The Top 5 Best Basketball Shoes for Wide Feet

Basketball Shoes / 3 Comments / Last updated on

Finding basketball shoes that fit your wide feet can be a real pain. Most performance sneakers are cut slightly narrow to ensure a tight fit for athletes with regularly wide feet. If you are a wide-footer, this can be really annoying as an average pair of shoes will probably fit very uncomfortably and you will have to deal with blisters and pressure marks. But fortunately, there are still a few basketball shoes that cater to wide-footers.

In this article, I am going to show you five current basketball sneakers that should fit comfortably, even if you have "Shrek" feet!

How to find shoes that work for wide feet?

Your favorite player released a new signature sneaker and you found a colorway that is so nice, you need to have it? The only problem: the shoe is not made for wide feet...

Can you still make it work?

Look for stretchy upper materials

Many shoes come with different materials depending on which colorway you get. So if you have a pair of shoes that are only slightly narrow, going for a stretchy material like a knit or woven will accommodate wide feet much better than firm mesh or synthetic leather.

On the other hand, there are basketball shoes like the KD signature line that run so narrow that you just can't make it work as a wide-footer. If you want to know how your favourite shoe runs, check out the shoe overview I have created here. Click on any shoe and to see a profile of the shoe that tells you whether it runs wide, regular or narrow.

Basketball Shoes for Wide-Footers

How did I come up with this list?

I am continuously recording every basketball shoe review that is released on sites like solecollector.com, weartesters.com and on popular sneaker Youtube channels. So far this database includes 312 shoes and 1608 reviews!

Whenever a reviewer mentions that a shoe runs wide (or narrow) this is entered into a database. This allows me to automatically create a list of current shoes (last updated on Jul 26, 2024) that were identified as wide by sneaker experts (ranked by average overall rating):

1. New Balance Kawhi 4

  • 8.6 rating based on 6 expert reviews
  • The Kawhi 4 is an improvement from any previous Kawhi shoe. The traction is reliable, and the cushioning is a standout feature.
  • The New Balance Kawhi 4 is best for players who enjoy springy, plush cushioning setups.

2. Puma TRC Blaze Court

  • 8.4 rating based on 4 expert reviews
  • The Puma TRC Blaze Court offers strong traction and comfort at the expense of the materials.
  • Guards with a quick playstyle

3. Nike Zoom Freak 4

  • 8.3 rating based on 6 expert reviews
  • The Nike Zoom Freak 4 is a worthy upgrade in Giannis Antetokounmpo's line.
  • Players looking for solid performance and springy cushioning on a budget will enjoy this shoe.

4. Under Armour Flow FUTR X Elite

  • 8.2 rating based on 5 expert reviews
  • The Under Armour Flow FUTR X Elite provides stable cushioning and grippy traction with an innovative upper.
  • This shoe is best for players who prefer a wider, more accommodating forefoot area during play.

5. Adidas BYW Select

  • 8.1 rating based on 2 expert reviews
  • The traction and cushioning of the Adidas BYW Select stand out, and the rest of the shoe just works.
  • The BYW Select is an all-around shoe that performs well in all categories.
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Let's take a closer look:

1. New Balance Kawhi 4

Performance Rating:
8.6
The Kawhi 4 is an improvement from any previous Kawhi shoe. The traction is reliable, and the cushioning is a standout feature.
Overall rating based on 6 reviews
Pros:
Reliable traction
Dual-density FuelCell cushioning feels plush
Cons:
Fit feels slightly wide
Takes extra effort on the laces for lockdown
What do the experts think?
The New Balance Kawhi 4 is Kawhi Leonard's fourth signature shoe with the brand, and it's shaping up to be one of his best. The traction is reliable. Reviewers say the performance is outstanding on clean courts and solid on dusty courts. Make sure to wipe. New Balance updates the cushioning with a dual-density FuelCell foam. It feels plush and bouncy. The upper is engineered mesh. It's not the most premium feeling, but it's comfortable and well-padded. It also does a solid job of providing containment. Support and lockdown get the job done. The shank plate provides stability, and the upper keeps your foot contained nicely. The Kawhi 4 is the best in the Kawhi lineup, with the most plush cushioning setup yet.

