Hiring remote: Content writer / review specialist in 5 Best Hiking Shoes With A Wide Toebox
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Give your feet a break from getting squished every time you hit on the trails. Get a glove-like feel with a dependable pair of hiking shoes for wide feet. Ill-fitting shoes can ruin an otherwise great outdoor adventure and put your feet and ankles at risk of injury or bruised toenails.
Having a wide-foot problem can be a real challenge when going for a day hike or a backpacking trip. You no longer have to suffer from unnecessary discomfort while tackling challenging terrains.
To help you find the ideal shoes for your feet, we’ve rounded up and tested the best hiking shoes for wide feet. When hiking in them, we paid special attention to the toe splay, and whether the toes got cramped in the toebox, and in the lab, we made 2 toebox measurements to double-check the width.
Take a quick look at our top picks in different categories.
How we test hiking shoes with a wide toebox
We hiked in these shoes for 30-50 miles in each pair. This allowed us to assess how the toes feel when the legs and feet swell. Are they cramped? Are there any blisters? And, in the lab, we measured the width of the toebox in 2 places: where it's the widest and at the big toe. This gave us the overall width and the info on how much the toebox tapers (how pointy it is) which is important for people with more square-shaped toes.
Our selection method includes doing the following:
- Investing time, energy, and our own resources to buy wide-toe box hiking shoes. This guarantees the 100% objectivity of our comprehensive reviews.
- Clocking up the miles wear testing the shoes on the trails. We specifically determine their fit, comfort, traction, heel protection, waterproofness, durability, and more. We also subject all the models further to technical terrains, murky routes, and tough weather conditions.
- We utilise our lab tools and equipment to measure 20+ parameters of the shoes. Moreover, we cut the shoes in half and into pieces using our saw machine. This puts all the elements on display and analyse the details.
Best hiking shoes with a wide toebox overall
What makes it the best?
The Merrell Moab Speed 2 is our best hiking shoe with a wide toebox because, besides its spacious toebox, it packs a LOT of cushioning, support, and deep lugs! All of that comes in a lightweight yet robust-looking package, so there's nothing we could ask more of it.
Looking at the toebox, Speed 2 is 75.1 mm wide at the big toe! This is certainly wider than the average and it feels so. Our toes were not cramped and we believe this is also great for hikers who cover longer distances because swelling is inevitable. Not just that, but this toebox is high as well! 7 mm higher than the average! We felt absolutely no pressure on our toes and we're sure there's no danger of getting black toenails in this roomy toebox.
Moab Speed 2 packs so much cushioning in its 38.8/23.8 mm (at the heel/forefoot) platform, erasing the harshness of the ground. We measured the foam at 19.0 HA with our durometer, proving its comfort by being 31.4% softer than average. Surprisingly, it only weighs 11.6 oz (329g), 12.3% lighter than average.
Each stride feels steady and controlled despite the shoe’s height. We discovered a FlexPlate in the midfoot that stabilises the ride and a reliable Vibram rubber in the outsole. No matter what surface we tackled, the grippy rubber and 3.7 mm lugs ensured our safety.
A small nitpick is the non-gusseted tongue that gives room for small rocks to get in.
Pros
- One of the lightest hiking shoes
- Plush and abundant cushioning
- Great support and stability
- Perfect grip for moderate terrain
- Excellent durability
- Breathable for summer
- Cosy step-in feel
- Two loops for easy on-off
Cons
- Frail inner lining
- Small debris gets inside
Best summer hiking shoes with a wide toebox
What makes it the best?
Merrell Accentor 3 stands out at just £100, offering exceptional cushioning, protection, and support for hikers. It has a roomy fit that accommodates wide feet and swelling, allowing us to savour our treks with confidence. Among wide-toe-box hiking shoes in our lab, Accentor 3 provides ultimate comfort.
Measuring the heel thickness with our calliper, we found it to be a substantial 30.8 mm, effectively dampening repetitive impact and harsh objects underfoot. Adding to its gentle sensation is the Air Cushion in the heel, measuring a plush 18.0 HA on our durometer. Combined with a modest forefoot for heightened ground sensitivity, the result is a steep 14.1 mm offset that alleviates lower leg pressure.
