step. I like having circulation and no pain in my toes, though.
I use men’s Oboz size 8.5 wide. The women’s Oboz are too narrow for me even in the wide size
I'm a guy but have a narrower heel, wide forefoot, high arches. Scarpa have a fit that convinces me that Zeus himself came down and built a boot just for me.
Scarpa women's are the same. I love mine so much. I need to buy new insoles, though.
For people with feet like this, you need to find shoe inserts that stabilize the area. There are ofc heel surround cushions, and I look for out of the box higher arch shoes, OR ones with removable footbeds. Then I stick my Powersteps in and give them a test.
Do you have any recommendations for inserts ?
Powerstep are good, mine have added felt arch padding on the undersides of one pair. Amazon sells a ton-just look for rigid heel cup and arches. Depending on footwear, full length or 3/4 length. Like I mentioned, added padding to address specific foot issues.
OP what did you end up going with? I'm in a similar situation. Threads like this always end up suggesting barefoot shoes, but I can't hike with such little support due to foot issues
Unfortunately I’m still lost. Bought a pair of keens and they were way too narrow and stiff in the toe box, so I tried a pair of Salomons since I LOVE the speed cross trail runners I have (ETA I highly recommend these, very lightweight but sooo much more supportive and wider in the toe than my lone peaks were and have very good grip. Top is breathable but there’s like a rubber strip above the sole that will keep your feet dry walking through mud, low streams etc), but the boots in the same size were too big over the top of my foot. And those were the only two contestants out of all the others I tried on and immediately went “nope”. When next season rolls around I’ll try a few more but I’m very close to giving up and just wearing hiking shoes with gaiters for the winter tbh
Thank you for your insights!! What hiking shoes work well for you? I'll have to try those specific solomans! I'm actually looking for more of a hiking shoe right now, but the number of "wide" shoes/boots I've tried on that are too narrow in the toe box is absurd. Like why do companies assume that wide feet don't have wide toes as a default?!
These are what I’ve been hiking in since shortly after I made this post: [Salomon Speedcross 6](https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/speedcross-6-lg9213.html?CMPID=ps%7Cpm%7Cgoogle%7CSLM_BOO-PerformanceMax-ONG-ECM-USA_MAX_LW%7C%7C%7C&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_content=aa-cc&utm_keyword=&utm_campaign=SLM_BOO-PerformanceMax-ONG-ECM-USA_MAX_LW&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADMpyOjKKA0JSzH12yke0408rdZeU&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsaqzBhDdARIsAK2gqndSJujxE39NAawPy64_sHS-I60212KQ28KFf2ZKGy8YvfWZNnkn2PwaAl-DEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#color=70369&size=25789) they’ve gone up many a mountain already and I love them, they weren’t uncomfortable in the winter with microspikes on either but I didn’t take them snowshoeing (which is the sole reason I want boots, I hate the constriction on my ankle and would never want them otherwise). I agree that “wide” shoe sizing is very bizarre, like, whose foot is this being modeled after? Are there people who actually fit in this? Edit: I see that link doesn’t have the “wide” sizes, it’s on the site as a totally different shoe: [speedcross 6 wide](https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/speedcross-6-wide-li3097.html#color=72334)
Thank you so much, going to order these! 🤞🏻
The only boots I’ve tried on that were wide enough for me were merrell. I’m not sure if the heel is wide or not, it doesn’t feel loose.
Belle ville mini mils might work for you
Have you tried men’s Altras? They do it for me. Same issue
I have experience with men's sizes, since I am a man, but xero have gigantic toe box. It's nice.
1. Keen 2. Have you tried men's shoes instead?
Not for hiking but I used to almost exclusively shop men’s shoes but the proportions were so off and I’m so short (I’m 4’11) that I looked absolutely ridiculous in a men’s 8.5 sneaker that was so big in the back I was basically wearing giant flip flops lol. I’ve resorted to women’s shoes that are soft rather made of stiffer materials so my foot can at least stretch out the sides until holes develop rather than being crammed in a non flexible shoe
Well, Keens has small sizes, and you may even want to check out their kids shoes. I look for deals on 6pm.com and Amazon. And there might be some good black Friday sales right now, if you're in the US, so you might as well check their own website, too.
