Woman’s shoes are too narrow?

[ThanksAntsThants23]

I am a woman with quite wide feet and high arches. I have never been able to buy shoes that really fit properly. I run a lot and buying running shoes has away a been difficult, I also work outdoors and have never been able to find a pair of boots that fit so I spend my entire life flaunting risk assessments and having very wet feet by wearing my running shoes to work as they are generally the only thing that I can walk in relatively comfortably.

This year I have developed a bunion and Even the widest trainers I can feasibly buy are now too narrow for one of my feet. I’m seriously beginning to consider just walking everywhere in socks.

The thing is that I know I’m not the only woman who finds woman’s shoes too narrow, I hear it from a lot of woman, especially other runners. Lost of people say they just buy men’s shoes but thats not an option if, like me you have feet smaller than a uk 6. I’m starting to get quite enraged by the lack of shoes available for wider feet.

Are standard woman’s shoes too narrow for the average woman’s foot.

YANBU -standard woman’s shoes are too narrow for the average foot

YABU - standard woman’s shoe width is fine for the average woman and you have no business expecting your weird troll feet and bunion to fit in shoes made for delicate ladies.

I have the opposite problem - most shoes are far too wide for my feet and give me blisters.

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/hanwag-womens-alta-bunion-gtx-boot-B2122483.html

I think Hanwag do a few different types.

No, don't make it harder to buy narrow shoes. DD1 is wide and has lots of choice, dd2 is narrow and it's hard enough now.

I did not vote as I could not possibly say YABU, based on your description 😂
My feet are fairly narrow and I find a lot of shoes on the wide side, but I am sure as heck not a delicate lady.

I also struggle as I need a 4.5 and few high street brands do half sizes.

So, I would say it’s time to go back to the time when shoes came in several widths.

As to the high instep, try an orthotic insole, when you find a suitable shoe, and that may help.

Finally, for trainers/ running shoes, try a store that does fittings and gait analysis, as they can supply you with orthotic inserts etc and hopefully get you comfy.

Oh, and finally, finally, see a podiatrist about the bunion. You weird troll footed OP

I voted YABU because I have narrow feet and would struggle if shoes ended up any bigger/wider than they already are! "Standard" fit is often a little too wide for me so it would actually be great to have a narrow fit as well as a wide option...

But YANBU really. It would be ideal to have narrow, regular and wide fitting shoes available as standard options across a wide range of brands. It's also a shame that there's such a lack of choice for women with smaller or larger (length) feet than usual. Women with larger feet still want elegant, beautiful shoes!

Yeah, opposite problem here. Standard width are way too wide. I’ve got narrow feet and really struggle. I see extra wide shoes in shops all the time but never extra narrow…

I agree. People’s feet have got wider, almost every shop does wide fit shoes now so you shouldn’t have a problem? Narrow shoes are like hens teeth.

Another narrow footed one here! I never buy shoes as they are always too wide. Sandals aren't so bad but they can be tricky.
I generally wear Converse or other trainers as they can be tightened, occasionally boots.
DD has inherited my narrow feet. Thankfully she doesn't have a school uniform as when she did for a few weeks (changed school) trying to get suitable black shoes was a nightmare!
There should be more variety of widths and half sizes along with different lengths in clothing!

Why do people keep suggesting the OP buy men’s running shoes when she explicitly states her feet are too small for men’s shoes? It is so annoying, as I am size 4 so men’s shoes are not a solution for my hobbit feet. But it does raise the obvious question - why are men’s shoes wider than women’s? Is there any proof all men have wider feet or is is a sexist assumption that women’s feet should be ‘daintier’.

I wear bare foot shoes/boots, usually with Birkenstock arch support insoles added in them. Or just regular fit Birkenstocks which are both supportive and wide (in the "regular" width fitting, which confusingly is the wide fit).

