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The Updated: 17 September 2024 aren’t just available in one fit these days – plenty are built for those requiring a wider fit, with brands now designing the same model of trainer in regular fit, wide fit and sometimes extra-wide fit versions.
So, here's our edit of the best wide fit trainers for runners. Keep scrolling to read our full reviews, as well as advice on what to look for if you think you might require a wider fit.
The best wide fit running shoes, expert-tested?
If you’re not sure if you need a wide or extra-wide fit, you can usually tell by how much bulging there is at the sides of previous running shoes you've used. If you’re experiencing shoe discomfort while running, you should get your foot measured at your local running store. There’s a good chance you’re wearing a shoe that’s too small, particularly if, like most of us, you haven’t been fitted in the past 10 years.
Not all cramp-footed runners need an overall wide-sized shoe, though. Sometimes the problems stem from the length of the shoe, or width and depth of the toebox alone. There are a few brands proven to work better for those of us who prefer a broader forefoot, such as Altra.
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Best running shoes for flat feet Runners Need, explains that there are some brands whose fit is a little wider, while others have more pliable, lightweight uppers that accommodate extra width. Both of these help some runners.
However, for some runners, this is not enough. ‘By far the biggest step forward in this area is the availability of different width options,’ says Jennings. ‘Take the Brooks Ghost: we carry the wide width for men and women, as well as the standard. It’s an identical shoe, just with extra volume within.’
The terminology for wide shoes is different for men and women. In women’s shoes, 'B' is the standard width, while standard men’s shoes are 'D' width. That means an 'A' would be narrow for women and a 'B' would be narrow for men. For women, wide sizes start at 'D' and go up to 'E' and '2E'. For men, a '2E' is considered wide and a '4E' is extra wide.
How we test
Our testing process includes exhaustive market research, analysis of user feedback, and consultations with industry experts to narrow down the running shoes that are most suitable for those with wider feet. All of our selections below have been rigorously put through their paces by the Runner’s World editors and our wider team of wear testers — specifically those with a wider foot type, clocking up between 60-80km on each shoe.
The final line up was selected by our e-commerce editor Ali Ball, combining feedback from the Runner’s World editors and wear testing team with her personal experience in this comprehensive guide to the best wide fit running shoes.
The Updated: 17 September 2024 for 2024, expert-tested?
Runner’s World UK has been vetting and reviewing running gear and tech since 1983. Our essential recommendations, including all kinds of running shoes, are selected based on data and insights gathered by our editors, who put the latest and greatest running shoes and gear through their paces day in and day out. In 2024, the Runner’s World test team is led by e-commerce editor Ali Ball, an 11-time marathoner and ultramarathoner who has over seven years experience testing fitness gear, including more than 100 different running shoes.
The best wide fit running shoes, expert-tested
Pros
- More cushioning than previous version
- Relatively light
- Secure lockdown
- Stylish
Cons
- Which running shoes are wide fit
| Weight | 248g (M), 205g (W) |
|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe drop | 5mm |
| Type | Neutral |
> Read our full Hoka Clifton 9 review <
The Clifton is one of Hoka’s most popular running shoes, but the standard version is on the narrow side, much like the brand's other offerings. Luckily, the max-cushioned daily trainer is available in a wide-fit option, too. Designed for everyday miles, it offers a supremely comfortable and easy-going ride.
In the 9, there’s a new midsole foam (compression moulded EVA) designed to be lighter and more responsive underfoot than previous versions. It’s this that makes the Clifton suitable for reducing fatigue during longer runs, while its rocker profile gently encourages you forward, even on easier days. The upper of the Clifton 9 has also been tweaked and updated to provide a more secure and comfortable fit.
Pros
- Soft underfoot
- Durable
- g M, 230g W
- Which running shoes are wide fit
Cons
- Best daily trainer
| Weight | 262g (M), 206g (W) |
|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe drop | 6mm |
| Type | Neutral |
> Read our full NB Fresh Foam x 1080 v13 review <
NB’s extremely popular Fresh Foam X 1080 v13 is available in wide and x-wide, in both men’s and women’s.
Built for a super-soft ride, these have been designed to be even softer than previous iterations, so if you’re looking for cushioning, comfort and room for wider feet, these are well worth considering. Updates to the upper seem to be all about elevating comfort, too. There’s additional padding around the heel collar and on the gusseted tongue – adding to the v13's all-round plusher feel – with the tongue wrapping nicely around the midfoot. The knitted mesh upper, which felt a little too stretchy on the v12, has been replaced with a more structured upper that holds the midfoot more securely in place.
This is a shoe that caters for most runners' training needs, whether you're looking for a recovery day shoe you can sink your feet into, a long run shoe that can eat up every mile, or even a shoe to run your first marathon in.
