Looking for a Zero Drop, Wide Toe Box Tennis Shoe

[TropicalFruit]

I'm fairly certain the shoe that I'm looking for doesn't exist. Literally. It doesn't exist anywhere in the world. But, I'm going to keep searching.

Zero Drop - I want a shoe that has less than a 5mm drop from heel to toe, so I can maximally use my calf while I move.
Wide Toe Box - I wear a CorretToes toe spacer when I play. When I don't, my big toes get pressed inwards and hurt more and more after each session until I can't play anymore.
Sole - nearly all zero drop natural shaped cross-trainers immediately slip. The ones I've found that haven't (Altra Solstice XT, and Altra HIIT XT) wear out within a month.
Some outer lateral support - I can play in barefoot mimicing shoes, but then I can't go all out, because there are times in tennis that you must strike with the side of your foot, instead of with your forefoot. Without any support at all, this causes you to roll over your ankle, even if you're essentially barefoot. I couldn't care less about inner lateral support, though. When you wear a toe spacer, your big toe prevents over-pronation.

The best shoe I've found so far is the Altra Solstice XT. I move extremely well in it, but there are two problems. First, it costs me about $110/month because it doesn't last. Second, they've discontinued it...

Every single mainstream tennis shoe has a tapered toe box that won't allow me to spread my toes, as well as a high stack height and super cushioned heel which saps my athleticism. Like I said, I don't think the shoe I'm looking for exists, but might as well ask to see if someone else has been in my position and has found it.

 

[tegg96]

Some options to consider.

Reebok Crossfit Nano. Wide toe area, similar shape as Altra "footshape". 4mm heel toe drop. More durable than Altra Hiit.

New Balance Minimus Prevail. Generous fit. 4mm heel toe drop. Good durability.

Head Sprint Pro 3.0. 4mm heel toe drop. More generous fit than previous models. Is actually a shoe made for tennis. My current favourite. Have used various Altras in past for tennis. Can't get them to work as well as a dedicated tennis shoe and wear Altras for everything else. Wish Altra would make a specific T shoe.

 

[TropicalFruit]

Thanks a lot for the response. I'm a male who wears a US 11 or 11.5 (recently 11.5 since the toe box blows out slower on the Altra's). I think that means I'd need a 12.5 of a woman's shoe, so that might be off the table. Which exact Reebok have you used? Looks like there are a few different Nano's. Is it the Nano X1?

That's so cool to find someone else who has tried Altra's for tennis, thanks so much for taking the time to comment.

 

[zuzu70]

I'm fairly certain the shoe that I'm looking for doesn't exist. Literally. It doesn't exist anywhere in the world. But, I'm going to keep searching.

Zero Drop - I want a shoe that has less than a 5mm drop from heel to toe, so I can maximally use my calf while I move.
Wide Toe Box - I wear a CorretToes toe spacer when I play. When I don't, my big toes get pressed inwards and hurt more and more after each session until I can't play anymore.
Sole - nearly all zero drop natural shaped cross-trainers immediately slip. The ones I've found that haven't (Altra Solstice XT, and Altra HIIT XT) wear out within a month.
Some outer lateral support - I can play in barefoot mimicing shoes, but then I can't go all out, because there are times in tennis that you must strike with the side of your foot, instead of with your forefoot. Without any support at all, this causes you to roll over your ankle, even if you're essentially barefoot. I couldn't care less about inner lateral support, though. When you wear a toe spacer, your big toe prevents over-pronation.

The best shoe I've found so far is the Altra Solstice XT. I move extremely well in it, but there are two problems. First, it costs me about $110/month because it doesn't last. Second, they've discontinued it...

Every single mainstream tennis shoe has a tapered toe box that won't allow me to spread my toes, as well as a high stack height and super cushioned heel which saps my athleticism. Like I said, I don't think the shoe I'm looking for exists, but might as well ask to see if someone else has been in my position and has found it.

Hi TropicalFruit, just wondering if you found anything that worked well for you. I'm looking for the same thing for my son. He needs regular width or else the heel slips, but needs a VERY wide toe box. He sometimes wears a big-toe spacer, but even when he doesn't, toe boxes are never wide enough for him. He also has a shallow, low-volume foot, with flat arch.

 

[TropicalFruit]

Hi TropicalFruit, just wondering if you found anything that worked well for you. I'm looking for the same thing for my son. He needs regular width or else the heel slips, but needs a VERY wide toe box. He sometimes wears a big-toe spacer, but even when he doesn't, toe boxes are never wide enough for him. He also has a shallow, low-volume foot, with flat arch.

I’ve played in the Altra Solstice XT 2 for the last few years. It’s worked pretty darn well. I also wear a toe spacer when I play, and it fit with the shoe also being snug around my heel.