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.

YANBU only opinion.

As to the wastefulness point, I assume if you have correctly fitting shoes you can wear them longer, whereas mine never fit right and the rate and which I donate or chuck shoes (after getting blood or other bodily fluids on them because they fit poorly) is embarrassing.

Keep doing what you’re doing and hopefully you’ll find you shoe anti-twin.

I actually have over 50 pairs of shoes, but for night out shoes I just make it work in one of the sizes with plasters and padding.

i only do the odd size in shoes that I wear very regularly - so my trainers, good quality flats (that I wear when I kick off the heels on nights out 😂) and winter boots. I used to do it with work shoes as well but I’m full time carer now so don’t do that.

It’s horrid.

i have actual scarring on the back of one foot from a pair of lace up school shoes that rubbed and cut. My grandparents couldn’t afford more shoes (they brought me up) so I said nothing for months. It took months to heal as well once my Nana saw it and binned the shoes

My ds has a whole size difference too. It's a pain in the arse. Thankfully his school is very strict on shoes so even though he's 14 we can still get away with Hush Puppies and their fabulous different insoles to get a good fit for his school shoes.

That's how I used to get my sch shoes

Could you sell your excess shoes on Vinted? There must be someone out there who needs them, and has your taste in shoes 😊

YANBU

It's absolutely crap that you have to purchase two pairs of shoes due to circumstances outside your control.

Are there any brands that you buy regular?
I think it would be worth contacting them and see if you can order direct?

There isn't the same impact on stock than trying to convince a retailer to having mismatched sizes left in store.

I would use google or linkedin to find the correct staff etc.

I would take the Sustainability, CSR, ESG approve and ask have they considered people like you, others who need different sizes for other reasons, amputies that may only need one shoe, etc.

I think it's worth asking. Surely they csn supply direct without any downside to them.

This seems a very logical solution, to me. Are the people who took issue with it particularly stupid?

Of course you aren’t being ridiculous. Years ago there was a proper service for people with this issue and Clark’s offered something for kids because my dd has a full size difference (also one hand and one ear, go figure)

Clarkes had a service where you paid 25% extra for different sized shoes.

I only have a generous half size difference and that's hard enough.

@WoollyandSarah I work in the footwear industry and most people do actually have 2 different sized feet 😅🤣 Most have at a 1/4 to 1/2 size difference 👍🏻 Some, like @JustAnotherWhinger have a bigger difference.
I worked with a girl (prior to working with footwear) who had 2.5 sizes difference - and the smaller was only available in children’s shoes for the majority of brands. She had a nightmare as lacing shoes etc usually had a different number of eyelets etc making it very obvious.

@JustAnotherWhinger It’s worth keeping an eye out on your travels for any Clearance/Outlet type footwear shops ☺️ we sell odd pairs in mine (mismatched size usually due to pairs not being checked properly when selling. All pairs from the company are sent to my outlet) for a fraction of the price.
I don’t know what other companies do with theirs but I’d reach out to some directly - especially as a 5/6 size combination - it’s the most common “odd” we get as the numbers look very similar when being checked quickly if the shop is busy!

Totally reasonable in your case. Foot health and comfort is too important to walk around in ill fitting shoes on a regular basis.

Much worse to waste the only two feet you’ll ever get by ruining them with badly fitting shoes.

Given that most shoes come in whole sizes, 1/4 to 1/2 size difference doesn't really count as you can't get different shoe sizes for them.

Our regional rehab unit is grateful to receive individual shoes and offer them to amputees using the service.
I found out when my daughter received 1 Ugg boot from the Amazon sale and it galled me to bin it.

My dad's uncle had the same issue but he had an intense hatred of waste. He put an ad in the newspaper looking for someone who had the same size difference on opposite feet. Once a year or two they'd meet up and go shoe shopping together and swap one of each pair.

Maybe throw up something on your local Facebook group and see if you can find a match.

I have quite severe water retention that is only semi controllable so I have three pairs of the same shoe in different sizes and wear whatever combination fits that day as my feet are often up to two sizes different. I can't do swaps though as I need all of them at different times. It's sizes 10-12 also so I never get to buy women's shoes anymore either.

Check out Offcuts (Office outlet) they do different sized pairs!

I’ve had to do this all my life because I was born with club foot and there is a size and half difference in my feet buying different sizes was the only way to get a pair of shoes to fit me otherwise I would end up walking on the side of the too big shoe and have a massive gap at the back of the shoe the only way to make same size shoes to fit me is to have laces otherwise the too big shoe will fall off my smaller foot. If that makes me wasteful then so be it I do what I need to do so I can wear shoes that fit me properly or ruin shoes and spend more money than I need to constantly buying shoes.

You need to find someone with the opposite size feet and swap! Sounds expensive!