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Can I ask what you switched to? I also spent 15 years running in Nikes, mostly Structure, Pegasus, Invincible 3. I tried to stop buying so many american product

Can I ask what you switched to? I also spent 15 years running in Nikes, mostly Structure, Pegasus, Invincible 3. I tried to stop buying so many american products 2 years ago and went for a pair of On's which are now reaching the end of their life. I can't say I'm super happy with the On's like I was with my Nikes. Might just go back

billynomates 16d ago
Not OP but I bought a pair of wide-toe trainers from Altra and I love them. They are the least ugly, properly wide shoes I have bought yet (and I've worn a good few).
- otikik 16d ago
  Yep, another happy Altra user here. I basically wear nothing else these days. Will never go back to a non-wide toebox shoe.
  - lr1970 16d ago
    +1. Since I discovered Altra it feels pain to wear anything else.
- dranudin 16d ago
  Once upon a time adidas made shoes that were wide enough for me. Then somehow they decided to make them narrower and I had to search for wider shoes. The search was very difficult, as it seems that most shoe producers do not produce actually foot-shaped shoes. I bought my first pairs of Altra half a year ago, and I am very happy! The fit is really great. I will not switch to anything else, as long as they continue producing in this shape.
- trymas 16d ago
  This. Neither Hoka, Asics, New Balance, et al. make truly wide toe box shoes. Better than nothing - sure. Though after wearing Altras, feet health is much better and you can feel how all other shoes feel tight, even my widest Hokas are tight in comparison. My biggest complaints though with Altras: - They offer only zero drop (or near zero drop) shoes; - Their QC to price ratio is atrocious (stitches failing, heel fabric gone to shreds 2-3 times faster than other brands, sole is so soft that it goes to shreds or wears out 2 times faster than others); Problem for me is that I wouldn't even consider buying them if they wouldn't be the only shoe brand that I can access that has truly wide toe box and is not "barefoot shoe".
  - port11 14d ago
    Do you have any reason to want non-zero drop? Because that’s one of the main reasons to buy Altras, since it alleviates some of the issues that plague knees and hip joints. My Altras last about 2x any other running shoe, and I even took them on trail runs (Lone Peaks). Not defending the company, they’re pricey and the catalog is exaggerated, full of nonsense 30mm+ stack shoes, etc.
    - trymas 13d ago
      Maybe it’s just my models: Timp GTX and Timp 5 that aren’t reliable. Got my hands on Olympus - will see if it’s better.
      - port11 10d ago
        Yeah, they could simplify the catalog and try to offer the same quality across the board. I don’t see the need to have multiple trail shoes on offer, some of which have a non-replaceable sole. Lone Peaks are almost perfect, keep the stone guard, drop the total stack, and we’re cooking. The longevity of the shoes seems to be compromised by the fancy fabric in some areas, though. Good luck with the Olympus. Don’t let the lack of prosumer foam discourage you!
freetime2 16d ago
For actually running (as opposed to just casual use), Nike was never actually my first choice. I used Brooks in the past, and recently Hoka - both of which I think are great shoes. Unfortunately both are US based. For a non-US company, maybe give Asics (Japanese brand) a look? They never really fit me right personally, but I know they are popular amongst runners. And just to clarify - I don't think any of the brands above sell proper "wide toe box" shoes that I mentioned above. Xero and Altra are the best known brands (both US-based) in this category I think. There are also some really inexpensive options from Chinese companies on Amazon that I think are actually worth a look - Whitin seems to be the most popular on Amazon in the US, but I see the same shoes sold under different brand names. These shoes tend to be really light weight and comfortable for casual use or working out, but they just don't have enough cushion where I would want to run long distances in them. Oh and Skechers sells some wide toe shoes as well - not as roomy in the toe box as the brands above, but still super comfy. But again, not something I would recommend for running.
- corford 16d ago
  FYI, Hoka have an EU site too
- topaztee 16d ago
  i bought a pair of new balances wide shoes and wont be going back to nike
  - CWuestefeld 16d ago
    This is what I'm wearing now, for this reason. But they keep messing with the products. They revised the 608 so the toe box isn't as big. The nylon 877 V1 seems to be my last choice.
presentation 16d ago
Surprisingly if you're into marathons, the On Cloudboom Strike 2 is unusually roomy in the toebox for a big sports brand.
ryanlitalien 16d ago
I did the same, used to be a Nike guy. Switched to a zero drop, wide toe box Altra, and have stayed with them since. (Topo is another competitor in the same space)
castlecrasher2 16d ago
I don't know any non-US brands but echoing that I've only bought Altras for the past five or so years because of the large toe-box size and reasonable looks.

