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New Men's Walking Shoe Needed

I asked this a few years ago but am now looking for updates:

For the last few years I've been wearing Brooks Addiction Walkers and loved them. Of course, the company has come out with "newer" version that isn't better but worse. So now I am looking for something new.

My requirements:

--plenty of cushioning and support;

--fit a very wide foot

--must come in black so it can also pass for a dress shoe. (The Brooks was pushing this.)

Forget Ecco as they don't come in wide sizes, forget Allbirds as they don't have anything in all black, and Rockport, which I used to wear, are on shaky financial ground.

Any suggestions? Remember, I'm not looking for sneaker but a casual walking shoe is fine.

Posted by
6228 posts

Frank, have you looked at SAS shoes? I had a pair of the womens' shoes and they were extraordinarily comfortable. The mens' styles come in a variety of styles. They're not cheap but are well made and great for wide feet (they go up to a triple-wide). Everyone I know who has owned a pair has loved them. SAS Shoes

Posted by
113 posts

Allbirds does come in all black in several styles, but may be not wide enough (unless you've already tried them and they fit) and too sneaker-y for what you want. Check out the Wool Pipers. More street shoe than sneaker look.

Posted by
1274 posts

Hi Frank -

Would Keen’s Jasper SP Rocks fit the bill? Comes in ‘none more black’ and could pass for dressy. Fit width, not sure about!

Ian

Posted by
14806 posts

I have tried SAS shoes but couldn't find one that fit properly. Plus the sales women was not customer service oriented at all. In fact, a little insulting.

The Allbirds are too "sneakery" and the Keens don't come in wide.

But thanks for the suggestions.

Posted by
29 posts

I'll repost the essence of what I just put up a couple days of ago on another entry here. I also have wide feet (11W aka EEE) and sometimes it can be difficult finding shoes because some manufacturers like Nike or Adidas don't offer beyond standard width, I have found that New Balance and Saucony do but sometimes the selection is a bit limited.

I saw some favorable comments about Merrell on this forum topic so I ended up taking the plunge by buying the Merrell Men's Moab Edge 2 in size 11 with the wide width for my big feet. There was a sale just last week so I got them for $68 instead of the $105 plus there was free shipping. There is also a 15% off discount on their website if you are a first-time buyer. Putting on these shoes, as has been mentioned by others, they fit very well and were very comfortable. They are also fairly light at 1 lb., 13 oz. (808g) for the pair, a nice gripping tread for wet pavement or loose rock surfaces and continue to be comfortable as I wear them as much as possible in order to break them in. This is my first pair of shoes from Merrell but I'm impressed by the fit and comfort. Time will tell as to how durable they are in holding up to wear. Based on the comments I've seen by some as to visiting rainy areas such as Ireland and the UK where waterproof shoes seem to be very helpful I will probable buy one of the Merrell GORE-Tex offerings to cover me for visits in such places.

Posted by
1743 posts

Have you looked at Skecher's?

You sound a lot like me. I have bunions and need a wide toe-box. And I only like to bring a single pair of shoes with me when I travel, so I want it to do double-duty for light hiking and a nice city shoe.

I have found that Skecher's suit me perfectly. Maybe a shoe like one of these?

https://www.skechers.com/men/shoes/relaxed-fit-segment---rilar/64260.html
https://www.skechers.com/men/shoes/arch-fit-ogden---rupert/204740.html
https://www.skechers.com/technologies/collections/mens/relaxed-fit-segment-2.0---seggler/204516_BLK.html

And the nice thing about Skecher's is they're in practically every mall in the USA (and even here in Mexico!), so you can try them on and don't have to rely on mail order.

Posted by
8377 posts

I've used Saucony for running shoes for years (order a 1/2 size up) for their wide toe box/narrow heel. I am trying Altra now, but dont know if they make a walker. Dunham makes wide shoes - also not knowing if they make a walker. Too bad about the SAS. I have a pair of Merrell Moabs and they work okay for me, but they are more of a trail shoe, and I had to try a lot to find the right size (not my normal).

Last resort: do you know someone in the American Legion? Their monthly magazine always has ads for companies selling wide shoes.

Posted by
340 posts

My husband has a 4E foot. No specific recommendations since he usually wears tennis shoes when traveling, but he has used this company in the past to find wide shoes
https://www.wideshoes.com

Posted by
891 posts

Frank, take a look at New Balance. I spent six weeks in Europe earlier this year and walked in the 1080v11 everyday. Some days up to +10 miles. Some of their other models are totally all black including the soles. I wear a 10W in that shoe.

Posted by
11031 posts

When you do find a good shoe, buy 2 pair, 3 if on sale and store them away.

It is what my brother does.
Shoe life cycle: 'good'- 'everyday'- 'yardwork'- 'disposal'
When the 'good' looks a bit worn it becomes the 'everyday' and works its way down the chain.

