two-tone low top sneakers | 7 shoe style through the years in 2024

The second Adidas Adistar truly shines in consistent support and comfort through its vast platform, balanced cushion, and top-tier upper. It's a neutral shoe with hints of stability. Giving our toes room to move and breathe, it wins the best running shoe with a wide toebox.

Its toebox feels round enough to allow our toes to splay naturally, especially in the big toe area, which has an extra 2.8 mm allowance vs. average. With an additional 4.9/6.0 mm in the forefoot and heel, the wide platform Double-quarter free movement and planted landings.

Adistar 2.0 almost feels like a stability shoe with its dual-density foam. The first layer is a velvet cushion measuring 7.1% softer than average. Meanwhile, the second layer integrates the REPETITOR+ foam — which is firmer in the heel area. Our durometer shows it’s 30.6% tougher than average.

The upper keeps our runs sweat and blister-free as we feel the air flow in and out of the shoe. We’re not surprised that it scored the highest 5/5 on our breathability test since the mesh has large ventilation holes under our microscope.

With its accommodating fit, Adistar 2.0 sacrificed weight. At a monstrous 11.6 oz (328g) vs. the 9.5 oz (268g) average, it’s like running with weights on the feet.

With constrictive and uncomfortable toeboxes seemingly the norm these days when it comes to speedy shoes, the Adidas Adizero Boston 12 represents a breath of fresh air for runners with wide feet. It’s a lightning-quick speed demon of a shoe that zooms its way to the top spot as the best speed trainer with a wide toebox. 

The Boston 12 features a dual-density midsole made using their Lightstirke 2.0, and Lightstrike Pro foams, the latter of which is a speedster’s dream. Scoring a durometer reading of 18.5 HA, it’s 23.5% softer than average, though that’s not what makes it special. As the foam compresses, it feels like it’s storing up potential energy for an explosive rebound that propels us forward without feeling overly springy or bouncy. 

Using our calliper, we measured the toebox to be 101.9 mm wide at its widest point and 78.2 mm at the big toe. This is 3.8 mm and 1.1 mm wider than the average toebox respectively, and means that the Boston 12 should be wide enough to accommodate most foot shapes with adequate room for toe splay. 

The Boston 12 favours forefoot/midfoot strikers. With its midsole measuring only 86 mm wide, it’s 4.1 mm narrower than average. This affords heel strikers much less of a landing platform than their forefoot striking counterparts. As such the shoe will feel much less stable at high speeds, especially when cornering.

From the luxurious yet energetic midsole foam to the snug yet roomy lockdown; the Ultraboost light is truly a creature of comfort in the form of a sleek daily trainer that is easily the most comfortable wide toebox running shoe. 

Pressing our durometer against the Ultraboost Light’s midsole foam gives us a positively plush reading of 15.5 HA which is 35% softer than our current lab average. This not only ensured that we enjoyed soft and protective landings during our test runs, but the proprietary Boost foam has a snappy and energetic rebound that makes the shoe feel propulsive as well as comfortable underfoot. 

The Ultraboost Light is certainly a roomy shoe. Measuring the toebox at its widest point we found it to be 4.8 mm wider than average, while the area around the big toe is 4.5 mm wider than average. This means that even runners with very broad feet should be well-accommodated by this shoe. 

With a high drop of 11.9 mm and a forefoot stack 4.3 mm shorter than average at 18.2 mm according to our calliper, the Ultraboost Light won’t feel nearly as comfortable underfoot to forefoot strikers compared to their heel striking counterparts.

We searched high and low for the best stability shoe for runners with wide-foot concerns, and our lab analysis and test runs led us to Hoka’s Gaviota 5. With a forgiving fit, subtle stability features, and delightful cushioning, it gives all the support we need without sacrificing comfort.

The midsole felt unrestricted with its wider-than-average measurements of 125.1/106.6 mm. This extra space ensured our safe and sound strides. We also felt centred throughout our runs and our cut-in-half shoe reveals the H-Frame, which gently guides our foot alignment.

