Running Shoes for Wide Feet: Men's and Women's Wide Picks
Six running shoes sold in wide fittings, with the men's and women's widths for each, sizes where the maker lists them, why the letters differ, and the catch.
Two miles in, the outside of your foot is pressing through the mesh, and the half size up you bought to fix it slips at the heel. A longer shoe keeps the same width letter. Below are six running shoes sold in real wide fittings, with the men’s and women’s widths each one comes in, the sizes where the maker lists them, the price and what is wrong with each.
The short answer
| Pick | Best for | Men’s widths | Women’s widths | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks Beast GTS 26 / Ariel GTS 26 | Support, orthotics, men’s sizes to 16 | 1D, 2E, 4E | 1B, 1D, 2E | $170 |
| Brooks Ghost 18 | Neutral daily miles, four widths each | 1B, 1D, 2E, 4E | 2A, 1B, 1D, 2E | $150 |
| Saucony Guide 19 Wide / Extra Wide | Stability, a full size list for each wide width | Wide, Extra Wide | Wide, Extra Wide | $150 |
| HOKA Bondi 9 | Maximum cushion | D, 2E, 4E (one retailer) | B, D, 2E (one retailer) | $174.95 |
| New Balance 1080 v15 | Soft neutral trainer | B, D, 2E, 4E (one retailer) | 2A, B, D, 2E (one retailer) | $169.95 |
| ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 | Men’s stability in 2E and 4E | D, 2E, 4E (one retailer) | 2A, B, D (one retailer) | $169.95 |
Men’s and women’s width letters are not the same
On Brooks’ own pages the same word gets a different letter for men and for women. The men’s Ghost 18 comes in Narrow (1B), Medium (1D), Wide (2E) and Extra Wide (4E); the women’s Ghost 18 in Narrow (2A), Medium (1B), Wide (1D) and Extra Wide (2E). So a women’s Wide carries the same letter as a men’s Medium, and a woman who orders a men’s D for more room has ordered the men’s Medium (our reading of the two label sets). Going up half a size changes the length; the width letter stays the same. Order the letter your foot measures at, in the length you already wear.
On its Guide 19 pages Saucony names the widths in words (Regular, Wide, Extra Wide) rather than letters, while one retailer lists the standard men’s Guide 19 in 2E and 4E. Our guide to shoe width sizes turns a tape-measure reading into a letter.
The six picks
Brooks Beast GTS 26 (men) / Ariel GTS 26 (women)
If you run in orthotics, start here. Brooks lists the Beast and its women’s twin, the Ariel GTS 26, as best for “Runners who need maximum support to run comfortably” and for running with orthotics, with a broad base and a “Roomy upper for use of orthotics”. The feature list adds heel pull tabs for getting the shoe on and off. Support comes from its GuideRails system, which Brooks says helps keep excess movement in check. The men’s size selector runs 8 to 16, and on Brooks’ pages the size list is the same for every width.
Drawbacks: Men's sizes start at 8; the Ghost 18 and Guide 19 pages start at 7. Above 13 the men's sizes are whole only (14, 15, 16), and the women's page jumps from 12 to 13.
Brooks Ghost 18
The everyday choice if you want cushioning without a support system. Brooks lists it for road running, daily runs and walking, with “Balanced support” that it puts down to a secure heel and a dynamic forefoot. Both genders get four widths, and the women’s version runs from 5 to 13, the longest women’s run of the three maker pages we could read (Ghost 18 5–13, Ariel 6–13, Guide 19 5–12). At $150 it is the lower of the two Brooks prices on this list.
Drawbacks: Brooks labels its support Balanced rather than the Beast's Structured, so look elsewhere if you want guidance. The men's run stops at 15.
Saucony Guide 19 Wide / Extra Wide
The one to pick if you want to know your size exists before you order. Saucony sells the wide versions as separate pages, and each page’s size data lists every size in its width: the men’s Extra Wide and Wide both run 7 to 13 in half sizes, then 14, 15 and 16; the women’s Wide and Extra Wide run 5 to 12 in half sizes. Saucony files it under stability and calls it “Engineered for maximum cushioning and protection,” with sidewalls that guide the foot.
Drawbacks: Saucony gives the widths as words, not letters, so check them against a width chart. The women's run stops at 12, and the Extra Wide pages offer fewer colours: two for men, one for women.
HOKA Bondi 9
The pick if maximum cushion is what you are after. Sold in men’s D, 2E and 4E and women’s B, D and 2E (widths seen at one US retailer, 30 Sep 2026); HOKA’s own size run could not be read. The retailer’s own description calls it “HOKA’s most cushioned classic shoe” for long runs, recovery days and long hours on your feet, and its fit scale, which the store measures in Medium width, rates the toe box Roomy on both the men’s and the women’s listing. The same store measures a 44 mm heel and 39 mm forefoot stack on a men’s 9, and describes a rocker shape that rolls you forward as you run.
Drawbacks: HOKA's own size run could not be read, so check its size chart for your length. The men's heel is rated Narrow on the retailer's fit scale.
New Balance 1080 v15
A soft neutral trainer for men who want 4E and women who want 2E in the same model. The retailer describes a “welcoming fit” and a new Infinion foam midsole that blends TPEE and EVA, measures a 38 mm heel and 32 mm forefoot stack, and rates the men’s toe box Roomy; the women’s listing rates the midfoot Roomy.
Drawbacks: On the retailer's fit scale, measured in Medium width, the women's toe box is rated Narrow and the men's heel is marked Narrow and Average. New Balance's own size run could not be read.