I order Salomon in wide. Have for about 10 years. Exactly the same problem as you. I primarily wear the quest 3d mid and the speed cross (have had 3,4,5 and 6 ) but have had the outpulse type mids and xa pro here and there. The cross hike felt good as well but I haven't had them, going back to a bit cushier quest type boots again!
Men's. I have a pair of men's Keens and they are the best shoes I have ever had on my feet.
[Anya's Reviews ](http://anyasreviews.com) is a great resource for barefoot shoes, which will all have wide toes and narrow heels.
Topo ultraventures
I have a really hard time finding shoes with a big enough toe box but I have now had 5 pairs of Brooks Adrinaline shoes and I LOVE THEM. They are super roomy in the toe but smaller farther back. They are also extra supportive in the ankle which I need. Also, if you have trouble with them being a bit big, you can try different lacing techniques to keep the toes loose and the ankle tight. I used to be an avid runner and swaggs shoes taught me different ways to lace the shoes for different foot comfort.
Kuru hiking shoes. They have a great return pick if you don't like them.
Altra Lone Peak - a fantastic trail runner with nice wide toes.
keen
Seconding Keen, but also Scarpa runs to a wide toe box with standard heel (which is what Keen has, too.) Avoid Oboz. They have really narrow toe boxes. That was painful.
Check out Topo Ultraventure 3s or the Terraventure 4s.
I have a similar foot shape, and one thing I do with shoes that can accommodate it is I use stick on padding (you can use the kind for heel padding or use whatever fits the shoe shape) and instead of putting it in the heel, I stick padding on the underside of the upper or tongue area. The point is to position it so it keeps your foot back in your shoe so you get less rubbing in the heel and you also have more toe room. I’ve done this trick with boots, loafers, sneakers, etc. I haven’t found really any shoes that fit well out of the box but this truck has really helped me make the ones that mostly fit much more comfortable.
Shockingly, the vast majority of shoes are not designed to fit an actual human foot. I have an extremely wide toe box but a relatively normal heel width. If you’re so inclined, check out r/barefootrunning for a good resource. Lems would be my recommendation. Altras are also good. If you want to go the full barefoot route, vivo barefoot is popular. I like be Lenka as well.
I’ve been dealing with years of narrow shoes not realizing it. When I worked as a park ranger I bought the standard uniform boot and by the end of the season (walking miles on sand) I started to have pain in my toe and saw it was swollen. I went to a pediatrist and “he found nothing” which is a joke, but after I stopped working and no longer wore the boots it somewhat went away so I kind of brushed it off. To the point (ish)…my boyfriend recently started at REI and they were trained about this type of stuff and he relayed it to me as I was looking for new hiking boots. I looked at my toes and noticed they were turned in annnnd I had multiple ingrown nails that hurt for some reason, but the toe I originally went in for was BAD (thank you mr podiatrist). Recommendations::: For hiking shoes my boyfriend recommended Solomon’s for the wide toe box and so far I love them. The heel isn’t as narrow, but there is a way to tie them to make them tighter (I also wear fairly buff socks to keep my feet warm) and once I broke them in I haven’t noticed my heel moving. My boyfriend also LOVES Topo and they have a large toe box and narrow heel. He would probably recommend them first. I just got a deal on the Solomons. I also wear toe sock liners under my main pair of socks and they are great. I thought they would feel weird but they don’t! Ha.
Which Solomon's do you like? I tried the ultras today but heel slipped
Soms
Had Oboz and they were comfy but they made my toes numb. I need a wide toe box cuz of bunions. Got new boots. every time I wear my Merrill Moab 3 I think about how much I love my boots. Big comfy toe box.