One of our customers asked this question: I am in need for a wide size 11 composite safety shoe. I bought a pair from a local store but they hurt my toes and feet so bad I can’t stand to wear them. Is it possible to find a comfortable safety shoe or must I live with painful hurting feet.
Unfortunately, you probably got your shoes too short. Try a longer shoe.
When you try on new safety shoes, you should feel NO PRESSURE on the sides of your toes. (Where your toes are probably rubbing the side of the safety toe.) If you go to a shoe store, have them measure your foot and ask them to give you the “Arch Measurement” or “Ball Measurement” (same). This is the critical measurement to wear safety shoes comfortably and you should try to wear the closest shoe size to this measurement you can.
If you tried a 10W and it bothers your toes, please try the 10.5M. Go up a half size, and narrow the width if you can. This may seem wrong, but believe me it works. The longer shoe will get the safety toe further away from your toes and allow the foot to “flex” forward in the shoe without touching the safety toe. Comfort in safety shoes is achieved by wearing a long enough shoe to give your toes room to move forward in the shoe when walking. This movement of your foot back and forth in the shoe during walking is natural; but when the shoe is too short, the safety toe encroaches in the flex area of the foot and toes. Thus the rubbing you experienced.
Try the longer shoe and you will have more comfort.
You may need to try a different style or brand, or a style with a larger safety toe.
Hope this helps.