Boot advice needed: Narrow heel, broad toes

[Wolfix]

I have a good reputation as a footwear salesperson in my town but I can't find a brand to fit my feet! I have a fairly narrow heel, flat foot (I wear orthotics with a very high arch and built up heel) and need breadth across the toes. I have only properly tried a few brands (the ones we stock - I try them out while I work) and am ready for input as to brands with the above fit. I also want as flat a heel as possible and it needs to be at least a mid. I am a women's US 8 or 8.5.

I have tried:

Keen - too broad in the heel though excellent breadth for orthotics. To get the heel right they're too short and I have been through so many pairs to no avail (Targhee II Mid, Oregon PCT)
Zamberlan - too narrow in the toes
Mammut - too narrow in the toes
Scarpa - too narrow in the toes
Hi-Tec - used to be perfect until they changed their fit in ~2007. Now I can't wear them but I can't remember exactly why
Salomon - almost right but too narrow in the heel and toe. The men's would probably be perfect but it's impossible to get the size I need in men's (Elios 2 Mid GTX, XT Wings, Comet 3D GTX)
Vibram Fivefingers - fit me like a glove! But I need boots that fit orthotics for longer walks (KSO, KSO Trek)

I haven't tried Merrell extensively but don't like their rounded-under soles. I rock too much and feel unstable. Other brands would need to be readily available in Sydney CBD for me to try on. Your advice would be graciously received!

[Strider]

If you have flat feet, why are you using orthotics with high arches? Obviously these are prescribed/custom made by someone who knows more than me, but I am intrigued.

[Wingnut]

I have a narrow heel with high arches & broad too...I found Asolo were a good fit for me with green Superfeet insoles.

Custom insoles kept breaking all the time due to the high amount of hiking so I don't bother with them anymore...

[Wolfix]

I pronate so I need a built up orthotic to hold my arch up. Pronation is when your foot rolls in and doesn't support itself in the arch. It is also often called "flat feet".

I will have a look at the Asolo, thanks

More suggestions welcome.

[Wolfix]

Aftermarket innersoles are generally a bad fit for me because my arch is further forward than they're made for. The width of my ankle from heel to instep is bigger than normal so that's a bit limiting too. I wish we still had reasonably priced shoemakers.

[wildernesswanderer]

You say you have tried a few brands of boots there, every boot they make or just some models because I have small feet that are wide at the toes and I too have a high arch, went though 5 different outdoor stores, a specialist shoe company, called The Walking Company and must have tried on about 20 boots until I tried Scarpa Trek Pro's in their BXX fit, which is wider than standard. To give you a idea it was the ONLY boot I tried on that I could still wiggle my toes in without my little toe feeling cramped. Worth a look if you haven't tried them.

[Wolfix]

Thanks wildernesswanderer, I will try some Scarpas tomorrow. I have about B to C width across the toes so I don't need an American fit like the Keens but the European fit is too narrow generally as I am used to having lots of space across my toes. I never wear tapered footwear and can't understand why boots are made this way. So many people have problems getting a good length to width fit.

[wildernesswanderer]

As a added note the Scarpa's I ended up with were the only Scarpa's that fitted my foot too. All the others were to narrow.

Hope you find something, I know the frustration in trying to find something that's comfy

[Strider]

Aftermarket innersoles are generally a bad fit for me because my arch is further forward than they're made for.

This is a common misconception. The arch is further back as this is where it should be to effectively support the heel from rolling. Green Superfeet completely transformed my Zambies in this regard.

[Wolfix]

This is not a misconception. I have tried various innersoles and the arch is where my heel is. I know my feet. The arch needs to be where the instep is. I also match them to my orthotics and the arch is in a different place.

So to clarify, I don't need a shoe with arch support or an innersole as I have orthotics. I want something as flat as possible inside so the orthotic isn't impeded.

[Strider]

This is not a misconception. I have tried various innersoles and the arch is where my heel is.

Yes, and I'm saying that this is the correct position for the arch.