Gaviota 5 holds a superior blend of comfort and surefootedness by incorporating dual-density foams. The top layer is a firm 22.0 HA for enhanced stability, while the soft 12.9 HA foam absorbs impact landing.

What also keeps us refreshed is the breathable and spacious upper. Our breathability test reveals a well-ventilated 5/5 mesh material. Meanwhile, the toebox allows our natural toe splay with its 101.8 mm width that tapers gently to the 83.1 mm big toe area.

We anticipated this cushioned stability shoe to be heavy and unfortunately, it was. At 10.6 oz (299g), it proved to be somewhat burdensome during faster runs.

Altra Rivera 3 truly impressed us in our test runs and lab trials, delivering a smooth and enjoyable ride at any distance and pace. Its midsole feels cushioned, responsive, and forgiving all at the same time. The roomy interior and airy build enhance a natural feel, making this daily trainer our best low-drop running shoe with a wide toebox.

Our toes were relaxed and free thanks to the generous wiggle room. The widest part stands 2.4 mm above the average and the big toe area doesn’t taper as much. This makes it more accommodating to runners with broad or swollen feet.

The midsole is pure bliss, feeling both cushioned and responsive. Our durometer shows it's 34.7% softer than average. Despite the modest stack and low 1.7 mm drop, our legs feel protected during landing impact, followed by a snappy rebound during takeoff. 

Rivera 3 feels light on foot and our scales confirm it’s below the average of road-running shoes at 9.1 oz (257g). The adaptive midsole that flows freely with our movements adds to its lightness. True enough, our bend test retells this story as it emerged 20.9% more flexible than average.

However, we felt that the rear area lacked the secure lockdown we wanted as some of us experienced heel rubs during test runs.

After thorough testing of wide-toebox running shoes, we found the Altra Lone Peak delivers the agility, stability, and grip needed for off-road adventures, ultimately leading the trail category. It gives us a high sense of control over unpredictable terrain with its minimalist, ground-sensitive build with an unrestrictive fit.

Lone Peak 8 is highly versatile because of its light 10.2 oz (288g) weight and low profile. Staying true to Altra’s core, it features an almost flat 1.4 mm heel drop which is crucial for control and ground feel. The midsole has enough cushioning for protection and gives off a nice rebound. Our durometer reveals a firm 29.3 HA foam, adding to our surefootedness.

Improving our control and comfort is the spacious toebox since it allows for our natural toe splay. Lone Peak 8 features a square-shaped toebox that tapers to the front by only 5.9% vs. the 20.1% average, providing massive real estate for wide and swollen feet.

Further boosting our confidence on loose ground and dry paths are the 3-mm lugs. Strategically patterned based on our foot anatomy, they allow bending without much resistance. True enough, it emerged 25.3% more flexible than average in our flex test, allowing us to adapt quickly. Unfortunately, we felt less confident tackling mud and wet surfaces. Those who need more grip should check alternatives.

At only £70, the third Runfalcon offers versatility, support, and an accommodating fit for wide feet. It’s an all-rounder that suits heel-strikers best. It's great for casual runs, daily wear, and gym workouts. Based on our test runs and all the lab tests, especially the ones where we used a calliper to measure the width of the shoe, it’s the best budget running shoe with a wide toebox.

Our feet could move comfortably inside the shoe, as we measured the upper's widest part at 100.4 mm vs. the 98.0 mm average. There’s enough wiggle room for our toes with the 80.4 mm space in the big toe area. Meanwhile, the midsole offers a vast landing platform for safe and steady landings. We also discovered TPU plastic surrounding the heel for further stabilisation.

Runfalcon 3 allows us to move naturally with its non-resisting midsole. Our flex test validates it’s one of the most flexible shoes we’ve tested, being 40.8% more adaptive than average. This highlights the shoe’s versatility and explains why it's so comfy for walking and gym sessions.

The cushion feels balanced underfoot, as our durometer confirms it’s around the average. It has a 31.6 mm heel stack that dampens the landing impact of heel strikers.

On the other hand, it doesn’t offer enough cushion for forefoot and midfoot strikers. It measures 6.6 mm below average, ultimately leading to harsher landings.