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:
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, Walking Company, Zappos 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 $140 from TaosFootwear.com and Zappos.
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.
Do you love a good rocker sole clog but find they’re just way too loose at the heel? Try the Sanita Ramone with its three adjustable snaps across the instep for a secure fit. Find in euro sizes 36-42 (5-11) for $129 from Zappos.
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, Walking Company, Zappos and Amazon.
A cross between a bootie and a shoe, the Naot Terehu encloses the ankle and heel in soft leather with elastic goring on the sides for easy on and off. A removable cushioned cork and latex footbed provides excellent arch support. A satisfied Zappos customer left this review,
“Very comfortable right out of the box. The heel does not slip and the toe box has plenty of room, no squeezing my bunion.”
Find the Naot Terehu in euro sizes 35-43 (4-12) for $214.95 from Naot.com, Zappos, Nordstrom and Amazon.
We understand that ballet flats and classy loafers provide a leg-elongating profile and are currently on-trend. However, as you well know, they can slip right off a narrow heel. But good news! We’ve found a few with gathered elastic around the back of the heel that may secure the shoe to the foot. Take a look.
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.
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42 Responses to 7 Narrow Heel, Wide Forefoot Shoes for Combination Feet
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Would any of these shoes work if you also have hallux limitus? I’m looking for some great fall/winter shoes and would love to hear your thoughts
Initially excited at the title of this article “Seven Narrow Heel, Wide Forefront Shoes for Combination Feet”. However, most of these shoes are not true Narrow Heels, just narrower heels than the forefront. If you need a combination last shoe such as a B/C or wider, these selections may work, but not if you need a truly narrow heel, like AA TO AAAA.
Doesn’t anyone in Europe have narrow feet?
This summer I found the Teva Encanta fisherman style sandal. So comfortable I bought a second pair. With a close back I could yes my Viva mini orthotic with a metatarsal pad (halux limitus).
I can’t afford any of these shoes. I have hard to fit feet.
Very helpful for summer but now I need boot recommendations.
For athletic shoes, try Altra! Super wide and fit all five toes. What a relief!
Yes, Julie, you are right! Altra is a great recommendation for wide forefoot, narrow heel. I have the Escalantes and love the fit.
Do you think the Keen maryjanes would work for people with Hallux limitus?
Would the Keen maryjanes would work for Hallux limitus?
I think too flexible in the forefoot.
look for outlet stores such as dansko outlet
I’ve given up completely on ever finding dress heels, pumps, ballet flats, or even sharp professional looking shoes to wear with a business suit. None have both a narrow heel, and wide toe, never mind high arch support.
The only thing that works to wear with a business suit is to buy a normal width and stretch the heck out of the toe area. Even then it has to be equivalent to a loafer or low boot to hold my foot from slipping out.
I see all the straps and they will hold my feet snugly, but that just doesn’t say, senior director, to me…
For athletic shoes, my favorite is Brooks, Ghost in wide width. Ghost 9 with a high arch orthotic was one of the best ever. Ghost 10 is comfortable but not as stable hiking. For slip on casual shoes, I like LL Bean comfort moc leather slide, again with an orthotic.
For “Hallux Limitus” (a stiff big toe joint) that makes it painful to move from midstance to late stance phase, you want to find a shoe with a good stiff sole, such as a clog or boot. Believe it or not, you can also stretch your big toe joint (look at images of your “first MTP joint” or go see a physical therapist who specializes in feet) to improve your big toe bendability! Custom foot orthotics or “off the shelf” foot orthotics such as the Vasyli Dananberg can be made with a “first ray cut out”. This is a depression in the orthotic under the big toe, which allows it to drop down so that it isn’t subjected to so much bending pressure when you walk. I am a physical therapist specializing in feet, foot orthotics, and gait evaluation of runner’s and walkers. I’ve been at it for 30+ years. I think I’ve seen and treated just about every problem foot out there.
Thank you for the helpful info, Ellen!
