Versatile daily trainer for narrow feet

Asics Novablast 5

The Novablast’s snug fit secures the foot and directs power to the midsole.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Asics Novablast 5 here.

The Asics Novablast is one of the most commercially successful running shoes in recent history.

The original Novablast was one of the first shoes to successfully combine a cushioned and responsive ride with a forward-propelling rocker midsole. The Novablast 5 has most of the features that made the series successful, except that it’s been updated with a softer ride.

The stack is made entirely of the springy Flytefoam Blast Max, making the Novablast 5 comfortable enough for everyday mileage and long runs.

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The rocker profile makes the Flytefoam midsole surprisingly nimble. The rocker midsole tips the foot forward during the gait cycle, so the turnovers come quicker than many comparable trainers.

The narrow fit hasn’t changed for the Novablast through the years. That said, the Novablast 5 has more room than the 4. The thinner mesh breathes better and also frees up space. The first two lacing rows are speed loops now, so the cut-outs relieve top-down pressure.

A snug fit makes the ride tempo-friendly, as it’s better at transferring the power from the foot to the midsole.

That said, the tighter fit of the Novablast 4 made the rocker more effective. The softer foam makes the Novablast 5 less stiff, so the rocker effect is less defined.

Note: The Asics Superblast 2 is more spacious than the Superblast V1, so it’s excluded from this list.

Max-Cushioned trainer with a narrow fit

Hoka Bondi 9

A narrow upper fit comes standard on the updated Bondi 9.

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Runners will find a lot to like about the new Bondi 9. The midsole is softer and bouncier than the Bondi 8 and 7. The step-in softness has improved as well. It’s marginally lighter.

All that said, the upper fit is still narrow. While optional widths exist, the midfoot and forefoot deliver an ultra-snug lockdown. If you’re a narrow-footed runner looking for a true-to-size max-cushioning trainer, you’re in luck.

The Hoka Bondi 9 has a cushioned yet supportive midsole.

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The Bondi 9 uses a regular EVA foam midsole, so you don’t get the cushy softness of the Brooks Ghost Max 2 or Asics Nimbus 27.

What the Bondi 9 delivers is a cushioned and supportive ride that doesn’t feel slow. The stiff forefoot and midsole rocker makes it easier for the foot to roll forward.

Cushioned trainer with a narrow fit

Nike Vomero 18

The full inner sleeve makes the Vomero’s fit relatively narrower.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Nike Vomero 18 here.

Nike models like the Pegasus, Structure, and Vomero use a full inner sleeve instead of a gusset. That makes the upper fit snugger than shoes with a partial sleeve.

A quick inspection of the Vomero 18’s upper reveals a full sleeve. Unlike the Asics Nimbus 27 or New Balance 1080V14, the Vomero’s sleeve extends to the toe.

For all practical purposes, the forefoot is double-layered. On top is the perforated engineered mesh; the sleeve is the base layer. This also means that the upper isn’t as breathable as shoes without a full sleeve.

The tongue and heel are generously padded for interior plushness. The padded tongue is also great at filtering the lacing pressure.

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The snug upper improves the Vomero 18’s versatility by creating a stronger connection between the foot and the midsole. A secure upper is particularly important on the rockered Vomero.

The rocker-shaped midsole uses a soft ZoomX layer with a firmer ReactX base. The resulting ride is cushioned yet peppy – the propulsive rocker and foam blends work together as one. The secure upper accentuates the rocker effect and bouncy character.

Despite its 44 mm and 34 mm stack heights, the Vomero 18 is surprisingly versatile. It’s excellent for long recovery runs, but wastes no time picking up the pace when needed.

Best marathon racer for narrow feet

Nike Zoom Fly 6

The Zoom Fly’s full inner sleeve makes the upper snug enough for narrow feet.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Nike Zoom Fly 6 here.

It’s getting harder to find plated racers with a narrow fit. A typical supershoe prioritizes weight savings, so an inner sleeve is a design luxury. However, the Nike Zoom Fly 6 has more design leeway than a high-end marathon racer.

Despite its full-length carbon plate and speed-friendly road manners, the Zoom Fly 6 lives up to its advertising. Nike claims this shoe is a marathon trainer, and they have the description down pat.

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The midsole architecture and upper design makes the Zoom Fly 6 very user-friendly. The lower midsole uses the supportive SR-02 foam, and the base is wider than, say, the Nike Vaporfly 3. There’s more outsole coverage too.

As a result, the midsole has a high tolerance for slow speeds and heel striking. The upper is also designed like a traditional trainer. The heel collar is generously padded, and the upper is double layered. A thin outer shell covers the full inner sleeve made of spacer mesh.

While the toe-box is roomy, the forefoot and midfoot have a snug fit – just what runners with narrow feet want.

Tempo trainer with a narrow fit

Hoka Mach 6

The Mach 6’s narrow fit works to its advantage during faster-paced runs.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Hoka Mach 6 here.

