Do I need a wide-fit shoe?

If the pain is between the toes, room inside the shoe often matters most. The toe box width on each shoe page is measured inside the shoe.

Choosing running shoes with forefoot pain

Pain under the ball of the foot usually responds to offloading: a thick forefoot, an early rocker that rolls you off the forefoot sooner (the same idea as a medical rocker sole), a stiff forefoot so pressure is spread, and a roomy toe box so the forefoot is not squeezed.

What loads it

The metatarsal heads carry most of the body weight in late stance. Thin or flexible forefoots, narrow toe boxes that squeeze the bones together and running on the toes concentrate that pressure.

Nerve irritation between the toes (Morton's neuroma) is made worse by squeezing from the sides.

What to look for in a shoe

A thick forefoot: More midsole under the ball of the foot lowers peak pressure.
An early rocker: The foot spends less time loaded on the metatarsal heads before rolling off.
A stiff forefoot: Spreads pressure along the sole instead of concentrating it where the shoe bends.
A roomy toe box and wide forefoot base: Room inside the shoe matters for nerve pain; a wide base spreads load.

What to be careful with

Narrow, pointed toe boxes and tight lacing over the forefoot.
Thin racing flats and spikes; forefoot-striking drills.

Terrain

Best: Road and treadmill in a cushioned, rockered shoe; smooth trails.
Be careful with: Uphills (you load the forefoot more) and stony trails that press into the sole.
Trail: Choose a trail shoe with a rock plate and decent forefoot stack.

Changing shoes

Change one thing at a time and do it gradually: start with short, easy runs in the new shoe and keep the old pair in rotation for a few weeks. A shoe that feels right in the first few runs is a better guide than any number on this page.

Current shoes with these characteristics

Required: forefoot 30 mm or more (forefoot stack ≥ 30 mm). Ranked by how many of these also hold: earlier rocker (rocker apex ≤ 65.2 % of length (median of measured shoes)); stiffer forefoot (stiffness score ≥ 50/100); roomier toe box (toe box width ≥ 72.4 mm (median of measured shoes)); wider forefoot base (forefoot base width ≥ 117.1 mm (median of measured shoes)); everyday trainer (daily trainer, max cushion, stability or trail shoe (not racing or tempo)). Medians are over the shoes measured on this site. Only the latest version of each model is listed, and shoes without a value for a characteristic are not counted as matching it.

Road

Shoe	Why it is listed	Drop	Heel	Forefoot	Apex	Toe tip	Stiffness
ASICS Gel-Kayano 33	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	8 mmStated	41 mmMeasured	33 mmMeasured	65 %est.	40 mmest.	62Derived
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28	Forefoot 30 mm or more Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	8 mmStated	44 mmStated	36 mmStated	66.4 %est.	45 mmest.	80Derived
ASICS GlideRide Max 2	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Everyday trainer	6 mmStated	46 mmStated	40 mmStated	62.7 %est.	47 mm*est.	50Derived
Brooks Ghost Max 4	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Stiffer forefoot Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	6 mmStated	39 mmStated	34 mmStated	59.8 %est.	44 mmest.	64Derived
Brooks Glycerin Max 2	Forefoot 30 mm or more Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	6 mmStated	45 mmStated	39 mmStated	68.1 %est.	46 mmest.	73Derived
Hoka Gaviota 6	Forefoot 30 mm or more Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	6 mmStated	39 mmStated	33 mmStated	65.6 %est.	39 mmest.	58Derived
Mizuno Wave Rider 30	Forefoot 30 mm or more Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	8 mmStated	43 mmStated	35 mmStated	71.8 %est.	39 mmest.	54Derived
Nike Structure Plus	Forefoot 30 mm or more Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	10 mmStated	42 mmStated	32 mmStated	67 %est.	33 mmest.	60Derived
Saucony Ride 19	Forefoot 30 mm or more Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	8 mmStated	38 mmStated	30 mmStated	66.3 %est.	37 mmest.	58Derived
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Stiffer forefoot Wider forefoot base	6 mmStated	39 mmStated	33 mmStated	63.9 %est.	46 mmest.	78Derived

Showing the top 10 of 57 matching road shoes.

Trail

Shoe	Why it is listed	Drop	Heel	Forefoot	Apex	Toe tip	Stiffness
ASICS METAFUJI Trail 2	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Stiffer forefoot Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	5 mmDerived	42 mmStated	37 mmStated	60.6 %est.	54 mmest.	70Derived
Brooks Cascadia 20	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Stiffer forefoot Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	6 mmDerived	38 mmStated	33 mmStated	63.3 %est.	43 mmest.	53Derived
Hoka Mafate 5	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Roomier toe box Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	8 mmDerived	44 mmStated	36 mmStated	61.5 %est.	44 mmest.	48Derived
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Stiffer forefoot Roomier toe box Everyday trainer	4 mmStated	42 mmStated	38 mmStated	60.7 %est.	44 mmest.	54Derived
Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	8 mmStated	38 mmStated	30 mmStated	58.5 %est.	56 mmest.	33Derived
Hoka Speedgoat 7	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Wider forefoot base Everyday trainer	4 mmDerived	37 mmStated	33 mmStated	58.8 %est.	42 mmest.	34Derived
Salomon Ultra Glide 4	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Stiffer forefoot Everyday trainer	6 mmDerived	41 mmStated	36 mmStated	61 %est.	38 mmest.	62Derived
Hoka Tecton X 4	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Everyday trainer	5 mmDerived	38 mmStated	34 mmStated	62.6 %est.	41 mmest.	—
Saucony Xodus Ultra 4	Forefoot 30 mm or more Earlier rocker Everyday trainer	6 mmStated	38 mmStated	32 mmStated	63.1 %est.	45 mmest.	38Derived
Nike ACG Zegama	Forefoot 30 mm or more Everyday trainer	4 mmDerived	38 mmStated	34 mmStated	65.5 %est.	34 mmest.	—
Topo Athletic Ultraventure 5	Forefoot 30 mm or more Everyday trainer	5 mmDerived	35 mmStated	30 mmStated	65.9 %est.	35 mmest.	—

Questions

Do I need a wide-fit shoe?: If the pain is between the toes, room inside the shoe often matters most. The toe box width on each shoe page is measured inside the shoe.

Other guides

Measurements are explained on the Learn pages and in the methodology.