5 Best Leather Sneakers For Wide Feet From E to EEEEE

Buying leather sneakers can be a daunting task for various reasons — it’s a financial step up from basic canvas kicks, and you want to get this right — but it becomes even more challenging when you have wide feet.

Unfortunately, most shoe brands cater to people with average foot width, leaving those with wider feet feeling like they’re searching for a needle in a haystack.

It’s not exactly the brands’ fault. Developing new lasts is a surprisingly expensive and complex endeavor, and it’s costly enough just to launch a standard run of D-width sizes. (For some reason, “D” designates “normal width” feet.)

But a poor fit can turn even the most supportive sneaker into an uncomfortable brick. In this article, we’ll address this common struggle of the wide-footed gentleman and guide you toward finding the perfect pair of sneakers that offer both the necessary width and the desired comfort.

Do You Have Wide Feet? 

The length is self-explanatory. The larger the number, the longer your feet are. Some guys with long feet automatically assume that their feet are also wide, but it’s not always the case; your length and width are completely separate measurements. Again, the width is denoted with letters:

• A means you have extremely narrow feet (sometimes AA or AAA feet are found)
• B means you have very narrow feet 
• C means you have slightly narrow feet 
• D means your feet are of typical width 
• E means you have wide feet 
• EE means you have very wide feet 
• EEE means you have extremely wide feet

After EEE, some brands switch to F and others just keep on adding Es.

You can have short and wide feet (6EE) or long and narrow feet (13B). Knowing your Brannock size helps you better judge what shoes to try on.

If you know you’re a 12EE, and the brand only offers E widths, some guys would have success moving to a 12.5E. This doesn’t always work, but it’s a standard “hack” you’ll hear EE guys use. 

Leather Stretches 

Remember that leather is an elastic, semi-permeable skin that stretches over time. Even when you size your shoes correctly, there will sometimes be a period of discomfort. However, the leather will break in and mold to your feet over time, making the shoes much more comfortable. 

[Further reading: The Best Men’s Boots for Wide Feet]

Best Value Sneaker for Wide Feet: Thursday Boots – Premier Low Top

• Wide fits E and EE feet
• 6 leathers to choose from
• Half sizes available (6 – 14)
• Vachetta leather insoles
• $129

If your eyes have been widening at the price of some of these luxury brands, let’s bring it back down to Earth: Thursday’s Premier Low Top costs just $139 and has all the bells and whistles, including some of these other brands don’t have, like half sizes.

Just because it is more affordable doesn’t mean Thursday Boots skimps on construction or quality. While the wide widths don’t come in as many types of leather as the “standard” ones.

There are still six types of leather to choose from, including a remarkable waxed flesh offering from Horween Leather Company, which is usually reserved for boots. The wax will slowly wear away and develop a unique patina.

Thursday’s minimalist sneaker is great for guys with wide feet because of the wide toe box. Even with EE-width feet, you can still wiggle your toes. To size this shoe correctly, Thursday recommends that guys with wide feet go half a size larger than what they normally buy in sneakers. 

Best Minimalist Sneaker for Wide Feet: Koio – Capri 

• Wide widths from 7E – 16E
• Sustainable, Leather Working Group-certified upper 
• 50% recycled sole 
• Insoles: Removable OrthoLite® Hybrid™ insole
• $295

Koio is a luxury sneaker brand that makes 100% of its shoes in Italy — even the box is Italian-made. This is the best option for guys seduced by upscale minimalist sneakers like Common Projects, but while that brand is over $400, Koio’s Capri is $295. 

Although they make many different types of footwear, including our favorite Chelsea boots, they built their brand on the minimalist Capri. This style stands out in the market for its great balance of luxury and value and for being available in wide widths. 

When sizing your Capri sneakers, know that Koio uses US standard sizing. This usually means that you should order your Brannock size. If you’re a 10E on the Brannock device, then you would order their 10 wide. 

The main difference is the wide version has more depth and a wide toe box and vamp. The Capris are best suited for guys who usually wear E-width. A drawback of their sizing system is that Koio doesn’t offer half sizes. 

Most Customizable Sneaker for Wide Feet: Idrese – Nuno

• D and EE widths available
• Original Margom outsoles
• Made to order so leather creases minimally
• Cork filling and steel shank for comfort 
• Totally customizable
• $270, or $255 with the discount. code “STRIDEWISE”

Idrese is a small brand operated out of Chicago that bases its business on a made-to-order model, but they’re fast: just two or three weeks will bring your sneakers to your door. Idrese offers a range of dressy footwear and casual boots, but their minimalist sneaker has gained a life of its own.

