There a couple brands that specialize in wide tennis shoes to provide that little bit of extra width throughout the shoe and in the toe area. Finding the right fit in a tennis shoe is extremely important because it can mean the difference between luxurious comfort or pain out on the court.
Most tennis shoes will have a width label, which for women goes A,B,C and C,D,E for men. I’ve noticed, but not had a need to use, plenty of shoes that offer extra wide options like 2E,3E, and so on. It’s important to try these types of shoes on because the width of the shoe can really affect the fit. If you’re looking for extra wide tennis shoes, consider trying them on in a pro shop first to really get a feel for the shoe. One good reference I use to check shoe widths is the New Balance site here.
Extra Width Tennis Shoes for Wide Feet
Ratings and various consumer reviews agree that there are two brands providing the best fitting tennis shoes for wide feet. These include K-Swiss, some of the older releases, and New Balance. K-Swiss has long been known for their comfortable fitting shoes targeted more towards the recreational player. This doesn’t mean that the shoes aren’t built for competitive play, but they do tend to focus more on comfort rather than extreme high performance. This tends to be a good match for someone with wider feet looking for tennis shoes.
That being said, some of the most highly recommended tennis shoes for wide feet include the following models:
- K-Swiss Ultrascendor – This shoe has been out a long time, long enough to win multiple awards and recieve rave reviews from customers everywhere. While this shoe isn’t for everyone, it is a great option for a wide fitting tennis shoes. Expect great comfort, support, and most of all a good wide fit. The Ultrascendor and many other K Swiss tennis shoes have been around the block a time or two and was also the recipient of the Tennis Magazine Editor’s Choice award.
- New Balance – Any “wide” sized new balance shoe is a great option for wide tennis shoes. Try these shoes on yourself because YMMV, but in general these shoes are constructed with a lot more width than the standard tennis shoes today which or focused entirely on performance.
Tennis Shoes to Avoid When Looking for a Wide Fit
Unfortunately, many of the top brand name shoes don’t translate well to a wide fit. Nike has traditionally provided a very narrow shoe and I’ve found this true in the most recently release of the Nike Court Ballistec 3.3 as well. The Adidas Barricade is a little better, but players looking for extra wide tennis shoes may be disappointed in this option as well. In summary: probably stay away from high performance Nike releases and stick to something from New Balance or K-Swiss.