Wyde Shoes: Fit, Features, and Who They're For

What makes Wyde shoes different?

Every Wyde Footwear shoe has a wide, foot-shaped toe box, zero drop and no toe spring. Wyde shoes are the bridge between conventional shoes and barefoot shoes, with more cushioning than ultra-minimalist barefoot shoes and comfort for everyday wear on concrete and pavement.

What does every Wyde shoe have in common?

A wide, foot-shaped toe box as standard, so the toes have room to spread.
Zero drop: the heel and the toes sit at the same height, like standing barefoot.
No toe spring: the front of the sole does not curve upward.
A flexible sole that bends where your foot bends, especially at the toes.
Removable insoles, so you can use your own orthotics.
Unisex sizing in full EU sizes from 36 to 47.

Wyde Footwear AB is a Swedish company. It was co-founded by the brothers Melker and Rasmus Svärd. Wyde ships from its warehouse in Habo, outside Jönköping. The shoes are developed with foot function specialists.

Most of the range is made in Portugal. The exception is the Soma, which is made in China. The sections below cover who the shoes suit, what they are made of, how the sizing works and how they compare with other footwear.

Who should consider Wyde shoes?

Wyde shoes suit people who want room for the toes to spread and a flat, zero-drop sole for everyday wear on concrete and pavement. The shoes come in one unisex size range, so the same models and sizes are open to everyone.

Who are Wyde shoes made for?

People who want a wide toe box in a shoe for everyday city wear.
People who are used to flat-soled shoes. Zero drop usually feels familiar if you wear flat shoes already.
People who want more cushioning than an ultra-minimalist barefoot shoe has.
People who use their own orthotics, because every model has removable insoles.
People who want one size range for all genders, because every model is unisex.

Most people can wear functional footwear, but the switch is a transition. If you have worn narrow, stiff shoes for years, your feet need time to adjust, so ease in gradually. Wyde shoes follow the natural shape of your foot and may feel more spacious at first.

Wyde shoes have no traditional built-in arch support. If you need arch support, the insoles are removable, so you can use your own orthotics. Wyde's support staff are trained foot specialists and/or physiotherapists, and you can reach them at support@wydefootwear.com.

Another shoe may suit you better in some cases. If you want the thinnest possible sole and the most ground feel, a thin-soled barefoot shoe is built for that. If you run on trails or hike, choose a shoe made for rough ground, because Wyde positions its shoes for everyday wear on concrete and pavement. If you want arch support built into the shoe, look for one that has it.

A shoe is not a treatment. If you have foot pain or a diagnosed foot condition, ask a GP, physiotherapist or podiatrist which footwear suits you.

What materials are used in Wyde shoes?

Wyde uses leather, suede, textile, cork, EVA foam and rubber, depending on the model. The product pages list the materials part by part: the upper, the lining, the midsole or insole and the outsole.

What is each Wyde model made of?

Nova: a leather upper that varies by colour, a Coolmax lining and a rubber outsole. The Nova Patent Black has a patent leather upper and a leather lining.
Maia and Maia Strap: a waxed leather upper, a suede lining, a cork midsole, a rubber outsole and metal buckles with an engraved logo.
Nilo: a suede upper and lining, a 10 mm cork midsole and a 4.6 mm rubber outsole.
Chelsea and Norra: a leather upper, a piquet knit textile lining, a cork insole, a rubber outsole and an Acquastop membrane.
Soma: an upper of air mesh with suede, or air mesh with PU on the Soma Silver, an EVA midsole, a velvet lining and a rubber outsole. The Soma Earth Black has a conductive rubber outsole.

The Soma has lightweight foam, a wide toe box, zero drop and a sole that moves with you. It weighs 300 g in size 39.

Leather ratings are covered in the section on leather options below. In short, the LWG rating on Wyde’s product pages describes the tannery that made the leather, not the finished shoe.

What are the key features of Wyde shoes?

The key features are a wide toe box, zero drop, no toe spring, a flexible sole, removable insoles and cushioning for everyday wear. Each is built into every model.

1 A wide toe box

Every Wyde model has a wide, foot-shaped toe box that lets your toes spread out. Because of that, you choose your size by foot length only.

2 Zero drop

Zero drop means the heel and the toes sit at the same height, like standing barefoot. An elevated heel, by contrast, pushes your weight forward.

3 No toe spring and a flexible sole

Toe spring is the upward curve at the front of a sole. Wyde shoes have none, and the sole bends where your foot bends, especially at the toes.

