Wide Toe Box Sneakers Help You Run, Squat, and Live Better. Here’s Which to Buy
Wide toe box shoes have several critically important health benefits. We sent a marathon runner a dozen pairs to put to the test.
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Whether it’s on a run or in the gym, sneakers are supposed to help your workout, not hurt it. This is why a new—and simultaneously very old—style of shoe is becoming more popular with trainers, physical therapists, podiatrists, and other food-minded nerds: wide toe box sneakers.For a very long time, narrow shoes have reigned supreme. They look sleeker and more aerodynamic, but in terms of performance, form doesn’t trump function. Wide toe box shoes—which are simply shoes that are wider than is typical in the area your toes hand out—provide more balance, more stability, and more comfort. Whether you’re aware of it or not, narrow shoes that cramp your feet are uncomfortable and could lead to long-term injuries (more on that later). Interested yet? Here’s why you should consider wider toe boxes, and the best wide toe box sneakers to keep your feet healthy, according to our testing and expert opinion.
What’s the best wide toe box sneaker? We think it’s Hoka’s Clifton 9, due to its updated cushioning, strong outsole, and breathable upper. Read on for more.
About the Expert
Dr. Sarah Haller is a fellowship-trained, double board certified foot and ankle surgeon with Essex Union Podiatry in New Jersey. She’s also certified by American Board of Preventative Medicine and specializes in revisional surgery, sports medicine, post-traumatic and cosmetic reconstruction, and foot and ankle musculoskeletal deformities.
What Are Wide Toe Box Sneakers?
Wide toe box sneakers are just what their name denotes: They’re shoes that have an expanded, or at least bigger-than-normal, area for your toes. Note that they’re not necessarily wider throughout the whole shoe; just the top box part where your toes go.
The wide toe box design can be beneficial for virtually any performance use case. For walking and jogging, the additional surface area for your toes and foot to splay out provides better balance and reduces injury risk. For lifting, that same space allows your feet to cover more ground, which helps with stability under load, which also reduces injury risk. The simplified version of all of this: shoes that allow your feet into more natural movement patterns are better for your feet. While this may not sound groundbreaking, a huge chunk of the footwear market runs in direct opposition to this idea.
Why go wide?
1. Comfort, safety, and fewer injuries
You’ve probably felt it before: You get a new pair of shoes and everything about them is perfect. The upper is strong but flexible, the shoe strings stay tied through the day, and the outsole has great traction. But, they’re insanely tight on your feet, so you never end up even wearing them because they make your feet hurt so bad.
“Scientifically, people with flat feet usually develop instability, usually leading to a bunion deformity…” Dr. Haller says. Wide toe box shoes are intended to solve this. They give your toes room to expand to they’re natural surface area which reduces injuries. In addition to normal aching and swelling, shoes that are too tight could cause foot deformities, ingrown toenails, fungal infections, and more.
2. Balance and stability
When your feet are able to spread out, they create a stronger base for the rest of your body. Wide toe box sneakers allow your toes to breath and feet to expand out in addition to reinforcing your natural foundation with added traction and cushion. Wide sneakers are like a tripod for your body. “This is most comfortable and maximally efficient for people with deformities and bony bumps and allows for people to participate in activities,” Dr. Haller told me.
3. Alignment and posture
With a strong base, the rest of your body is able to move better. Since wide toe box sneakers encourage the conditions for this, you’ll notice that your alignment becomes better. If you previously wore shoes with corrective features, you may not be as reliant on them because your posture will improve with proper alignment.
Are there any downsides to wide toe box shoes?
1. Blisters
Most of the drawbacks of wearing wide toe box sneakers come from folks with particularly slender feet, for whom the wider toe box may cause issue. If your shoe’s toe box is too big and your feet too small, your feet will move around more within the shoe, thus creating more blisters and skin-related issues. If you know you have especially skinny feet, consider a more typical shoe. This shouldn’t be an issue for most people, though.