Like Koio and Common Projects, the Nuno is made with soft Italian Nappa leather. Unlike Koio, it has an original Margom sole (coveted by sneaker purists). In addition, it has cork filling that compresses with time for a more custom fit. There’s even a steel shank to help with stability and minimize foot pain. These are touches you normally only find on dress shoes or hard-wearing boots, making the Nuno one of the most impressive sneakers in the space.

Because they’re made to order, the amount of time they sit between manufacturing and wearing is minimal. There’s a difference between the leather on a shoe that’s freshly made and one that’s been sitting in a warehouse for months: the new sneaker has more supple, less dried out leather that’ll crease less. 

They can be ordered in D and EE widths. You won’t see the EE widths on the site, but rest assured, if you add that request in the notes of your order the shoes will be made that way for you. Given most sneakers that are made wide just accommodate E widths, it’s great to have an EE option to break things up. 

Another bonus? You can completely customize your sneakers to your whims: tartan toe, leopard print heel, purple lining, pink leather sides? The sky’s the limit.

Favorite Lightweight Sneaker for Wide Feet: Cole Haan – GrandPro Tennis Sneaker

• Sizes 7 – 16 in wide widths
• Sustainable, Leather Working Group-certified upper 
• Very lightweight at 8.8oz
• $150

There are surprisingly few large companies doing wide widths in casual leather sneakers. No Adidas, no Converse, no Nike. Cole Haan, though, breaks the mold with their sport GrandPro Tennis Sneaker, available in black, brown, and white colorways.

With components and compounds engineered to be as light as possible, the GrandPro stands out as the lightest shoe on this list, which will be a relief to guys who are a little bewildered by the meaty, heavyweight options on the market that contain vegetable tanned leather and steel shanks. They have great arch support and work well for guys with flat feet.

Cole Haan isn’t as forthcoming with the details as we’d like: they don’t tell you where the shoe is made. But we do know the leather is certified by the Leather Working Group, a meaningful element that means the leather’s production process did not result in polluted waterways and health problems for the workers, something that’s disappointingly common in poorly regulated tanneries in the developing world.

Best Luxury Wide Sneaker: Crown Northampton – Derby

Crown Northampton is a brand synonymous with the opulence and prestige of traditional British shoemaking. The brand specializes in luxury sneakers, and we do mean luxury: their flagship Harlestone Derby sneaker starts at $426 and goes north of $750 if you choose one made with Horween’s Shell Cordovan leather.

Why go so elaborate with a casual shoe? Well, because someone has to. There are people who want to own the best possible version of a sneaker regardless of the price, and Crown Northampton set out to do just that: cork filling, natural rubber soles, hand stitched construction, the works. Check out our visit to the factory below:

As a British brand, sizing can be a little tricky, but measure your feet with some tape and send them your numbers, and they’ll work with you to produce the ideal fit. Their order page might not specify wide widths, but if you tell them you’re after something wide, they’ll happily make you something with a “G” width — the British version of “E.” 

These wide shoes are great for guys who want a sneaker built like a quality boot with a roomy toe box. The leather uppers are from the world’s best tanneries, like Horween Leather Company in Chicago, and they include shell cordovan, buffalo leather, and deer suede.

And yes, you can get them resoled, so you won’t have to throw them away when those luxuriously soft soles wear through.

Wrapping Up

Guys with wide feet no longer need to squeeze themselves into constricting footwear: many boot brands sell their products in wide, and now the minimalist sneaker has joined the ranks. Whether you want the world’s most luxurious cordovan sneaker or just something simple that will work with any urban outfit, we know we’ve given you the right product on this list. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Best Sneakers for Wide Feet

Are leather shoes good for wide feet?

Leather molds to your feet over time, so it can the best shoes guys with wider feet, but you should opt for a brand that makes wider sizes as well. Guys with flat feed and people with difficult foot shapes also benefit from leather sneakers

Should you size up if you have wide feet?

Sometimes this is the best option and it works well enough, but ideally you should order from a company that makes wider sizes, like Thursday.

Are leather sneakers breathable

Unlined leather shoes aresurprisingly breathable material, not as much as an engineered mesh upper or shoes specifically made for running.