Wide Midfoot - Can't find any shoes! Please help.

You should give serious consideration to the altra one 2.5. It's very light, flexible, and fairly wide through the mid and forefoot but with a pretty locked in heel. If you want a little more structure but still light and wide, the altra instinct (3.0 or 3.5) is another great choice. More of a higher mileage trainer than the one 2.5.

I am not affiliated with altra in any way. I run in altra, pearl Izumi, and Hoka, so I don't just nuthug one company.

Any suggestions for a wide racing flat?

I'll second Altra. I've got the Instincts for the road and the Lone Peaks for the trails. Wide and comfy.

I'll probably pick up some one 2.5s in the near future, too, as I like having a lighter option some days.

I work with runners and feet alot. I can tell you that going to a mens shoe wont necessarily help you. It all depends on the footwear lasts for different companies. But I will spare the booklet info:

For trail running I'd go with Merrell: Any model except maybe the Trail Glove or Vapor glove until you get used to barefoot running.

-All out Crush is one I tried recently and I was pleasantly surprised as I too have wide feet and this shoe was AWESOME

The saucony excursion is also solid. Although a little clunky for me it had similar feel to merrells for me. Surprised it rubbed your heels? Possibly you have edema in the upper portion of your foot or perhaps a enlarged heel bone?? Ever had heel spurs in your career?

Ive also tried the Brooks cascadia and also several pairs of nike and they are way too slim so their last suits narrow footed folks more. They are also cutting the shoe weight down by slimming it, not healthy for the vast majority.

This may sound a bit shallow, but a problem I have with the Altra 2.5 is that they look like clown shoes. The instincts don't look too bad, so I may look into that.

@ geeky

I just looked up the Crush - it isn't too narrow in the forefoot for you? The shoe looks like it comes up to a triangular point in pictures.

I don't think I've ever run on trails, so I'm not exactly looking for a trail specific shoe. The excursions I liked, and may keep for walking/hiking on trails, since they were essentially half off and pretty comfortable. By rubbing heels, I mean the heel part was too far up on my ankle and would rub against it. When walking, I would feel bulky heel of shoe > midfoot > then forefoot as opposed to one fluid gait.

I really liked the flexibility of the reebok realflex and how it slipped on my foot. But they were the 1st gen and I don't see them for sale anymore. I've also been directed toward New Balance shoes, but haven't found a pair I've liked yet.

RunDontWalk1 wrote:

This may sound a bit shallow, but a problem I have with the Altra 2.5 is that they look like clown shoes. The instincts don't look too bad, so I may look into that.

I am pretty shallow, too, and agree that they look like clown shoes. They have a pretty wide midfoot, but, having used many shoes, I prefer Asics Nimbus for training. My foot is very similar to yours. The Saucony Guide is also a very nice shoe. Both the Asics and Saucs come in widths. That is perhaps the key for me.

@ outside

Did you have to size up for the Nimbus? They look pretty good - albeit I'm not crazy about the color combos, so hopefully I can find a store that has them in stock. Buying shoes online doesn't work for my kind of feet. I purchased the Merrell's online for $100+ and when they didn't fit I was livid, lol.

Definitely not tight in the forefoot! Almost a little extra space for the toes to splay. I think I could even go down 1 size

RunDontWalk1 wrote:

@ outside

Did you have to size up for the Nimbus? They look pretty good - albeit I'm not crazy about the color combos, so hopefully I can find a store that has them in stock. Buying shoes online doesn't work for my kind of feet. I purchased the Merrell's online for $100+ and when they didn't fit I was livid, lol.

Good question. No, I do not have to size up for either the Nimbus or the Guide. I wear a men's 8, and use a men's 8 4E in the Nimbus, and an 8 2E in the Guide. I go with the extra wide in the Nimbus (rather than the 2E) mostly because I wear thick wool socks in late fall and winter.

I love ordering from Running Warehouse. Excellent service and an easy return policy.

@ geeky

Good to know! These are pretty looking shoes as well. I saw there was a glove version too, but I think that one is a different model than what you were describing. Did you get them in Wide?

@ outside

I have Amazon Prime, so I got the quick shipping. I think they're pretty good when it comes to returns as well, but might not always have the wide options available. Thanks!

That's great! Thanks Obama!!!!

I have you physically tried the Altra 2.5s on? I agree they look like clown shoes online. But in person they look great. My wife has them, size 9, and they are quite trim and nice looking.

No I haven't. There aren't any stores around here that sell Altra.

@ outside

Found the nimbus at Dick's. Tried them on in men's size 8.5. Wow.

Very cushioned shoe. More so than I'm used to. It looks like normal width but when I tried it on it slipped in easily, and stretched around my foot as opposed to constraining it. Toe box felt nice. No extra room there but didn't really need it.

Only gripe was they didn't have size 8 in stock, and the 8.5's were perfect in the forefoot /midfoot but too loose in the heel even with all loops utilized. My heel kept popping out when walking. I'm a bit worried if I size down the forefoot might run too small?

Actually the Altras are shaped like a natural human foot. We've been led to think feet should be shaped like "stylish" shoes, with tapered toes, toe spring, and raised heels. These stylish shoes are the reason for almost all feet problems.

@ born

No doubt! I've always had problems finding shoes that fit comfortably. Don't even get me started on heels. I avoid them like the plague if I can.

You say you tried the Nike Free 5.0--what about the 4.0? I haven't tried the 5, but I love the 4 and it at least looks wider in the forefoot.