When you’re hiking, one of the most important things is that you are comfortable doing so.
If you’re going to be up on your feet for what could be hours, then you need to make sure that you are well supported.
This can be a bit of a challenge if you have wider feet, as it seems the most popular shoes on the market are made for people with smaller feet!
You need not worry, as there are actually plenty of great hiking shoes out there that are designed for wider feet. It’s just a matter of looking in the right places!
Of course, as there are so many options it can be tricky to narrow down what will be the best option for you. Thankfully, we’re here to help you to make the best possible decision for you.
Read on to find out about the best hiking shoes for wide feet. We’ve also written a handy buyer’s guide to help you to narrow down your decision.
Top 5 Best Hiking Shoes for Wide Feet
OUR TOP PICK
The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is a best selling hiking shoe and for good reason. This is a fantastic choice for people with wide feet, but it has so much more to offer than just a good fit.
This shoe is great for if you are planning on walking in a particularly wet area, as it’s waterproof. So, if you want to jump in puddles in this shoe your feet will stay nice and dry, though we wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing this!
The shoe is very breathable, so you don’t need to worry about any unpleasant odors. It’s even better at making sure moisture doesn’t get in thanks to the nubuck leather uppers.
The shoe features Cordura ankle bands and these help to ensure that the shoes are comfortable to walk in for many hours. The shock absorption is also pretty great due to the polyurethane midsole.
This will help you to be able to walk for many hours without any problems. The traction is pretty decent too as a result of the Vibram outsole.
Furthermore, you’ll have a bunch of different colors to choose from, so there will definitely be something to suit your unique tastes.
Of course, they are a little bit expensive so you will need to make sure that you have the budget for these shoes.
Pros
- Good shock absorbency
- Plenty of color choices
- Waterproof
Cons
- Expensive
EDITORS CHOICE
Once you put the Keen Targhee II Mid hiking shoes onto your feet, you will never want to take them off again! These shoes are brilliant for hiking and there are a lot of reasons why you should definitely invest in a pair.
The shoes are incredibly waterproof, with every part of the shoe’s construction being designed to ensure your little toes remain nice and dry throughout the hike.
This is mainly thanks to the nubuck leather upper in addition to the Keen DRY membrane. Not only this, but the shoe is also incredibly breathable, so you don’t need to worry about your sweaty feet causing havoc inside of your shoes.
In addition to this, the shoe is very stable so you can walk for countless hours without having to worry about discomfort in your feet. You can even wear them indoors as they are made out of non marking rubber.
They are a little bit heavier than your average trail runner though, so you should certainly keep this in mind.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Decent tread and traction
- Good breathability
Cons
- They are a little heavier than trail running shoes so they may take a while to get used to if you usually wear those
BEST VALUE
If you’re just looking for a decent pair of hiking shoes for wide feet just for a short walk, then the Asolo Fugitive GTX is a good choice for that.
You may be concerned with a statement like that that they may not be fantastic for longer hikes, but we’re pleased to say they’re also good for a long trek through the mountains too.
The shoe is fairly lightweight so it doesn’t weigh you down too much as you walk, but it’s also sturdy and stable. It’s ideal if you are going to be hiking in more rough terrain. It features a breathable and waterproof upper too.
The shoe is incredibly comfortable, especially in the midsole. It also has good traction so if you’re on slippery terrain then you don’t need to worry about falling over. It’s a little bit expensive, though!
Pros
- Comfortable
- Good shock absorbency
- Effective traction
Cons
- Expensive
RUNNER UP
These hiking shoes are ideal for a day of hitting the trails. The Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX hiking shoes are designed to be worn for a nice, short walk on the trail. There are a lot of things to love about this hiking shoe!
To begin with, the shoes feature a GORE-TEX liner that has been made to be breathable and waterproof. As a result of this, you don’t need to worry about any moisture getting into the shoe, but whatever gets into the shoe will come straight back out. There’s also decent traction which is ideal in slippery areas.
The shoes even feature a rubber toe guard so you don’t need to worry about your toes getting hurt if something falls on them while you are walking. They’re also extraordinarily lightweight!
Of course, the one downside of these shoes is that they are not well suited for incredibly long hikes that may take a few days, as they aren’t that sturdy.
