People with wide feet know that a bad pair of shoes can genuinely make or break your week. One outing in a pair of ill-fitting, too-narrow shoes, and you'll be nursing an aftermath of blisters, bunions and aching arches for days to come.
I've had wide feet my whole life, but it wasn't until I started getting older that I began to seek out ways to make my shoes fit better for my wide feet, especially since one foot has become bigger than the other as I've aged.
Having wide feet has made shopping for shoes — one of my favorite past times! — a bit of a depressing affair. After hours of browsing for exactly the look, style and silhouette I wanted, I'd often end up disappointed when I realized the shoe was designed for narrow feet. Trying to "break them in" naturally would leave me with bloody heels, blistered toes — and worse — that would force me to wear nothing but cushioned sneakers or Birkenstocks for the next week.
Eventually I realized that there was an easy solution to my problem. Why should my feet do the breaking in when I could buy a cheap device to do the painful breaking in part for me? That's when I purchased a shoe and boot stretcher that I could use on everything from authentic leather cowboy boots to loafers and ballet flats.
These shoe stretchers widen the width of shoes and boots over time. Simply twist the handle to expand the toe of the shoe to give your foot more space.The bunion expander plugs on each side of the stretcher work to expand the shoe at your foot's widest points, while the heightening pad expands your shoe at the top for a wider instep area. They can be used in heels, boots and regular shoes.
I initially purchased these shoe stretchers to help me break in a pair of cowboy boots purchased from Planet Cowboy, a Nashville-based boot retailer. Though I was enamored with the boots, I knew it would take a lot more than one or two wears for the premium leather to break in and be comfortable enough for my wide feet to wear for several hours.
These shoe stretchers work by widening the width of shoes and boots over time by simply twisting the handle to expand the width a little at a time. What I find especially useful is that the stretchers come with bunion expander plugs that you can add to each side of the stretcher to expand the shoes exactly where you need it at your foot's widest points. The heightening pad expands your shoe at the top for a wider instep area.
The brand recommends leaving the stretcher in shoes for 24- to 48-hours, but I've found that using it for longer leads to better results. I tend to keep the stretchers stored in my boots when I'm not actively trying to stretch out a new pair of shoes. Lately, I've even been using them in a new pair of ballet flats to make them comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
While you can find lots of shoe stretchers online, I opted for these ones because I liked that the long handles are accessible for using with boots and that they don't have a lot of frills and features. I wanted something extremely easy to use, straightforward to figure out and that would get the job done.
"I own many pairs of expensive boots and a few of them are tight so I was looking for a product that would stretch the part of the boot where the toes are," said one reviewer. "I finally found the right tool! Some of the shoe stretcher tools are too wide and don’t slide in the boot far enough to stretch out the toes. These are narrow and do the job."
Another reviewer said these stretchers are better than other versions they've tried. "I’ve had a few pairs in wood so I was reluctant to buy a set in plastic but they work much better than the wood. The wood tended to break after only a short time."
Yet another 5-star reviewer said these stretchers are great for making shoes comfortable with bunions. "Such a great fix for shoes that don't fit right. I bought a new pair of good quality black ankle boots but my right foot was always sore after wearing due to a bunion. This fixed that. Easy to use. Now I can happily wear them. Great to have on hand for any shoes that need a little adjustment."
More Shoe Stretchers We Recommend:
FOOTMATTERS Professional Boot & Shoe Stretch Spray
Often, there's not much you can do to make your foot appear slimmer. Wearing narrow, tight shoes will only worsen the problem. If you have flat arches, special insoles may make your foot appear thinner while giving you support. In some cases, losing weight or reducing swelling may also help your feet look narrower.
If you have wide feet, we don't recommend wearing pointy toes. For a dressy look, opt for round-toed boots that allow your toes to spread out and keep your forefoot from being compressed. Our women's round toe booties are made of soft leather to give you strength and comfort.
The wide foot is a foot morphology that is difficult to fit comfortably in standard shoes. Inadequate shoes tend to compress the foot and the toes. However, there are models of wide-footed shoes. Sneakers, round-toe booties, square pumps or open sandals will offer your wide feet the necessary comfort.
If you have wide feet, you should buy shoes a half size larger. This is because shoe width increases slightly as shoe length increases. A shoe that's half a size longer will often be a little bit wider. However, it's important to try on shoes before you buy them to make sure they fit comfortably.
The open-sided style is great for wide feet because they offer a more relaxed fit than a fully closed shoe, especially if the shoe is made of suede, which is very soft. This style is a popular choice for bunion sufferers who need width at the point of the bunion.
"Cinderella surgery" is a term for cosmetic procedures that make the feet look better, like fixing a bunion, reshaping the foot, or getting rid of corns, calluses, or other foot problems. The term comes from the story of Cinderella, who couldn't wear her glass slippers because her feet hurt.
Sizing up will provide extra width, but the shoe will slip around the heel or in the toe box, causing discomfort when you walk. Instead of wearing the wrong size shoe, it's best to measure your foot width to determine if you need a wide shoe.
Wide-width footwear is designed to accommodate wider feet and provide a comfortable solution for foot problems, but it's crucial to find the right balance. Shoes that are too wide can lead to instability and lack of support, which can exacerbate foot issues.
If you have wide feet, you may be wondering how to decrease foot size. There are many options, including exercises, surgery, and stable shoes. Some women go to extreme measures in order to make their feet smaller. Ultimately, a shrinking procedure might be the best option for your situation.
Should you size down in wide-fit shoes? If the shoe size width charts above suggest you should get a wide-fit shoe, then stick to your usual size. If your feet are only slightly wider, visit one of our stores and try on a size bigger – this might give you the extra room you need.
A regular or medium foot width is a little less than half of your foot size in inches. For example, if you wear a size 7 shoe, then a regular foot width would be around 3.45 inches, whereas a wide size 7 foot would measure anywhere from 3.75 to 4.25 inches.
Yes, individuals with normal feet can wear wide fit shoes, but there are considerations to keep in mind. While wide fit shoes offer extra room and can be beneficial for added comfort, swelling, or accommodating orthopedic insoles, they might also cause the foot to slide if there's too much space.
Foot narrowing or Cinderella surgery can be undertaken on patients with abnormally wide feet. This is often caused by bunions on one or both sides of the foot (hallux valgus and Tailor's bunion deformity). This is often combined with toe-shortening, or correction of associated toe-deformities such as hammertoes.
Whether it's genetics, high-impact activities, going barefoot too often, or being obese, flat feet cause your feet to become wider. If you suspect you might have wide feet or if you have any other foot problems or issues mentioned above, don't hesitate to visit us at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Central PA. Dr.
Most people gain weight as they get older — and those extra pounds press down on the ligaments and tendons that support your foot. As a result, your foot can widen or lengthen. “It adds up over time,” says Dr. Nicolosi.
Feet come in all shapes and sizes, but we can classify the causes of wide feet as follows : Genetics : some people are simply born with wider feet. If you have flat feet, you will tend to have wider feet. Age : As you age, the ligaments and tendons in your body become looser and your feet tend to get longer and wider.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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