Extra wide soccer cleats with a true wide version exist from New Balance and Mizuno. New Balance offers 2E on selected Furon, Tekela and 442 models, including youth sizes. Mizuno sells the Monarcida Neo III Select as wide fit.
Nike, adidas and Puma have no wide line, but they do make roomier lasts, such as the Phantom, the Copa Pure and the King. Below you will read what the letters mean, how reliable a wide label is and what to do if your size or model is not available in wide. The list at the top of this page shows our current picks for extra wide feet.
A true wide version is a cleat that the manufacturer itself makes in a wider build, with a width label. That is rare. In soccer, only New Balance and Mizuno do it, and not on every model.
- New Balance: 2E on selected Furon, Tekela and 442 models, including the youth 442 Academy. It is the only large brand with a declared wide last on more than one line.
- Mizuno: the Monarcida Neo III Select is sold as wide fit. The separate Wide and SW (super wide) versions of the Monarcida have been seen mostly in Asia and the United States, but whether your size is in stock varies, so check before you order.
For every other brand you look for a model with a roomy last instead of a wide label. The ones named most often are the Nike Phantom 6, the Puma King 20, the adidas Copa Pure IV and the Mizuno Morelia II. They are officially regular width, but fit sources describe them as wide. A lesser-known alternative is Sokito Scudetta, with a separate tongue and deep lacing.
What do 2E, 4E and wide fit mean on extra wide soccer cleats?
The letters come from the American width system and show how wide a shoe is compared with standard. For men, D is standard, 2E is wide and 4E is extra wide. B and C are narrow. For kids the scale shifts, so a letter on a youth cleat does not mean the same as on an adult cleat.
A letter does not tell you exactly how many millimeters you gain. There is no international norm for width classes: the ISO standard for shoe sizing refers to regional habits, so a D can differ a little between makers. The steps between letters also vary with length. Use the letters as a direction, not as an exact measurement.
One consequence is worth noting. By US numbers, 2E is wide and 4E is extra wide, so even a 2E soccer cleat is not extra wide in the strict sense. If you wear 4E in everyday shoes, expect to look at the widest lasts and at leather, rather than counting on a label.
How reliable is a wide label?
Not always. Reviewers report that the width, length and volume of New Balance models in 2E are not always consistent. One reviewer found an older Furon 2E slightly narrower than the standard version. Likewise, a parent reported that the wide 442 for kids is more a regular wide fit than an extra wide one.
That does not mean you should ignore a wide label. It means you should check the fit, know the return policy of the store and look at the model itself. A 2E label on a narrow model does not turn it into a wide model. Below you will see how each model stands.
Which wide and 2E models are worth a look?
These judgments rest on manufacturer information and independent fit tests.
- New Balance 442 v3: fairly wide, with a roomy heel and a separate tongue in the Elite version, built for wider or flatter feet. With 2E it becomes wider still. The toe box is low and the microfiber does not stretch, so do not count on stretching. It fits true to size: half a size down is unpleasant.
- New Balance Tekela v5: good width in the forefoot and midfoot, roomy around the ankle, but a low, pointed toe box and a snug forefoot. Half a size up is common. A 2E version has been seen in the Team tier.
- New Balance Furon v9: a narrow speed last that is seen as the widest speed cleat, but not for truly wide feet. The reliability of 2E varies.
- Mizuno Monarcida Neo III Select: soft synthetic leather and wide fit according to Mizuno. A budget option, also as a youth cleat.
- Mizuno Monarcida Neo III: kangaroo leather in the forefoot, a U-shaped throat and deep lacing. It fits true to size.
For more on these brands, read our pages on New Balance for wide feet and Mizuno wide soccer cleats.
What if you want extra wide cleats and cannot find a wide version?
Then you choose a model that is built wide, instead of a label. For extra wide feet, these are named most often:
- Puma King 20: wide through the heel, midfoot, forefoot and plate. It runs short, so go half a size up, and with a very wide foot in the Pro tier sometimes a full size.
- Nike Phantom 6: the widest Nike, with extra height and width in the toe box. Your normal size usually works.
- Skechers SKX_2 and Skechers Razor 2: a round, wide toe box with plenty of room in the forefoot.
- Mizuno Morelia II: kangaroo leather on a slightly wider last with a separate tongue.
- adidas Copa Mundial: a classic with a wide last and thick kangaroo leather. It runs long, so go half a size to a full size down, and it feels tight at first.
Buying a bigger size is not a fix. You do gain width, but mostly extra length, and that gives heel slip and less feel for the ball. Choose a wider model, leather or a separate tongue instead.
Can you make soccer cleats wider?
Only leather stretches. Natural leather such as kangaroo and calfskin gives, synthetic leather hardly does and knit springs back. A cleat that is too narrow in the store and made of synthetic material will not get wider after a few games.
For leather cleats there are a few methods. A shoe stretcher right after wearing, while the leather is warm, puts pressure on length and width. A hair dryer on low heat on the tight spot, with thick socks on, also helps, as does a leather stretching spray. A cobbler can stretch a shoe too. Be careful, and if in doubt go to a cobbler, because leather can be damaged. Our guide to stretching soccer cleats walks through it.
You recognize extra wide by complaints in standard-width shoes: pressure on the little toe and the ball of the foot, blisters on the side, a foot that hangs over the edge of the soleplate, calluses beside the little toe and sometimes numbness in the sole from sideways pressure. Measure your foot standing, in soccer socks and at the end of the day, and go by your widest foot. Our guide to measuring foot width shows how.
If you have a high instep on top of that, you also have to look at volume. Read more on our page about soccer cleats for a high instep. Pain that does not go away should be looked at by a podiatrist or your doctor.
A big size and a wide foot often come as a pair, and the choice narrows quickly. Check the exact size and width in the store listing before you order, since a wide version is not always made in every size. If you wear a large size, our page on wide soccer cleats in large sizes lists what to look at. For a recommendation that takes your size, complaint and surface into account, use the cleat advisor.