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Thursday, January 21. 2021

Feet of different sizes


Unless you want to spend the money on custom shoes (London and Italy seem to be the places to go for that), if your feet have different sizes, as mine do, it can be a problem for dressier shoes.


Being lazy with dressing, I tend to prefer loafers to tie shoes although tie shoes are a better look. With many people getting back to regular work now, it is an issue. 


For ordinary casual or outdoor shoes and boots, no issue. You manage that with socks. 


Do any of our readers have this issue? I'd actually imagine that it's more of a problem for women than for men, but I don't know. 

Posted by The Barrister in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 16:18 | Comments (24) | Trackbacks (0)

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Mine aren't different sizes, but are out of the normal range -- size 15.

The only place I've found that makes anything bigger than a 13 is Red Wing. Fortunately, their boots last me 10 years. They are rock solid. And they make a variety of work and office shoes including steel toed boots.
#1 jdgalt on 2021-01-21 16:35 (Reply)
My feet are not just wide, but WIDE ! When I was a kid my mother would threaten to make me wear the shoe boxes rather than the shoes in them lol.. No, Seriousl !! When I got older and was in high school, everyone was into Nike shoes, but alas I could not wear them. It seems all these pro athletes who Nike was making shoes for, had Ski's for feet because they were onl made in "Standard" width. I ended up with a pair of nice fat Puma's which didn't last because the leather upper came off the sole so fast they had to exchange them. Once the second pair fell apart I switched to Adidas instead and got a pair of Rod Laver tennis shoes that were a funny color, but were Nuke Proof and lasted over a year until one got a rip on the side from getting caught on metal in the shop, so I got another pair just the same and wore those almost a year and a half until one of them got a rip on the side also. Then I noticed I still had my old pair in the closet and that it was ripped on the opposite shoe, .... so I matched one old and one newer and wore That pair another Year and a half !! Those shoes lasted so good that after more than 4 years of daily wear I wanted to get a new pair only to find they had been DISCONTINUED !! Likely due to a "Planned Obsolescence" issue that was not achieved !! Grrr. But aside from having feet uncommonly wide at EEEE, I was able to find places that had them or brands that made them, BUT, one foot is also wider than the other and one foot is slightly longer than the other. The worst part is that my shoes generally last me a long time and when I go shopping for shoes I habitually try on just one shoe because it is quick and convenient, Only to discover when I get home, that I test fitted the smaller foot and the other shoe is too damned tight Grrr. Once m shoes get broken in, it is not a problem and goes unnoticed, so I always forget which foot is the small one lol.
I have had Red Wings steel toe work boots with instep protectors which I resoled a couple times, and I would have to hunt for street shoes and it sucked alwas needing to spend more to find a fit. I alwas ended up at Footlocker, Tom Mcanns, Keds, then later Payless came around and they often stocked fat shoes for $30 or less, but I hated having to go to a MALL to get them. I was never so happy to see Wide Width EEEE shoes on the shelf at Walmart !! They are Chinese and shit quality, but for $15-$20 I only bought 2-3 pairs per year when I was working and now that I am retired I sit around barefoot mostly, so 1 pair lasts me quite some time because I only leave the house when need be.
#1.1 Guido on 2021-01-25 08:46 (Reply)
Yep one foot is 1/2 size larger than the other and the larger one is also wider.
#2 Floy on 2021-01-21 16:46 (Reply)
The same for me, and I can't stand to have my feet confined to shoes for more than an hour or two at a time. So I usually wear slip-ons, unless for dressiest occasions I have two pairs of Allen Edmonds shoes a half size apart. One from each pair fits perfectly, their mates sit forlornly in a closet somewhere.

In Covidland where I don't leave the house I am sockless in Birkenstocks. All the support I need for hard floors, and no issues with the fit, just different strap settings for each foot. And my feet can breathe, so I am not irritable and feeling like I need to slap somebody.
#2.1 Ed on 2021-01-21 20:03 (Reply)
Twenty years ago I busted up my left foot. The orthopod put it back together with wires and screws, but now it's slightly bigger then the other one. I don't wear dress shoes, so that's not a problem. +1 for the Red Wings. They're made in China, sadly...
#3 snopercod on 2021-01-21 17:23 (Reply)
That's a big NEGATORY from me.
#4 Sam L. on 2021-01-21 17:47 (Reply)
I used to have a lot of problems with shoe fit. I would sometimes just throw shoes away after buying them. But with age and developing peripheral neuropathy no longer have problems. Maybe some blisters or worn spots but I can't really feel them so no worries.
#5 Anon on 2021-01-21 18:29 (Reply)
Regarding loafers vs tie shoes, there are many higher-end slip-on shoes available and people, like me, that are constantly going through airport security wear slip-on shoes with suits all the time.
#6 Dmw on 2021-01-21 20:20 (Reply)
1. Have you consulted a podiatric surgeon?

2. I've known many men who wear custom boots but not always cowboy boots. Any fine bootmaker will make you a beautiful pair of ankle-length dress boots on a walking heel. Pick your toe and your leather. No way to know what state you are in, but I can't imagine any state without some custom bootmakers. Or do some research and come to Texas. We have hundreds of bootmakers.
#7 HH on 2021-01-21 20:50 (Reply)
Podiatrist here. Yours is a very common problem commonly dealt with in several simple ways:

1. Double sock the smaller foot;
2. Use an insole with the smaller foot;
3. If there's a particular deformity, use a ball-and-ring stretcher to accommodate this.