While my feet may look normal, their specifics are incredibly freakish – it’s nearly impossible to find any type of winter shoes besides tall boots. I have long, slender toes, a high arch, a wide base, and a narrow short heel. Basically, my only options are slingbacks, flip-flops, boots, or ballet flats that have an elastic back. Forget wearing any type of cute pump, unless it has a slingback. They flap on and off, and I spend the whole time concentrating on how to hold the shoe onto my foot. I’ve tried those heel gripper inserts, which do help a little bit. The problem is getting them to stay in place! Nobody wants to suffer the embarrassment when a long stick grey thing comes flying out the back of your shoe. The flimsy adhesive on the pads doesn’t really work, so I’ve resorted to affixing them with Gorilla Glue.
Sadly, I look horrendous in Mary Janes, unless they’re the 1990’s platform kind. I normally wear leggings, paired with a long tunic or sweater/cami combo, so pairing that with Mary Janes makes me look like I have clown feet. What’s also frustrating is the pricing! Any type of shoe that fits me right costs a minimum of $100, if I don’t want to look geriatric. I’ve had luck with these 2 types of shoes at Payless: 1)Airwalk’s Legacee Sneakers with an elastic-topped heel and 2) DexFlex Comfort Flats. Now I feel like Homer Simpson, continually wearing the same shoe year after year, because the DexFlex Flats are the only shoes I’ve found that fit right and are suitable to wear to work. Luckily, I can break from my Homer-esque style during the summer, when plenty of cute flip-flops and slingback sandals appear on shelves.
Two other brands I’ve had success with are: Amelie Block Heel Slingbacks, which were $60 online at a company called J. Jill (a nice dressy shoe for office-wear) and Keen’s Slingback Water Shoes (which are great for hiking and walking). I love summer activities, but finding shoes for that was also torturous. Years ago, I had 1 pair of Sketchers that did not make my heels bleed. After they wore out, I haven’t been able to find any that don’t cause massive pain and injury. But, once I discovered slingback hiking sandals, I was again able to enjoy the outdoors in something other than flimsy flip-flops.
Anyways, just writing this little note in the hope it will help some of my other troubled soles out there LOL 🙂 Good luck on your shoe hunt!
I always wore a slingback with a box/ snipped toe 2 sizes larger than normal when I worked in an office. Also, they were 100% leather for maximum comfort, upper & sole. Maybe that can work for you.
I have the exact same problem with shoes & wear the same type shoes you do. Except my foot is the opposite of yours. My family always said I had fred flinstone feet. Short toes, fat front foot and a quad heel, basically flat foot as well. I also pronate for an added issue. I try my best to wear 100% leather shoes except for running shoes & beach flip flops. I have never gone to the foot doctor but I should. My bunions are not the best. Altra running shoes are wonderful for me, the wide toe box and cushion is a relief. I also wear Asics & Brooks. I just looks for the shoes that are made for pronate feet. I also wear Birkenstocks often. I have both the closed toe & open toe versions, they are available in narrow which is just women’s medium width but fit me well. I also have a pair of Red Wing Boots restraunt shoes I am not a waitress but I stand a lot. They are cute according to other people, pretty comfortable only in blackgreat with jeans or pants for work . Another option we always have is the nursing clogs, they come in a multitude of designs & colors. Some are slingback I believe. I have not tried that route yet just a thought.
Hello. I find, in general, Propet sandals do a good job. I have very narrow heels and an ever-widening foot, from then on out. So much so that it makes doing exercises – really getting the right muscles working on my legs – really hard, because, so many of them tell you “put your weight on your heels” and, that takes a lot of mental effort to keep it going.
I don’t know about all Propet sandals, but, most of the ones I have purchased have an adjustable heel strap and good, strategic straps in other parts of the shoe, which are also adjustable. The last pair I bought seemed to be getting a bit chintzy on the length of the strap for the ankle, but, I don’t know. It’s been so long since I wore shoes with a strap around the ankle that the problem may be all my own.
Okay, where can I find long (size 12) medium width shoes with a narrow heel? Hey, manufacturers, I need shoes too and I’m pretty used to paying more. Don’t want to but if I find a pair that sort of fits, I settle.
What about shoes for women with 4E width? Everything I find looks like Frankenstein shoes.
Wide feet; narrow heel. Bunions and hammer toes! So need mesh top. Looking for a Mary Jane or something I can wear with a skirt but can use in Italy in September. Don’t want to buy on internet; need to try them on. Help!
