Inov8 - Trailfly 250

I am in the same boat with wide flat feet and about 200lbs. I have found the best success with the Altra Lone Peak (although I know you said you didn't want zero drop). The other shoe that has worked for me is the Inov8 Trailfly in wide. They also just released the Trailfly Max if you want a bit more cushion. Both are 6mm drop.

I have not run in the 9s yet as I still have a pair of the 7s that have some miles left in them. I did try on the 9s at an REI and the 9 in a wide felt substantially wider than the 7 in a wide that I have.

The new Inov8 shoes all have anatomical toe boxes ( at least as wide as Topo), and their Trailfly (4mm lug), Traltalon (6mm), and Mudtalon (8mm) are all getting zero-drop versions released in the next couple of months. They will have a 12mm stack height though.

Inov8 Trail Fly do a wide fit for what is already a wide fit shoe. They are the only thing I have found that is wide enough comparabley to an Altra.

I have hobbit feet with a bone condition in one foot. I wear Altra. Innov8 trail fly in a wide are comparable as are Topo's all be it they do have a high arch. The other brands have some wide offerings but having tried most of them the above are definitely the widest in my opinion.

I don't know about Nordas myself, but about Inov-8. They quite recently brought back a zero-drop model, and they have wides available. I also get heel slippage with Altra 9+ wides, Trailfly zero has nice and snug heel. Trailfly Zero is basically same width in the toebox area, but shaped differently. Altras rub my big toe, Inov-8 squishes my little toe. For the same shoe size Altra is a bit longer and more voluminous, it could be half-a-size difference.

I have been told by my podiatrist that my feet are hypermobile and I run and hike (lots) in zero drop trail runners only (inov-8 and Altra). Never had boots for any of my adult-life serious long distance hiking. I agree that your PT should give you specific strengthening exercises for your particular issues but I see no advantage wearing boots … just heavy and hot and very slow drying. Every blue moon I roll an ankle but that’s because of tough terrain, not boots, and I’ve never injured my ankles in the process.

Topo’s. Altra grip sucks whereas Topo use Vibram so you don’t fall over as soon as it rains. The new Inov-8 fits in wide are pretty good too - less toe room but good width through the midfoot. Topo are pretty standard fit in the midfoot (I’ve not tried a wide fit of theirs) so depends where your foot is wide.

I've put 200km on my Inov8 TrailFly and they barely show any sign of wear. They're an awesome shoe: ample toebox, low stack, low drop, solid grip.

I run moderately technical trails in the Inov-8 TrailFly (wide) and I love them. Good traction, decent rock protection etc. They've done a lot of miles and are still going strong. I'm considering the RoadFly to replace my Kinvaras now that Saucony discontinued the wide fit.

Inov-8 TrailFly are my current wide-fitting trail shoe.

Asics trabucos might be worth a look. Inov8 aren't that wide apart from the toe box. I tried their wide fit and found trabucos to be wider around the arch of your foot. I have flat-ish arches so find it very uncomfortable if my foot ends up collapsing over the end of the shoe. Tried lots of Hoka, couldn't find a comfortable fit in any. Only downside to trabucos is the mid sole isn't very energetic and they are very "ploddy" to run in. If you want to be fast then look elsewhere. Be aware they moved the toe bumper internally on the 13s and they can rub so all of the above is based on the 12s.

i have wide feet and i run in inov8 wide fit (i think the model is called trailfly?). not sure if they’re good for flat feet, but in my daily life i wear a pair of custom insoles that maybe could fit in trail shoes too? i personally don’t wear those when I run though

I ran Lofoten for a few months in autumn/winter and i'm from the UK and Inov8 are probably the best call here for ground conditions, both very similar.

If you want grip on rock I cannot recommend the Decathlon TR2 and MT3 enough. Uppers will last you 1400km-2000km, i've had 6 pairs so i know. Inov8 do some great trainers but i've had 2 pairs both fall apart in less than 400km on the same trails i run with the Decathlons and i've worked with some athletes on FKT and races and their trainers fell apart quicker than we would have liked too.