The Best Wide Sandals for Small Feet
Living in a sunny coastal state, I love to wear sandals and flip-flops year round, sometimes even when it’s raining. Growing up I had Birkenstocks that were very comfortable and perfect for lounging around, but as I grew up, my feet grew wider and wider while not getting much longer. Such is the life for many LPs both young and old — short, wide feet! It seems like once you get into kids sizes 3–6 where a lot of us end up, your choices get smaller the wider your feet are. Sandals and flip-flops are especially difficult due to the rigid materials used for the sides and the toe separator, since they don’t stretch!
Flip-Flops for Short, Wide Feet
After many years of searching, the Crocs Crocband flip-flop has turned out to be our current go-to. The Athens (which we originally recommended here) has since been discontinued, but the Crocband carries on the same Croslite magic — super soft, great arch support, and enough give to accommodate wide feet without the painful break-in period you get with rigid sandals.
Crocs Crocband Flip Flop
Dad wears a size 5 kids shoe and finds the M4/W6 fits perfectly — maybe a little long, but not horrible, and the width is great with no stretching needed. Many Crocs adult sandals are unisex and come in Men’s Size 4 with a “Roomy Fit.” The Croslite material has some give so will accommodate wide feet without the painful break-in of rigid sandals. Both the LP child and average-height child wear Crocs and love them.
OOFOS OOriginal Recovery Sandal ⭐ New Favorite
My new personal favorite. OOFOS are wide and stretchy to accommodate wide feet, and the OOfoam technology provides exceptional cushioning — far more than a typical flip-flop. They were originally designed for post-workout recovery, which means they’re built to absorb impact and reduce strain on joints. For LP adults dealing with hip or knee pain, this is a meaningful difference. Highly recommended.
Wide Flip-Flops for Kids
The kids’ version — available in blue and pink in sizes Toddler 6 through 13. Same Croslite material as the adult version, same wide-foot-friendly construction. Both our LP child and average-height child wear these and they work great for both wide and regular width feet.
Disadvantage of Crocs Flip-Flops
More Options Worth Considering
Sanuk Women’s Yoga Mat Flip Flop
Dwarf Mom’s choice for medium-width feet. The Sanuks have wide straps that don’t gash into your feet and come in a variety of colors. The yoga-mat footbed gives comfort and flexibility for the beach, pool, or running errands around town.
Clarks Women’s Breeze Sea Flip Flop
Dwarf Mom’s sandal of choice for a more “stepped up” look. Not ideal for the pool since they’re not waterproof, but a great option when you want something a little more polished than a standard flip-flop.
What About Birkenstock for Small Feet?
Both Mom and Dad had Birkenstocks as children and loved them. Unfortunately, popular models like the Arizona either don’t come in adult LP sizes, or don’t come in Wide. If you come across a wide small Birkenstock or an alternative brand you like, please let us know in the comments!
We love buying shoes at the Amazon Shoe Store — free returns, amazing selection, and great prices. They occasionally run special sales such as 20% off. Also check out Zappos for a wide variety of options.
Have you found a great sandal or flip-flop that works for short, wide LP feet? Drop your recommendation in the comments — this is exactly the kind of community knowledge that helps every LP family.
My granddaughter is 13 but is a little person. She still wears size 13 children’s shoes. Is there anywhere to get more age appropriate shoes that small?
LPA has great resources on their adaptive products page