10 best women's shoes for wide feet
Give your feet the space, comfort and style they deserve
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Your support makes all the difference.Feet support your entire weight on a daily basis, which is why there is nothing worse than walking around in ill-fitting shoes. While we are all encouraged to learn our shoe size, our foot width is often overlooked and could be the main reason for many podiatric problems.
Women’s shoes can come in narrow C, regular D, wide E, extra wide EE and even tripe wide EEE – but many brands either don’t accommodate or specify. However specialist shoe shops such as Clarks will measure your length and width to determine if you need a wide or extra wide fit shoe.
Podiatrist Dina Gohil, director of DG Podiatrist, tells IndyBest: “Wide feet are more common these days – flat feet, (as in fallen arches) and tight footwear can cause inflammation which can also cause them to get wider. Wearing something too small for you can be painful, it can also disrupt your natural walking pattern, causing more strain on other aspects of your body. When shoe shopping, always go at the end of the day as your feet will be the widest at that point – this will ensure a more accurate measurement."
These shoes were tested on women with wide feet between the age of 25 and 70, our top pick considered shoes that offered the best amount of extra width, comfort and style.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Clarks Tri Clara In Blush: £69, Clarks
The lightest shoe you’ll probably ever walk in, Clara from Clarks’ Trigenic range is the only trainer you’ll be wearing on long days out. Available in standard D or wide fit E, the wider width really does make a significant difference to overall comfort, and stops overheating or rubbing.
The soles of these are cut in three places for the most flexible grip on different surfaces and terrains, especially walking on an incline. The super soft leather fits to the foot like a glove, they and come in five different shades, including this attractive pale pink.
Geox Lovai: £160, Geox
Finding a stylish, breathable and comfortable cowboy boot sounds like a hard task, but Geox – specialists in hi-tech fabric for shoes and jackets – has cracked it. These 100 per cent leather boots are not only made with a patented perforated soul to keep feet dry, they’ve got a memory foam insole for comfort.
Add to that the wide fit and feet could not be happier. Walking around in these shoes all day, there was no discomfort or overheating. Available in white or black leather, they are a versatile addition to any autumn/winter outfit.
Dorothy Perkins Wide Fit Red Stella Sandals: £17.60, Dorothy Perkins
Evening shoes, especially if they’re strappy and stiletto, regularly prove to be an issue for women with wide feet. But Dorothy Perkins has an extensive selection of wide fit evening shoes that are worth a browse. These Stella sandals in red are particularly impressive and deliver on a wide sole, so no chance of that irritating foot spill over the edges.
Add this to the ankle strap and single toe strap for support, while still giving a decent 3.5 inches of height, and we've found ourselves dancing all evening long with ease.
Vionic Joey: £100, Vionic
The Joey from Vionic, specialists in biomechanically-designed footwear, are an incredible trainer for anyone that not only needs a wide fit shoe, but also requires orthotic support. The black trainers add a super stylish touch to any outfit, while being fitted with a memory foam footbed and enough width room to ensure feet are not squashed or rubbing.
We found that it wasn’t just the width that proved to be more comfortable, but the shoe’s podiatrist-designed FMT technology actually helped us to walk better and reduced heel pain.
JD Williams Satin Slip On Diamante Trim Wide Fit: £26, JD Williams
JD Williams are known for their extensive range of wide, extra wide and ultra wide shoes – but these stunning, on-trend diamante buckle shoes, made in E width and extra wide EEE, are a must-buy this season. These pumps give ample room for pointed shoes, which are notoriously uncomfortable for people with wide feet.
A heel measuring one inch makes these shoes easy to walk in all day with absolutely no discomfort. These look great with jeans to add a statement detail to a casual look, as well as a suit or an evening dress. A great buy for the fashion-conscious who don’t want to break the bank, as these are good value for money.
Birkenstock Arizona Birko-Flor: £55, Birkenstock
There is a reason why this classic sandal by the German shoemakers has been practically unrivalled for nearly four decades. Naturally wider than most shoes and sandals, the scientifically-crafted contoured cork-latex footbed allows the foot to expand during the day.
The adjustable straps mean that wider and larger feet have more room to breathe while still being supported. Birko-Flor is the patented name for the hard-wearing synthetic material of the straps, which come in a number of different colours, but you can also opt for a slightly more expensive leather option.
ECCO Soft 8 Ladies: £74, Footway
The Soft 8 from the Danish shoe company ECCO, founded in 1963, has to be our favourite range. Made from high quality trento leather, these white trainers are a great option for wide feet. Although it does not specify a wide-foot option, the broad shape as well as the removable inlay sole create more room inside the shoe.
The added benefit of soft leather is that it breathes and moulds to the natural shape of the foot over time. Walking in these shoes all day is made more comfortable with the anatomically designed inner, which is spongy and supportive. Also available in both black and grey, and for men and women, this is a versatile shoe that can be worn with any number of outfits.
Hotter Dorset: £79, Hotter
British shoemakers Hotter has been making comfort shoes since 1959. Dedicated to providing shoes for feet of all sizes, their online site even has a wide fit tab, with a decent offering of specialist footwear. One of the key styles this season, which is also the perfect work shoe, is the Dorset.
Made in a wide EE and available in three more colourways, this ia a light, versatile shoe that can be worn with all your workwear. A loafer can often be uncomfortable for wider feet, but these are spongy on the inside thanks to the innovative sole technology. They’re great for carrying in suitcases and the price point for an all-leather shoe is excellent value.
Van Dal Remington: £110, Van Dal
Made in England since 1936, Van Dal has a wide fit tab on the website, with E, EE and EEE options. You cannot go wrong with the Remington for a winter boot, which can be paired with almost every outfit. This boot comes in the extra wide EE fit, but would easily fit a wide foot, and is actually a better size option if worn with thick socks.
The lace-up is just for extra support as this boot is fastened by a zip, so they are easy to slip on and off. They also have an underfoot cushioning, which is why they feel so soft to walk in. Made of black patent leather and suede, the brogue is a classic style that will never go out of fashion. We would recommend for people who like to find one statement pair of boots, as these will last season after season.
Sargasso & Grey Camilla: £165, Sargasso & Grey
British shoemakers Sargasso & Grey use a bespoke mould, which has a wider fitting toe box, in all their shoes. Specialising in women’s work and evening footwear, the Camilla is part of the Autumn/Winter collection, and made in a festive burgundy velvet. The beauty of this company is that they hand-make a capsule collection of shoes in a small selection of colours, so you know they are going to be of superb quality.
The Camilla has a slightly thicker heel and the insole has arch support, which makes the shoe easy to wear all day. The heels of Sargasso & Grey are either 5cm, like these, so practical for office wear, or a 10cm stiletto, more appropriate for an evening event.
The Verdict: Best shoes for wide feet
Not just because the Tri Clara are stylish and comfortable, but for the extensive range of wide fit shoes and measuring services they provide, it has to be Clarks. If you’re on a real budget, check out the selection at Dorothy Perkins, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the selection available, from boots to pumps and heels, but the red Stella sandals really will suit any outfit.