billynomates 16d ago

Not OP but I bought a pair of wide-toe trainers from Altra and I love them. They are the least ugly, properly wide shoes I have bought yet (and I've worn a good few).

otikik 16d ago
Yep, another happy Altra user here. I basically wear nothing else these days. Will never go back to a non-wide toebox shoe.
- lr1970 16d ago
  +1. Since I discovered Altra it feels pain to wear anything else.
dranudin 16d ago
Once upon a time adidas made shoes that were wide enough for me. Then somehow they decided to make them narrower and I had to search for wider shoes. The search was very difficult, as it seems that most shoe producers do not produce actually foot-shaped shoes. I bought my first pairs of Altra half a year ago, and I am very happy! The fit is really great. I will not switch to anything else, as long as they continue producing in this shape.
trymas 16d ago
This. Neither Hoka, Asics, New Balance, et al. make truly wide toe box shoes. Better than nothing - sure. Though after wearing Altras, feet health is much better and you can feel how all other shoes feel tight, even my widest Hokas are tight in comparison. My biggest complaints though with Altras: - They offer only zero drop (or near zero drop) shoes; - Their QC to price ratio is atrocious (stitches failing, heel fabric gone to shreds 2-3 times faster than other brands, sole is so soft that it goes to shreds or wears out 2 times faster than others); Problem for me is that I wouldn't even consider buying them if they wouldn't be the only shoe brand that I can access that has truly wide toe box and is not "barefoot shoe".
- port11 14d ago
  Do you have any reason to want non-zero drop? Because that’s one of the main reasons to buy Altras, since it alleviates some of the issues that plague knees and hip joints. My Altras last about 2x any other running shoe, and I even took them on trail runs (Lone Peaks). Not defending the company, they’re pricey and the catalog is exaggerated, full of nonsense 30mm+ stack shoes, etc.
  - trymas 13d ago
    Maybe it’s just my models: Timp GTX and Timp 5 that aren’t reliable. Got my hands on Olympus - will see if it’s better.
    - port11 10d ago
      Yeah, they could simplify the catalog and try to offer the same quality across the board. I don’t see the need to have multiple trail shoes on offer, some of which have a non-replaceable sole. Lone Peaks are almost perfect, keep the stone guard, drop the total stack, and we’re cooking. The longevity of the shoes seems to be compromised by the fancy fabric in some areas, though. Good luck with the Olympus. Don’t let the lack of prosumer foam discourage you!

freetime2 16d ago

For actually running (as opposed to just casual use), Nike was never actually my first choice. I used Brooks in the past, and recently Hoka - both of which I think are great shoes. Unfortunately both are US based. For a non-US company, maybe give Asics (Japanese brand) a look? They never really fit me right personally, but I know they are popular amongst runners. And just to clarify - I don't think any of the brands above sell proper "wide toe box" shoes that I mentioned above. Xero and Altra are the best known brands (both US-based) in this category I think. There are also some really inexpensive options from Chinese companies on Amazon that I think are actually worth a look - Whitin seems to be the most popular on Amazon in the US, but I see the same shoes sold under different brand names. These shoes tend to be really light weight and comfortable for casual use or working out, but they just don't have enough cushion where I would want to run long distances in them. Oh and Skechers sells some wide toe shoes as well - not as roomy in the toe box as the brands above, but still super comfy. But again, not something I would recommend for running.

corford 16d ago
FYI, Hoka have an EU site too
topaztee 16d ago
i bought a pair of new balances wide shoes and wont be going back to nike
- CWuestefeld 16d ago
  This is what I'm wearing now, for this reason. But they keep messing with the products. They revised the 608 so the toe box isn't as big. The nylon 877 V1 seems to be my last choice.

presentation 16d ago

Surprisingly if you're into marathons, the On Cloudboom Strike 2 is unusually roomy in the toebox for a big sports brand.

ryanlitalien 16d ago

I did the same, used to be a Nike guy. Switched to a zero drop, wide toe box Altra, and have stayed with them since. (Topo is another competitor in the same space)

castlecrasher2 16d ago

I don't know any non-US brands but echoing that I've only bought Altras for the past five or so years because of the large toe-box size and reasonable looks.