Finding shoes with an extra wide toe box is no small feat, especially if your feet are both short and extra wide. That’s why we were thrilled to hear from Sabine, one of our readers from Austria, who tested the Wyde Footwear Nova sneakers and generously shared her experience.
Wyde Footwear is a newer barefoot-style brand that designs specifically for wide and extra wide feet, and we’ve kept an eye on them since their launch. Their sneakers are some of the widest toe box shoes on the market, but they also come with a bit more sole thickness and weight, making them an excellent transitional barefoot shoe for beginners or anyone who wants more cushion underfoot.
We’ll get to our thoughts shortly, but first meet Sabine, and hear her story.
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Meet Our Tester: Sabine
Sabine (@dreambig_at) reached out to us with this heartfelt message:
“I love your content about barefoot shoes and your blog! Your blog is so good, very detailed about the shoes you test and also a very good source for my decision to buy new shoes. It’s my favourite shoe information site by far!”
Sabine has short feet (22 cm) and a width of 10 cm, which puts her squarely in the extra wide category. Like many women with this foot type, she quickly realized that most barefoot shoes don’t accommodate her shape – and that extra wide shoes for women are still surprisingly hard to find.
Her journey into barefoot shoes began with a pair of Vivobarefoot shoes – only to realize they were far too narrow.
“Since then, I’ve been doing regular toe and foot exercises, and I feel once you’re on the path, it just clicks – you start doing what’s truly good for your body.”
A major turning point came when she did a solo hiking trip across Austria with those same Vivos. The result? A sprained ankle – and a hard-earned lesson.
“That experience led me to dive deep into the world of foot health, where I discovered that over 80% of barefoot shoes don’t fit my feet: short, extra wide, a slightly longer second toe, and a boxy overall shape.”
Since then, she’s explored the barefoot world with new awareness. Like many others with extra wide feet, she’s found that most barefoot shoes simply don’t fit her foot type.
👉 If you’re unsure about your foot width, take our Foot Width Quiz to see where you land.
First Impressions & Fit
- Tested model: Wyde Footwear Nova White
- Size worn: EU 36
- Foot dimensions: 22 cm long x 10 cm wide
- Tested for: 6 weeks
- Foot volume: Medium to high
- Width category: Extra wide
Sabine ordered the Wyde Footwear Nova on release day, excited to finally try a clean, white leather sneaker designed for people like her.
“The proportions actually work for my short and wide feet and look fantastic. They were comfy from the start, needed no break-in, and the leather molds to my gait and softens with wear.”
Here’s what stood out to her the most:
✅ Clean, minimalist look
✅ Soft, flexible sole – more bendy than the Wyde Footwear Arcus
✅ Removable insole adds cushioning
Comfort & Materials
The Nova is built with a smooth leather upper and a synthetic footbed. The leather softens with wear and adjusts to the shape of your foot over time.
Sabine also shared a helpful care tip:
“As white leather shoes, they need regular care and cleaning to stay fresh. But they feel solid and built to last.”
Sabine also noted that they weren’t roomy enough for her toe spacers, but would likely accommodate them for people with medium-width feet. For her extra wide feet, the fit was spacious, but just shy of spacer-friendly.
And what impressed her most about the design:
“Wyde really understands that short feet are proportionally wider than long feet and create shoes accordingly.”
Style & Use
Sabine described the Nova’s style as:
“Casual, denim, streetwear, can be dressed up.”
And she was especially excited about how versatile they are:
“They dress up or down easily – even job interview–worthy (fingers crossed!)”
The clean, minimalist look of the white leather sneaker was one of her favorite things about the design, making them a solid choice for both everyday wear and more polished settings.
Our Thoughts on Wyde Footwear Shoes
We’ve tested multiple Wyde Footwear models ourselves and consistently find them among the widest minimalist shoes available today. Their:
- Toe box is truly foot-shaped
- Volume is generous, working especially well for medium to high-volume feet
- Sole is thicker and heavier, which provides extra cushioning but makes them less minimal than other barefoot shoes
That’s why we often recommend Wyde Footwear as a transitional barefoot brand – great for beginners, people recovering from foot issues, or those who prefer a bit more padding underfoot. Their shoes strike a solid balance between foot health and modern aesthetics, especially for men and women looking for extra wide toe box shoes that don’t compromise on style.
One thing we especially appreciate: they’re extra wide in all sizes, not just the small ones. That means even if you wear a larger size (like we do), Wyde still offers the same generous width. Many brands narrow out in bigger sizes – Wyde doesn’t.
Final Thoughts: A Win for Extra Wide Feet
Sabine’s testimonial reflects a common challenge in the barefoot world: finding shoes with extra wide toe box that actually fit extra wide feet. Wyde is one of the few brands rising to the challenge – and we’re so glad to see models like Nova helping people feel more supported, both physically and emotionally.
“The barefoot journey is as individual as we are – and my story is just one among many. Still, maybe it can help someone else feel a little more seen (and a little better supported in their shoes journey!).”
Thank you, Sabine, for sharing your insights and photos with our community.
If you have a story like Sabine’s and want to share your experience, we’d love to hear from you too!
👉 Want more options like Wyde? Check out our full list of the best barefoot shoes for wide and extra wide feet.
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