Pros
- Best for high mileage
- Best for high mileage
- Could be springier
Cons
- John Jennings, footwear buyer at
| Weight | 305g (M) |
|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe drop | 8mm |
| Type | Neutral |
> Read our full Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 review <
One of our favourite running shoes of all time, you’ll be glad to hear the Gel-Nimbus 26 is available in a wide fit and extra wide fit – unfortunately, only in the men's size, though.
RW testers rated this suitable for longer runs and everyday miles. It's not as plush as the previous iteration, due to the move from FF Blast cushioning to FF Blast Eco cushioning. This makes it a slightly firmer feeling ride, which lends it well to some tempo work. They're still soft underfoot, though, with a smooth, rolling transition. Bouncy, fun, but not overly springy, if you need a recovery day shoe or a long-distance slow-run trainer, this is a great option.
Pros
- The Clifton is one of
- Resting heart rate
- Hokas most popular running shoes
Cons
- Run small (size up)
- You prefer a softer ride
What can we say about the Ghost that hasn’t been said before? A stone-cold classic and a shoe that will get you through mile after mile after mile, the Ghost is the dependable trainer we rely on for all the other runs. It’s not a speedwork demon, it’s a throwback to ignoring the clock and getting lost in the run.
In the v16, Brooks has replaced the Ghost’s DNA Loft v2 midsole with DNA Loft v3, the same nitrogen-infused foam in the Glycerin 20 and 21. Ensuring the Glycerin remains Brooks’s plushest trainer, though, the Ghost 16 has a lower heel and forefoot midsole height and a 2mm higher offset. While the fit runs slightly small (go half a size up), once on your feet, you really feel like you're nestled down inside the cushioning and in control of the midsole's stack height. The shoe feels light on the foot, with no clunkiness to them, despite being moderately cushioned.
Brooks offers a wide range of its shoes in differing widths so you can dial your fit right down: with the Ghost 15, you can purchase it in D, 2E and 4E.
Pros
- Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3: Tried and tested
- Fairly versatile
- Stylish
- Cushioned yet lightweight
Cons
- best carbon plate running shoes for race day
| Weight | 290g (M) 250g (W) |
|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe drop | 6mm |
| Type | Neutral |
> Read our full On Cloudstratus 3 review <
Compared with On's other offerings, the Cloudstratus has a slightly wider toe box and soft, slightly stretchy mesh upper, which makes it an ideal choice for those looking for slightly more room. The shoes have the classic On immediate pull-on comfort, but while this makes them gentle on tired legs and great for recovery miles, they also respond well to an increase in pace, making them a great everyday trainer.
The Speedboard helps to roll you forward on each stride for an explosive take-off, while the double Cloudtech cushioning provides that soft landing underfoot. For this reason, they particularly come into their own on Best marathon running shoes, where you're not going too quick or too slow.
Shop - women's
Pros
- Secure, locked-in fit.
- Generous fit
- Decent wedge of cushioning underfoot
- Versatile
Cons
- Not ideal for heelstrikers
| Weight | 278g (M), 230g (W) |
|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe drop | 0mm |
| Type | Neutral |
Now in its seventh iteration, the Torin has won fans for its plush cushioning and fit, though not all of the updates have been received well. But the Torin 7 is set to be a hit, with a touch more midsole (2mm more of Altra’s Ego Max foam) and a redesigned heel collar for a securely locked-in fit. The tongue has also been updated, with a plush feel that’s soft yet breathable on longer efforts.
Like all Altra shoes, the fit is both generous and secure – there’s toe room but not so much space that your foot isn’t held in place. And also like most Altra shoes it has zero drop. Those who are curious yet wary of the zero-drop shoe might want to give this a try because the super-comfortable fit, energetic ride and a good wedge of cushioning (30mm) result in a shoe that doesn’t‘ feel’ zero drop at all. Indeed, it’s a versatile shoe, a great daily trainer with a good energy return that actually responds well when you pick up the pace. It's a shoe that works best for runners who are wanting to get up on the forefoot, perhaps less so for the heelstrikers out there.
Pros
- Soft underfoot
- Effortless ride
- Cradles your foot
Cons
- Cradles your foot
- Best Saucony running shoes for 2024
| Weight | 269g (M), 232g (W) |
|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe drop | 6mm |
| Type | Stability |
> Read our full Saucony Guide 17 review <
Available in regular and wide fit, the Guides are a reliable pair of stability road trainers for runners looking to rack up training miles.
Soft underfoot feel while retaining a good level of liveliness, the ride feels small and effortless, and there's plenty of structure alongside the plushy interior, too. In fact, the Guide 17 has a visibly more sculpted sole than the Guide 16, promoting support throughout the foot instead of isolating it on the medial side — as it did in older versions. The shoe also has higher sidewalls for a comfier fit that cradles your foot.
