r/widefeet

Has anyone had any luck increasing instep volume with a stretcher, frozen water or a cobbler? I tried on some Allen Edmonds 3E boots recently and much to my surprise they fit quite well. I just bought a pair online and the right boot is tighter over my instep than the left. It's not bad, but I am aware of it all the time. It's been a long time since I wore shoes that are longer than they are wide and I don't remember how much discomfort is doable. I don't need to make it wider, but a small stretch to the upper might make them a lot more comfortable. I think they are high enough quality not to break (they should be at that price). Cheers.

I used to have the old school xtratuf boots when I worked summers in Alaska. I had kids and my feet grew so I needed to buy new ones but they are not made like they used to! It's so so sad. I'm thinking about investing in a pair of blundstones which are definitely different. I'm searching for a deck/ankle boot that I can live fall winter and spring in in PA.

I've checked most the brands I've seen recommended here and everything is a block heel or a kitten heel. I want PUMPS, STILETTOS, glitter, straps, fun colors! Anyone have luck recently?

Hello everyone! Let’s preface with, omg I’m so freaking tired of dealing with shoe problems. So, here’s what we’re dealing with:

-foot length: 10” (women’s)
-foot width: 4.5”
-circumference around widest part of foot: 10” (so flat feet at the front)
-ball of foot-to-heel length: 7.75” (aka my ball of the foot is too far forward and is wide when normal people’s have already started tapering)
-circumference around instep/arch: 11.75” (not relevant to insoles, just to commiserate with me)
-Navicular Bone drop?? Like I have this area at the bottom of my arch that is rounded like a ball, and sometimes shoe footbeds are just not made to accommodate my foot being wider than usual at that spot. aaah Shoe shopping SUCKS.
-Autism-spectrum-related sensory BS that makes me hypersensitive to all the little inside seams and a million other details…🤬

Further clarifying info, plus me rambling because I am Annoyed™ right now:
Last time I had a fitting at a specialty store, it was a Drew sneaker for 10 XW (4E). The one we like around here is 25 minutes away and requires an appointment, and I really should just bite the bullet and schedule if they’re available 2-3 Saturdays away, but I just don’t want to deal with it any more right now. The Google AI thinks I should be moving up to a size 11?? Which, I was a 9.5 4E for New Balance previously so moving up to a 10 when I got these Drews was a hard enough pill to swallow. Also, I’d want to talk about that recommendation with an actual human before acting on it.

So if we are assuming I am a 10 4E or 11 4E, can I get away with non-custom prefab insoles? Are there any brands or types you recommend? Hopefully something relatively thin so that I don’t have to get rid of my non-added-depth shoes? I’m looking for sneaker insoles and ones for pumps or Mary Jane flats as well. Thank you very much!! 🙏🎉