Comfortable 4E shoe?

I have been using New Balance 4E shoes for years, but now find the latest addition of the 1006 shoe does not have enough space in the toe box. In fact it has less room than the old 1005 2E did. Does anyone know if the Nike Zoom Vapor X wide shoe is a better fit? Also, does anyone know if NB is going to come out with a redesign of their shoe?
 

Crazy Finn

Hall of Fame
You might want to try a different New Balance shoe. They make several models that aren't the 1006 (FF Lav, 996).

I don't know of many or really any other makers that make tennis shoes in a 4E. I like wider shoes myself and use Babolat SFX, K-Swiss Hypercourts, but they aren't 4E, somewhere in the D+ to 2E range, I'd guess.

I haven't worn Nikes since the old Agassi shoe around 1990 (which were comfy but heavy and built like tanks). All of the modern ones are terrible for me, but others seem to like them.
 

Sardines

Hall of Fame
If it's the front shoe shape that's too tapered, how about going 0.5 size up? The Vapor X is less tapered in the front. What I usually do to get an idea of toe shape fit is to compare the top view of the shoe. Usually they use the same size and position so it's easier. My tennis buddy has a less tapered toe shape, where the difference between the big toe and little toe is less than 0.5"! He usually sizes up 0.5 and chooses 2E/4E. Sizing up allows him to wear generous D shoes like the Adidas Sole Court Boost.
 
If it's the front shoe shape that's too tapered, how about going 0.5 size up? The Vapor X is less tapered in the front. What I usually do to get an idea of toe shape fit is to compare the top view of the shoe. Usually they use the same size and position so it's easier. My tennis buddy has a less tapered toe shape, where the difference between the big toe and little toe is less than 0.5"! He usually sizes up 0.5 and chooses 2E/4E. Sizing up allows him to wear generous D shoes like the Adidas Sole Court Boost.
Thanks for the reply. I actually do go up a .05 size already, but never thought about the tapering. The problem I have is that my right foot is a D width, but the left foot is now a 4E. This happened due to my losing what is called the spring ligament in the left foot about 15 years ago, and that is the ligament that keeps the foot from flattening.
 
You might want to try a different New Balance shoe. They make several models that aren't the 1006 (FF Lav, 996).

I don't know of many or really any other makers that make tennis shoes in a 4E. I like wider shoes myself and use Babolat SFX, K-Swiss Hypercourts, but they aren't 4E, somewhere in the D+ to 2E range, I'd guess.

I haven't worn Nikes since the old Agassi shoe around 1990 (which were comfy but heavy and built like tanks). All of the modern ones are terrible for me, but others seem to like them.
Thanks for your reply. Have you or anyone else tried both the 996 and 1006 NB shoe that they can give me a comparison on? Also how does the Nike wide Vapor X compare with both. Thanks for any input anyone can provide.
 

markbauer

New User
Thanks for your reply. Have you or anyone else tried both the 996 and 1006 NB shoe that they can give me a comparison on? Also how does the Nike wide Vapor X compare with both. Thanks for any input anyone can provide.

The 1006 is just as bad, with the same problem. I have just had to spend two weeks wearing sandals to allow my toes space to heal. Just as described, the little toe area tapers too quickly, causing the little toe to jam against the fourth toe.

It is so frustrating that a shoe company can know the shape that works for us duck footed players for decades, then come out with new models with a box shape that injures customers.

My new solution (I hope) is to get the all leather 806 and use a spreader to make the space for my little toe.

Sucks that this is what it takes.
 

GokuQ

Rookie
try the babolat sfx3, my son is a 4E too
the sfx 3s are working out well for him, on his 2nd pair
they are surprisingly wide(forefoot and toe), he wears orthotics too
 

Isca

Rookie
try the babolat sfx3, my son is a 4E too
the sfx 3s are working out well for him, on his 2nd pair
they are surprisingly wide(forefoot and toe), he wears orthotics too

Thanks, I will give them a try.

Just an FYI, I also have wide duckfeet and sadly for me the SFX3 are unwearably narrow. They're too narrow even at the widest part, not just the toebox, so sizing up wouldn't help for me. The search continues...
 

BenC

Hall of Fame
I wear the 1006 2E and found the 806 2E much wider in the toe box ... maybe the 806 4E is worth a shot. It's also much heavier than any other tennis shoe I've worn though.
 
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