[north-north-west]

I have a narrow heel with high arches & broad too...I found Asolo were a good fit for me...

Me too. Only comfortable boots I've found.
Sounds like we have the same sort of feet, Wingnut. Asolo will never go out of business as long as we're walking.

Wolfix, most boots come with removable insoles. The Asolos certainly do; I always remove them and fit Orthoheel supports.

[rogo]

Scarpas are worth a look and make sure they are the wide fitting ones. I'm sure you know these are x ones for ladies.

The inner sole is removable. In mine, I had custom orthotics made and it made the boot even better.

Good luck in your search as there is nothing like an ill fitting boot to make your walk miserable.

Ro

[Wolfix]

Strider, thank you. I do take your point. In my case, if I were to wear an innersole I would need arch support extending further down the foot. As I said, the orthotics I wear have an arch in a different place to the innersoles so they are not a suitable substitute for me.

NNW, removable innersoles is definitely a feature in every hiking shoe I've ever seen but a lot of them still have sufficiently built up arches so that when the innersole is removed and the orthotic placed in the shoe, it does not sit flat as it should to give the correct adjustment. This is the case with Salomons for me. If I were to buy Salomons I would wear them without my orthotics (prepared to do but not keen). The only shoes I have tried so far with enough width for the orthotics are Keens but as I said, the heels are really too wide. I realise this is something that could be remedied with a new orthotic and I'm in the process of getting that made.

Thank you all for your advice. I have been keen to try Asolo and I will give Scarpa another go, the X series sounds promising. I love the colour of the Asolo boots though this is the furthest thing on my mind at the moment. The ugliest boot in the world would suffice if the fit was good.

Reading more online reviews it seems this is a fairly common female foot shape so hopefully more bootmakers will catch on and start making shoes that are really specific women's fit rather than just a smaller, narrower men's fit. I know Asolo claim to and La Sportiva as well. If only I lived in the States, where you can shop for anything and everything in close proximity!

[Ent]

Hi

The Scarpa Ranger is supposedly designed for English foot. That being narrow heel and wider front and might be worth a look.

Scarpa SL in BXX a size slightly bigger just suits my foot with the annoying thing that when the heavy leather moulds to my foot the sole is on the way out. SL you will love, but can not say if it will be love to hate or just love. They tend to split opinion as the best or worse boot.

Aslo appear ok but they stopped just short of my length. Rare as hens teeth are Sportiva. I love their heavy duty walking shoes and have been on the prowl for their boots.

Best if luck as getting what works for you is all that matters.

Cheers

[Wolfix]

Thank you, Ent. I haven't had a full grain leather boot before apart from army boots when I was a teenager. The break-in time has never appealed to me but I will have a look at the SL and the Ranger if I can find them.

[Wolfix]

Anyone have experience with Ahnu boots?

[Bluegum Mic]

I have a pair of Ahnu Montanas. Quite simply the most comfortable boot I've ever placed on my feet (And I think they'll meet your criteria). BUT!!! (and a big but for me) I have sadly retired them very early in their life. They are slippery. Fine if you do mostly track walking, but sadly I do a lot more off track stuff up here in QLD these days and they just don't cut the mustard when in muddy rainforest or tracking up a slippery creek.
If your a ladies 9 Im more than happy to send them your way to try. I do believe the slipperiness will also eventually calm down too as I can see what causes it. In the middle of the sole is these green triangles made of a different rubber. They are slightly more prominent than the rest of the tread. Once worn down I think they'll be fine. Due to a recent knee recon Im just not willing to continue that process

[Rob A]

Been through quite a few pairs of Asolo and they are soft enough to move in to the shape of your feet. They have a narrow ankle, and personally I wouldnt be afraid of even a narrow fit across the foot, it will just take a bit of breaking in or shaping. Just watch where the lacing starts, it needs to begin back from your toes, not over your toes. Steer clear of anything with a heavy rand over the front of the foot because you will need a soft(ish) toe box. The full grains are nice. Soles are a bit on the light side.