Pros
- Breathable
- Rubber toe guard
- Lightweight
- Ideal for day walking
Cons
- Not the most sturdy, so not ideal for long trips
RUNNER UP
This is a fantastic shoe for a woman looking for a sturdy shoe to go hiking. It has a lot of mobility, with a lightweight design.
The shoe features M Select Dry which means that it’s waterproof as you walk. You don’t need to worry about any stones or debris getting into your shoe either thanks to the closed cell foam tongue. It even has a rubber toe cap.
The shoe is very comfortable to wear as it has an air cushion in the heel that’s great at absorbing shock. It’s pretty affordable too considering all that the shoe has to offer. It has nice padding around the ankle too that will help you to be able to stride with pride!
Of course, it does have its faults, primarily in the case that the lacing system isn’t particularly durable.
If you are looking for a shoe with a more durable lacing system then you may be better off looking elsewhere, but as a whole it is a great option for a bargain price.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Breathable
- Comfortable - especially with well padded ankle area
Cons
- The lacing system isn’t durable enough
Best Hiking Shoes for Wide Feet Buying Guide
So now that you’ve seen our picks for the best hiking shoes for wide feet, it’s time to go over some of the main things that you need to think about when buying a pair of hiking shoes for wide feet.
It’s always a good idea to fully assess exactly what you need before you buy, as it will help to make sure that you make the best choice for you and your wallet.
So, with that being said, here are some of the main things to consider.
Cost
Whenever you’re buying a product, it’s always important to think about how much you are going to be paying for it.
Setting a budget helps to ensure that you get a good option both for you and your wallet. Ultimately the pierce you pay will depend on what you’re looking for. For instance, if you buy a pair of hiking shoes that are made out of leather they are going to cost more money.
Generally, the more money the shoes cost the more high quality they are going to be. Shoes that cost more money will usually last longer too, though this is not always the case. You can certainly get a good pair of hiking boots at a bargain price.
Fit
The last thing that you want is a pair of hiking shoes that don’t actually fit properly.
If you do have wider feet then you may find it a little bit difficult to find shoes that fit you properly, but manufacturers do make shoes for wide set feet. Don’t force yourself into a pair of shoes that are simply too narrow for you.
If you’re planning on buying your shoes online, you may find it a little bit difficult to know whether your hiking shoes of choice are going to be wide enough for your feet.
After all, you won’t be able to try them on in person before you make your purchase! In this case, you should have a look at reviews from other customers online, and you should be able to gauge what other people thought about the fit of the shoes that way.
Weight
You’re going to be carrying your hiking shoes along with you on your feet, so you need to make sure that they are the correct weight for you and your needs. You may need a heavier shoe or a lighter shoe, but it’s largely going to depend on the sort of hiking that you are going to be doing.
For instance, if you’re doing a slightly shorter hike then you should be just fine with getting a hiking shoe that’s a little bit heavier. On the other hand, if you are doing a particularly long hike that may take you a number of days, then it is imperative that you opt for a more lightweight shoe.
On the same note though, you don’t want something that’s excessively light as you may end up negatively affecting your stability as you walk and stand. A boot that’s too heavy will end up causing you extra strain while you walk, which can take all of the joy out of an otherwise enjoyable hike.
Traction and Tread
Tread will help to make sure that you have good grip and traction when you are walking the trails. You want a pair of shoes with good tread so that you don’t end up slipping and falling on particularly treacherous terrain.
Of course, extra tread and traction is going to make the boot heavier, but this is a small price to pay for safety. You can check how much tread a shoe has by looking at reviews online.
You will also need to think about the kinds of place where you are planning to hike, as different terrains will call for different types of tread. If you are going to be hiking through rough terrain then you may not need to worry about tread quite as much.
Comfort Factors
If you’re wearing something on your feet for long periods of time, then it’s important that what you’re wearing is comfortable.
Some things that increase the comfort of hiking shoes are some great quality insoles that will provide more cushion, and extra padding on the ankle area to give you more support as you walk.
Breathability
You may not think about this when you’re buying a pair of shoes, but breathability is pretty important.
It helps to ensure that when your feet sweat they are properly regulated inside of the shoe. It helps to make sure that you don’t get any nasty infections such as athlete’s foot. They are designed to ensure that no moisture stays inside of the shoe.
This is important not only for comfort but also for ensuring that the shoes last for a long time.
The more moisture and bacteria that gets into the shoe, the less time that shoe is going to last. It also helps to stop the shoes from smelling, which is always a bonus!