Wide forefoot, narrow heel - YouLookFab Forum

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Wide forefoot, narrow heel

elpgal

Veteran

I am seeing from Carla's post that several of us have this foot type. Can you share your latest finds that have worked for you?

I recently experimented with barefoot style shoes - the Lems and the Soft star custom made shoes. Both fit well but I passed because of aesthetic reasons.

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from stainedglass

brigid

Hurray! Thanks for posting. I'll be watching this thread for some good advice. This describes my feet too. I'm recently back to work after being a sahm.

Just bought a pair of Dansko Professionals. They work well. I don't want to squish my running feet and have to have something comfortable.

I'm looking for some comfortable black booties. I tried on a pair of Bare Traps at DSW yesterday, but didn't buy. After thinking about it, I might go back today to get them.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't have a "wide" forefoot, technically, but I do have a narrow heel and an average forefoot. Plus a high instep.

It's really tough to find any low vamp footwear that will stay on my feet. Which is sad, from a figure flattery perspective, because I also have short calves. So...few pumps, no flats (not even slipper flats stay on).

My main solutions are boots and booties (in colder months) and sandals with straps in the warmer months. Some sandals are problematic because the back strap is too long (around the heel) -- I sometimes get that altered. Some boots and booties allow my heels to shift up and down a lot and I can get blisters, so I'm careful about socks, anti-blister stuff, etc. I have never found a heel grip that actually works, but sometimes an insole in the bottom repositions my heels to a better place (and sometimes it is worse).

Another style that can work is a slingback pump, but I live in a climate where those can't be worn for much of the year.

Brands that work for me sometimes include Ecco -- I even have a pair of Ecco pumps that actually stay on my feet even with stockings! I've been told they specifically design for a wider forefoot and narrower heel. I also have a pair of Vince Camuto wedges with elastic around the shoe that stay on pretty well.

I am lucky that I can fit into regular (not wide) sizes, which probably helps, so with most boots/ booties and sandals I can get a reasonable fit; it's only when I go to the low vamp style that I run into trouble.

Diana

Veteran

Like Suz, my foot is overall medium to narrow, but my heel is extra narrow AND I have a bunion on my right foot which makes narrow shoes a no-go for me. Unlike her, I also have a very low volume foot and low, flat instep. I can't fill out most shoes and in fact I can kick my frye Veronica shortie boots off without much effort.

I mostly stick to boots and high vamp shoes like oxfords. Yes I often have extra room in the heel and instep but I am used to it, and they stay on. Pumps and ballet flats are a nightmare. Generally i can't take a step without walking out of them. Slingbacks sometimes work, as do ankle straps.

I recently bought Munro Jerrie slipper flats. They were the only slipper flats I've ever tried that stayed on my heel. A minor miracle! I don't think they'd work for a truly wide forefoot though as they're overall a bit narrow.

anne

Veteran

I have this problem and like Suz go for boots, booties or straps. I also have short legs and wish I could wear low vamp styles.

Catnip

Veteran

Munro American shoes are made with a combination last, which means the heel is significantly narrower than the front of the shoe. They come in a very wide selection of sizes. You can see them on the Nordstrom and Zappos websites. I have a very narrow heel and have had great luck with Munro shoes.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I will add to the Munro love. I have the Robyn booties and love the fit.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I almost always need straps, but recently discovered a Clarks driving moc that stays on my foot perfectly! It's a current style in the Clarks retail stores. I got the cranberry suede color and have worn them almost every day since I got them. They don't even threaten to slip.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I am watching this thread! I have an overall widish peasant foot, but my DD, adopted from China, has what I call a "pie foot," shaped like a pie wedge --- wide in front, narrow in back. Fortunately, she's only 12, and is living in flip flops, Cons and Uggs so far!

Diana

Veteran

Haha, Beth Ann, pie foot is perfect. Personally, I call mine a "pancake duck foot". (Pancake because my feet are really really flat and my arches puddle into a pancake when I stand).

Anonymous

I call mine duck feet too my toes are pretty much all the same length and in hose I look like Roald Dahl's witches with no toes.

Von

Veteran

This summer I finally diagnosed that this is my constant shoe problem as well. I have spent so much time buying "things" to keep my feet in my shoes, and you all probably know, they never work. I walk out of everything if I'm not strapped down. As my weekend shoe, I love Keens, I have three or four pairs in different styles, and for my toes, which seem to always be crowded during the week, I choose to deal with the clown shoe look for the comfort.

I have recently become a Sam Edleman shoe lover, I have a pair of thr Felicia's, my favorite flat because I love that they stay on. I have found the Okalas have a very wide toe area (shocking in pointy shoes) and that lovely ankle strap. The Maddox Bootie is my most recent purchase, and they're fast becoming a fall favorite. Low, comfy and grippy on the bottom. My heel slips a little, but not enough to rub - it feels like a Dansko.

I also found Dansko clogs to be comfy, Not cute, but some days, my feet just need a break!

