Hiking Boots in Wide Width?

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kycolonel

Joined
Dec 17, 2006
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Hoping some of you fellas with a few miles on your odometer (like me) can offer some suggestions for hiking/light backpacking boots in wide widths. There was a time when all I needed was a pair of high top basketball shoes to head into the woods for a few days, but no more. The problem is, there seems to be very few quality hiking boots offered in wide widths (I'm talking EEE).

Anyone have any suggestions?

Your advice is appreciated!
 
I like Merrels partly because they tend to have a wider toe box than other boots.You might want to give them a try.
 
Vasque. I have ridiculously wide feet and the big heavy Vasque mountaineering boots are a dream
 
All of the vasque boots I have tried in recent years were very narrow. The Merrills are wide like was said.
 
weird. The ones I own are the Vasque Clarion model, and I generally find Merrells too narrow.

Tha being said, I haven't found a pair of lightweight 2-3 seasonhikers by either company that are really comfortable
 
I had some Merril Moab hikers that were amazing but on the first trip out the gore tex went south and I ended up melting the soles off that night when I got the fire going a little too well and wasn't paying attention:o:D

I finished the remaining 20 miles in my keen sandals.
 
Check out Dunhams. Made by the New Balance folks. They and NB's are the only thing I wear now besides flip flops. They go up to 4E.
 
New Balance also makes some nice, lightweight, hiking boots under their own brand. Available in widths up too 4E.
 
I do a fair amount of trail time and I have 11 EE feet. I wear three different boots depending on weather and terrain. For lightweight use I have an older pair of Merrell's but they are just barely wide enough and about worn out. For medium weight use I have a pair of REI boots made by Vasque I think but I am pretty sure they don't make them any more. My best but very heavy duty and cold weather boots are Lowa Tibet Pro GTX which are made in a wide version. They are kind of hard to find and not cheap but I really like them for heavy packing on rough terrain and in relatively cold weather.
 
Some dunhams and even more nb's go up to 6E i have a pair of 14-6E boots. I only wear dunhams and new balance now as well. I find merrell and keen to narrow even though they do have a wider toe box.
 
Always bothers me to see some maker rhapsodize about the technical excellence and wonder of their shoes in a description that ends in "fits most".

I can walk further easier in low tech, low cost shoes that fit than I can in a technically wonderful ones that don't.
 
My first post on a blade forum is about boots! haha. Anyway I am with you I have large and wide feet. 12 EEE, I wear Vasque boots the sundowner specifically. You can get them in a wide width. I have also worn Asolo boots they offer a few styles in wide. If you have a good backpacking store in your area call them and see if they stock either in wide to give them a try. They arent really wide but they are about as good as we can get.

FWIW, my Vasque boots dont have the stock insole I have changed it out to one that my local shop makes and that helped alot. I cant wear the heavy socks I would like to but it all works.
 
I wear the New Balance trail runners in 10 1/2 EEEE. Very comfortable. I find that the Asolo wide models also fit me well, but I can't wear a super thick sock. Regular Smartwool Hiking socks are fine though. I can get very thick winter socks on with the wide Meindl winter hunting boots available through Cabela's.

DancesWithKnives
 
I have flat, wide feet and often wear wide width (EE) running shoes for athletic purposes. I have had good luck with the medium width Timberland White Ledge (12135) hikeing boots being comfortable. They are reasonably priced, and might be a good option for you.
 
I bought some asolo boots and I have pretty wide hobbit feet and they feel great. do you have an rei near you? you can go and walk around the store in a pair before you buy them.....
 
hollowdweller said:
All of the vasque boots I have tried in recent years were very narrow. The Merrills are wide like was said.
Click to expand...

+1. I went into my REI and tried on a bunch; only the Merrell model I ended up getting fit my wide feet decently. All the vasque models there ran narrow, and all the wide Asolo's in my size were gone when I went in. I don't think you can really generalize by brand though, your best bet is to just go in and try on as many as you can.
 
You could try Keens as well if you head into an REI. They're super wide in the toes and fit me like a glove. I can't remember but I know I'm somewhere in the EE-EEE area.
 
BOOMSTICK said:
I bought some asolo boots and I have pretty wide hobbit feet and they feel great. do you have an rei near you? you can go and walk around the store in a pair before you buy them.....
Click to expand...

I owned a pair of these as well and highly recomend them.
 
If you're just hanging out in the woods instead of going for big miles, any of the favorite wildland firefighting boots....
White's
Nick's
Drew's
come in just about every width you can think of.

They're all pricey but completely rebuildable. Once they're broken in they're also real comfy.
 
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