7 Narrow Heel, Wide Forefoot Shoes for Combination Feet

Do you refer to your foot shape as duck-like? Do you walk right out of ballet flats, loafers and other shoes without straps? The narrow heel, wide forefoot combo is a nuisance when it comes to shoe shopping. We’re here to ease your frustration with a list of stylish shoe brands and styles with built-in features to keep your heels snugly in shoes without pinching the forefoot.

Mary Jane shoes are often a smart solution for the narrow heel, wide forefoot combination with the instep strap offering a secure fit. Here are a few of our favorites:

As a hard-to-fit classic “duckfoot”, the fit is very true to size for me. I have a wider foot, (but not quite measuring wide), and a narrower heel. The regular width is just right. No toe pinching. No heel slippage. – Zappos customer, Micah

We’re so glad that Birkenstock brought back the darling Tracy for 2025! A generous toe box combined with a snug heel and excellent arch support makes this mary jane a winner for combination feet or “duckfeet” (wide forefoot, narrow heel). Available in medium width, euro sizes 36-42 (5-11.5) for $135 from Birkenstock, Zappos, and Nordstrom.

I believe this flat has been around as long as I’ve been writing about comfortable shoes for women. The Camper Right Nina keeps the heel secure while letting the toes splay and play! Take it from this happy Zappos customer:

“I have a narrow heel, but need a wide toe box – and the wide, comfortable elastic strap keeps my heel firmly in the shoe and there is plenty of room for my toes. I also ordered a size up (42 instead of 41.)“

We love this quirky Spanish brand for its innovative style, foot-friendly lasts (shapes) and versatile styles. Find the Camper Right Nina in sizes 5-11 for $165 from Camper, Amazon, Walking Company, and Nordstrom.

Ilse Jacobsen Tulip

Not only is this slip-on flat stylish, versatile and flexible, it works for narrow heels with a wide forefoot. The soft synthetic upper has a bit of stretch and give to it accommodating a wider forefoot due to bunions or plain old duck feet. A happy Zappos customer reports, “I am usually an 8 wide, narrow heel wider toes, bought a 38 and this shoe is like walking on a cloud. For me it had plenty of toe room and the heels were perfect.” The Ilse Jacobsen Tulip is available in sizes 5-12 for $56-93 from Zappos, Amazon and Nordstrom.

Let’s let Taos customer Laura do the talking with her review of the Taos Ta Dah mary jane:

“I’ve looked all over for a casual shoe with a wide toe box AND appealing design. Ta Dah is it! I have narrow heels so a typical flat doesn’t stay on my foot very well. The strap solves that issue. I have a high instep and the placement of the strap doesn’t bother the top of my foot. I have a wider forefoot so the wide, taller toe box allows my toes to spread out.”

The Taos Ta Dah features a removable footbed with arch and metatarsal support, a velcro closure and 1.5″ heel. Find it in sizes 6-12, medium and wide widths for $65-140 from Amazon.

I’ve seen a comeback of the mary jane this season and that’s good news for narrow heels as those straps help to secure the shoe. The Davenport flat by Bella Vita also features a square toe for wider forefeet. Find it in sizes 5.5-12, four widths for $109.95 from Nordstrom and Amazon.

Perhaps a mary jane style just isn’t for you. Consider the Dansko Franny loafer with its professional silhouette, adjustable instep strap for a secure fit, generous toe box and removable insole with arch support. Available in euro sizes 36-42 (5.5-11.5), medium and wide widths for $140 from Dansko, Zappos and Amazon.

I highly recommend the Topo Athletic brand for fitness shoes that keep the heel securely in place while providing ample room for toes to spread out. Plus, the arch support and cushioning is spot on. See my review of the Topo Athletic Atmos pictured above. Topo Athletic shoes are available in sizes 6-12, medium and wide widths for $125-165 from Zappos.

How about you? Do you have a favorite shoe for your narrow heels, wide forefoot combo? Leave a comment and let us know! We also have a Facebook discussion about this topic with many helpful recommendations.