There are limits to these certainly, but one never knows until trying. Not perfect solutions, but a lot cheaper than two pairs of shoes.
#7.1 mongrel (Link) on 2021-01-22 11:49 (Reply)
I *think*, but can't find a link, that both Allen Edmonds and Alden Shoes will do special orders of different sized shoes.

Beautiful shoes, and you can have them recrafted/rebuilt.
#8 William O. B'Livion on 2021-01-21 21:52 (Reply)
I had a pair of dress boots made for me in Seoul.

I wanted Allen-Edmonds but there was a 50% tariff on imported shoes in Korea.

Guess what? The custom boots priced out about the same as the American imports - AFTER tariff. Coincidence?

The American off-the-shelf were much better quality too.
#9 Whitehall on 2021-01-22 02:21 (Reply)
I have that issue, and then some.
Not only are my feet sized way different from what's dictated by the shoe fashion industry, they're also extremely sensitive.

My feet are 2 standard sizes wider than they are long, and another standard size up in height.
And then the skin on the top of my feet and heels is extremely prone to breaking when rubbing against things, making wearing any shoe or even sock for more than an hour or into a situation where I can easily get open sores and blisters on the top of my feet, my ankles, and my big toe.

I finally ended up effectively doing away with footwear almost entirely.

I've 1 pair of lightweight shoes from Vivobarefoot (https://www.vivobarefoot.com/) that fit well enough that I can wear them with dressy clothes for maybe half a day if I put bandaids on my ankles in preparation to avoid blisters.
But apart from that I'm either barefoot (everywhere) or wear flipflops of minimalist sandals. Takes a while for colleagues to get used to it, but they tend to understand when I explain why. Sadly HR flunkies are still of the "you're not professional if you don't wear a suit" mindset even for people who're in the main work pool and never see a customer face to face and tend to be more grumpy.
#10 JTW on 2021-01-22 02:42 (Reply)
Rather than band-aids, you might want to try moleskin. It works great to prevent blisters.
#10.1 snopercod on 2021-01-22 06:48 (Reply)
Not mismatched but non-standard: too wide and a high arch.

I solved my shoe issues by moving to a country with no tradition of Western style business dress. Israel's socialist founders eschewed neckties and dress shoes. When they wore suits it was with camp-collar shirts to show they were of the people . European notions of formal dress are only now spreading outside of "ultra" orthodox communities. Many non-ashkenazi jews bring other clothing traditions.

Plus i work in hi tech where sartorially nobody has left high school...

Many israeli men wear sandals, crepe sole hush-puppy type shoes, or low hiking/sport shoes all year round. With everything. To everything.

I brought a pair of wing tips and a pair of saddle shoes when i moved here. Every year for spring cleaning i take them out, admire them, and put them back. Like my suits and my neckties - which my boys occasionally marvelled over or borrowed for a play or carnival.
#11 BenDavid on 2021-01-22 04:33 (Reply)
Crocs are unfailingly comfortable for me, but no good at all on uneven terrain.
#12 rhhardin on 2021-01-22 06:27 (Reply)
My feet are different sizes, so are my hands, the left one of each is smaller than the right, but the difference is so slight that it is not a problem when it comes to buying shoes.

Sorry I can't be of assistance.
#13 steve walsh on 2021-01-22 07:27 (Reply)
Now that I’ve retired from NY to FL, my footwear consists largely of flip flops or slides, with the occasional Skechers slip on thrown in for more ‘formal’ occasions or when driving my Corvette.
#14 Alex G on 2021-01-22 07:53 (Reply)
My right is about one full size larger than my left.
#15 callmelucky on 2021-01-22 11:00 (Reply)
My feet are wide, and my toes are shaped such that my feet are effectively squarish. It was a nightmare during my working days when the fashion for women's dress shoes was pointy toes. Nowadays I'm retired so all I wear are Skechers. Ahhh, comfort.
#16 RebeccaH on 2021-01-22 12:26 (Reply)
I lived in London for several years. I swear by English dress shoes (Loakes or Charles Tyrwhitt), not bespoke but off the shelf. I order them online.

Never had a problem with fit or comfort!
#17 JJM on 2021-01-22 15:01 (Reply)
Some ideas here: https://www.abilityhacker.com/where-to-buy-shoes-when-your-feet-are-two-different-sizes
#18 Random Walker on 2021-01-22 16:41 (Reply)
I can heartily recommend the West Coast Shoe Company custom fit shoes and boots. From their website "A pair of custom fit Wesco boots can provide a level of comfort rarely experienced in either a boot or a shoe—they are made to conform to the unique contours of your feet and legs. Accuracy of measurements is critically important because they are used to make the pattern. Download and print the Wesco custom fit form.From the pattern, we build the last. The Wesco measuring procedure is very precise—we ask that you follow instructions exactly as specified." Check them out, you won't be disappointed. I have a pair of their Jobmaster boots that are 20 years old.
https://builder.wescoboots.com/CustomFitting.aspx
#19 theredlands (Link) on 2021-01-24 13:13 (Reply)
My family is from Clatskanie just down the road from Scappoose. Brother and father live there and they make them right in town. I've wanted a pair of Wesco's all of my life but they are pretty dear.

One time at the Portland airport I saw a young hottie wearing a pair with a short flared skirt. Hers were for loggers. I asked and her boyfriend worked for Wesco and got them at a huge discount.

Nice pins. She rocked 'em.
#20 Larry (Link) on 2021-01-25 00:33 (Reply)

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