2. Injuries
The extra space between your foot and your shoe could create a lot of unnecessary movement if the wide toe box shoes don’t fit properly, especially during cardio workouts like running. This makes shoe fit even more critical with this type of shoe. This lack of stability causes stress on the foot as it tightly clenches to find support, potentially causing major injuries to your feet and legs.
How Did We Test the Shoes?
I’m an avid runner (high school cross country, several half marathons, and a full one) and gym goer. I’ve used a lot of shoes for a lot of different purposes—be it casually walking around the city or training around Lady Bird Lake here in Austin, TX.
What I always tend to find in my favorite running shoes is that they’re versatile enough to wear for multiple types of workouts, not just running. When considering the best wide toe box shoes, I considered a few main things: What shoes would work best on the surfaces I run on? How durable are they? And do I feel like I have ample support. Most of my runs either took place on the dusty trails around Lady Bird Lake—which are softer than concrete but also have some obstacles like loose rocks and twigs—and the sidewalk around my house. Stability and strength are imperative for my running style. But because wide toe box shoes are valuable beyond just athletics, I also simply walked and went about my day-to-day wearing them to get an idea of general comfort level and support. Here’s what I found.
The Best Wide Toe Box Sneakers You Can Buy, Tested
HOKA Clifton 9
Why do we like it? It’s one of the pioneering models of the category, and still at the top.
Best for: Anyone looking for thick materials and the most support possible.
Cushioning: High
The HOKA Clifton 9 is the brand’s ninth iteration of their award-winning Clifton franchise. It’s lighter and features even more cushioning than the previous generation. It adds a 30mm stack height and contains a compression-molded EVA foam midsole for a revitalized underfoot experience. Made of vegan-friendly recycled polyester, the Clifton 9 got rid of overlays and hotmelts in favor of a stripped-back upper for a stylish-yet-breathable design. The brand’s MetaRocker™ technology gives you added stability while you hit more and more miles
The gusseted tongue provides adequate adjustment to keep the shoes snug as you slide your feet in. Its plusher, reflective heel panel adds additional protection and the ‘Durabrasion’ rubber outsole gives the shoes proper grip, traction, and impact resistance so your feet stay comfortable even while enduring heavy impact. This lightweight pair of athletic footwear also comes with the APMA Seal of Acceptance, which recognizes the product as beneficial for foot health.
Altra Torin 7
Why do we like it? Altra is known for their obviously wide fore foots, and the Torin 7 is a shining example.
Best for: Toes that naturally spread out very far.
Cushioning: High
Built specifically for runners, the Altra Torin 7 features a 30mm stack height and the brand’s EGO™ MAX midsole adds more bounce while you run. The company also reinvented the tongue by incorporating extra padding and smooth fabric inside. No more annoying flaps that came with the Torin 6, which tended to aggravate the top and sides of wearers’ feet.
The new engineered mesh upper offers feet adequate comfort and breathability, keeping them dry all day long. The molded heel collar provides security so you can lock in on every stride while the FootShape fit gives your toes enough room to move freely inside. They weigh around 9.8 ounces so the Torin 7 is lightweight enough for daily exercise. These sneakers also come with what the brand calls FootPod™ technology in the outsole, which supports foot flexibility and helps them move with your body, allowing you to interact naturally with your environment.
Brooks Ghost Max
Why do we like it? If you’re looking for a daily driver from a time-tested brand in great colorways, these will do the trick.
Best for: City commuters who often log miles in a day.
Cushioning: High
The Brooks Ghost Max gives wearers enhanced protection due to their soft cushioning, super stable ride, and rocking transition that can propel them forward. They are built to absorb impact while also providing enough wiggle room with their wide-toe boxes. Designed for urban walking and running, they have a 6 mm midsole drop and weigh around 10 ounces, which is a bit heavier than the other shoes on this list.