I like my little strappy sandals. I wear a 61/2 but get a 7 because my feet hurt all the time. I have narrow heels and wide through toes. My big problem is my toes slant from big to little so when walking my silly little toes come out from under strap and start rubbing. I have given thought to tape little toe to other toes to hold under the strap
I am looking for stylish evening heels to accomodate for wide clawed feet, bunion, neuroma and bad balls of feet. I will be in London so where can I buy please very desperate.
Try to find a Hotter store in London and try the Donna heel–or any of their heels–roomy toe box, cushioned footbed, lower heels.
Hi – Thank you for your b!og. Morton Foot prob!ems, wide front feet and narrow heel. I’m home! Welcome, fellow travelers!.It’s been a long road and many discarded pairs of shoes. Oh, also. A high instep. Solution? Mary Janes, of course. Is Ros Hammerson availab!e to you? Cross-cross elastic in the front on a snappy navy narrow heel leather wedge pump. Putting padded insoles in shoes and washing them saves wear. Elastic heel mini-wedge.helps.
Hi, I also have wide toes long toes and a very narrow heel. The only off the rack shoes I’ve found that feel good on my feet are the old Brooks Ghost style – the Ghost 8 & 9. The new Brooks Ghost fits well but hurts under my arch because they put a stabilization bar under the arch. (stupid, ruined the shoe) I have a pair of Ms Mooz boots with a wide toe box and relatively narrow heel. I’m able to stuff a sock around my ankle to hold the boots on so they work well. I’d love to find a good boot for snow shoeing. Any recommendations?
I just broke down and ordered a pair of custom made shoes to wear in the office.
The only loafer I’ve been able to find that fits my wide, bunion, hammertoe feet (RA) are by SAS (San Antonio Shoes). They have some elastic in the heel which makes them stay on. The style is Hope. They’re a little pricey, but well worth it.
After yet another day slogging around to local speciality shoe stores and hearing every cockamamie sales pitch and advice for my ‘spatula’ feet (ugh – what idiot thought up that lovely term), I still haven’t found a good boot, but at least I see now that I’m not the only person with these odd fit issues! For the next Morton’s feet ladies, I’ve had luck with these shoes: https://www.zappos.com/p/calvin-klein-gella-pump-desert-sand-nappa/product/8564393/color/779336 , and recently bought a new pair for the ones I wore out. Corso Como and Lifestride also currently have a very similar version. The footbed is just average size, but the cross straps hold this pretty pump on my heel more comfortably than a single thin Mary Jane strap, most of which cut uncomfortably across the front of my ankle because this one skinny strap has to bear the weight of holding up the entire shoe whenever I lift my foot. Also, the pump I’m recommending looks sophisticated, and I get a lot of compliments. Nobody has to know that I’m wearing it because I can’t keep any other kind of pump on my feet. 😉
Have you found any shoes? I wear a size 12 with narrow heel and wide toe box.
I’m another “spatula” footed friend. Thank you for all the comments. I will check them out.
I have a wide toe box, narrow heel, bunions and need good arch support because I have issues with pronation (feet turning inward).
I have had good luck with Ecco shoes, and booties, Dansko, Naot, and Asics. Yes these are pricey, but I’ll spend to get well made, comfortable, stylish shoes and save money on other items. I’ve studied anatomy and feet are so important and can affect knees, hips and spine so I take care of them!
Everybody by BZ Moda make a range of shoes that fit my duck shaped fit. Nicely for them, they make almost the same design of flat Mary Janes every season in a range of smart colours that work with jeans and work clothes. They are just a little on the expensive side though.
I have weird feet: my toes seem wide, with my third toe the same length as #2 and very narrow heels. Trying to find a classic black shoe to wear with a dress or suit (multiple dressy occasions) and I could cry out of sheer frustration. I have black pumps (9 west, I think but brand doesn’t matter). They pinch my toes, especially on the right foot, and I walk out of them from the back. If I manage to keep them on my feet (which is in itself a challenge), I have rub blister on my third toe on my right foot. My husband thinks I have way too many shoes, but I’ve told him I won’t be caught dead in a nice dress with sandals and tights lol. Would slingbacks work, where I can tighten up the back strap? The grip things don’t prevent my feet from going forward. I’m tempted to put double sided tape on the bottom and just buy new panty hose but I don’t think it’ll work.
