Educational Articles

Benefits of Wide Toe Boxes for Hiking

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Disclaimer:

The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.

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Comments
March 04, 2018
Mark

Do you have a recommendation for a wide toe box boot that would be appropriate for backpacking? The pack weight is about 35 lbs.

March 04, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Mark,

Thank you for your question. We have several footwear suggestions for you in terms of hiking with a loaded pack.

The Lems Boulder Boot is our go-to boot for multi-day hiking and adventuring. The sole is malleable enough to give you optimal ground feel, but strong enough to put up with quite a bit of wear and tear on more technical trails. Many people have backpacked long distances in the Boulder Boot, finding it optimal for a wide-range of off-road conditions. You can read more about the Boulder Boot below:

www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/mens-lems-boulder-boots

Another couple of great boot options are the Ahinsa Trekking Boot and the Feelmax Kuuva 4 Boot.

Also, the Xero Prio (www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/mens-xero-shoes) is a more minimalist option, and the Luna Mono 2.0 (www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/mens-luna-sandals) works quite well in warmer conditions.

Happy trails!

Kind Regards,
Andrew Potter

March 11, 2018
Anne

Greetings! I am interested in your shoes because I’ve had trouble finding hiking shoes or boots that work with my wide feet. I have bunions, which has caused both feet to spread out, and I need wider shoes, so the wide toe boxes of the shoes you offer sound ideal. I also pronate. Currently, I’m wearing a Saucony running shoe that is comfortable but obviously not a hiking shoe or boot. Also, I wear orthotics, so I assume that I can take out whatever insole is in your shoes or boots and replace it with my own orthotics? Can you suggest a model that might work for me? I hike about once a week in Oregon, in old-growth forests, so there is some climbing involved on very uneven ground, but nothing extremely strenuous. I have never been able to find a hiking shoe or boot that works for me. Thanks for any advice you can offer. Also, are your products returnable if they don’t work out? Finally, any advice on sizing? Thanks again!

March 11, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Anne,

Thank you for your comment. We’d be happy to help you find something that suits your needs!

For most people, the Lems Boulder Boot is an excellent hiking option. Living in Portland, Oregon, I can tell you firsthand that the Boulder Boot works great for the wide variety of hiking terrain found in the Pacific Northwest. You can find our Boulder Boot offerings here:

www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/womens-lems-boulder-boots

You might also consider checking out the Topo ST-2. It’s a very versatile athletic shoe that’s great for a variety of activities. The tread works very well on and off the trail, and its wide toe box and foot-healthy shape allow your toes to splay the way nature intended. You can learn more about the Topo ST-2 shoe here:

www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/womens-topo-shoes

One final option is the Vibram FiveFingers V-Run. This toe shoe works really well for folks with wide feet, as its upper quite flexible and accommodating. Read more about the Vibram FiveFingers V-Run here:

www.naturalfootgear.com/products/vibram-fivefingers-v-run-black-yellow-purple

You should be able to wear your orthotics in both the Lems Boulder Boot and the Topo ST-2, though we’d recommend natural methods for strengthening your foot arches and checking excessive pronation. The following videos and articles discuss noninvasive options for addressing both considerations:

www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17888744-natural-arch-support
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17861564-correct-toes-orthotics
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17921600-who-should-use-orthotics
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/75219013-pronation-vs-overpronation

The following resources discuss natural approaches to addressing or preventing bunions:

www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/bunion-reversal-strategies
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17856712-bunions-conventional-vs-natural-approaches

We have a 30-day money-back guarantee on almost all products. You can learn more about our shipping and returns and money-back guarantee policies here:

www.naturalfootgear.com/pages/shipping-returns
www.naturalfootgear.com/pages/money-back-guarantee

To determine your best possible size in any of the products we offer, please do check out the info under the “Sizing” tab on the individual product pages.

I hope this info helps! Please do let us know if you have any further questions; we’re happy to help out however we can!

Kind regards,
Andrew Potter

March 30, 2018
Don Wycoff

Dr. Hughes,

I noted that you are a road cyclist. I have been using Vibram Fivefingers, flat pedals, and plastic cleats for cycling for about five years now. Are you aware of any cycling shoes with a large toe box. I have searched unsuccessfully for several years. Thank you.

March 30, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Don,

Thank you for your comment! Tyler Benner of Venn Design in Portland, OR, is working on manufacturing a wide toe box cycling shoe. You can learn more about that project here:

www.venndesign.co/blog/2017/8/22/portland-handmade-bike-show

We’ve also started using and promoting Catalyst Pedals from Pedaling Innovations, which we’ve found to be the best flat pedal option out there. It’s longer than your average platform pedal, which allows you to use both ends of your main foot arch to recruit power. Check out our Catalyst Pedals Review article here:

www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/product-info/catalyst-pedals-review

I hope this information helps. If you have any other questions, please do let us know!

Kind Regards,
Marty Hughes, DC

October 19, 2018
Gail Cassidy

I’m looking for a low hiking shoe that can accommodate a wide foot and high arch. I sometimes hike on uneven and rocky ground. Any suggestions?

