Finding the best hiking boots for wide feet can be a stressful experience. I’ve written many articles on how important it is to get the right fit with hiking shoes to ensure comfort and proper foot protection.
I know this fact well from personal experience, as I have wide feet, and it took me a while to find hiking boots that I loved. It seems that no matter where you look, the selections cater toward a more narrow foot, and many brands don’t have wide-fit offerings.
To help you out, I used my own experience with wide feet and researched the available options on the market to come up with this buying guide for the best hiking boots for wide feet. I hope that it helps make your selection easier.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Merrell Moab 3
#2ND BEST CHOICE
KEEN Targhee III
#3RD BEST CHOICE
Salomon X Ultra 3
Our Top Recommended Hiking Shoes For Wide Feet
1) Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
The rubber sole on these leather boots is one of the best for providing maximum traction on various surfaces, and the removable contoured insole allows you to swap in your own insoles for maximum arch support.
Merrell makes some great hiking boots, and they offer them in wide sizing, which makes me like the brand even more.
The waterproof membrane is a bonus for helping to keep your feet dry, which is essential for hiking in rainy or muddy environments. The boots also come in various color combinations, so you can choose the ones that best match your style.
Many wearers say they’re comfortable right out of the box, and I agree. The Merrell Moab hardly required me to break them in before wearing them out on the trails, and I felt comfy immediately.
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2) KEEN Targhee III Mid Height Waterproof Hiking Boot
The nubuck leather of these makes them more flexible and feel almost shoe-like. Many reviewers loved the fact that the wide size is actually wider than a lot of other brands.
The KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid leather boot comes in both a low-height and a mid-height, both of which are waterproof and offer wide sizing. Like other Keen boots, they’re made of quality materials and have a very comfortable fit, even for the wide sizes.
In my experience with keen boots in the past, they’re always very comfortable and provide good traction, but they tend to be a bit less durable than some other brands, especially concerning the soles wearing out.
However, their comfort for my wide feet keeps me returning to this brand time and again, and overall they are a very solid hiking shoe.
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3) Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX
Its protective mudguard keeps the sides of the boot from getting too muddy, and the anti-debris mesh uppers prevent debris from getting trapped between your foot and the footbed.
If you’re looking for a synthetic leather hiking boot, you’ll want to consider the Salomon X Ultra 3. These are some of the best hiking boots because they provide the ultimate level of foot protection no matter what type of trail.
They’re also very lightweight compared to other styles, which I appreciate for long hikes. The gore-tex membrane makes the boots very waterproof, keeping water out of the upper, even if you’re walking through a stream.
In my experience, Salomon hiking boots are highly durable and worth the money.
Additionally, you can find this footwear in the low version. Check our review of Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX.
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4) Columbia Newton Ridge Plus
The upper of these boots is made from PU-coated leather, suede, and mesh, which means they are leather but not full-grain leather.
If you’re looking for a more budget option for boots for wide feet, you’ll want to consider the Columbia Newton Ridge. This boot is a great choice for winter hiking because it’s warm and waterproof.
Many say these are best suited if you’re doing some light hiking, and I agree with that assessment. They’re slightly less durable than other brands, so I wouldn’t expect them to last for the long haul or if you’re consistently hiking long distances.
However, they make a good choice for the weekend recreational day hiker because they are lightweight boots.
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5) Timberland White Ledge Mid Ankle Boot
They have great shock absorption as well due to their EVA rubber midsole. The rubber lug outsole is made from recycled materials, making it an eco-conscious choice.
I was so happy to see that Timberland made hiking boots that fit wide feet, as this brand makes some of the best-looking boots on the market. These full-grain leather upper boots have a waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry and comfortable no matter the weather conditions.
Many users say that wearing these helps prevent foot fatigue because of the rigid internal TPU shank, which makes them popular with wide-footed hikers. I’ve noticed that Timberland boots tend to fit true to size, which makes finding the right size easier than other brands.
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Wide Feet Hiking Boots Buyer’s Guide
When looking for the best hiking boots for wide feet, it’s essential to consider many different features. Here are some of the main things to look for in wide hiking boots.
We considered all of these different factors as we came up with our recommendations.
1. Fit
Choose hiking boots that have a secure fit without feeling too tight or loose. Make sure you buy a brand that offers a wider-fit shoe, not just a standard size. However, remember that what’s considered “wide widths” varies by different manufacturers, so you’ll need to try them on and assess them for comfort.
