To think buying different size shoes to make a pair isn’t “ridiculous”

[JustAnotherWhinger]

Semi-light hearted, but now curious as to people’s opinions.

I’ve just accidentally caused outrage about “shoe waste” at a soft play get together of friends (acquaintances maybe more accurate).

I have two different size feet. Not the normal “my left foot is a tiny bit bigger than my right” like lost folks have, but one foot is a just 5 and the other a 6 different. It’s been an issue as long as I can remember. I have actual scarring on the back of my smaller foot from one very horrific pair of school shoes.

So I buy two pairs of shoes and use one of each. I currently have three pairs like this - my trainers (which I wear a lot as I walk around 5 miles a day in school term), a pair of flat smart shoes and my winter boots (which are 3 years old).

If I buy shoes for a one off event like a party or wedding that I’m not going to wear much I don’t do it. I buy the bigger size and use a combination of grips.

However, for the main shoes I wear a lot I do because the difference is so big it’s simply not comfortable otherwise.

apparently this is ridiculously wasteful and “everyone” has different size feet, but I’ve never met another person whose feet are that much different.

Seems entirely sensible to me

I'd do that for comfort in your ahem shoes

Of course you are not being ridiculous.

It's worth knowing though that if you ask really, really nicely (and usually at a head office type level) some companies will allow you to swap one shoe out of a pair for a bigger size. Decathlon will, for example.

I thought from the title that you were going to say that you buy an odd pair from the shop and was going to say YABU.
But paying for 2 pairs? Fine. Although what happens when you no longer want them? Do you bin 4 shoes, 2 of which are unworn? Or take them to a charity shop and hope someone wants a pair with 1 worn and 1 not?

You are not alone; I've read about this before, in the context of somebody tracking down a "shoe buddy" with the opposite size combination and a similar taste in shoes, but where they began their search, I do not know. Maybe a kindly manufacturer, as PP suggested.

I’m pretty sure there are websites where people can find someone e to pair up with when buying shoes.

Marian Keyes has a short story about this - about someone searching for a friend with the same issue on opposite feet. I wonder how you would find them??

Website :https://www.tripalot.co.uk/
sells shoes as singles for amputees and people with different-sized feet.

My friend had a club foot as a child and she has to do this. This a bit more of a size difference than your feet but not that much different. What would someone expect you to do? Walk around uncomfortable every day of your life?

I have almost a size difference in my feet and my bigger foot is also wider
I hate buying shoes and have purchased 2 sizes in the past....expensive but sometimes it's worth it

I give the unworn ones to a some local who has links with a charity.

I believe the ‘practical’ shoes are sent for use by amputees abroad and the not practical ones are sold to fashion students as they don’t mind an uncomfortable shoe for a short fashion show (I’ve no idea what happens after that).

If ever the phrase "they need to walk a mile in your shoes" were appropriate...

Yeah I had this for a while as I broke my ankle really badly and the foot was swollen for a couple of years afterwards.

i used to buy two pairs of the same design one a 5 and one a 6.

it is a bit wasteful I suppose but such is life.

The people who said it's ridiculous have a classic case of not being able to understand that someone else has issues that don't affect them

I bet somewhere in the world is your mirror foot twin! If you can track them down you could share pairs and cut down on waste 😂

Apparently that’s what “everyone” does - life is too long for uncomfortable shoes imo 😂

My friend is the same, she has one foot a size 4 and the other a size 6. It is perfectly normal for her to buy two pairs of shoes and wear the two actual shoes from each pair that fit her feet. I couldn't really imagine what else you would do?

They did this in Clarks in the 80s. Definitely!

I once got a pair of shoes in the sale where one was 5.5 and the other 6. They were the best fitting pair I ever had!

Most people don't have different sized feet. Otherwise shops would be set up for selling pairs of different sizes.

Your acquaintance appears to he unable to "walk a mile in your shoes", which is rather ironic.

I have at least 40 pairs of shoes so your double of even 4 or 5 pairs is technically less wasteful than my excess!

It sounds like these people would be happy to be your shoe swap partner. If they think there is no issue with wearing a shoe a full size off, then if any of them are a five or a six then they would be willing to swap with you?

Adidas have just launched a single shoe service too... photo to follow..

Photo!

I feel your pain @JustAnotherWhingeras I don’t have a pair of feet either, except mine is width not length! It’s horrible and no shoes are properly comfortable, and for things like hiking boots or running shoes the wrong sized foot gets a real battering during a race or long hike. I have definitely considered getting multiple width sizes

If it made me comfortable and my feet not to hurt then i would 100% do this too.
seems a good idea to me.,