What are the Best Rugby Boots for Wide Feet?
This guide offers information on the best wide fit rugby boots across both major and minor brands, including Adidas, Mizuno, Canterbury, and Oxen. Whether you're a men's, women's, or junior player, it will help you find the perfect wide-fitting boots for your needs.
With an average height of 6ft 1in (186cm) and an average weight of around 16st (102kg) in top leagues like the Premiership and Top 14, rugby is a sport filled with giant athletes. And those giant bodies often come with extra-wide feet that can cause issues when it comes to buying boots. Sound familiar? Well, we’ve got you covered. Find the best wide fit rugby boots for you as we run through a range of options in this handy buyer’s guide.
Canterbury Stampede Rugby Boots
Designed for the biggest, heaviest players on the pitch, the Canterbury Stampede range is made for the forward pack, from stocky props to towering locks. A sturdy, reinforced upper protects your feet in the chaos of rucks and mauls, and the high-traction soleplate gives you all the grip you need in scrums.
Available in Elite, Pro and Team versions, Canterbury Stampede boots are a good option whether you’re working under a limited budget or want to spare no expense to get the same boots worn by elite players at the highest levels of the game. Most importantly, the boots are manufactured on an extra-wide last to give plenty of room for wider feet. As a rugby-first brand, Canterbury know how to make wide fit boots better than most.
Mizuno Waitangi Rugby Boots
Another famed rugby brand, Mizuno are best known for their premium leather uppers, which provide an unparallelled flexibility and adapt perfectly to your feet. Their offering for the forward pack is the Mizuno Waitangi, which combines a supple upper with a wide fit to create a luxuriously comfortable on-foot feel throughout the 80 minutes.
The robust construction is specifically designed to withstand the rigours of one of the most high-impact sports around, and the high-traction soleplate helps you to get purchase on the turf and stay on your feet through big hits and in the middle of mauls.
adidas Kakari Rugby Boots
Favoured by some of the most skilled forwards in the world, the adidas Kakari boots are worn by giant props like Tadhg Furlong and Kyle Sinckler as they dominate the scrum and physically overpower opponents. A synthetic upper is lightweight without compromising on protection – which is vital for any forward braving rucks when limbs and bodies are flying – and a stiffer split outsole enhances both stability and manoeuvrability.
As with most rugby boots made for forwards, the Kakari features a wide fit designed for the biggest players on the pitch.
Oxen Rugby Boots
All Oxen boots are shaped around an extra-wide last, so the Oxen Raptor, Oxen Viper, and Oxen Metasock all cater to wider feet. If you’re after a classic leather upper, the Raptor or Viper is your best choice, while the Metasock features a unique, sock-like knit upper that provides an ultra-light barefoot feel.
Alternative Wider Fitting Rugby Boots
While not specifically designed as “wide fit” boots, there are a number of football and rugby boots that run on the wider side and might also be worth considering. The PUMA Future 7 offers a slightly wider fit and plenty of room at the heel, most New Balance boots run on the wider side, and many are available in extra-wide sizes, and anyone who wants to play with a Nike Swoosh on their feet should consider either the Nike Phantom or Nike Tiempo, which both offer a more forgiving, adaptive fit for wider feet.
If none of these boots catch your fancy, there are a couple of general tips that can help you get a vague idea of how accommodating a boot will be to wider feet. High-quality leather uppers are great at stretching and forming around the shape of your feet (providing you get the right size), which can make them the most comfortable option for more awkward foot shapes once broken in. And speed boots tend to run on the narrower side, so might not be a good bet unless you already know you like the fit.
Research and buy your wide fit rugby boots at Pro:Direct Rugby