I've now had to get rid of all my other shoes, my feet have changed shape due to wearing these (and stopped hurting as much since my toes have had enough room to be proper toes 😁)

Good seamless walking socks with wool and arch support also help me loads. I'm pretty evangelical about birks and bare foots nowadays afte years of literally deforming my feet in pretty shoes. Never again!

I have small but extremely broad feet.

I wear Fly London, as they're wide fitting. Converse also do their basic colours in a wider fit.

I buy junior Timberland's, as they're much wider than women's. I can't even get women's Timberland's on.

I have wide feet and ASICS are my go-to trainers. My mum has bunions too and fits in ASICS.

In general I would say that shoes are getting wider, probably because women are opting for more comfortable shoes than previous generations. We're also getting larger as a population, which results in a higher demand for wider shoes. I'm not saying everyone with wide feet is overweight by the way - I'm not overweight.

Oh, and Vionic for wide fit trainers/running shoes.

I run a lot and have bunions on both feet. I can fit in normal running shoes generally with looser lacing, although the quite severe bunion on my right foot means that this shoe wears very quickly and tends to 'split' around the seam near the bunion. I wear Skechers in men's size 7 for work (on my feet) and Muck Boots in size 8 (to get the width) with extra socks for outdoor work.

Mens's shoes tend to be wider, so I buy those in size 7. I'm a size 6.5 but find women's shoes in that size tend to be pinchy.

@ThanksAntsThants23 Birkenstock also do safety boots, nonslip work shoes, steel toe caps etc if you need ones that are suitable for safety/work. Hopefully they'd be small and wide enough! Not sure how small their sizes go.

Cosyfeet make really wide shoes, but the styles seem to be aimed at older people, not current fashion, but you might be able to get walking boots from them.

Shoes are too narrow and do not cater the the real shape of feet, unless you go out of your way to find them. People with narrower feet don’t really find an issue with putting their toes into these shoes. But if you have slightly wider feet it can be hard. I think most retailers are moving towards wider shoes, but in the same narrow style and not shoes that actually fit feet.

Roughly 12 posts from people who have wide feet and would agree or sympathise with the OP and the rest are people falling over their tiny, delicate little glass slippered toes to tell MN how terribly massive shoes are - and even one bordering on 'We've lost sight of what normal feet look like'.

If wearing a larger (ie, Men's 6) shoe plus an orthotic - hence the larger size - doesn't work, OP, perhaps looking at specialist shops would help? There's one called DC Wide Fit from memory, which might give you some ideas for other brands.

YABVVU because manufacturers have reduced the range of narrow shoes available and have increased the range of wide fittings!!!
I presume they think that because the population overall is getting bigger/fatter people’s feet are getting wider.
I have narrow feet and it’s incredibly difficult to get shoes that fit unless one is prepared to pay £££££££££££!!!!!

My mum always complains about her narrow feet. At least she can wear shoes without her circulation being cut off!

Men's feet tend to be longer and wider.

I find them too wide in parts but too tight in the toes, its very difficult to find shoes that fit me right. Had to get safety shoes and the ones that fit well enough that my feet don't slide at the heel when I walk are just a bit too tight in the toes, alright for a few hours but by the end of the day they are quite uncomfortable.

I have narrow feet but need a wide toe box for bunion/prevention of bunion purposes. I also have very high arches. It’s impossible to find shoes that fit.

‘Roughly 12 posts from people who have wide feet and would agree or sympathise with the OP and the rest are people falling over their tiny, delicate little glass slippered toes to tell MN how terribly massive shoes are - and even one bordering on 'We've lost sight of what normal feet look like'.’

How rude. I’m not tiny and delicate nor am I trying to shame other people’s feet. It used to be possible to buy shoes that fit me, now I can’t because manufacturers are catering for wider feet. If you’re sympathetic to wider-footed people that’s fine, but believe me it’s just as difficult trying to find narrow fitting shoes!

Same, I'm a definite 3 now whereas I used to be a 4 and previously, 25 yrs ago, sometimes a 5.