4 Cushioning for everyday wear

Wyde lists the stack height, which is the thickness of the sole under your foot. The Nova is 10 mm plus the insole, the Maia, Maia Strap and Nilo are 14.6 mm, the Soma is 22 mm and the Norra and Chelsea are 24 mm. Wyde shoes have more cushioning than ultra-minimalist barefoot shoes.

5 Removable insoles

All models have removable insoles. Wyde also sells a 2 mm Replacement Insole and a 6 mm Comfort Insole in EU sizes 36 to 47, so you can choose how much cushioning you want underfoot.

Maia and Maia Strap sandals are sized differently from the other models. If you wear a Wyde sneaker, Wyde recommends sizing down one size for the Maia.

How does the sizing work for Wyde shoes?

Wyde sells unisex full EU sizes from 36 to 47 and has no half sizes. Choose your size by foot length, size up if you are between two sizes, and do not size up for width.

How do you measure your foot for Wyde shoes?

1 Stand up and measure both feet

Stand upright with your full weight on the foot you are measuring, and measure both feet.

2 Measure from heel to longest toe

Measure from the back of your heel to the tip of your longest toe, in a straight line.

3 Compare with the size chart

Compare your foot length in centimetres with the chart. EU 36 covers 21.9 to 22.6 cm, EU 42 covers 25.9 to 26.6 cm and EU 47 covers 29.2 to 29.8 cm. If one foot is longer, choose the size that fits the larger foot.

4 Apply the size-up rule

If you are between two sizes, size up. For the Maia and Maia Strap, size down one size from your Wyde sneaker size.

Wyde also lists the insole width for each size, from 10.0 cm in EU 36 to 11.2 cm in EU 42 and 12.2 cm in EU 47. On the product pages EU 40 is listed as UK 6.5 and US M 7 / W 8.5, and EU 44 as UK 9 and US M 10 / W 11.5. Wyde also offers a digital sizing tool, which you open from the size guide.

Wyde gives you 30 days from delivery to register a return. Try the shoes indoors on a clean floor, because they must come back unused and in the original box. Size exchanges are free in Sweden, the EU and the USA.

Where are Wyde shoes made?

Wyde shoes come from two specialist partners: three family-run factories in Portugal for the leather models, and a long-standing partner in China for the Soma line. The partner in China was chosen for its expertise in suede and textile construction.

Which Wyde model is made where?

Portugal, handmade: Nova, Maia, Maia Strap, Nilo, Chelsea and Norra.
China: Soma.

Wyde says the Soma factory is ISO 9001:2015 certified for quality management and BSCI audited (amfori), with the audit conducted by QIMA. Wyde says this confirms fair wages, safe working conditions, no child or forced labour and environmental protection practices.

Wyde's Portugal-made leather shoes are free from PFCs, AZO dyes and heavy metals and comply with EU REACH and CADS requirements.

What are Wyde’s leather options and ratings?

Wyde names the LWG rating next to the leather on its product pages, and the rating depends on the model and the colour. LWG stands for Leather Working Group, an organisation that audits tanneries on their environmental performance.

Which LWG rating does each model list?

Nova Dual Black: LWG Gold Certified nubuck leather and LWG Gold Certified grain leather.
Nova Brown Suede: LWG Gold Certified Italian suede leather.
Nova White: LWG Silver Certified aniline leather.
Nova White/Gum, Beige/Blue, Beige/Peach and Beige/Green: LWG Gold Certified nubuck leather and LWG Approved Aviator leather.
Nova Fly colours: LWG Gold Certified nubuck leather and DRONEE textile.
Maia and Maia Strap: waxed leather and suede, both LWG Gold Certified from Portugal.
Nilo: suede upper and lining, both LWG Gold Certified from Portugal.
Chelsea and Norra: LWG Gold Certified leather from Portugal.

Gold is the highest LWG medal. A tannery earns Gold by reaching at least 85 percent in every scored section of the audit, and Silver by reaching at least 75 percent. LWG says its certification applies to the facility where the leather was made, not to individual products. A rating therefore describes the tannery, not the shoe.

The Soma is made from air mesh with suede or PU depending on the colour, and the Nova Patent Black is made from patent leather.

How do Wyde shoes compare to other footwear options?

Compared with conventional shoes, Wyde shoes have a foot-shaped front, no raised heel and no toe spring. Compared with ultra-minimalist barefoot shoes, they have more cushioning, so they sit between the two.

What should you compare across brands?

