How to Find Wide Shoes
Thursday July 3, 2008
I frequently get email begging for help to find shoes for problem feet. I feel like imitating Dr. McCoy on Star Trek and saying, "I'm a walker, not a podiatrist!" Even if I were a shoe fit expert, podiatrist, or pedorthist, I would have to see your feet and how you use them live and in person to really tell you which shoes would be best. But I do know the right steps to take.
- Get ye to the best technical running store in your area: There is no skipping this step if you really want to get the right shoes. Everybody's feet are different and the only way to get the right shoes is to get them fit by people who make that their business.
- Learn the tricks to shop online for wide shoes: Once a technical running store has fitted you for shoes and you know approximately what you need (motion control, stability, neutral, etc.), you can then use web sites to search for wide and extra wide shoes. I'd like you to give your local technical running store your business, but sometimes that isn't convenient or "local" means hundreds of miles away.
- Learn to lace your shoes to give extra width.
- A few recommendations from shoe experts for extra-wide shoes.
Photo © Wendy Bumgardner 2008
New Balance!! If you go into the stores, they fit you with the right shoe. After I had foot surgery my feet were so swollen I had to wear a double wide walking shoe. They are good at fitting you properly and giving you the right shoe. I have flat feet so they give me a special shoe for over pronaters. Once you find the right shoe, you can reorder it by calling the store or from the website. If you are ever in Chicago, I like the store on Clark Street.
I finally found Leonard’s Wide Shoes and they specialize in wide and extra-wide shoes. They are located at:
4480 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas NV 89169
(702) 895-9993
This store has a great selection and is right off the Las Vegas Strip only minutes from the airport.