If you’re a narrow-footed runner searching for a tempo trainer with a tight fit, you’re in luck. The Hoka Mach 6 receives a full makeover, and part of the update includes a narrow upper fit that is also shorter than the Mach 5.

In our review, we said that the Mach 6 has a ‘performance fit.’ The tight fit is great at driving power from the foot to the responsive midsole. It’s also good at keeping the foot locked in during speed runs and sharp turns.

The fit is narrow but the rest of the interior is very comfortable. The mesh is soft, and so are the tongue and heel collar. The ventilation is pretty good too.

What makes the Hoka Mach 6 special is its cushioned and fast ride. Unlike the Mach 5, the new single-density midsole has better cushioning depth and responsiveness. The narrow fit accentuates the midsole’s springy feel.

A deep channel cuts through the center of the rubber outsole to improve the straight-line tracking.

So what’s the best use case for the Hoka Mach 6? It’s an excellent shoe for tempo runs, mile repeats, and interval training. It’s a great 10K (and 5K) racer as well, as the midsole is comfortable and quick enough for that distance.

5K racing flat with a narrow fit

adidas Takumi Sen 10

The Takumi Sen 10 fits like an old-school racer, meaning that it has a narrow forefoot with a pointy toe-box fit.

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1. Read our detailed review of the adidas Takumi 10 here.

Low-profile racing flats with a narrow fit are a dying breed. The Nike Streakfly doesn’t have a narrow fit, nor does the Hoka Cielo Road and adidas Adios 8.

So we were happy to have reviewed the adidas Takumi Sen 10 earlier this year. It’s much more than a racing flat with a narrow fit. It uses a similar construction as the Adios Pro 3, but on a much smaller scale.

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The bouncy Lightstrike Pro foam combines forces with the Energy rods inside the midsole. The low-profile midsole adds comfort during a quick 5K, whereas the stiff tubes add a speed-focused flavor to the ride. The traction from the Continental rubber outsole helps with quick push-offs

A shoe like the Takumi benefits from a tight fit. The upper pins the foot against the midsole for focused push-offs and power transfer. The toe-box is also pointy, somewhat reminiscent of vintage flats like the adidas Adios 2 and New Balance Hanzo.

Trail running shoe with a narrow fit

Salomon Speedcross 6

The Speedcross’s narrow fit secures the foot over bumpy terrain.

Buy from Salomon.com

1. Read our detailed review of the Salomon Speedcross 6 here.

Not only does the Salomon Speedcross 6 have a snug upper, but it’s also an excellent trail running shoe.

The tight and heavily reinforced upper is a result of the Speedcross’s unique upper and midsole construction. On most shoes, the upper stops at the midsole edge. That’s not the case here.

The Speedcross feels protective over gravel trails.

The double-lasted upper wraps over the midsole.

The upper is ‘double lasted’ – a production method in which the upper wraps over the midsole and connects directly to the outsole. This creates a slimmer profile as well as a narrower fit.

The fused layers reinforce the upper for trail use while also making the fit snugger. The bungee cord lacing system (Quicklace) makes it easy to dial in the upper fit. We recommend the waterproof Gore-Tex version for superior versatility.

The EVA frame increases the ride stability by cupping the heel.

Two other features make the Speedcross a versatile trail runner. The firmly cushioned midsole adds comfort and protection during trail runs; the heel is supported by an EVA frame.

The bi-directional rubber lugs on the Contagrip outsole are 5 mm tall and add dependable grip on off-road terrain.

How we selected: What to look for

Let’s define what ‘narrow’ means here.

A ‘D’ sizing (and B in women’s shoes) is also known as the standard width. It is the default fit for all running shoes.

A ‘B’ width is one size narrower than D. It is more common for brands to offer wide (2E) and extra-wide (4E) widths than a narrower B size. The exceptions are brands like New Balance and Brooks that offer B widths.

This buyer’s guide lists shoes in regular D widths with an inherently snug fit. This category includes partially stretchy uppers that can accommodate a variety of foot shapes. Regular mesh uppers with a conforming fit are also included.

We’ve included narrow-fitting shoes for different use cases, be it everyday runs (Asics Novablast, Hoka Bondi), speed runs (Hoka Mach 6, adidas Takumi 10), marathons (adidas Adios Pro) and trail running (Salomon Speedcross).

Here’s a hack if you happen to have small feet – say, a size US 7 or under. It is not a bad idea to get a boy’s model or even women’s running shoes in neutral colors. Buying a boy’s model will get you a narrower fit with 30-50% of price savings over the adult version.

Here are a few examples of boy’s running shoes that also sell in small adult sizes up to a 7Y:

A. The adidas Ultraboost in youth or teen sizes.

B. The Nike Pegasus 41 in kid’s and big kid’s sizes.

C. The New Balance 1080V13 in kids and big kids sizes.