Moving to the main foam, we discovered it’s 22.7% firmer than average, ensuring surefooted strides even under heavy loads. The cushion remains resilient, even with loaded backpacks and long mileage. Further enhancing our stability is its generous 108.0 mm toe-box that gently tapers to the big toe for our natural toe splaying.
A nylon shank is cleverly positioned beneath our arches for additional support without sacrificing manoeuvrability—Accentor 3 emerged 38.3% more flexible than the average shoe, boosting a natural and comfortable feel.
However, this Merrell drenched our feet in sweat. Its well-insulated nature only makes it comfortable in cold weather hikes.
Pros
- Top-level comfort
- Immensely breathable
- Sticks to various terrain
- Extremely durable outsole
- Quite lightweight
- Incredible support
- Relaxed forefoot fit
- Accommodating toebox
- Greatly flexible
- Locks the heel in place
Cons
- Unruly shoestrings
- Too airy for cold winters
- Not ideal for backpacking
Best waterproof hiking shoes with a wide toebox
What makes it the best?
The Teva Grandview GTX Low proves to be a day-long hiking essential, delivering a liberating experience on extended treks. Its protective construction effectively addresses common concerns like wet feet, harsh landing impacts, and cramped toes, earning it the title of the ultimate wide hiking shoe with the best Gore-Tex.
On our encounters with rain and muddy puddles, not a single drop of water entered the shoe. Other than the Gore-Tex membrane, our microscope reveals a very compact woven material that repels water. Our lab confirms its impermeability with a 2/5 breathability score.
The spacious toebox of the Grandview GTX Low allows our toes to spread out comfortably, measuring 103.8 mm wide. What’s even more generous is its big toe area, measuring a massive 87.0 mm vs. the 81.5 mm average.
Even underfoot, Teva remains supportive. Right from the start, the cushioning made its presence felt. With a stack height of 33.6/23.0 mm, it delivers prolonged comfort and effective impact absorption. Further enhancing the comfort is its impressively soft midsole, measuring at 15.3 HA—44.8% softer than average.
This Teva’s extra layers of comfort and protection come at the expense of heavier weight. At 15.6 oz (441g), it’s 15.4% bulkier than its counterparts. Those who prefer lighter shoes should look elsewhere.
Pros
- Excellent waterproofing
- Softer than average cushioning
- Great impact protection
- Remains soft and flexible in low temps
- Very stable and supportive
- Deep lugs with top-notch grip
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Good wear resistance
- A dream for wide feet
Cons
- Heavier than average
- Not for narrow feet
- Heel lock is fiddly
Best water hiking shoes with a wide toebox
What makes it the best?
Is there such a thing as a breathable hiking shoe that’s uber lightweight and suitable for wide feet? There is indeed, and it’s called the Adidas Terrex Trailmaker! Our feet feel light and airy, thanks to their lightweight, breathable upper and the wide toe box allows ample airflow to keep our feel fresh and comfortable, not to mention wiggle room! The Adidas Terrex Trailmaker is undoubtedly our best lightweight hiking shoe with a wide toe box!
Lightweight and flexible, it’s easy to forget we’re wearing shoes in the Trailmaker! The scales don’t lie; when we weighed them in our lab, we found them to be 9% lighter than the average hiking shoes! They keep our feet fresh while hiking, and our legs still have energy to burn at the end of the day.
Even at a glance, the Trailmaker is noticeably wider than the competition. Back in the lab, our callipers cinched it. Measuring 102.7 mm at the forefoot, they are 3.3 mm wider than average, leaving plenty of space for hikers with wider feet. It carries the advantage through to the toe, as well. Measuring 79.8 mm at the big toe, there is also 3.3 mm extra space at the end of the shoe. We found our toes could spread out more comfortably than in a narrower shoe.
This shoe is a cut above the rest on a hot day! Its durable upper may not look especially breathable, but our feet didn’t overheat on our hikes, and they dried out quickly after a soaking. When we pumped smoke into the shoe, it exited through the tightly woven upper quickly and evenly, taking us by surprise! In fact, we rated it a solid 4/5 for breathability, one of the more breathable shoes that we have tested.
In order to keep the weight down, this shoe lacks cushioning underfoot. The midsole is comfortably soft, but the stack height measures 3.1 mm less than average below the heel. Combined, this makes for slightly less cushioning (and more ground feel), which is why we don’t recommend the Adidas Terrex Trailmaker for long hikes or backpacking.
