My Hunt for Non-Boring Wide-Width Sandals to Replace My Crocs

These were the sandals I was most excited to try, with my dream combination of the greenfaux-woven raffia, espadrille style, cushy insole, and nearly three-inch platform wedge. But they were also the ones I was most disappointed by out of the box: They were just too narrow. My pinky toe was immediately squished when I slid my foot in, even before buckling the clasp. I didn’t even try to walk in them because I knew they would be uncomfortable and cause a blister or even cut off my circulation. That front band squishing my toes had absolutely no flexibility, so I don’t think they could have been broken in over time. I tried them in size 8 wide, my typical size, and after measuring, the sole was at least two inches narrower than other comparable wide-width sandals.

This is the type of sandal that I would normally avoid because of the straps at the widest parts of my feet, but Torrid’s double-wide shoes changed my mind. The kitten heel still makes it challenging to walk on uneven terrain like cobblestone, dirt, or grass, but the sturdy base, extra-cushioned insole, and stretchyfaux-leather straps made them comfortable enough to walk miles through a sprawling antique mall. I took them to a large farmers’ market and wove through different stands on a hot day and was surprised my feet didn’t get sweaty and slip forward through the straps. My toes were not squished at all, even when I could tell the heat was making my feet swell a bit, and I spent hours on my feet without discomfort. The only reason these did not get named a winner is because of the kitten heel, which will never be my favorite style. I got these sandals in a bright coral called “fiesta,” but they are also available in black, metallic silver, and a zebra print.

This coral sandal has a three-inch block heel that is very sturdy and supportive, a nonslip textured base, and a comfortable, cushioned, and smooth insole. I found that it fit true to size (I got an 8 wide). Overall, its only flaw is that it could be a little wider, as the outside edge of the middle of my foot overhangs slightly. It was not enough to rub and cause discomfort or blisters, even after walking around for hours before and after dinner out with friends. My pinky toes were a little squished in the front, but not enough to warrant not wearing them again. Thefauxleather eventually stretches a bit — after wearing them a few times, the middle strap across the widest part of my foot didn’t leave an indentation in my skin any more. Because the block heel is so sturdy and has a durable, somewhat grippy outsole, walking in grass and stone was easy. The platform front is about an inch high and helped stabilize and support my arches. Still, I’d wear these when style is more important than comfort. Besides the orangefauxleather, they also come in pale-blue nubuck and a floral-patterned raffia in natural/eggnog.

Although I would have preferred a platform or block heel on these, the extra-wide width (WW) more than made up for the skinny heel. These were one of the widest, most comfortable-fitting sandals I tried, with extra room not only at the toes but for my entire foot. I felt completely supported in the two-inch heel everywhere I walked — except for grass, where the heel sunk in (perils of a kitten heel!). I never felt like I was teetering on the edge and about to fall over when walking my dogs briskly, wandering the aisles of the grocery store, or ascending multiple flights of stairs. These sandals can be dressed up or down and are easy to slip on, so they’ll be in my rotation even though they are not one of my top picks. I got them in 8WW in olive green, but they also come in black, java (brown), and a white snakeskin.

The only classic flat sandal I tried was this bejeweled pair from Jellypop. I love the rhinestone straps and multicolored lining, and was astounded that these seemingly standard-size shoes actually fit so wide. Founder and designer Jennet Chow told me that because she has wide feet, she purposely added elastic side gores for extra stretch to these sandals and that all of Jellypop’s shoes run wide even if they’re not marketed as such. None of my foot overhangs the insole, and no toes are squished. Somehow, these sandals give arch support while remaining mostly flat — just a half-inch of height in the heel — and overall firm support with a bit of cushion. I went with a size 9 to guarantee they would be wide enough and found it was easy to slip them on. I’ve used them as my main sandal for walking my dogs three times a day on concrete, grass, and even sand, and they handled all those surfaces equally well. The material is lightweight and flexible enough that I’ll be throwing these in my bag for pool and beach days.

The stretchiness of the crocheted fabric made them feel like they were made of memory foam, and the insoles’ cloudlike material provided excellent arch support and put a bounce in my step. I walked up steep hills and danced and jumped around for hours at a concert at the Greek Theatre without even thinking about my footwear — they’re that comfortable. The ¾-inch platform and 2.5-inch block heel gave me close to the height of my beloved Crocs, and they’re also as easy to clean — machine washable on cold. I plan to buy these in the black and “eggnog” colorways as well.

This is the only brand I tried that is specifically targeted to those with wide feet, and these sandals felt custom-made for me. The front is extra roomy with a square toe box, the back strap has not only an adjustable buckle but also hidden elastic to fit snugly in the right way, and there is built-in padding for arch support. The platform ranges from about an inch in the front to two inches in the heel and gives cushioned, almost bouncy support with every step. I wore them for hours walking my dogs across concrete and grass and throughout an entire night of dancing and mingling without any rubbing or discomfort. The sandals felt lightweight overall, the leather soft and supple, and the bottoms have effective nonslip grooves. I got the metallic-silver leather so they could be dressed up or down, but they also come in black and “toast” brown.

I have never been able to fit in jelly sandals until I discovered these. The soft, slightly padded insole feels more like a sneaker than a flat, and the diamond-cut pattern allows more breathability and no weird sticking to my feet like other jelly shoes can. I sized up to a 9 to ensure they were wide enough, even knowing that Jellypop shoes naturally run wide, and have been wearing them for months as easy slip-on sandals for everything from a marathon day of rides and walking at Universal Studios to picnicking in a grassy park. No squished toes, no foot slipping and sliding, and great airflow. I put them on right after exiting a pool and noticed that they dry fast, too. I have them in black but plan to grab them in clear and red next.

TheBonita, with a pointy toe and even more plush cushioning along the footbed, is a newer style that I didn’t get to wear-test for as long as I did the others on this list. But from my brief walks in them (in an 8 instead of 9), they seemed like an even more comfortable version of the Uma, and notably, the pointy toe didn’t squish my pinky toe.

I appreciated the T-shaped strap and adjustable Velcro closure that gave even more wiggle room to an already wide shoe. I tried the Porcelain Croco Faux Leather in a size 8W and probably could have gone down to a 7.5W because it ran a teeny bit long. (It also comes in Birchwood Brown, Champagne, and Blackfauxleather.) After a few times walking my pups and trying them on different kinds of terrain, I made a calculated risk and wore them for the equivalent of two miles of steps while hosting myVintage Cookbook Dinner Partyevent at Grand Central Market in Los Angeles, with nary a blister nor any rubbing against my toes. The arch support, plush cushioning, shock absorption, and flexibility of the sandals mitigated the typical exhaustion of running a dinner service, and the slightly over-one-inch heel was the right amount of height for everyday wear.