Just moved back to Scarpa after many years, and use them with greenfeet. I think Scarpa lost the plot when they changed the padding layout round the heel and ankle ten or fifteen years ago which is when I stopped using them. They feel great in the shop, but if you have heel lift the padding starts to ride and bunch up. Once you bunch and crease the lining at the heel its a real nuisance and you will head for blisters and a lot of pilling, and wear and tear on the sock. While I used to be a wear them out of the box sort of person, Ive been breaking these SLs in for months now and they are showing a bit of promise. Guess the tip is you really need to perservere with breaking them in, or more accurately, shaping the leather from the last, to you foot, rather than having a loose floppy mess.

With both of them you still have to watch the length, the heel counters are always near verticle (on any boot) out of the box but with a bit of wear they ride forward and your toes find the end of the boot.

[Wolfix]

I am looking forward to trying the Asolos. I tried on many shoes this morning and found a good fit in men's Ahnu men's boots; a fit I know would be perfect in the women's line. I am going to try on the Ahnu Montana boot in Sydney. I also found a good fit in Scarpa Mythos Tech GTX women's. They have a lace hook at the arch so I could lock the laces in at the front of the shoe, giving me a lower fit in the toes than Scarpa generally affords.

I have found that one of the biggest problems is my right orthotic so a trip to the podiatrist next week should remedy that (I hope!)

[slparker]

I add my acclaim to the clamour about asolo. I have just bought a couple of pair online. Narrow heel and fairly good toe room (if you get the wide size). Nice deep heel cup, my superfeets don't quite work with them as i've found it lifts the heel a little higher into the cup.

[Wolfix]

No *&%$#! shoes in Sydney today!! I almost tried the Asolos but didn't have time to go to Chatswood. Waiting now for the Ahnu Montara boot to come to Macpac. HURRY UP!!!

[sailfish]

I have a broad flat foot, don't know about heel though. I found the Vasque Rangers very comfy. The suede did split just behind both sides of the tow cap and on both shoes after almost a year of everyday use. As a shoe sales person, you should know you can’t adjust length (size) to compensate for width, heel etc because the sole shape will not fit properly.


Regards,
Ken

[Wolfix]

I have about a half size difference between feet so in a sense you do have to compromise on length but not for width. I may even buy two pairs and sell the odd pair. I am almost happy with the Scarpa Mythos Tech GTX but I think I've made my classic mistake of buying the size too large. My larger foot did feel a bit restricted in the smaller size but I think it may actually be a better long term fit. The 40 feels too sloppy now so I know with wear it'll be a nightmare. I've ordered the Montaras so I will see how they go.

[hollandsinoz]

Hi Wolfix,
I've just come home from trying on every bushwalking boot in Adelaide on, and somehow came accross your narrow heel, Broad toes chat. I've ended up with the same 2 options as yourself, and wondered how you got on with the Scarpa Mythos vs the Ahnu Montana ?

Cheers,
Mary Anne

[Wolfix]

Hi Mary Anne. I didn't like the Montana as I couldn't cinch in the ankle tightly enough. It's a cushy shoe but leaves a lot to be desired in the structure of the upper and heel cup, especially lace design.

After a huge hiatus with orthotics problems I have now begun breaking in the Scarpas and they feel extremely comfortable so far. I will be trying a variety of lacings to get a good balance between ankle lock for descents and ankle flexibility for ascents.

[Wolfix]

It was easier to understand the way a good fit should feel after I broke in my new snowboard boots. I'm much more confident I have the right size Scarpas now but I can't stress enough the importance of home trials within the return period. You need to really dedicate time to finding the right boot, especially if you're hard to fit like me.

[hollandsinoz]

Thanks heaps,

I've left it too late for the Scarpas, so am sitting here in a pair of keens. Have also been trialling a pair of north face - am off to the podiatrist tomorrow, armed with the 2 pair of boots - i'd also like to try & find a pair of merrill avian lite, but the only shop i can find them in Adelaide (step footwear), wont let me trial them at home!