Brands that don't work on me: Nine West and Ann Klein pumps, which suck because I love Nine West styles, but I can't stay in any of them. Clark's pumps are also huge in the heel, though some of the new styles seem to have a substantial hump of leather back there that makes them fit better.

elpgal

Veteran

Lots of good ideas here,I'll explore them as my credit card permits.
I find shoes with an elasticized top line helpful for the heel slippage. I know Me Too used to have several shoes that met this description but they were too short in have toebox for me. Like Suz, I have had some luck getting a cobbler to add an extra hole to the ankle strap. I have been exploring custom made shoes for a while but haven't found somebody who uses a tracing for the footbed.

Anonymous

I'm also watching this thread with interest.

My recent favorites are a pair of Sam Edelman ankle-strap sandals and a pair of Earth shooties. They actually stay on and provide some much-needed padding.

Old favorites include a pair of Corso Como tall boots.

I've also learned that most ballet flats and slippers are a no-go for me. I occasionally find a loafer that works, though. If you can handle the lack of padding, the Sperry Bluefish style works quite well.

Day Vies

Veteran

Miz Mooz is my favorite because I have this foot type. I can actually get my size (9) and have the shoe/boot etc. fit perfectly without having to worry whether there's enough room across the widest part of my foot. Usually I compensate by getting the wide width in my size or sizing up to 9.5 or 10. Sizing up creates issues with sliding because my foot sometimes isn't long enough to stay in place (narrow heel wide across the toes). I also have a high instep so shoes with no arch support are very uncomfortable.

El Cee

Veteran

I also have the "duck foot" issue. The brands that work best for me are Dansko, Clark, Sam Edelman, Hush Puppies and Munro. Some of the Sperry shoes work for me as well as the leather can be stretched a bit up front (where I need the extra room).

Anonymous

I have a narrow heel and I like a wider toe box even though my feet are narrow. I have a pair of cobb hill boots that are too wide for me but fit in the heel:

http://www.amazon.com/Cobb-Hil.....ll+Bethany

I love the idea of barefoot shoes! I have a pair of them, but they kill me on concrete. They are ugly too

elpgal

Veteran

Mtgrl, Some of the vivobarefoot styles are not too bad. I wear the five-fingers style to exercise. I am width-wise sized out of them.

rachylou

Veteran

I have narrow feet + bunions from ballet, so it sorta puts me in this category. There are no brands, honestly, that I stick with. I feel it really varies style by style. Although, quite honestly, I get a lot of wear out of Payless shoes. I know, not fancy, but extremely practical.

Anonymous

Oooooh - I like those a lot!

unfrumped

Veteran

Very similar issues.

I have had luck with Born, Clarks, Lifestride. Some Munro but they do run a narrow forefoot. This is in part choosing more oval toes than anything very pointy, but finding the heels are manageable.

elpgal

Veteran

Racha, a lot of barefooters like Payless footwear becausef the minimal support they provide.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Wide forefoot, narrow heel and high arches here. I cannot wear pumps and find ballet flats uncomfortable. Basically these are too much work for me to walk in although it is possible if not wearing socks, because my toes can grip the shoe and keep it on that way. Slingbacks are possible but I've yet to find a pair that have worked for me. The trendy style that works on me is the ankle strap shoe. Especially one with a heel cup. Sometimes the shoe is half a size big to accommodate my wide feet, but with the ankle strap the shoe will stay on and I don't mind a bit of forward slipping. An example of my latest heels that look good/fit well/are adequately comfortable.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/en.....=nullRelat

Boots and booties are another excellent choice for me, with the addition of a half insole which helps fill out the back of the shoe. I've linked some of my favorites here, as well as the half insole. The Vintage Shoe Company model is no longer in production, so sad, but I have loved these booties for 3 years!
http://www.planetshoes.com/ite...../16043/o38
http://www.shopbop.com/classic.....h-viewall-

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/su.....dictiveSea

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/su.....=Predictiv

I have also had some luck with oxfords -- here is a pair I got that fit well.
http://www.shopbop.com/esquina.....wall-shopb

For work I wear Sanita professional clogs. I also have Danskos but their instep is too shallow, the Sanitas fit better. Sanitas are also available in wide widths, which I've yet to try. I just gradually stretched my Sanita regulars to fit my feet, it hurt a little at first because the leather is stiff but that's what makes them so great -- eventually they mold to your feet, but hold their shape and have some support. Mine are over 2 years old now, worn 6x weekly for 8 hours a day on my feet, and I am now considering purchasing a new pair. Anyways I have praised Sanitas profusely on this forum, and I think others who work on their feet like Annagybe wear them too.
http://www.amazon.com/Sanita-W.....#038;qid=1

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Lol Beth Ann about the pie foot. That's what my feet look like; triangles with my tiny bony narrow heel. My feet are small too. When I lived in Asia I found the best fitting shoes ever (Japan, Hong Kong). Not to mention that at under 5'4" it was easy to find clothes that fit although the inseams were usually too short (!) which never happens here.

stainedglass

Thanks for starting this thread. I have a extra wide forefoot, normal heel, and flat instep. Like other members, I've had the best luck with lace ups (oxfords or converse knock offs), round toes, and shoes with ankle straps. I'd love to wear a pair of cap toe ballet shoes, but they'd never stay on my feet.
I've tried Munro before, but the D width wasn't wide enough. I'll have to try the EE width next time.