Best trainers for Big Feet?

[KissTheRains]

So many nice trainers about lately but my size 8.5s look like river craft in most of them.

I like the look of those new "Big" Converse that I see the young and tiny feeted people wear, but I fear on my 44 year old 5'11 size 18 body that I'd make Herman Munster jealous or Tiger Woods would be grasping my neck to try chipping one in for the win.

I also like Puma Carina, but I'm worried the platform sole would add exaggerate the height and clumpy Ness?

I've had vans in the past that were kind of OK but they're so thin underfoot and the heel wears so quick that I'm hesitant to buy more.

I know I should embrace my feet.. I try, but, I hate them..

I should add that when I was thinner younger, Heeled wedge trainers were great, but these days they add too much to height and when I enter rooms a pro wrestling announcer starts introducing me...
"Making their way to the ring, standing 6feet 5 and weighing in at 250lbs.... Leviathan Feet" 🤪

I bought a pair of these for my size 9s recently - they come in a few colours, some of which you can almost convince yourself are women's colours, rather than men's....

This thread has weirdly made me feel less alone. 😁

Looking at Superga, I like the Cotu Classic, are they at all padded under foot or like a Vans and not padded?

@JayAlfredPrufrock If that's a picture of your daughter's feet, they don't look at all as big as I think mine look. They look good.

The insides aren't completely flat like converse, but they're not padded.

I'm an 8 - low top converse, Reebok classics and Adidas continentals are my go to.

Air force 1s make my feet look like canoes.

Sugerga cotu classic are great and they're comfy. Reebok classics in black make your feet look smaller too I swear 🤣. And converse - just the classic chucks, not platform!

Converse low pros are my go to. Have recently bought a pair of Hylo Athletics trainers and was impressed with how petite they look. Had the same thought with Tropics but they didn’t fit me well.

I've never heard of Hylo or Tropics.. Christmas is coming, it's a time for good will on earth, peace to all men and new trainers for me. 😁

I’m 5ft6 and take a size 9, so really have a job buying non-canoe shoes and trainers. I’ve learnt that if you buy a style that detracts from the length then you can manoeuvre into a kind of optical illusion.

So, for example, long, thin shoes will make your feet look long and thin - eg Converse for me. But, trainers and shoes which look wide or have depth can look smaller.

I’ve found that Vans and Adidas fashion trainers like Gazelles can look small. I’ve just bought a pair of navy and white New Balance 327s which look chunky but short thanks to the sole up the back. The NB’s are Uber-comfy too.

You also need to really think about how you lace them up. Lacing from the inside to outside will make them look narrow. Ditto lacing in a criscross style. But, if you lace them straight across, from the inside out, and especially if you replace the laces with a thicker style, your feet will look wider, and therefore shorter.

@PauliesWalnuts

In 44 years, I've never considered lacing shoes differently than Criss crossing them like I've done since I was a kid.

Expanding my mind on Mumsnet right now...

I'm also 5'11 with size 9 feet, much fatter than I used to be and totally feel your pain! Wearing chunky trainers makes me feel like Taylor Swift's monster from 'Anti-hero' 🙄

     Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby
     And I'm a monster on the hill
     Too big to hang out, slowly lurching toward your favorite city
     Pierced through the heart, but never killed

The Superga Cotu Classics are super flattering, they make my feet look about 3 sizes smaller and they're really comfortable. I have the ones with off-white / cream soles as I find the bright white a bit stark and cheap-looking, but that's just a personal bugbear of mine.

Another model I really like are Converse Shorelines. I find them more flattering and comfortable than 'normal' Converse Chucks, but had to do a custom order through the Converse website (non-returnable). I believe they're more easily available in the US if that is an option for you.

It's so hard. I'm never going to have dainty feet. White trainers make them look huge, certain stilettos make them look like they belong to a drag queen.

I love Puma suede because they come in loads of colours and don't make my feet look huge. I coveted a white pair of trainers for ages and tried so many on but they all made my feet look huge. Then I found these and fell in love. They don't make my feet look like surfboards.

https://uk.tommy.com/essential-global-stripe-leather-trainers-fw0fw07449ybs

I’m the same height as you but take a size 10 shoe <sob>

I cram my feet into an M&S size 8 as they are quite generous (not generous enough for my comfort, but may be ok for you!) They make my feet look relatively neat I think.

@KissTheRains , there are many different ways of lacing a shoe.

@GorgeousGoldies , please don't. Feet are complicated and work hard. They deserve comfort.

Here are six for starters! But always go for the widest cover. https://www.adidas.com/us/blog/342736-how-to-lace-sneakers

Also pay attention to toe shape - the pointier the toe, the more the illusion of length. The rounder or more square the toe, the shorter the trainer will look. That goes for shoes too - a round or square toe with something of a heel (of any thickness) will look smaller than a flat pointy toed kitten heel.

there are many different ways of lacing a shoe.

Oh I know, I just never really thought they'd have an affect (effect?) on making feet look slimmer, shorter etc. I've just always laced them the same.

I'm a size 8 eee ( extra wide fit) and used to love Evans but now they've gone online only their footwear is not as wide fitting 😢 It's so difficult getting shoes that are comfortable ( not high heels).