I am looking for some hiking boots for my husband to hike the Swiss Alps this summer. He only wears logger’s boots and those won’t do. He has a very shallow instep, wide toe area and narrow heels. We are not looking for trail runners although I am aware of all the advantages. Can anyone point us to some light boots that come in different toe box widths? I have the Oboz and like them but the entire boot is wide when buying it wide and my husband has narrow heels.
Thanks for any help.
Topic
Hiking boots with wide toe, narrow heel?
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I’ve found the Keen Targhee line to be a bit wider than most. La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX come in wide and that’s what I’m currently wearing. I went up a full size. A bit lighter than the Keen’s and a bit more comfortable. Good price on Amazon. Some sizes were ” try before you buy”. Amazon is pretty good on returns anyway. They feel snug on my heels. They have a unique way of hooking the laces at the top. Half the time, I don’t even tie them. I think it’s a good looking boot as well. Good reviews on YouTube.
Those La Sportiva sound really good but the price is ouchy!! Might be worth regardless. Thanks for the suggestion
They’re over $200 at REI. I paid $145 on Amazon. Different sizes were different prices for some reason. Price varied by color as well.
The Topo Trailventure 2 has a wide foot shaped toe box , narrow/secure heel plus they are pretty light for a boot with a lot of cushion.
The Altra Timp Hiker might fit your needs. The Timp trail runner is my current favorite hiker…wide forefoot with a narrow heel. They are zero drop which can seem a bit odd at first if you are not used to it, but it literally took an hour or two for me to acclimate to it. Great shoe with great cushion minus the tall floaty feeling of other high cushion shoes.
Kattt ,when you say he always wears logger’s boots , I picture boots with a very large heel to toe drop ,if this is all he wears his tendons and muscles will be adapted and shortened in range of motion . Please use caution if transitioning him to a lower drop boot like some of the ones mentioned. This is something that usually needs to be gradually eased into to prevent injury.
Personally I think low to zero drop is great and it would likely be a good thing for him to slowly make the change but going from high heeled boots to zero drop or even low drop to quickly and then going into a multi day backpacking trip could be a recipe for disaster.
Vasque Breeze (GTX or not) is worth considering. It comes in wide, but I don’t think the heels are terribly wide.
@Nicholas, thank you!! You are right about the steep drop from the heel. This is very useful info about transitioning slowly because of the range of motion he has. Thank you
Thanks Dan I will take a look at these as well.
It might be worth taking a closer look at the Oboz. They make “wides” and “extra wides” in some models, but it is only the toe that gets wider, the heel remains narrow.
for years I wore boots without getting any blisters. Then I started getting progressively more, like 10 blisters at the same time.
I don’t normally go to REI for advice, but I did, and the guy said I needed a wider toe box and recommended Salamon Ultra 4 GTX. I haven’t got one blister since.
Maybe that model of boot is good for wide toes
Maybe going to REI for advice about which boot to use is a good idea
My feet must have gotten wider (with age) which created the problem. Which boot is best varies for different people.
Did you size up with the Salmons? I tried the ultra wide in my usual size and found them too tight. Sizing up might be the key. I sized up with the La Sportiva boots. My local REI is a bit shorthanded. I didn’t stick around long. Maybe ask for four or five pairs to try on instead of trying one pair at a time.
The Quest prime GTX were so narrow on me mid foot that I broke a bone shimming on a narrow cliff trail.
The Ultra 4 GTX runs wider for a Salomon (which are typically narrow), making it closer to average but still too narrow for my front foot
Oboz all had too high arches for me, with flat feet.
Lowa Renegade Wide GTX is the only 3-season thing that fits me really well after trying many boots and trail runners on. I need really wide toes and mid, normal heel, no arch, but long (size 14; I’ve never been able to find a single available trail runner even close).
I agree with TT, Targhees are on the wide side. Typically better grip and stability than Moabs. I only tried the regular Nucleo, too narrow for me.
Jerry, I was getting blisters if I didn’t oversize until finding a properly wide boot like the Lowas that work for me without oversizing. This gives much better downhill stability (not a sloppy fit) and long term comfort for me at least
My Salomons are a bit sloppy, especially going downhill, but it’s just aesthetic, it feels a bit weird but I can still walk wherever without problem.
I always wear size 12 boots, including those Salomons.
Since they worked, I bought a second pair. The first pair has a worn place where the shoe bends at the toes, so now there’s a hole. Maybe I’ll still use them on a dry trip.
Maybe the lesson is just to try different boots until you find one that works for you at that time.
I think the Nucleo runs small. I first ordered them in my regular size. I didn’t even try them on. They were obviously small. The larger size doesn’t feel sloppy, but I did change the insoles to a thicker one for the winter. I’m also wearing two pairs of thin wool socks. I usually wear a size 9. I’m lucky I don’t fall over.
The Meindl comfort fit is narrow heel/wide toe. They are more available in Europe but some get brought to the US. https://meindlusa.com/blogs/meindl-blog/finding-your-perfect-fit
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As mentioned, if you have any difficulty finding shoes that work the best way to get the right shoe/fit is to visit a specialist shop that employs knowledgeable people to help. Sure, that may be easier said than done, but finding the expertise and experience fitting hiking footwear is worth the time, effort and cost.
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