Are you looking for a hiking shoe with a wide toe box?
Unfortunately, many of the best brands run narrow in the toe box, especially European brands. That's not only bad news for hikers (like me) with wide feet. Podiatrists argue that most hikers—even those with narrower feet—benefit from more room in the toes. Wide toe boxes let hikers' toes to splay out for a healthier, more natural base. They also accommodate swelling on big-mile days and may prevent injured toes and busted toenails.
The best hiking shoes for wide feet offer more room in the forefoot and toes. However, Altra, KEEN, and Topo Athletic specialize in trail running shoes and hiking shoes with wide toe boxes. For the best hiking shoe with a wide toe box, you should try on the
Altra's Footshape toe boxes give hikers extra width
best hiking shoe with wide toe box
KEEN Targhee
Main Benefits:
The KEEN Targhee is the best traditional hiking shoe with a wide toe box. KEEN is known for its wide toe boxes, and the Targhee is the brand's best-selling hiking shoe. The Targhee is a comfortable day hiking shoe with plenty of cushion, decent support, and moderate traction that can handle most trails. Both the Targhee II (slightly wider) and Targhee III (more leather) accommodate wide feet and leave room for toes to splay naturally. They're also available in wide sizes (for even wider toe boxes)—here are current prices at leading outdoor specialty retailers:
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KEEN Zionic
Main Benefits:
For fast-and-light hikers, the KEEN Zionic is a new lightweight hiking shoe with a wide toe box. Brand new in July, 2023, the Zionic weighs less than two pounds to save energy and delivers lightweight comfort to men and women who don't want a traditional hiking shoe. This isn't the best choice for hardcore hikers. However, the KEEN Zionic is a lightweight option for fast hikers with light packs and casual hikers who prefer a more sneaker-like feel to a sturdy and protective hiking shoe. The Zionic doesn't have the boxy toe cap of most KEENs, but it still features the brand's contoured fit for extra toe room.
Topo Athletic Trailventure 2
Main Benefits:
The Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 is a mid-cut hiking shoe with a wide toe box for a more natural fit. This cross between a hiking shoe and lightweight "fastpacking" boot is lighter and more agile than the Targhee above with comfortable yet responsive cushioning and a little over-the-ankle protection. The Trailventure also features premium Vibram outsoles for wet and dry traction and eVent membranes, the most breathable waterproofing on the market (non-WP also available for $20 less). The American Podiatric Medical Association has awarded Topo Athletic its Seal of Approval for shoes that promote healthy feet—thanks to its wide toe boxes and low heel-to-toe drop. The Topo Trailventure 2 may be a good hiking shoe for fast-and-light hikers, casual hikers, and day hikers who want a comfortable, lightweight hiking shoe with extra room in the toe box.
Altra Olympus 5 Hike GTX
Main Benefits:
The Olympus 5 Hike GTX is Altra's first true hiking shoe—like all Altras, it features zero heel to toe drop, a gender-specific fit, and a wide, Footshape toe box. Unlike other Altras, it's actually made for hiking with sturdier outsoles, more durable leather uppers, waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX weatherproofing, and premium Vibram outsoles with good trail tread. On top of those premium features, the Olympus 5 Hike has much more cushioning than other Altras, which reduces the stress that Altra's zero drop/balanced cushioning puts on people's feet and lower bodies. This is the sturdiest hiking shoe with a wide toe box on this list, yet it still qualifies as a "lightweight "hiking shoe in my book.
best trail running shoe with wide toe box
Altra Lone Peak (trail runner with wide toe box)
The Altra Lone Peak is the most popular trail running shoe among hikers—especially thru-hikers—due in large part to its wide toe box. Lone Peaks are moderately cushioned trail runners with zero drop from heel to toe, gender-specific fits, and "Footshape" toe boxes that allow natural toe splay. Zero drop isn't for everybody, but those toe boxes are money for wide and swollen feet. And some men and women are convinced that Altra's unique construction restores the body's natural cushioning, stability, and support. The Lone Peak may be a great choice if you need extra room in the forefoot and prefer a more "natural" hiking style in which your lower body provides stability and support—not your shoes.
Topo Athletic Terraventure
Main Benefits:
For a lightweight trail running shoe with a wide toe box, hikers should try the Terraventure 3—Topo's most versatile trail runner for hikers. Topos feature a wide toe box, plus a more secure fit and more support than the popular Altra Lone Peak (above). The Terraventure 3 is a lightweight trail running shoe with ventilating mesh uppers, a low 3 mm drop from heel to toe, and Vibram Megagrip outsoles for clutch traction on the trail. It's another good option for fast-and-light hikers who are looking for a trail shoe with a wide toe box.
Topo Athletic Ultraventure Pro
Main Benefits:
Made for ultramaratoners, the Topo Ultraventure Pro is another trail running shoe with a wide toe box that might appeal to thru-hikers and the fast-and-light crowd. The Ultraventure features an integrated rock plate, extra cushion, and light stability for long and hard days on the trail. That ultramarathoner design also translates to long distance hikes with light packs. The shoe's lightweight mesh keeps your feet ventilated and its Vibram outsoles offer clutch traction in wet and dry conditions. The "Pro" version of the Ultraventure offers more durable mesh, more cushioning, more stability, and more foot protection than the regular Ultraventraventure—while keeping things light. If you're after a wide toe box, Topo Athletic is known for its wide toe boxes, secure fit, and low drop to support a more "natural" running (and hiking) stride.
Hoka Speedgoat
Main Benefits:
The Hoka Speedgoat is the best-selling trail shoe in the USA right now, and it has some extra room in the toe box (especially in its "wide" size). Hokas score serious points for minimum weight and maximum cushion. Their massive, mattress-y midsoles provide plenty of shock absorption—and more support than you'd think from such a light and cushy shoe. They also feature Vibram Megagrip outsoles for good grip on wet and dry surfaces. With a roomier fit than some Hokas, the Speedgoat's standard size runs slightly wide in the forefoot with its wide size adding more width in the toe box.
What's your best hiking shoe with a wide toe box?
Podiatrists love Topo Athletic's wide toe boxes
These are the first shoes that I recommend to hikers and backpackers who want a hiking shoe or trail running shoe with a wide toe box. That's based on my outdoor industry experience and my hiking experience (as a wide-footed hiker who's logged 12,000 trail miles in the past ten years.) For more options, you can also check out my recommendations for the best hiking shoes for wide feet and best hiking boots for wide feet or my brand reviews of KEEN, Altra, Hoka, and Topo Athletic.
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