Boot for wide toe, average heel

[mhooper]

Dear all,

I have read through the forum and I've been trying boots. I must have tried on everything that the Kent St, Sydney, stores have.

My foot is average in the heel, and of average volume, but it's wide by the ball and wider for the toes.
I tried Vasque (too narrow, my toes pressing on the sides) and Merrell (same).
Keen were good in the toe, but too wide in the heel, and felt like they might be for a bigger volume foot.
I tried them with some insoles that a shop suggested, which improved the heel, but also raised the ball and toes, which is no good.

What do I try next?
Is there a shop with a better range of Keen, and other US brands? Is there a maker with a range of widths? I have seen alt-berg, but that's quite a journey away! Is there a similar Australian company?

I mostly do day walks of about 20 km. I'd prefer a full, secure feeling boot. I wore scarpas when I was younger, but since then (I'm only 34) my feet have spread.

Thanks in advance!

[wayno]

Lowa make specific versions of their models for wide feet. ..

[Hallu]

I have the same problem as you. This means that I usually have to take shoes/boots that slide a bit at the heel when I walk, otherwise I get blisters on my toes. This usually means some friction near my Achille's heel, and a blister. So far the most comfortable ones have been either Salomon or Asics. They're wide enough (especially Asics) and don't slide at the heel (a bit for the Salomon though). I tried some insoles too, but they make it worse, as you pointed out : it slides even more at the heel since you're not in the optimal position, and toes are smashed down. Salomon have pretty good default insoles, and Asics are usually flexible/big enough so you can break them in with your own insoles. But both brands do mainly comfortable medium boots, not big leather ones like Scarpa or Zamberlan. You also need to loosen the lacing at the toes and tighten it at the top, especially Zamberlan. If you want some big leather boots, try Zamberlan, and try different ways of lacing them in the shop, see if it works. Otherwise, try to find some Salomon/Asics. Specific models for wide feet should further increase your heel problem, so you're probably gonna have to try regular shoes.

[wayno]

theres an asics outlet shop in auckland thats full of the wide fitting asics shoes, there should be equivalent shops around in aus in the main cities.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I have same problem as you.

Was at one of the stores in Kent St today, those guys talk some *&%$#!. I suppose anything to try to get a sale.


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[ULWalkingPhil]

Who's the cheapest place in Sydney that sells Asics?


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[frenchy_84]

The OP was after boots, how are we talking about Asics? They don't even make walking BOOTS. Don't waste your time will salamons, they are a narrow fit. If you have done the run of Kent street, you've probably already tried Asolos but incase you havent give them a go.

[mhooper]

Thanks for your replies.
I stopped wearing asics running shoes because they were making one of my toes numb, and I realised that new balance were wider... I have been walking in them, but I really need some boots (walking through mud is no fun in running shoes).
I tried Salomon and they felt odd, and made my feet roll out (I don't remember them feeling especially wide); I don't have any pronation problems.
I don't remember Asolos. I might go and see if I tried.
Hmmm
Michael

[Hallu]

I buy Asics online on Amazon, this is a brand that is true to size (45 EU = 11 US). To give you a comparison, Zamberlan size large (their 45 EU is a 10.5 US), Keen size small (their 45 EU is a 11.5 US). In Melbourne, Rebel Sport was the "cheapest" place, well rather the less expensive, because it was 50% higher than US prices. And I highly doubt that they store the pretty rare hiking shoes/boots that Asics does (the ASICS Gel-Arata, so YES they make ONE boot Frenchy... ). On ebay Australia you can sometimes get some nice deals though. I should mention that I don't have Asics hiking shoes/boot, just trail running shoes, so I don't know if the size of the toe-box varies from those two types of shoes... So don't buy them online without trying them in a store first. I totally disagree that Salomon are narrow. Salomon and Asics both have regular fit on the mid part of the foot and the heel, and a good size toe box, even though Asics have slightly larger toe boxes.

[Hallu]

I also have that numb toe problem sometimes, mainly with Zamberlan shoes, never with Salomon/Asics. I've also just remembered this review : http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Hiking-Bo ... va-Eco-4-0 , maybe you could try them out too.

[frenchy_84]

I totally disagree that Salomon are narrow.

Hmmm, ive actually owned saloman boots, have you? they are narrow. what does a simple google search say????