2. Puma TRC Blaze Court

Performance Rating:
8.4
The Puma TRC Blaze Court offers strong traction and comfort at the expense of the materials.
Overall rating based on 4 reviews
Pros:
Lightweight and supportive
Comfortable cushioning
Cons:
The outsole rubber is not durable
Materials feel cheap
What do the experts think?
The traction pattern of the Puma TRC Blaze Court performed phenomenally for most reviewers, but dust pickup can be an issue. Puma's Trinomic cushioning is soft and responsive, and one reviewer said it was the most bouncy cushioning they've tested. The materials feel cheap, but they do keep the shoe feeling lightweight on foot. The support features are strategically placed around the shoe to reinforce the lockdown and containment of the shoe. Overall, the Puma TRC Blaze Court is an exceptional performer that could've been even better if not for some consistency issues.

3. Nike Zoom Freak 4

Performance Rating:
8.3
The Nike Zoom Freak 4 is a worthy upgrade in Giannis Antetokounmpo's line.
Overall rating based on 6 reviews
Pros:
Reliable traction after break-in
Cushion feels springy
Cons:
Torsional support is not the best
What do the experts think?
The traction on the Zoom Freak 4 takes time to break in, but once it does, it performs reliably afterwards. The two forefoot Zoom Air units are bouncy but can take a lot of force to feel them. The foam feels springy regardless, though. Material quality is a letdown. Nike didn't use premium materials, but they hold up for performance. One improved feature is the fit. The shoe accommodates more foot shapes and is better for players with slightly-wide feet. Reviewers mentioned the torsional support isn't the best, but it didn't take away from the lockdown and stability of the shoe. The Nike Zoom Freak 4 performs well in all performance basketball categories while being a shoe for price-conscious players.

4. Under Armour Flow FUTR X Elite

Performance Rating:
8.2
The Under Armour Flow FUTR X Elite provides stable cushioning and grippy traction with an innovative upper.
Overall rating based on 5 reviews
Pros:
Stable foam midsole
Comfortable Intelliknit upper
Cons:
Stretchy forefoot materials
Non-optimal performance fit
What do the experts think?
The Under Armour Flow FUTR X Elite is a newly innovative performance basketball shoe. Flow foam remains elite on clean courts. As always, wipe on dusty surfaces. The midsole setup features a bulkier iteration of Flow. It feels more stable and secure. It's better for responsiveness. Under Armour's Intelliknit upper is also comfortable, lightweight, and breathable. The midfoot shank and stiff heel counter ensure support and containment are not an issue during play. The fit is divisive. Players who enjoy more freedom and stretchiness in the forefoot and toe box will enjoy the fit, but players who prefer a snug fit will not. The Under Armour FUTR X Elite steps up with a more innovative upper, and the traction and cushioning are what you expect from Flow, but make sure you like the fit beforehand.

5. Adidas BYW Select

Performance Rating:
8.1
The traction and cushioning of the Adidas BYW Select stand out, and the rest of the shoe just works.
Overall rating based on 2 reviews
Pros:
Comfortable cushioning
Consistent traction
Cons:
Materials feel cheap
Noticeable drop in stack height
What do the experts think?
Adidas' BYW Select has solid and consistent traction. It performs well on clean courts and only needs occasional wiping on dusty courts. The cushioning is a combination of Lightstrike and Boost. It's comfortable, provides impact protection, and feels responsive. The material quality is low, but the performance is not affected. The lacing system and midsole setup keep your foot contained and stable during play. Fit on the shoe is also accommodating. Overall, the Adidas BYW Select is a well-rounded performer. It provides a bit of everything.

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3 thoughts on “The Top 5 Best Basketball Shoes for Wide Feet”

  1. Angela

    My son is playing high school ball and is required to wear Nikes. He has VERY wide feet, and we switched him to Adidas from Nike years ago for this reason. Any Nike recommendations that are available on the current market? All of my googling is leading me to older versions of Nikes that I can only find on Amazon, and I question the authenticity. Thanks for your help in advance!

    Reply
    1. Andy

      Check out thehoopsgeek.com/shoe-reviews for a list of all current shoes. You can filter and sort all shoes by width. This way you should be able to find a good fit for your son.

      Reply
    2. Ashley

      Just came from the Nike Outlet today, my daughter plays travel ball and has a very wide foot. She loves the KD12’s. She had to go about a half size up but they fit her perfect.

      Reply

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