2. Weight
Buy a hiking boot with the right weight for the terrain you will most frequently visit. A lightweight hiking boot will not provide as much protection as a mid-weight shoe. However, if you plan to hike the most rugged terrain, you’ll want a heavy-weight boot for support and durability [1].
3. Tread
A thick rubber outsole with a deep tread will give you the traction you need for uneven surfaces [2].
You’ll want to ensure that your hiking boots can cling well to rocks and dirt so that you don’t slip or get injured.
Good traction is one of the most important things you can look for when purchasing hiking boots.
4. Cost
A good pair of hiking boots can be an investment.
However, even if you need to stick to a budget, you can still find hiking boots for wide feet that are durable and well-constructed. Many synthetic leather boots are cost-effective and hold up well on outdoor adventures.
5. Ventilation
Always consider breathability when purchasing a new pair of boots. As you hike, your feet will sweat, and you’ll also have foot swelling. A boot made of breathable material or that has a breathable membrane made of mesh will ensure long-lasting comfort.
6. Comfort
Of course, you do not want your boots to feel uncomfortable while on the trails. That’s why it’s important to look for wide-width boots and not settle for standard size, which will likely feel too narrow.
For ideal comfort, your foot should feel snug in the boot, but they should not compress the foot tightly. You don’t want to end up with blisters or pressure points as you hike.
7. Materials
If you’re looking for the most durable type of hiking boot that you can buy, you’ll want to stick with real leather.
However, some good leather and mesh options provide durability and breathability, and they also make good options.
Many manufacturers are using more and more synthetic materials for their boots.
These boots will be more lightweight and flexible than the leather kind, but not quite as durable.
However, the technology keeps improving, so many of these hold up almost as well as leather ones.
The best hiking boots will always have a rubber sole to provide a high traction grip on rough terrain.
8. Performance
Most hikers will want a general hiking boot that holds up well in various conditions and weather. Read the customer reviews before you purchase to see what others say about how well they hold up and their ratings for overall performance in different terrains.
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What Else Do We Consider When Choosing The Best Hiking Boots?
In addition to the features described above, we also consider the following information when determining which boots to add to our list of recommendations.
Feedback
In addition to our own opinion, we scour through hundreds of other customer reviews to see what others say about their experience with the footwear. We specifically looked at the feedback that mentioned a wide foot and considered what others said about the fit and comfort.
Shipping
It’s important that the boots on our list not only ship fast and at a reasonable cost but that the companies also offer return shipping in case the boots don’t fit as well as we expected. We also ensured that all the boots on our list arrived in good condition and were packaged well.
Warranty
Even though we determined that a shoe has good durability through our use and other customer feedback, it’s crucial that the company also backs up its product. Therefore, we consider whether or not the manufacturer offers a warranty on the craftsmanship of the boot.
Manufacturer Reputation
Finally, we always choose well-known brands with a good reputation with the public. Most of the brands on our list have been around for years and have a proven track record.
Hiking Footwear Brands That Run Wide
These are well-known companies that accommodate wide-feet hiking boots & shoes:
- Keen
- Salomon
- Merrell
- Altra
- LaSportiva
- Zamberlan
- Lowa
- Sketchers
What Is the Difference Between a Regular Shoe and Wide Feet Shoe?
The main difference between a regular shoe and wide widths is that the widest part of the shoe will be larger and feel roomy. A benefit to purchasing these types of boots is that you can purchase your regular shoe size without having to size up, where sometimes the shoe could feel bigger.
Our Number 1 PIck
If we have to choose one selection on our list as the best hiking boots for wide feet, it would be the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot. We think these boots feature all the requirements that make them ideal for outdoor activities if you have wide feet.
They’re waterproof, have excellent traction, and don’t require much breaking in, even with wide feet.
Even though they’re a bit more expensive than the others, we’ve always found that this brand makes durable boots that last a long time.
FAQs
Salomon offers many good options that accommodate wide feet. For this reason, they always make our list of the best hiking boots for wide feet.
You will want to buy wide shoes for hiking if you have wide feet. Standard-size shoes will often feel too narrow and cause you to discomfort if you walk long distances.
The Merrell Men’s Moab is one of the best wide hiking boots on the market. Merrell also has this boot for women and several other options that accommodate feet needing more width.
Yes, the KEEN Targhee III is one of the best boots for wide feet. They come in both a low-height and mid-height option if you want added ankle support.