The mesh upper fits true to size and has a soft texture that feels great against the foot. Their well-cushioned tongue stays centered over the foot even when you start sprinting. The Ghost Max’s DNA Loft v2 midsole provides enough protection to keep your feet free from pain and stress while the outsole gives good traction and tackiness. Their rubber material keeps the shoes durable enough to last long. The sleek color combination gives the shoes an edgy appeal and the brand’s subtle texts add an elegant touch.
Brooks Beast GTS 23
Why do we like it? These have some of the most support we’ve seen in a sneaker.
Best for: Road walking and even heavy-standing sports like tennis or pickleball.
Cushioning: Medium
Boasting maximum foot support, the Brooks Beast GTS 2 offers you top-class stability and comfort with its soft cushioning and roomy fit great for orthotics. They have a midsole drop of 12mm and a reasonable weight of 11.9 ounces. They come in four sleek colors, which you can pair with any of your athleisure staples. The nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 cushion helps protect your body from impact. The innovative GuideRails system curves inward, allowing you to keep your natural motion path while keeping excess movement in check.
The upper holds your feet in place and the lace adds a modern and sporty appeal to the overall design. The insides of these kicks are simple yet effective. They’re equipped with well-padded heel liners that taper around a snug midfoot and a breathable toe box. These shoes give your feet the relief they deserve as you run for six miles or more.
Nike Pegasus 41
Why do we like it? One of Nike’s widest model, and the newest version of the Pegasus, these shoes are extremely lightweight while still having proper support.
Best for: Runners who are optimizing for speed over shorter distances (and Nike loyalists).
Cushioning: Medium
The Nike Pegasus 41 shoes are equipped with responsive cushioning for daily running. Their dual Air Zoom gives them a lightweight feel. The ReactX foam midsole surrounds the forefoot to keep your feet comfortable. It’s also crafted to reduce carbon footprint by 43%, making the Pegasus 41 one of the most environmentally friendly shoes in the market.
The upgraded breathable engineered mesh upper decreases the shoes’ weight while providing extra breathability. The company’s signature waffle-inspired rubber outsole gives the sneakers strong traction and flexibility, minimizing slipping and tripping while you’re out on the pavement. The plush collar tongue and sock liner ensure a comfortable fit, your feet won’t feel too stuffy while also having enough room by the toes. They come in six colors, but Nike provides customers a chance to customize, giving the option to choose from traditional hues or unique graphics from the base to the lace.
HOKA Mach X
Why do we like it? These are like the Clifton 9 on steroids.
Best for: Speed training and race days.
Cushioning: High
The Hoka Mach X doesn’t just accommodate those with wide feet, they look great too. The jacquard upper and color combinations are feasts for the eyes that will match well with most of your athletic gear or casual attire. The gusseted tongue hugs the top of your foot and the laces also have enough stretch to keep the shoes locked around your feet.
The PEBA foam and propulsive Pebax® plate add high-rebound cushioning which resists impact and gives wearers enough bounce to keep on running. They keep your feet closer to the ground, providing you with an efficient push-off during runs. Their metal lockers also keep their legs from turning over. Made from recycled polyester and nylon, the Mach X are adaptable trainers that can survive endurance runs with a design that you can also take to happy hour.
TYR Valkyrie Speedworks Runner
Why do we like it? The midsole is specifically designed to help you transition faster.
Best for: Dedicated long-distance runners—these aren’t the prettiest, but they’re extremely durable.
Cushioning: High
The TYR Valkyrie Speedworks Runner features an anatomical toe box that keeps anyone with wide feet comfortable either when walking, running, or playing sports. The LaunchPX midsole showcases a full nylon plate tucked between two full-length 100% Pebax® supercritical foams. They allow wearers to enjoy ultimate comfort, response, and foot support for any movement.
The Alphaweave upper gives unmatched breathability and the gusseted tongue prevents shifting. Their laces also lock in your foot so you can run securely and hassle-free. They (most likely) won’t loosen or untie no matter how long you run. These shoes also come with a stack height of 39.5mm by the heel and 33.5mm at the forefoot. They come in at 8.1 ounces and while these runners only come in one color, the sleek black hue and white outsole are versatile enough for any staple.
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