If you have wide feet, you know the drill. The shoe fits at 7 a.m. By 3 p.m. your little toe is rubbing, the sides are pressing on a bunion, and you are counting the minutes until you can take them off in the car. Feet swell over a long shift, and a shoe that is only just wide enough in the morning will not be by the afternoon.
The fix is simple, if not always easy to find: shoes made in true wide and extra wide sizes, with a toe box roomy enough for your toes to spread. Below are the picks that come in proper widths, not just a “generous fit,” from cushioned running shoes to a premium max-cushion pick and an extra-depth shoe for feet that nothing else fits.
The short version
7 picks- 01 Best all-round New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 $169.95 Amazon
- 01 Best all-round New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 Amazon UK
- 02 Wide plus support New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 $145.00 Amazon
- 02 Wide plus support New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 Amazon UK
- 03 Most width options Brooks Ghost $149.95 Amazon
- 03 Most width options Brooks Ghost Amazon UK
- 04 Max cushion (premium) HOKA Bondi $164.90 Amazon
- 04 Max cushion (premium) HOKA Bondi Amazon UK
- 05 Soft and roomy ASICS Gel-Nimbus $109.95 Amazon
- 05 Soft and roomy ASICS Gel-Nimbus Amazon UK
- 06 Broad, stable base Brooks Ghost Max $94.46 Amazon
- 06 Broad, stable base Brooks Ghost Max Amazon UK
- 07 Extra wide, extra depth Orthofeet Extra Depth Sneaker $129.00 Amazon
What actually helps
- True wide sizing. Look for shoes sold in labeled widths: usually D for women’s wide and 2E for men’s wide, with extra wide going up from there. The letters vary a little between brands, so check each size chart.
- A roomy toe box. CCOHS says a work shoe should leave your toes room to move and match the shape of your foot. For bunions, the NHS suggests wide shoes with a low heel and a soft sole, with enough room for your toes.
- Measure late in the day. CCOHS advises buying shoes later in the day, when your feet are at their biggest. Measure both feet and fit the larger one.
- A firm heel, even in a wide shoe. A wider shoe should still hold your heel. If your heel slips, try a different lacing pattern or a different model.
Buying online? Order your usual length in the wide width, try the shoes on in the evening with the socks you wear to work, and walk around indoors on a hard floor. You should be able to wiggle all your toes, and nothing should press on the sides of your foot. If it pinches now, it will pinch more on hour eleven, so send it back.
If your feet are wide and flat, a wide stability shoe may suit you better. Our flat feet guide covers those.
How the picks compare
| Pick | Support type | Cushion | Widths | Wipe-clean | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Balance 1080 | Neutral | High | Narrow to extra wide | No | Wide feet that want plush cushion |
| New Balance 860 | Stability | Medium-high | Narrow to extra wide | No | Wide feet that also roll in |
| Brooks Ghost | Neutral | Medium | Narrow to extra wide | No | The widest range of widths |
| HOKA Bondi | Neutral, broad base | Max | Regular, wide, extra wide in some sizes | No | Most cushion |
| ASICS Gel-Nimbus | Neutral | High | Regular, wide in many sizes | No | Soft cushion that still feels light |
| Brooks Ghost Max | Neutral, broad base | Max | Regular, wide | No | Long hours standing still |
| Orthofeet Extra Depth | Built-in orthotic insole | Medium | Wide, extra wide | Depends on style | Very wide feet and bunions |
Widths vary by size and color, so always check the listing for your exact size before you order.
The all-round pick
The 1080 is New Balance’s top cushioned shoe, with a generous toe box and a range of widths that HOKA and Brooks do not always match. It is the first shoe we would suggest for wide feet that just want comfort.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080
Plush cushioning with a roomy toe box.
New Balance's top cushioned trainer, with a generous toe box and a range of widths that HOKA and Brooks don't always match.
- Type
- Neutral cushioned running shoe
- Widths
- Narrow to extra wide, depending on size
Best for
Wide feet and bunions that hate narrow toe boxes.
Worth knowing
Sizing runs slightly differently from other brands. Check the size chart.
Wide feet that also roll in
The 860 is the stability version, with firmer foam on the inside to guide a foot that rolls in. Same New Balance width range, so it is a strong pick for feet that are wide and flat.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 860
Support and real width choices in one shoe.
New Balance's stability trainer, with a firmer section of foam on the inside to guide a foot that rolls in, and the wide range of widths New Balance is known for.
- Type
- Stability running shoe
- Widths
- Narrow to extra wide, depending on size
Best for
Flat feet that are also wide, and anyone who needs a true wide or extra wide stability shoe.
Worth knowing
Width options vary by color and size, so check the listing before you order. Mesh upper, not splash proof.
The most width options
The Ghost comes in narrow, regular, wide and extra wide, which is more choice than most shoes. It has a conventional shape and balanced cushioning, so there is almost nothing to get used to.
