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If you have wide feet, it can be tricky to find sandals worthy of replacing your walking shoes for warmer months. That’s because the best sandals for wide feet strike an impressive balance: They match the shape of your foot without feeling too tight or too roomy, and they support your feet without leaving your arches hanging.
Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM, FACFAS, a podiatrist based in North Carolina, tells SELF that a sandal that’s good for wide feet should feel structured, secure, and roomy through the toes. To find pairs that fit the bill, we tapped SELF staffers with self-described wide feet for their time-tested recs. Read on to see which sandals made the cut.
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks Our top picks
- Best Overall: Birkenstock Milano Big Buckle Sandal, $175
- Best Budget Pick: Crocs Crush Sandal, $44
- Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Kuru Tread, $155
- Best for Hiking: Teva Hurricane XLT2, $179
- Best Flip-Flop: Lulu Thong Sandal, $90
Spring and summer won’t be a drag with these spacious—yet supportive—sandals and slides.
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks Best Overall: Birkenstock Milano Big Buckle Sandal
Birkenstock
Milano Big Buckle Sandal
SELF’s senior commerce editor has wide feet as well as bunions. She’s also a longtime Birkenstock wearer who recently made the Milano her go-to style. “These are my new favorites,” she says. “They have an extra strap at the heel to keep them on, and all three buckles are adjustable.” That’s a key feature to look for, Dr. Daughtry says—adjustable fasteners will help your sandals fit comfortably, without pinching your midfoot or crowding your toes.
The Milano comes with a break-in period (like all Birks do), but our editor found that it was a pretty painless process—she’s never noticed any blisters or hot spots after wearing her Milanos. “Which is super impressive, because my feet are very, very prone to both,” she says.
Sizes: EU 35 to 43 | Widths: Medium/narrow and regular/wide
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks Best Budget Pick: Crocs Crush Sandal
Crocs are known for their roomy fit—which makes them a wonderful choice for folks with wider feet. While the Classic Clog is a no-brainer choice for most of the year, the Crush Sandal is great for when temps start to rise. It’s a plush, breezy slide that gives you a little lift without caging in your feet. And yes, you can add Jibbitz to the straps.
One thing to note: When we say the Crush runs large, we really mean it. Our tester ordered her usual size and couldn’t keep the sandals on her feet.
Sizes: US 6 to 12 | Widths: Medium
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Kuru Tread
Experts have previously recommended Kurus to SELF for people who deal with plantar fasciitis (a common foot condition that causes stabbing heel pain). That’s because the brand’s shoes have a shock-absorbing insole to protect your heels from impact while you walk. Already a fan of Kuru’s sneakers? You’ll be delighted to know that the supportive heel design is also present in its sandals, including the rugged Tread.
Our tester says the insole molds seamlessly to her foot, while the Velcro straps adjust easily, so she never feels cramped. “The straps themselves have some elastic in them, so they stretch a bit with your feet as you move,” she says. “There’s some legit cushioning [in the insole], so they are really supportive to wear for long periods of time.”
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks Best for Hiking: Teva Hurricane XLT2
Teva
Hurricane Xlt2 Sandal
According to Megan R. Wolf, MD, FAAOS, FAANA, ABOSD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle issues with the Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute, hiking sandals are great for people with wide feet, since they tend to have extra support and a more adjustable fit. A perfect example: The SELF Fave Teva Hurricane XLT2. It has three points of adjustment (two across the top of the foot and one around the back of the ankle); a thick, foam-laden footbed; and a sturdy sole with plenty of traction.
In her review, our tester loved how comfortable these sandals are, noting that she never dealt with blisters from the straps or flareups of her existing knee pain. Plus, the shape of the shoe accommodated her entire foot: “My toes are free to wiggle around and splay out,” she wrote. “I could wear them anywhere.”
Sizes: US 5 to 14 | Widths: Medium
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks Best Flip-Flop: FitFlop Lulu Thong Sandal
Amy DeGirolamo, DPM, a podiatrist at Florida Foot and Ankle Associates in Miami, previously told SELF that FitFlop is a top-notch brand for anyone looking for supportive sandals. Even the brand’s flip-flops, like the Lulu Thong, have enough structure to keep you comfy all day long.
The Lulu has a seal of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), meaning experts consider it a good pick for healthy feet. And, with its microfiber-lined straps and average-to-wide fit, it’ll hug your feet without any unpleasant digging or chafing.
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks More great options
Overhauling your shoe collection? Don’t stress—we have more pairs to suggest. These sandals didn’t quite make the cut, but we still think they deserve a place in your rotation.
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks Rothy’s The Weekend Slide
We’ve previously recommended Rothy’s shoes for wide feet, and the brand’s Weekend Slide is too cute to skip. It has a plush, molded footbed that sets it apart from a standard slide and comes in a dozen colorways (plus a couple different fabrics to boot).
If we had to point you toward one fabric over the other, we’d recommend trying styles with the brand’s signature hemp straps. They’re flexible and breathable, which makes them particularly wide feet-friendly.
Sizes: US 5 to 13 | Widths: Medium
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks Dolce Vita Darlis Ankle Strap Sandal
Dolce Vita
Darlis Ankle Strap Sandal
As much as we love sporty gorpcore sandals, there’s room in our closet for something daintier too—like Dolce Vita’s Darlix Ankle Strap Sandal, which you could easily dress up or down, depending on your plans. The delicate buckles make it easy to adjust the fit around your foot and ankle, and the ankle strap has a hidden elastic panel, so it’ll move with you (and not cut off your circulation).
Sizes: US 6 to 10 | Widths: Medium
Healthy lifestyle tips Relationship advice Life hacks for everyday living Personal development tips Relationship tips and tricks FAQs about sandals for wide feet
How do you know if you have wide feet?
It may sound obvious, but if standard-width shoes (no matter the brand) usually pinch your toes or rub against the sides of your feet, you probably have wide feet. Another clear sign is if you notice that your feet bulge outward or extend over the sides of your shoes, Dr. Daughtry says.
As SELF has previously reported, the best way to know how wide your feet are is by seeing a podiatrist or getting your foot measured at a specialty shoe store. That said, you can also try measuring your feet at home with a ruler or tape measure. Stand on it while you’re in bare feet, and take your foot’s measurement at its widest point. Keep that number in mind while you shop and compare brand’s sizing guides.
What should you look for in a sandal if you have wide feet?
As we mentioned earlier, the most important thing to look for is a shoe that maps to the shape of your foot. “Your toes should not hang off the front of the shoe, nor should the heel of your foot extend past the heel of the shoe,” Dr. Daughtry says. Similarly, Dr. Wolf says your shoe should be wider than your feet, to prevent chafing.
Aside from that, both Dr. Daughtry and Dr. Wolf stress the importance of arch support. Shoes that cradle the arch of your foot at its natural height will help prevent fatigue in the short term and foot pain (not to mention knee and back pain too) in the long term. Another feature they agree on: Adjustable straps. If you can toggle a buckle to loosen or tighten, you stand a much better chance at finding just the right fit for your feet.
Related:
- Personal Trainers Share Their Favorite Sneakers for Every Activity
- 13 Comfy, Supportive Walking Shoes for Flat Feet
- The Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis, According to Podiatrists
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