[Closed] Wider Bars - How Much Of a Difference?

Sorry if this has been done before.

I have some 685mm Easton Monkyebars which perform very well. Lately, I have seen a trend for wider bars and I am wondering how much difference I'll see if I swap to a 711mm Haven bar. Maybe a carbon one even.

- Will 26mm really make that much of a difference or will I have to go wider?
- Will I notice a difference in feel/stiffness with carbon?
- Or is this like one of those Swedish made Austin Powers gadgets?