October 19, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Gail,

Thank you for reaching out to us with your question. Pretty much all the options on our women’s boots page would fit the bill. They are all foot-shaped to accommodate natural toe splay and varying arch heights, and they all possess flexible yet protective soles to enhance ground-feel and build strong and resilient feet. Please do give this collection of boots a look and let us know if you have any further questions:

www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/womens-boots

All best,
Marty Hughes, DC

October 22, 2018
Ceann

Hi,

I just came across your site and I’m glad I did. I just ordered a pair of Merrell Moab 2 Mid WP Hiking Boots and wore them for a hike in Yosemite. My little toe was very sore and felt squished. I purchased a half-size bigger than I usually do, but should I have purchased a wide? If I can’t return them for a wide version, what would you suggest?

October 22, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Ceann,

Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your sore feet and squished toes! Most footwear brands, if they do offer a “wide” version, add width at the ball of the foot, not at the ends of the toes, where you need the width the most. All the footwear—hiking or otherwise—that we promote on our site is widest at the ends of the toes to allow your toes to splay the way nature intended. Here are our foot-healthy footwear offerings for men and women:

Men’s Footwear:
www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/mens-shoes

Women’s Footwear:
www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/womens-shoes

Please do let us know if you have any additional questions!

Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC

October 22, 2018
Lisa

Which shoe do you think would provide slightly more “cush,” the Lems Boulder Boot or the Topo ST-2? Thanks!

October 22, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Lisa,

Thank you for your comment. To learn all about our perspective on shoe cushioning, I recommend checking out this article:

www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/34226629-the-shoe-cushioning-myth

Of the two options you mentioned, the Topo STs has a slightly greater stack height and springier sole.

Please let us know if you have any other questions!

Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC

February 21, 2021
Phyllis

I started wearing a type of shoe with a wide toe box and a very thin flexible sole. It has helped my foot pain so much, but my feet freeze in the winter. Does ANYONE sell winter boots in addition to hiking boots? I want tall boots. Thank you.

February 21, 2021
Natural Footgear

Hi, Phyllis,

Thank you for your comment. You might consider checking out the Xero Shoes or Vivobarefoot product lines to see if there is a product that matches your needs.

All the best,
Marty Hughes, DC

February 21, 2021
Patrick Black

Hi, team. I work as a bushwalking guide in Tasmania, Australia. I am often out in wet, muddy, cold conditions for over a week at a time. It is essential that the shoes I am wearing are durable and waterproof; however, all the boots on the market are awful for my wide feet. I see that you have some great boots featured on the Natural Footgear site, but I feel that they simply wouldn’t be durable or waterproof enough for the conditions I am working in. Do you have any suggestions? Cheers.

February 21, 2021
Natural Footgear

Greetings, Patrick,

Thank you for your comment! I can certainly understand your need for a boot that’s capable of standing up to the rigors of the Tasmanian bushland. The good news is that both Lems and Xero now produce fully waterproof boots that work well for rugged outdoor use. If you have any questions about these specific models, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us about that!

Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC

February 21, 2021
Dylan

I’m surprised that the Lems Boulder Boot is being pushed as the best hiking boot option, except that it seems to be the only wide toe box option. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my pair of Boulder Boots and have been wearing them almost daily for over a year, but hikers they are not. I recently hiked Mt. Batur in Bali with them and the tread is next to useless on sandy or muddy terrain. These boots are great for hiking the concrete jungles, but not great on steep loose terrain. If Lems would make a boot with an actual hiking tread sole, or better yet, use a Vibam sole, it would be perfect.

February 21, 2021
Natural Footgear

Hi, Dylan,

I appreciate your comment, but I’m going to have to beg to differ on this one. Personally, I’ve found the Lems Boulder Boot to be a great hiking companion for the vast majority of my outings, whether they be day hikes on hard-packed dirt trails or multi-week treks that cover a variety of terrain. I do agree that these boots do not have the best traction in slippery conditions, but that can be ameliorated (at least in the case of snow or ice) with the introduction of a winter traction aid. As for wet conditions, a lot of errant footfalls can be avoided thanks to the increased tactile feedback that these boots afford. Still, like you said, if Lems ever produces a version of the Boulder Boot with a high-traction sole, it would indeed render the boot perfect.

Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC

February 22, 2021
Kayla

Hi there. I appreciate your site and your easy-to-read educational info. I am not ready for a zero drop shoe; do you have any recommendations for hiking shoes that have flexible soles, wide toe boxes, and either a regular drop (for now, as I transition) or a low drop? Thank you.

February 22, 2021
Natural Footgear

Hi, Kayla,

Thank you for your question. And thank you for your kind words; we really appreciate it! What you’re asking about is actually pretty hard to find, as most footwear companies that prize flexible soles and wide toe boxes also incorporate zero drop platforms into the design and construction of their shoes. So, at this time, I can’t really offer you much in the way of recommendations for what you’re looking for, but if anything changes on that front, I will certainly let you know.

All the best,
Marty Hughes, DC

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