Do you know where I can buy combination last shoes for men? When I was young, combination last shoes were sold in many shoe stores. But then they disappeared.
I have an extra-wide forefoot and rather narrow heel. Single last 12 EEE fits so loosely around the heel and ankle that I must buy half-high or tall boots to keep them on. To keep oxfords or other low shoes on, I used to wear an extra pair of socks that helped fill in around the heel, but squeezed the toes in front. Now I have bone spurs, nerve inflammation and arthritis at the base of the big toe because of having to wear the single last shoes sold in stores.
I get by fairly well with new pairs of work boots UNTIL the hollow treaded soles start to deform and push up in the wrong places. All the soles are treaded and hollow and soon the inside of the shoe becomes wavy or treaded, just like the bottom of the soles. The tread patterns begin to telegraph through to the inside after just a few months, long before the rest of the shoe is worn out.
Hi Kirsten, I guess this is a private comment for you. I always loved your blog. I was an early subscriber. But, I don’t find it as helpful as it used to be. The reason is that many of the styles of shoes that you review are no longer available.
May I make a suggestion? It would be very helpful if you would date your blog entries. You can still leave all your content on your blog. Your discussion of issues is still pertinent but a reader would know that particular styles may no longer be available. Thanks for all the work you’ve done to bring attention to “barking dog” feet. Gratefully, D
Hi D, you are right. We do need to date entries. We’re on it.
I wish they would’ve labeled the article as women’s shoes, it’s really hard to find resources of men’s shoes with narrow heels and wide toe boxes… I thought there’d at least be a couple men’s shoes with the article not being gendered…
It’s funny (not really) that this type of shoe shape is so hard to find as this is how all of our feet should be! Look at a baby’s feet-they have that nice ‘duck-like’ shape, which as adults we should have maintained if it weren’t for all the horrible ill-fitting, narrow shoes we forced our feet into due to fashion/necessity.
I have looked for YEARS for a pair of nice tall leather fashion boots with a narrow heel and a wide toe box…no luck. The closest thing I found were Naot ankle boots (of which I bought two pair), but they don’t make fashion boots that go up to the knee or above the calf….for the life of me, I have no idea why.
If anyone has found this golden chalice, please let me know. I think I may have to find a boot manufacturer who can make this fantasy boot since no one on Earth seems to think it’s needed. Wearing winter Uggs or Sorels isn’t cutting it for dressing up.
To everyone here, I feel your pain!
I also have a duck shaped foot. I walk out of most flats. However, I just discovered a Gucci style loafer in leather by Jeffrey Campbell at Nordstrom Rack. The heel is narrow enough to keep my foot in!
I also like Ecco shoes, and Born. The Born boots I had were perfect: wider in the toe box and narrower in the heels.
Finally, the best tall boots I ever bought were, strangely enough, made by Ivanka Trump, also purchased from Nordstrom Rack several years ago. A beautiful fitting classic black boot which I still wear.
I was pleased to find Rieker Mariah 73. Kind of a different look, but it can be worn with a skirt, dress, or slacks. And it doesn’t fall off my wide forefront, narrow heeled feet the way all such shoes — except Mary Jane styles — do. I don’t think Rieker offers shoes in wide sizes, but this is the second pair I’ve found to fit very well. (I did briefly use a stretcher gizmo for a bit of added room.)
I love your posts. I cannot find proper shoes to fit my wide toes, narrow heel and flat feet. Kudos to the writer who posted that our feet are formed as Mother Nature intended. I have gone through thousands of dollars trying to find my shoe without success. Employees of shoe stores both in Canada and the USA have all told me a variety of very entertaining sizes and types of shoes I should be wearing. 74 years old and still looking for relief for the blistered bottom of my fourth toe.
Please help – UK size 4.5, very very wide at the front, narrow at the back, orthotics which raise my inner heels, very sensitive feet. Just impossible and I now literally have nothing to put my feet in that don’t cause more damage, need flat lace ups with supportive heel (and nothing in them that ‘helps’ over pronation!) In the UK and honestly at the end of my rope.
Please can anyone help?