Toe box width: Wyde publishes the insole width for every size. Check whether another brand does the same.
Heel height: Wyde states zero drop on every model. Check the stated drop of any shoe you compare.
Sole thickness: Wyde lists a stack height for each model. A thinner sole gives more ground feel and a thicker one gives more cushioning.
Materials and origin: compare the upper, the lining and the country of production.
Return window: Wyde gives 30 days from delivery.
Price per pair, including any return fees.

Wyde positions its shoes for everyday wear on concrete and pavement. If your priority is a barefoot feel, trail running or built-in arch support, another type of shoe may be the better choice.

How much do Wyde shoes cost?

Wyde shoes cost from 1,425 kr or €130 for the Maia sandal to 2,975 kr or €289 for the Norra boot, as of October 2026. Prices on wydefootwear.com are in Swedish kronor, and the EU store at wydefootwear.eu shows euros.

What does each model cost?

Maia and Maia Strap: 1,425 kr or €130.
Nilo: 1,675 kr or €155.
Soma: 1,875 kr or €179. The Soma Earth Black is 1,975 kr or €189.
Nova: 2,375 kr or €215. The Nova Patent Black is 2,500 kr or €225.
Chelsea: 2,775 kr or €269.
Norra: 2,975 kr or €289.

Prices can change, so check the product page before you order.

Are Wyde shoes suitable for running?

Everyday wear on concrete and pavement is what Wyde recommends its shoes for. For running or trails, choose a shoe designed for them.

What does zero drop mean?

Zero drop means the heel and the toes sit at the same height, like standing barefoot. There is no elevated heel pushing your weight forward.

Do I need to size up for Wyde shoes?

If you are between two sizes, size up, because Wyde sells full EU sizes only. Do not size up for width, since the wide toe box is standard. For the Maia and Maia Strap, size down one size from your Wyde sneaker size.

What is the difference between LWG Gold and Silver?

Both are medal ratings for the tannery that made the leather. Gold requires at least 85 percent in every scored section of the audit and Silver requires at least 75 percent.

Are Wyde shoes suitable for people with foot conditions?

No Wyde shoe is designed to treat or prevent foot conditions. If you have pain or a diagnosis, ask a GP, physiotherapist or podiatrist which footwear suits you.

Can I use my own insoles in Wyde shoes?

Yes. All models have removable insoles, so you can replace them with your own orthotics. Wyde says its shoes have no traditional built-in arch support.

Where can I buy Wyde shoes?

On wydefootwear.com, with prices in kr, and on the EU store at wydefootwear.eu, with prices in euros.

Find your shoes: see the range at https://wydefootwear.com

What are the sources?

Which sources support these claims?

Wyde Footwear, FAQ: https://wydefootwear.com/pages/faq
Wyde Footwear, size guide: https://wydefootwear.com/pages/size-guide
Wyde Footwear, about us: https://wydefootwear.com/pages/about-us
Wyde Footwear, shipping policy: https://wydefootwear.com/pages/shipping-policy
Wyde Footwear, refund policy: https://wydefootwear.com/policies/refund-policy
Wyde Footwear, Why Wyde Footwear: https://wydefootwear.com/pages/functional
Wyde Footwear, Nova Dual Black: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nova-dual-black
Wyde Footwear, Nova White: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nova-white
Wyde Footwear, Nova Brown Suede: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nova-brown-suede
Wyde Footwear, Nova White/Gum: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nova-white-gum
Wyde Footwear, Nova Fly White/Gray: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nova-fly-white-gray
Wyde Footwear, Nova Patent Black: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nova-patent-black
Wyde Footwear, Maia Black: https://wydefootwear.com/products/maia-black
Wyde Footwear, Maia Strap Black: https://wydefootwear.com/products/maia-strap-black
Wyde Footwear, Nilo Dark Brown: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nilo-dark-brown
Wyde Footwear, Norra Espresso: https://wydefootwear.com/products/norra-espresso
Wyde Footwear, Chelsea Black: https://wydefootwear.com/products/chelsea-black
Wyde Footwear, Soma White: https://wydefootwear.com/products/soma-white
Wyde Footwear, Soma Silver: https://wydefootwear.com/products/soma-silver
Wyde Footwear, Replacement Insole and Comfort Insole: https://wydefootwear.com/products/replacement-insole
Wyde Footwear EU store: https://wydefootwear.eu/products.json
Leather Working Group, claims guidance: https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/what-we-do/claims-guidance/
Leather Working Group, certification and FAQ: https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/certification/
LWG Assurance Services, medal ratings: https://lwgassurance.com/certification