ASICS Gel-Kayano 33
A stability shoe for men in 2E or 4E. The retailer tags it Stable and calls it “ASICS’ reliable stability workhorse,” with two foam layers over an ASICSGRIP rubber outsole and a 41 mm heel stack on the store’s measure. The women’s listing gets the same fit ratings: heel Snug, midfoot and toe box Average.
Drawbacks: If you need a women's 2E, the Brooks pages list one and Saucony sells a women's Guide 19 Extra Wide (with no letter); check ASICS's own width list for the Kayano. The heel is rated Snug on the retailer's fit scale.
Side by side
| Shoe | Men’s widths | Men’s sizes | Women’s widths | Women’s sizes | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks Beast / Ariel GTS 26 | 1D, 2E, 4E | 8–16 | 1B, 1D, 2E | 6–13 | Structured |
| Brooks Ghost 18 | 1B, 1D, 2E, 4E | 7–15 | 2A, 1B, 1D, 2E | 5–13 | Balanced |
| Saucony Guide 19 | Wide, Extra Wide | 7–16 | Wide, Extra Wide | 5–12 | Stability |
| HOKA Bondi 9 | D, 2E, 4E | Maker’s run not read | B, D, 2E | Maker’s run not read | Neutral |
| New Balance 1080 v15 | B, D, 2E, 4E | Maker’s run not read | 2A, B, D, 2E | Maker’s run not read | Neutral |
| ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 | D, 2E, 4E | Maker’s run not read | 2A, B, D | Maker’s run not read | Stable |
Brooks and Saucony sizes are each page’s full size selector; on the Brooks pages it is the same list for every width. For the last three rows the widths are those seen at one US retailer on 30 September; the makers’ own size runs could not be read. Support labels are the makers’ words for the first three rows and the retailer’s tags for the rest.
How to choose
- Get your letter first. Measure across the ball of your foot and look it up against your length; our guide to how to measure foot size at home covers the tape-measure part. Women: on Brooks’ labels your Wide is a D.
- If you need a men’s 4E, Brooks lists it for the Beast and Ghost 18, and the Bondi 9, 1080 v15 and Kayano 33 are sold in 4E (seen at one US retailer). Saucony’s Guide 19 Extra Wide is the sixth option; Saucony gives it no letter, and one retailer lists the standard men’s Guide 19 in 2E and 4E.
- If you need a women’s 2E, start with the Brooks pages (Ghost 18 or Ariel), where the size list is the same for every width, or Saucony’s women’s Guide 19 Extra Wide (Saucony gives no letter). The Bondi 9 and 1080 v15 are also sold in women’s 2E (seen at one US retailer); check the maker’s size chart for your length.
- If your size is large, the Beast and Guide 19 pages run men’s sizes to 16, and the Ghost 18 and Ariel pages run women’s to 13; for the HOKA, New Balance and ASICS picks, check the maker’s size chart.
- If price decides it, the Ghost 18 and Guide 19 are $150; the other four run from $169.95 to $174.95.
- If you run in orthotics or want support, the Beast or Ariel, then the Guide 19; for a men’s 4E stability shoe, the Kayano 33. For plain cushioning, the Ghost 18, Bondi 9 or 1080 v15.
Before you order
- A store’s size list is what it has, not what the maker makes. Saucony’s own pages sell the women’s Guide 19 in Wide and Extra Wide from 5 to 12; if a store lacks your width, check the maker’s page.
- Choose the width before the colour. On Saucony’s own pages the Guide 19 comes in five colours in men’s Wide and in women’s Wide, two in men’s Extra Wide and one in women’s Extra Wide, so the colour you like may not come in your width.
- On the Brooks and Saucony pages, sizes above 13 are whole. Men’s sizes past 13 go 14, 15 and, on the Beast and Guide 19, 16; the Brooks women’s pages go from 12 straight to 13.
- Order two widths only if the return terms allow it. Read Brooks’ returns page or Saucony’s before you buy.
If most of your miles are walked, not run, our best walking sneakers for wide feet guide is the better fit.
Where these numbers come from
Widths, sizes and prices for the Brooks and Saucony picks are from those makers’ product pages; for HOKA, New Balance and ASICS the widths and prices are from Running Warehouse’s product pages, and the makers’ own size runs could not be read. Fit-scale ratings (taken in Medium width), stack heights, support tags and the descriptions quoted for those three are the retailer’s. All pages were read on 30 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What width is a wide running shoe for men and for women?
On Brooks' pages, men's Medium is 1D, Wide is 2E and Extra Wide is 4E; women's Medium is 1B, Wide is 1D and Extra Wide is 2E. So a women's Wide carries the same letter as a men's Medium. On its Guide 19 pages Saucony names the widths in words (Regular, Wide, Extra Wide) rather than letters.
Which running shoes come in 4E for men?
Of the six picks, Brooks lists the Beast GTS 26 and Ghost 18 in Extra Wide (4E) on its own pages, and the HOKA Bondi 9, New Balance 1080 v15 and ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 are sold in 4E (seen at one US retailer, 30 Sep 2026). Saucony sells the Guide 19 in Extra Wide and gives it no letter.
Do wide running shoes come in big sizes?
Some do. Brooks' Beast GTS 26 page runs men's sizes 8 to 16, and Saucony's men's Guide 19 Wide and Extra Wide pages run 7 to 16. For women, Brooks' Ghost 18 and Ariel GTS 26 pages go to 13 and Saucony's women's Guide 19 to 12. For the HOKA, New Balance and ASICS picks, check the maker's size chart.
Which wide running shoes suit runners who wear orthotics?
Brooks lists the Beast GTS 26 and the women's Ariel GTS 26 as best for running with orthotics and describes a roomy upper for use of orthotics, in the same three widths per gender. Bring your orthotics when you try any pair on.
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