Best Men’s Shoes For Wide Feet To Buy Online: From The D To Dropping The Es

Wide Feet & Tight Shoes

If you’re familiar with our work, then you know that we tend to rattle on a lot about the importance of the fit. This is a fundamental in not only suits but footwear especially.

In fact, we’d actually say that shoes that fit are even more important as the wrong size can actually cause you harm.

We all know how it goes. We impulse buy a pair of shoes only to find that they don’t fit. We don’t want to go through the inconvenience of returning it (or perhaps it was the last size left) so we persevere.

However, this is actually terrible for your feet and can cause injury or even chronic disorders. People with wide feet suffer from this conundrum all the time.

Therefore, it’s of vital importance to find shoes that fit. Nevertheless, it’s not easy when your feet tend to be too wide for regular sizes.

Risks Of Wearing Shoes That Are Too Narrow

Apart from it being dreadfully uncomfortable, wearing shoes that are too tight can run some pretty significant risks. We’re not just talking about the occasional blisters but some real, permanent damage.

Blisters

As mentioned above, this is probably one of the least serious issues but that doesn’t make it any less painful. Blisters are often caused by friction when the feet rub inside the shoe.

If your shoes are too tight, there’s no wriggle run and eventually you’ll begin to develop blisters. However, this is a double-edged sword as they will heal slowly if you continue to wear the shoes.

Corns

Also caused by persistant friction, corns are calluses that will appear in the areas that are rubbed such as between the toes or on the sides of your feet.

Usually, calluses don’t hurt but there are times that they do. However, the growth will have an effect on your stride as the body tries to compensate. As such, this can lead to other complications.

Bunions

We cover these in much greater detail on our dedicated bunion shoe page. However, let’s explore the basics while we’re here.

Also known by their medical term, hallux valgus, bunions are extremely painful that appear as a bony growth or enlargement on the inside part of the big toe’s joint.

Although it’s quite a common genetic disorder, tight shoes are also to blame. High heels and stilettos are the most well-known culprits but men aren’t immune to them either.

As you continue to wear shoes that don’t fit properly, the condition may even degrade and cause an increased misalignment of the joint.

If you do find that you’re developing a bunion, we can’t stress enough how it’s important to intervene quickly. If left too late, surgical intervention may be necessary and it isn’t pleasant.

Hammer Toes

A toe box that’s too small for your feet can cause a condition known as hammer toes. This consists of the toes curling instead of sitting straight. Again, this is something that requires surgery if it gets too severe.

An early symptom of hammer toes is the onset of corns on the side of the toe joint. This is because the same friction that causes corns can develop hammer toes too.

Ingrown Toenails

One of the most painful experiences imaginable beyond actual torture, ingrown toenails aren’t just caused by trimming them too short.

In fact, tight shoes can actually start or even aggravate ingrown toenails. Furthermore, when the edge of the nail breaks the skin, it can cause infection, which may lead to surgery.

Crossover Toes

Crossover toes are a more extreme version of hammer toes. Basically, a toe box that’s too small will force to toes together until they cross over one another.

If you wear shoes that are the right size, the condition may subside. However, leaving it for too long may require surgery to correct.

Diabetic Feet

While not brought along by shoes that are too tight, it can make the experience all the more unpleasant. The high blood sugar caused by diabetes may cause nerve damage in the body’s extremities. This causes them to eventually go numb.

This runs the risk of developing blisters as the discomfort of small shoes goes undetected. Following this, the blisters may even get infected, which causes a whole another world of issues.

If you suffer from diabetes, consider reading out detailed shoe guide for the condition.

Making Sure The Shoes Will Fit

As mentioned above, we offer a guide on how shoes should fit. This helps with the basics but we’ll talk about the considerations you should keep in mind for wide feet.

Bear in mind that it may not be the width of your feet that are in question. After all, the two-dimensional measurements are an abstract simplification for measuring a three-dimensional foot.

Remember this when trying shoes as not all brands are made with the same shape. All shoes are made from moulded templates can ‘lasts’. While some are quite short, others may be tall.

If you test a variety of brands, you may well notice the difference.

As such, you need to find a last with a toe box and metatarsal size that suits you the most.

However, that’s not the only thing that may vary. Consider also evaluating how shoes feel on your foot arches as not everyone’s are the same.

Some people may have foot arches that are lower or higher than average, which can change the way a shoe fits. Whatever the height of their arches, they’ll need the necessary support otherwise, their shoes won’t be comfortable and they may experience discomfort.

What Next?

Now that you have read about the best men’s shoes for wide feet, read some of our related guides to learn more:

• Best Men’s Shoes For Bunions
• Most Comfortable Dress Shoes For Men
• Best Men’s Dress Shoes For Flat Feet
• Bespoke Unit Shoe Homepage