6 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. (“D” designates “normal width” feet, for some reason.)

But a poor fit can turn even the most supportive sneaker into an uncomfortable brick, so 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. (Adelante, our top pick, go up to EEEEE.)

You can have short and wide feet (6EE), or long and narrow feet (13B). Knowing your Brannock size gives you a better judgment as to what shoes you should be trying 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. Sometimes even when you size your shoes correctly, there will be a period of discomfort. However, over time, the leather will break in and mold to your feet, making the shoes a lot more comfortable.  

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

The Best Leather Sneaker for Wide Feet: Adelante’s Brisa

Few boot brands offer sneakers in their catalog, but The Brisa sneaker is just one way Adelante Shoes stands out from a sea of other DTC brands.

First of all, all of their shoes are made-to-order, so Adelante only makes the shoes after you’ve purchased your shoes. This keeps prices down and makes the company more sustainable. Adelante has a legit commitment to business ethics: the founders come from a humanitarian background and founded the company to bring secure employment, economic stability, and high wages—twice the local average—to the world-renowned shoemaking hub of Pastores, Guatemala.

In addition to that, customers can request virtually any size and width that they want. Sizes start from a size 4 all the way to a size 17 and widths g0 from a C-narrow to an EEEEE-super wide. Truly, there is a size for you regardless of how small or big your feet are. Absolutely no other sneaker can fit such wide feet.

The Brisa sneaker’s build is unlike any other sneaker, either. It’s available in 7 types of full-grain leather (or suede) from the super sustainable Lefarc Tannery.

It’s also Blake stitched through a vegetable tanned midsole, which is extremely unusual for a sneaker. Sneakers are typically cemented, meaning the upper is stuck to the sole with adhesive — that’s why most of your sneakers eventually peel away from the sole, and most of your boots don’t. As a Blake stitched shoe, the Brisa is resoleable, but it’s not as stiff and heavy as your average resoleable boot, which is made with a more complex Goodyear welt.

The Brisa may be pricy and take a few weeks to make, but you won’t find a better-fitting sneaker. The fact that they can be resoled (combined with the quality of the leather) means they’ll last much, much longer than anything else you’ll buy. Rest assured, they pay for themselves and are better value than other options. 

2. 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 their 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 a lot of different types of footwear, including our favorite Chelsea boots, they built their brand on the minimalist Capri and it stands out in the market for not just being a great balance of luxury and value, but also because they come 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. 

3. Best 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 their 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 it’s made with soft Italian Nappa leather, unlike Koio it has an original Margom sole (coveted by sneaker purists), and on top of all that 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.

4. 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 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 leathers as the “standard” ones, there are still six leathers to choose from, including a remarkable waxed flesh offering from Horween Leather Company. A leather usually reserved for boots, the wax will slowly wear away with time and have a completely unique patina.

Thursday’s minimalist sneaker is great for guys with wide feet because the toebox is very voluminous. Even with EE-width feet, you will still be able to wiggle your toes. In order to size this shoe correctly, Thursday recommends that guys with wide feet should go ½ size larger than what they normally buy in sneakers. 

5. Best 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.

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: Best Leather Sneakers For Wide Feet

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.