[Hallu]

Well I have a pair of Salomon Ultra, bought about 2 months ago, and no they are not narrow at all... Now maybe people haven't looked at the Salomon size chart properly ? Because their size aren't 43, 44, 45 EU etc... the increment is actually 2/3 EU for every 0.5 US/UK, hence I bought a 45 1/3 which is an 11 US. Maybe some people got confused by it and bought a 44 2/3 when they usually wear a 45 ?

[wayno]

asics have a specific wide version of each oftheir models. should say 4E on the box

[wayno]

theres narrower brands around than salomon... Lowa default models are narrower. mammut are narrower, i can't fit those brands but i can fit salomon, I suspect salomon shoes are a bit narrower than their boots from my experience, but not being heavy leather theres some room for give in them
depends on the model of shoe you try with them as to how they perform, they have a range of support. from minimal support to more supportive and stiffer so how your feet function in one model can be different to another model.

[greyim]

Mack Timberlite

[Ent]

Hi

Scarpa claim that something like 95% of the population fit into a BX fitting but tend to sell the wider BXX fitting in Australia. This would make you think that BXX is massively wide but more than a few find this too tight.

Narrow heel and wide foot appears to be pretty common. Check the fitting as at least with Scarpa there is more than one. I found Aloso the best but they might have been a wide fitting. La Sportiva if you can find them might be worth a go.

As for sizing I take anything from a 46-49 so maybe the next size up?

Cheers

[north-north-west]

Asolo have a wider than average fitting as standard. Great boots if you can stand the cost. (Yes, I use them and love them to bits.)

[jujuaway]

Hi there mhooper, i can so relate to your foot problems. Over the last 2 years i have bought about 8 pairs of hiking boots - so embarrassing. I was is kent street today and ended up with nothing. I need a wide toe box, with average heel box as well. I don't remember seeing Asolos either.... which particular shop has them? i can see a place in melbourne carries them.
i feel so desperate, i am starting to look for some custom made boots from the USA.

it annoys me that all the shops seem to carry a b fitting and yet while i was on the strip today, i met countless size E frustrated shoppers. i just want to hike and feel good in the foot department!

[roysta]

Am I missing something here?
Asolo and Sportiva generally run narrow, at least in a mountain boot they do.
When I went hunting for a wide fitting mountain boot I had a devil of a time.
Guess where I ended up, Scarpa and man oh man are they good.
Wide in the toe box and narrow enough in the heel.
I suggest OP that you have a look at these guys, perhaps something like a Kailash.
But make sure you're on the money with your sizing.

[north-north-west]

Am I missing something here?
Asolo ... generally run narrow, at least in a mountain boot they do.

What do you mean by 'mountain' boot?
I have two pair of Asolo walking boots. My foot size is 6.5EEE. Usually I have to go at least 2.5 sizes up to get the ball width & instep height I need, and then nothing else fits.. Asolo boots fit in a 7.5, and they are even the right length for me. They are most certainly not a narrow boot.

[Ent]

By mountain boot do you mean the solid plastic affairs used by the terminally insane to attach spikes to climb ice cliffs?

I kick myself that I brought the AKU rather than the Aloso boots as they were a wide fit in the trekking boot style. Might be like Scarpa there are different last around in the World. Maybe Australia gets the supper wide?

Cheers

[madmacca]

Regardless of boot brand, when you are having problems like this, one thing to consider is lacing techniques, to ensure that you can get the right tension over all of the foot.
http://www.wefitshoes.com/lacing-guide-s/66.htm

[Jason68]

Regardless of boot brand, when you are having problems like this, one thing to consider is lacing techniques, to ensure that you can get the right tension over all of the foot.
http://www.wefitshoes.com/lacing-guide-s/66.htm

How cool, thanks madmacca, will try! I'm one of those fat toes, narrow heel problems

[Hallu]

There's a problem with the first image though. They mention two laces, but the image only shows one.

[roysta]

What do you mean by 'mountain' boot?

Short for mountaineering, rigid sole, able to take crampons, I have the Scarpa Triolet.
Asolo and La Sportiva notoriously run narrow in those type of boots.

By mountain boot do you mean the solid plastic affairs used by the terminally insane to attach spikes to climb ice cliffs?

Not the plastics, leather, and anyway, climbing ice cliffs is fun, particularly when swinging those ice tools.

[madmacca]

There's a problem with the first image though. They mention two laces, but the image only shows one.

Yeah, the wording in that first image seems to match the diagram of the "wide forefoot, narrow heel" lacing (diagram no. 4). Although both diagrams would seem to address the issue of heel slip, the second one addresses the wide toe more specifically.