Pros
- Outstanding water drainage
- Immensely breathable
- Excellent abrasion resistance
- Very light on foot
- Amazingly grippy on wet
- Very grounded platform
- Bends along with the foot
- Adaptable fit with a roomy toebox
- Easy on-and-off
- Comfy in-shoe feel
- Bold aesthetics
Cons
- No arch or ankle support
- Catches debris and small pebbles easily
Best barefoot hiking shoes with a wide toebox
What makes it the best?
We put wide-toebox hiking shoes to the test and found Nike ACG Watercat+ to be the best for water hiking. It shines the most in and around water with its effective drainage system, easy-to-manoeuvre build, and reliable traction on slippery surfaces.
The wickerwork upper keeps our feet dry from water and sweat because the woven cords have large ventilation holes. Amazingly, the bottom part has drainage holes for faster drying too.
We felt as nimble as a cat manoeuvring through slippery rocks and tricky underwater surfaces. Watercat+ has a flexible build and low stack providing good ground feel for better balance. In our lab bend test, it needed 30.7% less force than the average hiking shoe to bend to 90 degrees. Its heel and forefoot cushion stand lower than the average, resulting in a more levelled 4.7 mm drop. This makes us more sensitive to the ground.
Enhancing our control further is the generous toebox that offers 7.9 mm extra space than average. Even at the big toe area, it gives 10.8 mm more room than the average — allowing our natural toe splay. We have no doubts about grip because the sticky patterned outsole keeps us steady through all conditions.
Unfortunately, the holes in the upper leave room for small rocks to get in.
Pros
- Top-notch comfort
- Superior level of protection
- Powerful grip and traction
- Glove-like fit
- Incredibly Supportive
- Durably built
- Performs consistently in the cold
- Quick drying
Cons
- Needs breaking in
- Hard to put on
Understanding the toebox width and shape
If you’re here, you’ve most likely experienced some or most of the following during hiking:
- Toes that are cramped so much that you’ve developed blisters or even some bleeding, as shorter toes were pressed too hard against longer ones and their nails rubbed too hard against the skin of longer toes
- Pain in the toebox area
- Bunions and/or bunionettes
- Stubborn and painful corns and calluses exactly where the pressure in the toebox was the highest.
If that’s the case, and you’ve experienced these in more than 1 hiking shoe (toebox), you most likely need a roomier one.
And, when it comes to the wide toebox, there are nuances. As you can see in the image above, not all of us have the same feet and toe shapes. Some need more room closer to the tip of the hiking shoe, while others need more room around the ball of the foot. Because of this, we stick to our lab measurements strongly.
Toebox width in hiking shoes: lab data
To measure the inner width of the hiking shoe toebox, we can’t just stick a calliper inside or a laser. There’s no room to do that, plus the anatomy of the shoe itself does not allow us to do so. So, we thought of a workaround that’s actually straight to the point!
We’ve created a gel that, once poured into the toebox and frozen, gives us a perfect mould of the toebox
Once the gel has hardened, we take our callipers and measure the toebox width in 2 places: at the big toe and where it’s the widest.
We use the big-toe width as a direct measurement of the toebox width. However, given the different shapes of feet, we can also look at another measurement.
We discovered that the toebox width where it’s the widest is directly related to the overall hiking shoe width, so we use that lab data to talk about the shoe width. However, when looking at the toeboxes, we can use this measurement as well to talk about the shape of the toebox: some are pointy, others rounded.
The bigger the difference between the 2 toebox width measurements, the pointier the toebox (more tapered). The smaller the difference, the rounder the toebox. It is that simple.
Knowing this, you can always look at our lab data to find out which toebox is wider or pointier.
Why lab data is so important
Hikers can comment on the toebox width and say whether it works for them and whether their toes can splay. Many experts can also visually inspect the toebox, but the lab data is superior because:
- The tests are standardised and objective. The results don’t depend on anyone else’s foot shape. We can look at both toebox width and conclude how wide and tapered the toebox is
- The data is comparable across all hiking shoes we’ve tested so far in the lab.