Posted by
136 posts

My husband and I both love Hoka Bondi 7. We were in Europe for 23 days in May and June and averaged 5-7 miles a day walking. My husband is a large guy, with a wide foot. He used to be strictly a New Balance person but once I converted him to Hokas, he is now a convert. In full disclosure, he had to get used to them. He said he felt a little off balance at first but felt like that was because he had never had a shoe with as much comfort and support as the Bondi 7s. If you buy from the website, they have a 30 day return policy. Our son tried a different style and did not like them. Hoka took them back and issued a refund without an issues, even though we had already thrown the box away. Hoka now has a Bondi 8 and I think a Bondi X; I have not tried these styles so I have no frame of reference or recommendations on these 2 styles. I did look and for men, the Hoka Bondi 7 comes in extra wide, in a solid black sneaker.

Posted by
2267 posts

Blundstone boots are my go-to travel shoe. They're heavy in my hand, but I've walked miles and miles in them for days on end and they've always felt super comfortable. I so have Superfeet insoles in them, as I have in almost all my shoes.

Wipe the dust off of them and they're far dressier than any black 'walking shoe'.

Oh, and the balls of my feet are pretty wide—no issue in the Blundstones.

Posted by
259 posts

I too have used the Brooks Addiction Walkers black to help pass. Agree the old version was better. The newer one seems less cushioned and generally not as comfortable. I have sworn by them but now I am mostly leaning away.

On my last trip this Spring to Spain and Portugal changed to Hoka Bondi 7 SR (Slip Resistant) to traverse the many cobblestone miles.
More cushion and more flexible than the Brooks but still very supportive overall. The 7 SR is also water resistant. However, they only come in wide, The regular Bondi 7 comes in extra wide. Most of the Hokas have bright branding but these in black do not.
I use an orthotic and they tend to run a bit small, so I needed a size up. When I first wore them, they felt a bit odd compared to the Brooks. The cushion at first seems like you are floating but it did settle down. I still use the Brooks for flat surface paved but for other more uneven walking I prefer the Hoka. Of course, actual hiking is another story.

Posted by
34 posts

Need suggestions - my husband wants to bring Bean Boots (L.L. Bean rubber bottom with leather lace-up tops for wearing in the Highlands on 3-4 mile walks. I am concerned they could be slippery on wet rock. He thinks they would be perfect on wet muddy ground. Any one have experience with these type of boots in the Highlands?

Posted by
16 posts

Recently I purchased Drew Shoes' "Spades" for the husband. Drew makes and / or markets shoes for people with foot problems and you can sort for whatever problem you are having - everything from skeletal deformities through Achilles tendonitis (my husband's problem due to bone spurs on his heels) to bunions. They have very wide sizes, up to 6X. You can also select for color and the "Spades" black was very black indeed, no problem heading out for a posh supper or a play. The Spades are lace-up. Superb features and support. Some Drew shoes have steel shanks. They also sell work shoes.

They were extremely well made, with two removable insoles. Removing these gave almost another whole length half-size, but the footbed without them was hard. Certainly you could add your superfeet insoles but you might prefer the Drew ones.

Note: The hubby always wears a 9.5 4W but that was at least a 0.5 size too small in this shoe.

Happy walking.

Posted by
20 posts

The men's leather comfort mocs from LLBean might work. They come in wide. My husband has purchased them several times, although he can't vouch for the current model. LBean has a tendency to "tweak" them every year.

Posted by
1060 posts

Hoka has some shoes that come in wide widths, a few even are in 4E. A podiatrist recommended the brand to me when I was having some foot problems and I have to say they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. For travel I got a pair with a brown suede upper. I think they also have some that are black.

Posted by
3719 posts

New Balance, get them in black.
They don't look or feel like tennis shoes.
Lots of support and will last for many years.
Get properly fitted at a New Balance store.
I am keeping in mind what you said here:
"Remember, I'm not looking for sneaker but a casual walking shoe is fine."

These were recommended by my Podiatrist. He said he only wears New Balance.
I have been all over England and Wales with various pairs of New Balance, walked on cobblestones, castle steps, hiked around Keswick and the Lake District and have had no foot problems, no sore ankles, etc.

Before New Balance--lots of foot problems.
After New Balance--zero problems.

Gosh, my Podiatrist really knew what he was talking about. :)

My husband says to tell you he had a pair of Bass walking shoes that he loved. They were similar to what Rick Steves is seen wearing in many of his videos. They worked well for him. He bought them in chocolate brown pebbled leather, almost a hiking boot sole with rubber tread, higher sides like a dress shoe. (These are not like the deck shoes they sell.)

He bought these at an outlet mall Bass store (St. Augustine, FL) so they weren't expensive, but they were his favorites. He wore them with suits to work, with khaki pants and a sport jacket out to dinner in London, and with blue jeans to walk around London, Keswick, and Conwy Castle.