What To Look For
If you have wide feet and play tennis, finding a comfortable tennis shoes can be a chore. According to McCulloch's Shoes, while shoe manufacturers used to base shoe size on a standard U.S. "last," a standard of measure, today manufacturers base size on their own versions of a last. In addition, shoe size should consider depth and girth in addition to width (distance across ball of foot) and length. Before purchasing, find a specialty shoe store where salespeople will take thorough measurements of your feet. With size in hand, shop around. Look for tennis shoes with a durable toecap, arch support, cushioning and leather uppers over man-made materials. In addition, make sure the depth and girth of the shoes are comfortable, as well as the width and length.
Common Pitfalls
New shoes should feel comfortable from the start; you shouldn't have to break them in. A major pitfall is not making sure the toe area is roomy enough. Walk around in the shoes to ensure your toes aren't pinched or crowding together. Likewise, make sure the heel is not so tight that it may cause chafing or blisters.
Where To Buy
McCulloch's Wide Shoes carries name brands like New Balance and Adidas in wide sizes up to 6E. The company, in business for more than 20 years, was the first to carry big-named athletic shoes from Nike and New Balance. The company offers a 45-day return/exchange policy for any shoes returned in their original packaging. Midwest Sports, an online retailer, also has a range of wide tennis shoes and offers consumer tips for those with hard-to-fit feet. The company carries top-name tennis shoes including Adidas, New Balance and Nike and carries wide shoes up to 2E. However, the company's website doesn't overtly display shoes that come in wide sizes; you have to click around in order to find what you need. The return policy is a 30-day return/exchange for unworn and unused merchandise.
Cost
High-quality tennis shoes cost money. If you have wide feet and play tennis, or any other sport, you shouldn't cut corners on quality simply because of cost. At McCulloch's, mens New Balance Tennis shoes were priced, as of August 2010, from $69 up to $149. Womens New Balance Tennis shoes were priced from $59 up to $105. In terms of name brand, New Balance seemed to be the primary source for wide tennis shoes at McCulloch's. If you go directly to the New Balance website, you'll find that prices are comparable with McCulloch's and they carry wide sizes up to 6E. New Balance, however, has a more comprehensive return policy should your shoes not fit.
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