Brooks Ghost
Soft, steady, and nothing to get used to.
A neutral everyday trainer with balanced cushioning and a conventional shape, for people who find rocker soles strange.
- Type
- Neutral daily running shoe
- Feel
- Balanced, smooth
- Widths
- Narrow, regular, wide, extra wide
Best for
Anyone who wants comfort without the tall HOKA look.
Worth knowing
Less cushion under the heel than a Bondi. Mesh upper, so not splash proof.
The premium pick
The Bondi is HOKA’s most cushioned shoe, with a broad, stable base, and it comes in wide and, in some sizes, extra wide. HOKAs can feel snug through the midfoot, so if you are between widths, go wider. Weighing it against the Clifton? See Clifton vs Bondi.
HOKA Bondi
Maximum cushion for maximum hours.
HOKA's most cushioned everyday shoe: a deep, stable stack of foam that feels like standing on a mat all shift.
- Type
- Max-cushion running and walking shoe
- Feel
- Thick, stable, rocker sole
- Widths
- Regular and wide
Best for
Heavier walkers, sore heels and anyone who wants the most padding they can get.
Worth knowing
Bulky and firm-ish at first. Give it a few shifts before judging.
Soft and roomy
The Gel-Nimbus is ASICS’ most cushioned everyday shoe, sold in wide in many sizes. It suits people who want lots of cushion but find max-cushion shoes too tall or heavy.
ASICS Gel-Nimbus
Big cushion that still feels light by mile three.
ASICS's most cushioned everyday running shoe, with soft foam and gel cushioning in the heel. It is made for long, easy miles, which is a fair description of a med-surg hallway.
- Cushion
- High
- Widths
- Regular and wide in many sizes
Best for
People who want lots of cushion but find max-cushion shoes like the Bondi too tall or too heavy.
Worth knowing
The knit upper breathes well but soaks up spills. Keep a wipe-clean second pair for messy days.
A broad, stable base
The Ghost Max sits on a wide platform that feels planted when you are standing still at the bedside or leaning in to turn a patient. It comes in a wide fit too.
Brooks Ghost Max
A wide, stable platform for standing still and leaning in.
A high-cushion version of the Ghost with a broad base and a gentle rocker, made for comfort over long days on your feet rather than speed.
- Cushion
- Max
- Widths
- Regular and wide
Best for
Hours at the bedside, and anyone who wants a planted, steady feel when turning a patient.
Worth knowing
Mesh uppers are not fluid resistant. Keep a wipe-clean pair for messy shifts.
When nothing else fits
If you have tried the big running brands in their widest sizes and still hurt, look at a shoe made for wide feet from the start. Orthofeet makes wide and extra wide styles with extra depth and soft, non-binding uppers, and some come with spacers so you can adjust the room inside. That extra depth also leaves room for a custom orthotic, if a podiatrist has given you one. They look more like walking shoes than running shoes, so check your dress code.
Orthofeet Extra Depth Sneaker
For feet that no running shoe has ever fit.
A comfort sneaker made in wide and extra wide widths with extra depth, a soft non-binding upper and an orthotic insole. Some styles come with removable spacers so you can adjust the room inside.
- Widths
- Wide and extra wide in many styles
- Depth
- Extra depth, per the maker
- Insole
- Removable
Best for
Very wide feet, bunions, swelling, and feet that need room for a custom orthotic.
Worth knowing
Looks more like a walking shoe than a running shoe. Styles and widths vary, so check the size chart for the exact model.
What about clogs?
Classic clogs have a roomy toe box but usually come in fixed widths, and fit varies a lot from person to person. Some wide-footed nurses love them and some cannot get on with them. Our Dansko vs HOKA guide goes through the pros and cons.
What to skip
- Sizing up in length to get width. A longer shoe just moves the widest part to the wrong place and lets your foot slide.
- “Roomy fit” with no width on the label. If it is not sold as wide or extra wide, assume it is a standard width.
- Counting on stretch. CCOHS warns against buying shoes that are tight and expecting them to stretch.
- Pointy or narrow toes. The NHS says to avoid tight, pointy shoes if you have bunions.
- Thick insoles in a just-fits shoe. Insoles take up room. If you add one, you may need the next width up.
When to see a doctor or podiatrist
Wide feet are just feet. But see a doctor or podiatrist if you have pain that does not ease with better shoes, or a bunion that is getting worse or stopping you doing normal things. The NHS says anyone with diabetes should get foot problems checked, since they can be more serious. Our plantar fasciitis guide covers heel pain specifically.
More for long shifts
Wide calves often come with wide feet, and our compression sock guide has picks sized by calf. For after-shift comfort, see the recovery guide. Our main nursing shoe guide covers fit and replacing your shoes, and we have shoe guides for the ER, OR, ICU, med-surg and labor and delivery.
Your unit’s dress code comes first, and if foot pain does not go away, please see a doctor or podiatrist.