What makes a wide foot?

Sore, tired feet? Can’t work out why all shoes rub the back of your heels?At least 30% of women in the U.K are wearing the wrong fitting shoes. The majority of us stop having our feet measured once we pass childhood. But our feet continue to grow and reshape as we get older.
 

What makes a wide foot wide?

A wide foot can be a combination of, or even just one of the following factors;

• The front of your foot, known as the joint can be wider than a standard fitting.
• High insteps.
• General swelling and puffiness.
• Deformities such as bunions, calluses, hammer toes…

Wide feet can also develop over time with through age, weight gain and child baring.

 

What is a normal foot width?

Generally, a standard, or ‘D’ fit is not marked on the shoe box or label and is the industry standard fitting and many retailers use the fitting guidelines of the governing body SATRA to define these measurements.

 

Do I have wide feet?

There are common signs that your shoes aren’t fitting you properly.

1. Heel slip – do you find shoes constantly rub the back of your heels? This can often be because you are unknowingly compensating for a wide foot by wearing a size bigger than your feet actually are:- You will have more room in the width but the length won’t be holding your foot correctly.
2. Pinching – Do your shoes pinch at the sides? This is another common side effect of wearing standard fit shoes with a wide foot. There simply isn’t enough room for your foot to move with the shoe properly.
3. Cross over toes – this can come from years of wearing ill fitting shoes where your toes are pushed so close together they begin to overlap.

 

How to look after wide feet

Firstly, measure your foot. Our handy guide will help you.

If your instep or ankles are particularly puffy go with a true wide fitting retailer.

A true wide fitting shoe will have extra room in the width as well as the toe box in the shoe to allow room all over. They will also allow extra room in the ankles of their boots and any sandal straps, lace up etc will have some extra give and length for adjustability.