I Found the 10 Best Wedge Sandals for Wide Feet

I’ve never owned anything nubuck, but it’s fun to say and soft to wear. I associate it with my dad’s work boots, but these asymmetrical-strapped sandals are the opposite end of the fashion spectrum. They have a nice rubber outsole and what Clarks calls an “OrthoLite” footbed, which gives good traction and comfort for walking up three flights of stairs to a rooftop bar or using a standing desk. (It worked for both.)

I have plantar fasciitis, and I can’t wear insoles in sandals, so arch support is an absolute must. This sandal felt like a memory foam mattress for my foot — especially my arch. They are so lightweight and cushy that I could run a short distance in them, and, like many Easy Spirit sandals, it has a Velcro ankle strap — not that you can tell. But it does mean these are adjustable for various ankle sizes. The crisscross front keeps toe cleavage at bay, too, which was clutch.

I took these for a spin on a 97-degree day and my feet didn’t get all sweaty and slippery in them, because of the breathable liner in the sandal. Naturalizer calls these a “sport wedge,” and although I wouldn’t play basketball in them, I did walk a few avenues in Times Square while wearing them. They feel stable and shock-absorbing, and the fabric over the toe makes it stretchier for wider feet. Again, there’s hidden Velcro. I asked my friend if she could tell, and she had no idea and un-Velcroed them in the middle of a Broadway theater. I am preaching the gospel of Velcro to everyone now. I tried and loved the leather ones, which differ a bit from the ones pictured here, which have a sportier white bottom.

I have envied this peep-toe, geometric-cut leather style on friends for years, but these LifeStride sandals are the first time I’ve ever seen them for wide feet. My whole foot was covered with leather without feeling constrictive, and while these have a three-inch cork heel and are great for a night out, they wear with the comfort of a flat. My favorite feature was the sneaky elastic straps at the back of the shoe to both help tug them on and give a little more flexibility for wide feet as I walked. The sole is also super soft, almost like walking on a rug. These were my favorite find of the bunch.

These three-inch-tall wedges are straight-up orthotics with hard soles that take a little getting used to, but once you break them in, the arch support is excellent for all-day wear. The straps are partially elastic and easily adjustable on the classic espadrille silhouette. I like these best paired with a flowy maxidress.

LifeStride calls the soft, supportive sole of this two-inch wedge sandal the “Soft System,” and that’s a spot-on description. It is very cushy, yet hard enough to support your foot and keep it in place. I was particularly into the chambray-looking navy but it also comes in black or nude.

This sandal was oddly light, as if the cork base was empty inside, but it was still very supportive. At first glance, it can look dressed-up, but I think the tiny “e” logo makes it a bit more casual. The grooved, rubberized bottom of the shoe was great when I was rushing across just-washed linoleum floors at my office with a full cup of iced coffee. Phew!

These were the lowest-heeled wedges that I tried and worked as a nice middle ground between flats and a heel. The elastic bands are so stretchy that someone with a double-wide (EE) foot could wear these too. The only caveat here is that when breaking them in, you’ll need to wear a Band-Aid or rub some blister prevention on your ankle since they cut a little high in the back. I fell in love with the mauve, but they also come in black, navy, and taupe.

I have never owned Birkenstocks, but these are a little nicer to look at and seem just as supportive. There is an adjustable ankle strap with a metal buckle, but there’s enough elastic in them that you can slip them on and off without unbuckling every time. Great for lazy people always in a rush like me. I went for the lilac metallic for wearing with more casual outfits that need a pop of color, but they also come in black and brown leather and a print called “papaya” that I wish was fruit and not instead a mix of yellow, red, and white.

Okay, these are platforms and not a wedge, but I loved the caramel-colored suede chunky heels so much that I had to throw them in here. I already plan to wear them to a summer wedding because the leather lining wicks moisture and they don’t feel stiflingly hot like suede sometimes can. The heel strap is adjustable to give you a little more room with, you guessed it, Velcro. The crisscross straps are comfortable, but the material took a day to stretch out to the shape of my foot — so be patient.