- The tests focus on the actual toebox width, its interior. Others who comment on the width just by looking at the shoes don’t know how thick the upper is, which significantly varies from shoe to shoe. Then, some hiking shoes also have thick toe bumpers or upper overlays, which may create an illusion of a wide toebox.
- We also quantify toebox height which no other measurement or assessment so far was able to do.
In the example above, we see a hiking boot that proves how the thickness of the upper varies throughout the toebox (although that's the case in practically all hiking shoes), which highlights the importance of gel-mould measurements even more:
- At the big toe, when measuring the toebox width on the outside using callipers, we got 87.0 mm. Measuring the width at the same place but on our gel mould, we got 76.7 mm
- Using callipers directly on the outside of the toebox where it's the widest we measured 103.8 mm. The same place measured on the gel mould got us 97.8 mm.
Toebox height in hiking shoes
Some hikers don’t just need horizontal space but also vertical. This is not something that is often discussed and brands certainly don’t give information on the toebox height. Enters: RunRepeat testing.
Knowing the toebox height of hiking shoes means avoiding horrible pressure on the toes and nails that sometimes ends up with black toenails, or preventing the big toe from hitting the toebox and maybe even poking a hole through it, by giving it enough vertical space.
Keep in mind that hiking shoes with very stiff uppers don’t have any give. Toes that love extra room in the toebox usually enjoy softer materials. If that’s not an option, find a toebox that is as roomy as you need it to be.
Foot-shaped toebox in hiking shoes: what to expect
The name is self-explanatory and here’s what that looks like in the hiking world: See this Altra hiker that has a foot-shaped design (up), vs this shoe that has a regular design (down).
There are different brands that make hiking footwear with, what is usually referred to as, natural design (Altra, Topo, Vivobarefoot, etc.). These shoes are great for people who have a wider forefoot and who enjoy the feeling of the toe splay inside the shoes. This is a huge pro.
However, such shoes tend to come with a few warnings (technically, they are not cons): they tend to be minimalist, which means low to the ground. This equals less cushioning and more ground feel. Also, it means having a lower heel-to-toe drop that could also be 0 mm.
Making sudden changes in heel drop, especially when going from, say 10 mm, to zero drop, is a dangerous move and should be done cautiously.
If this is something that peaks your interest, we strongly recommend reading our in-depth guide on Heel drop: Heel to Toe Drop: The Ultimate Guide.
Consequences of a tight toebox
We can usually feel whether the toebox is narrow: our feet get cramped and we might feel the pain in an instant. However, the discomfort can happen later on as well, once our feet swell and we cover longer mileage.
Here, we list the most common consequences of a tight toebox. This does not mean that the tight toebox is always the only responsible cause, so consider the list as a general guideline, not a precise diagnosis.
- Ingrown toenails and Morton’s Neuroma can both happen when the toebox is not wide enough. Best to look for a wider forefoot.
- Black toenails can happen both when the toebox is too tight or too low. This is when you should pay attention to the height of the toebox as well.
- Painful corns and calluses may not be painful at the beginning but should be “treated” with a wider toebox so that the condition does not worsen.
- Blisters, especially at the big toe or the pinky toe, can happen when the toebox of your hiking shoe is not wide enough.
- Hallux rigidus and Hallux valgus (bunions) should be treated with a wide toebox, to start with.
Why loose toebox fit is a bad idea
Hiking shoes should fit properly, just right. Not tight, not loose. Here’s what can happen if you decide to get a wider toebox than you actually need:
- Feet may start sliding, so your toes might instinctively try to stabilise the feet by clawing into the ground. This might lead to hammer toes and more tired feet.
- Constant rubbing can lead to blisters as well.
- Running on trails, especially on non-flat terrain, with a wider-than-needed toebox, is very risky. You may experience imbalance, slipping, and even falling.
How hiking socks can help with the fit?
The most popular choice for hiking is Merino wool. Most socks have it, at least to some degree. But, what matters when we’re discussing the fit and not just performance is the thickness of the socks.
Very thin ones can definitely help, especially if they also do compression. They feel like the feet have got thinner a bit! And compression helps with (against) blisters as well. Regular socks are, well, regular and the shoe should feel normal in them. Thick socks, on the other hand, which are great for winter and because they offer a lot of cushioning, might make the shoes feel tight.
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