Wider feet after a year of slippers / trainers?

[Liltzero]

I put on some 'proper' shoes today and they were pinching my little toe. Quite uncomfortable in fact. Could my feet have spread after a year of either wearing slippers or trainers?! Also gone through the menopause in this time. Or is my tolerance for anything less than comfy shoes lost? Thank you

It could be a tolerance thing. I used to go out in heels all the time. Now I only wear them if I know I will be sitting down mainly. Comfort wins every time for me.

OP, I've experienced the same. My old work shoes now really pinch at the sides. I've had a baby since I've last worn them, but also lived in trainers for the last year due to lockdown. My feet have definitely got wider.

Have you put in weight?

Home working - i've developed plantar fasciitis, combination of working at a standing desk in socks & putting on weight. Have spent a fortune on arch support wide fitting shoes & slippers.

Weight as pre-lockdown so hoofs are not being flattened due to extra mass.

I think it's a tolerance thing, especially if you've gone from flats to heels.

I put on some of my old heels the other day for fun and it’s really not just the tolerance thing, they were literally cutting into the sides of my feet within minutes and I was only standing still, they left red marks and I couldn’t walk in them. I’ve lost weight since I last wore them. I wore them heavily pregnant with no issues. My feet have spread bloody loads.

Always wore heels, switched to flats when pregnant, fatter feet after! Never been able to squeeze comfortably back in my heels.

Absolutely yes. I’ve spent several years now in trainers, sketchers and flip flops. Whilst I can still get my feet in FitFlop ballet flats that’s about it. I can’t stand all my old normal shoes. My feet are now wider and all normal shoes feel too stiff and rub.

I’ve been wondering this exact thing! Bought size 5 trainers and they were TINY. Weight as pre-pandemic, in fact about 8-10kg down as had a baby a few months before the first lockdown. It’s so weird!

I converted to all 'barefoot' style shoes - or none at all - a few years ago and your feet do get wider (and stronger) when they're allowed to spread/move naturally. Normal shoes are far too narrow for me now and I find it hard to believe I ever constricted my feet so much!

I thought the same today. Put on some shoes I'd not worn for a year and they felt so tight. But maybe the shoes have shrunk a bit from underuse.

This is definitely a thing - shoes are shoe shaped rather than shaped like the natural shape of the foot iyswim so if you stop wearing them your feet will revert more towards their natural shape. I swapped to barefoot style shoes a couple of years ago after always having quite narrow feet and they have spread loads! There’s a decent gap between the top of my big toe and the next one now rather than the big toe curving towards the other toes slightly.

Thanks for your replies and helping satisfy my curiosity.

Being middle aged my interest in being cosy and comfy can only increase!

Interesting thought. I feel glad I have worn shoes from time to time, only to stop trainers wearing out!