It's harder than it should be to find a good hiking boot with a wide toe box. European brands tend to have narrow toe boxes, which eliminates many of the best brands for hiking boots. However, Altra, KEEN, and Topo Athletic are three US brands known for their wides toe boxes. From lightest to heaviest, here's a quick overview of the best hiking boots with wide toe boxes: Topo Athletic's Trailventure 2, Altra's Olympus 5 HIKE, and KEEN's Targhee Mids and Durand II MIds
best lightweight hiking boot with wide toe box
Topo Trailventure 2
Main Benefits:
While most lightweight hiking boots run narrow in the toes, the Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 is a lightweight hiking boot with a wide toe box. Made for fast hikers with light packs, it's light on your feet with cushy but responsive Zipfoam for comfort and light stability to add some foot support. The Trailventure 2 also features grippy Vibram outsoles for really good traction. You also have a choice between non-waterproof, ventilating mesh or a waterproof model with a breathable eVent waterproof membrane. This is the first hiking shoe/boot from Topo Athletic—a brand awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Approval for promoting healthy feet. The Trailventure 2 is made for fast-packers. However, my pair has impressed me on moderate to difficult day hikes, too.
Best Fit
wide feet
Best Match
fast-packing, day hiking
Altra Olympus 5 HIKE Mid GTX
Main Benefits:
Altra may be the king of wide toe boxes, but they haven't made a true hiking boot—until now. Released late in 2022, the new Olympus 5 Hike Mid GTX is Altra's first dedicated hiking shoe, which features the brand's trifecta of balanced cushioning, gender-specific fits, and wide toe boxes. Much sturdier than the Altra Lone Peak, Altra's Olympus 5 HIKE features maximum cushioning with some extras for hikers. That includes leather uppers for added weather resistance and foot protection, a mid-cut for some ankle protection, waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX membranes for weather protection, and Vibram Megagrip outsoles for great grip on wet and dry surfaces. That thick midfoot cushioning makes them softer yet sturdier than other Altras —and a promising choice for those who want a lightweight hiking boot with a wide toe box.
best midweight hiking boot with wide toe box
KEEN Targhee Mid
Main Benefits:
KEEN's best-selling hiking boot, the Targhee is one of the best hiking boots with a wide toe box. Known for their out of the box comfort, Targhees score comfort points with their cushioned midsoles, soft leather uppers, and extra room in the toes. They're moderately supportive and should be enough boot for the average day hiker; however, you may want a sturdier, more durable hiking boot if you mostly hike harder trails, hike a ton of miles, or plan on doing much backpacking. The older KEEN Targhee II is slightly wider and sturdier while the KEEN Targhee III has more leather and less mesh. Both are available in regular and wide sizes—with the wides boasting the biggest toe box. This is a good choice for day hikers who want a well-cushioned hiking boot with wide toe box.
Best Fit
wide feet
Best Match
day hikers
KEEN Durand II
Main Benefits:
The sturdiest option on this list, the KEEN Durand II is a true, mid-weight hiking boot with a wide toe box. It features sturdier soles and a taller mid-cut than the best-selling Targhees (above) for better foot and ankle support. It's waterproof with soft leather uppers and plenty of cushioning underfoot for comfort, too. While the options above favor fast hikers and day hikers, the Durand can do double-duty as both a day-hiking and backpacking boot. It also runs wider than most hiking boots and features a wide toe box, making it a good option for hikers with wide feet. If you really need room in the toes and good foot and ankle support, the KEEN Durand II is probably your best option for moderate day hikes to backpacking trips.
Best Fit
wide feet
Best Match
day hiking, backpacking
buying a hiking boot with wide toe box
I'm a big fan of wide toe boxes—and not just for hikers (like me) with wide feet. According to the podiatrist who trained me in hiking footwear, almost everyone would have healthier feet if they wore boots and shoes with more room in the toes. Wide toe boxes allow toes to splay out naturally for better alignment and a stronger base for your body.
The options above are the best hiking boots with wide toe boxes. My recommendations are based on my hiking experience (10,000+ miles in the last ten years) and my experience as an outdoor industry professional. The boots above are the hiking boots with wide toe boxes that I've recommended the most to my customers at Backcountry and to my former customers at Appalachian Outdoors, back when I manned their boot wall.
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