9 wide/8 wide Chaco Z-2 sandals

[KnottedYet]

I didn't even know Chacos came in wides. My mom LOVES hers, but she has a narrow foot. I'm a Keen/Dansko girl, because they tend to fit my duck feet so well. Perhaps I should look around for some wide Chacos. My current Keen sandals are about shot.

The womens wide Chaco is a similar fit to the older womens Keen Newport. It may even be slightly wider at the toes, depending on how you adjust the straps.

The new Keen Newport is far too narrow for me to wear any more. I was very sad to discover they'd changed the last. I got a pair of mens this time, and the clerk at REI said a lot of women had switched to mens since the change in the womens width.

Women's wide Chacos are my favorite shoes/sandals by far. (with Birkenstocks a close runner up) Triathlon, half marathon.... CHACOS!

[zoom-zoom]

The womens wide Chaco is a similar fit to the older womens Keen Newport. It may even be slightly wider at the toes, depending on how you adjust the straps.

The new Keen Newport is far too narrow for me to wear any more. I was very sad to discover they'd changed the last. I got a pair of mens this time, and the clerk at REI said a lot of women had switched to mens since the change in the womens width.

I had always heard that the Newports were a little narrow. The ones I have now are a pair of their Venice H2s. There is a newer style that I like the looks of, but people say they are also narrow, so I may look for another pair of Venice H2s...or wide Chacos. So you have run HMs in yours?! Wow. I would think the straps would rub. Do you wear socks with them, then?

[KnottedYet]

Do you wear socks with them, then?

Yup. Injinji socks, mostly.
http://www.injinji.com/tetratsok/p_mini.htm

I also wear the Injinji socks when it's a bit too chilly to go barefoot in the sandals. Wool (heavy) socks are quite nice for the Z1 sandals when it is cold. And while it is possible to flatten the toe loop on Z2 sandals to let you wear normal socks (essentially turning a pair of Z2 into Z1), I've never tried it.
Don't need to, cuz I've got something like a zillion pairs of Chacos...

[Trek420]

Yep, she's the Imelda Marcos of Chacos One thing I found out is do not wear Injinji socks with normal shoes if your toe is broken and you need more room such as roomy Chacos

[Catrin]

All of you have me looking forward to that package from Knotted with great anticipation! They sound great, and it is good to know the straps are adjustable. I've had foot surgery, and shoe/sandal fit has always been a problem.

[KnottedYet]

I sent them in a Chaco box, which has a map in the lid of how to adjust the straps. DON'T THROW AWAY THE LID!!!!

[Catrin]

I sent them in a Chaco box, which has a map in the lid of how to adjust the straps. DON'T THROW AWAY THE LID!!!!

Got it, thank you!

[emily_in_nc]

The new Keen Newport is far too narrow for me to wear any more. I was very sad to discover they'd changed the last. I got a pair of mens this time, and the clerk at REI said a lot of women had switched to mens since the change in the womens width.

Ooh, thanks so much for this info. Your loss is my gain, as I have always had to pass up Keens (except for the commuter sandals, which run narrower) due to them being too wide. I better go look up these Newports as I just love the look of Keens (and the fit of my Commuters).

[OakLeaf]

I might just have to try on a pair of Chacos on my way back from the airport next week, now that the weather is warm enough for me to think about bare toes ... I have had it with the "high heels" on my Nikes.

And if it turns out I'm a size 9 I will be kicking myself for not taking these. I generally wear much smaller sandals than the 11W I take in closed-toe shoes, since so much of the length of my feet is in the toes...

[KnottedYet]

Ooh, thanks so much for this info. Your loss is my gain, as I have always had to pass up Keens (except for the commuter sandals, which run narrower) due to them being too wide. I better go look up these Newports as I just love the look of Keens (and the fit of my Commuters).

The Newport is what the Commuter is based on, except that the Commuter is narrower. (they look just the same)

Now they've made the women's Newport the same narrow width as the Commuter.

Perfect for you!

[emily_in_nc]

The Newport is what the Commuter is based on, except that the Commuter is narrower. (they look just the same)

Now they've made the women's Newport the same narrow width as the Commuter.

Perfect for you!

Thanks! I just have to be careful b/c I see a lot of Newports on sale (when I google), and those are probably the older, wider ones. The $95 ones REI has now are certainly the narrower ones. Now I just have to wait for those to go on sale! Unfortunately it was my DH's turn to use the 20% off coupon and our REI dividend for the year, and he already has...

Thanks again for the info!

[OakLeaf]

Well I tried some on yesterday and the "good" news is I'm an 8 in Chaco (as compared to my 11W in Nike!), and the toe loop on the Z2 would definitely cause me problems. So no regrets in not scarfing up this pair.

The bad news is the Z1's straps across the top of the foot. They really seem like they would irritate my incipient tailor's bunion, falling as they do directly over the 5th MTP joint. Typically, any overlay in running shoes that touches my foot there, will cause me big problems.

So once again I wasted a good long time for a shoe salesman. (I also unsuccessfully tried on some Merrells and a couple of other things.) But I left open the possibility that I might go for the Z1 if I get some reassurance. Opinions about the tailor's bunion? I'd be interested in hearing about how a big toe bunion does with Chacos as well, since the strap also hits right over that joint...

[KnottedYet]

I wouldn't think it would be a problem.

I often suggest my bunion and bunionette (big toe and pinky toe) patients try Chacos, both pre and post surgery.

The straps are adjustable, so you can give the bunion all the room it needs. Also the toe loop on the Z2 helps to straighten the big toe for folks whose bunions are so bad they've started to deviate. And of course, with no pressure at the phalanges at all, they are great for letting all the toes return to proper position.

Remember the straps will be a bit slippery at first, so the adjustments won't stay well. Often the forefoot loops end up getting tighter the farther someone walks. Standing in water (beach, stream, whatever) and "flossing" some sand into the strap channels takes care of that. The whole Armor-All thing to make the straps MORE slippery is a bust, in my opinion.

ETA: there are familial bunions, and there are mechanical bunions. Mechanical ones tend to be caused by pressure at the toes themselves. Pressure at the ball of the foot tends to cause neuromas, not bunions. But once you have a bunion pressure there irritates it more. Upshot is: Nobody should EVER wear shoes that cause misery ANYWHERE in the foot, because whether you have a familial tendency toward bunions or not, shoes that cause misery to your feet will damage them. Feet are precious. Give them room!

ETAA: Trek420 has a honkin' bunion from breaking her toe. It always feels better (and the first ray has more mobility) after wearing her Z2 sandals a while.

ETAAA: I'm surprised you wore 8 in Chacos, not 8 Wide!

[OakLeaf]

ETAAA: I'm surprised you wore 8 in Chacos, not 8 Wide!

Hmmmmm. I didn't know that was an option and the sales guy didn't mention it - maybe they don't stock the wides at that store. That may well be why the straps felt like they pressured the bunionette. I may check the website/give him another call and see. It's a bit of a drive for me, but I'll go a long way for footwear that actually fits.

I should still get some moccasins made...