How to Choose Shoes for a Wide Foot

Since most shoe stores stock shoes in a "B" width, wide feet for both men and women is defined as a size "C" or wider. You may have wide feet for many reasons. You may have inherited them from your parents or the wideness may have resulted from an injury. Many people have a wide foot due to toe deformities such as bunions. (A bunion is a deformity of the big toe joint which causes the foot to be misshapen and widen across the ball of the foot). If you have wide feet and have been wearing flat, slip-on shoes, you will not be supporting your arch, which may lead to arch pain or ankle sprains. Wearing high heels may also cause bunions and create tight calf muscles and achilles tendons. A narrow shoe will squeeze the front for your foot and can cause bunions, claw toes, corns and calluses. Below, learn how to select healthy shoes for wide feet.

Things You'll Need

• A specialist shoe store

Instructions

1. Have both of your feet measured. You may find that one foot is wider than the other. You should always buy shoes to fit the larger and wider foot.

2. Find a shoe that has a removable insert or lining. You can remove this insert to give you more space in the shoe and doing so may give you more room to accommodate your orthotics, if you wear them. Orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts made by podiatrists.

3. Choose a shoe with an adjustable strap or laces. These should be firmly secured at the top to prevent your foot slipping forward in the shoe. You can loosen the laces further down, over the top of the ball of your foot, to provide more room in the shoe.

4. Avoid slip-on shoes whenever possible. Your foot will slip forward in the shoe and the widest part of your foot ( the toe ball area) will no longer be sitting in the widest part of the shoe. This will cause some discomfort and make you more susceptible to certain conditions such as bunions.

5. Visit a specialist shoe store that stocks a large variety of shoes for wide feet. Most regular shoe stores only stock size B shoes which will not be comfortable for you. The podiatrist may be able to adjust your shoes and stretch problem areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Never buy a shoe that is uncomfortable in the store. The material should not have to stretch in order for the shoe to be comfortable.

• Always take your orthotics with you (if you wear them) when buying new shoes. Orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts ordered through a podiatrist's office.

• Do not shop for new shoes first thing in the morning, but at the end of the day when your feet are at their largest. Your feet swell as the day progresses and are likely to be their widest at the end of the day or at night.