If you struggle to find shoes that fit you, and you seem to be uncomfortable in every pair of shoes you try on, you could be suffering from wide feet.
Wide feet can occur if the person is naturally predisposed to having wide feet through genetics, or if their arches have fallen in the feet.
Other causes can be age, pregnancy, foot swelling, or if someone develops a foot deformity. No matter what the cause is, having wide feet can create a lot of discomfort, and can make finding the right pair of shoes a nightmare.
So, how do you know if you have wide feet, and how can you find shoes that are suitable? With this guide, we will tell you the 3 signs you may have wide feet, and what shoes are best for the condition!
How do you know if you have a wide foot?
One of the easiest ways to tell if you have wide feet is if your feet feel stuffed into your shoes all of the time, and you feel constricted or that the shoe is too tight across the middle.
If you are unsure if you have a wide foot or not, then the best way to find out is to measure your foot. This is best done in the evening, as the feet expand during the day, and are smaller in the morning after resting.
To measure your foot, you have to measure the width of the footbed. The footbed is the distance between the two widest parts of your foot, across the middle.
To measure your footbed, you should be standing on a flat surface, and without socks or shoes on.
To do this, take a large piece of paper, and place it on a flat surface. Then, stand on the paper and trace the outline of your food. With a measuring tape, you can then measure the width of the footbed at the widest part of the foot.
You will know if you have wide feet if your shoes feel ill-fitting or too snug no matter what brand you wear.
If you have measured your foot, and the foot width is about 4 inches or more, then you have wide feet. Wide shoes tend to have more room across the width, being about 4 inches or 10 centimeters.
Extra-wide shoes are usually 11 centimeters or 4.5 inches in width.
However, it does depend on the size of the shoe, as if you wear a size 7, and your feet are over 3.5 inches, then it is considered a wide foot, whereas if you wear a size 9, and your foot width is 4 inches, you have wide feet, too.
A general guide is that for a women’s size 5 (US), a wide foot would be over 3.56 inches, whereas a size 6 wide width would be over 3.63 inches.
Following that, for a size 7, what is considered a wide foot is over 3.81 inches, and an 8 would be over 3.94 inches. A size 9 wide foot would be about 4.06 inches, and a 10 would be 4.20 inches. Whether you have wide feet or not does depend on the actual size and length of your shoes and feet.
3 signs you have wide feet
When you have wide feet, you will naturally start to notice that your feet hurt in your shoes. They may feel like they rub in whatever footwear you put on, and you could be left with marks and cuts on your feet.
Three of the main signs that you will notice that you have wide feet are blisters, bunions, and flat feet. If you get blisters often, then it could signify that your shoes have become too tight and ill fitting.
This results in the shoe rubbing against the skin, causing a blister to form, in order to protect the foot from irritation.
You could also be getting bunions from your shoes, as your toes become too tightly crammed into the shoe. A bunion is a bony growth that becomes inflamed and hard, as the big toe grows inwards due to tight shoes.
Finally, you may notice that your feet have become flatter, which in effect makes them wider. Your arches can fall in the feet due to genetics, high-impact activities and exercises, or if you are overweight.
This can create a feeling of discomfort in certain shoes, or if you are standing or walking for long periods of time.
Best shoes for wide feet
Whilst there is no real cure for wide feet, as sometimes it is just the way you were made, you can ensure that your feet do not become injured or swollen wearing the wrong size shoes.
If you have wide feet, then you need to be wearing shoes that compensate for the width of your foot.
This will ensure that you do not develop bunions, inflammation, or your feet do not start to ache and swell up as this can make the condition worse. We recommend that you wear shoes specifically designed for those with a wider foot such as:
Skechers Women’s Walk Joy Walking Shoes: these shoes come in a variety of sizes, and offer options for narrow and wider feet. In addition, they are cushioned, light and flexible, to give your feet lots of support throughout the day.
There is also a similar option for men with the Skechers Men’s Flex Shoe: This shoe offers extra cushion and support with a memory foam sole and the option for wider feet.
