Just so there's no confusion, I'm asking this for my sister, not me.

My sister apparently has wide feet and can't find any shoes that fit her. She's looking for athletic shoes but can't find any in extra wide sizes such as 2E, 3E, or 4E. We've been in every store in the area that carries shoes and none have any that will fit her feet. She doesn't want to buy them online since they probably won't fit anyway and will have to be returned.

It was suggested that she try bigger shoe sizes (she wears a 7) but even a size 10 fits tightly on the sides and causes foot pain, plus it's way too big length wise. She tried men's shoes but she can't find any in small sizes such as a 7 or 8 and when she does, they don't come in extra wide.

The only thing that works is for her to wear used shoes. They usually don't feel quite right to her but they don't cause terrible pain.

Is it ok for her to wear used shoes? Does anyone know if this is a medical condition or something? Her feet don't seem that wide. I think it may be that her feet are sensitive or that there's a nerve problem in the foot. She didn't have this problem until a few years ago when she was 21 (she's 25 now).

Does anyone have any ideas on what she should do? Eventually, the shoes she has will wear out and I don't think that wearing paper bags on her feet will work.

New Balance carries a lot of wider sizes, the problems is that they don't carry them in most stores. I don't know where you live, but if you can find a store, such as a running store or privately owned shoe store, they will often be willing to order the widths you need and see if they fit before selling them to your sister.

Good Luck!

Go online and look for a gadget (sorry I don't know what it is called) you can buy to put in your shoe that stretches the shoe as much as you need. They really work and were recommended to me by an Ortho surgeon. It resembels what men buy to place in the dress shoes when they are not wearing them. Or you can go to a shoe store (would have to be an upscale shoe store) where they have machines that stretch shoes as well. I did that years ago for a pair of cowboy boots!!! And it worked!

Many shoe repair shops have these stretching machines as well.

I have the same problem. I see the shoes online, but not in the stores.
I went to Sears a few days ago and finally found a pair of New Balance in 2E. So far, they don't hurt. My toe is still sore from surgery, but other than that, they feel good.

OMG! I so totally know what she is going through.

before my bunion surgery I was 9.5 EEEE. The only thing I can wear is sneakers.

now my left foot is 9.5 EEE.

I can't find much that fits, I did find some dressier shoes at Wissota trader. and New Balance is great, but I have to order on line.

Good luck.

Try Mason shoes, they come in EEEE widths

Has she been to a doctor ? If a medical reason is suspected it should be investigated. How is her general health? Diabetes? overweight?
Anyway - the shoes - sometimes if the womens sizes don't fit the mens wide shoes are ofter wider. Mens gym shoes anyway don't look much different than womens. As far as nicer womens dress shoes I don't know - sorry - others here seem to have some good suggestions.

You can get some very nice shoes for extra wide feet on-line at Foot Smart:
http://www.*********.com

New Balance does have some stores that are strictly New Balance stores, but I don't know how widely distributed across the country they are. Also, I have been able to buy New Balance shoes in 9.5 D at Kohls, although I don't know how far up the widths that they carry go, and I think it's fairly hit or miss there in terms of size and width availability.

Hi,
I suggest doing a computer search (a search engine I use is monstercrawler.com ) for shoes wide feet - or try wide feet shoes - or just shoes - try any words in various ways - you will probably find sites.
My father used to take E's and sometimes found them in catalogs. Hope this helps some.