Shoes

[sleigh]

So Denise took me shoe shopping yesterday -- should I get to go to London over the holidays for the Students Abroad class, I need a decent pair of walking shoes, as all the shoes I currently own make my feet uncomfortable after wearing them for a time. I notice it especially in the left foot.

It seems there's a reason for that.

We hit the local Running Spot, and looked at some New Balance shoes. I told the guy who came over that I was looking for a good pair of walking shoes; I also mentioned that I have gout in my left foot and so that one often feels really tight in my usual shoes. The salesperson measured my right foot. "10&1/2 regular," he said.

I shook my head. "You sure? I usually wear 11s," I told him. "Some of them are 11&1/2," Denise interjected.

"Let's try the left foot," he said. He measured that one. "Huh!" I heard him exclaim. He glanced up at us. "Did I say 10&1/2 before" he asked. We nodded. "This one's 11& 3/4, wide." He measured the right one again, just to be certain. Yep, 10 1/2, maybe a shade over, normal width. Measured the left again: 11&3/4, wide. He shrugged. "That happens. It's pretty common to have a half-size difference, but it's usually not this much..."

My shoes at home are 11s or 11&1/2s. I'm not in the Imelda league -- I have maybe 3 pairs of shoes that I can wear, most of them fairly old; if I find a pair that I like, I'll wear them every day until Denise begins to give me that look when I start to put them on. I tried to remember if, in the distant past during my last visit to a shoe store, the person had measured both feet or only one. I could remember several years ago going to a Macy's when they had a sale and measuring my foot myself (one foot only, and yes, I think it was the right one) and deciding an 11 would fit. And when I got a pair of Dansko clogs a year and a half ago, I can't remember whether the guy measured both feet or not. Those are European 45s, which equate to a US 11 - 11&1/2.

I tried on a pair of 12 wide (according to the label on the tongue, this corresponds to a European 46.5). Ahh.... my toes actually had room...

I wore them all afternoon. My feet felt as good as they've felt in shoes in ages. Gout, I suspect, has widened the left foot, but it wouldn't have made it longer.... I wonder if I haven't all along been trying to cram one foot into a too-small shoe.

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Hey, this sounds like a good thing to know. Maybe find an odd-foot partner and get the correct size shoe for each foot!

K.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

There's a website for people with different sized feet, where you can find your opposite and trade.

B

Odd feet

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

If you want to locate shoes in odd or mismatched sizes, one of the first things you might try would be the local organization for people who recovered from polio. Polio survivors routinely wear disparate sizes of shoes, and whoever the local group uses for a contact person would be an excellent resource.

Nate

[grrm.livejournal.com]

Aha... so you're a JOKER!

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

THe odds would seem fairly thin -- and my right foot seems happy enough living in the 12 2E. It has a little extra room now and has moved in a couch and a bookcase.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

The place we bought the shoes said that when the differences get much larger there are some manufacturers who let you mix-and-match.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

URL?

Re: Odd feet

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Thanks, Nate.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Yes, it can now be revealed. I'm the notorious Bigfoot, whose joker skill is being able to cause people to keel over unconscious from the smell when I take off the shoe on my huge left foot.

(Watch out -- you might find that in the new story... ) :-)

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Oh, come on. You know better than this. I typed "website for people with different sized feet" into Google and this (http://www.oddshoefinder.com/) was the first hit. You might also want to look at the next few hits as well.

B

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Sorry -- I was being lazy. :-) Thanks!

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

If I were thinking more clearly, I would have given you this (http://www.justfuckinggoogleit.com/) link.

B

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Ouch. And point taken.

[grrm.livejournal.com]

Well, Roger already gave us Devil John Darlingfoot. Maybe we should just start calling you "Darlingfoot." Has a certain ring.

[casaubon.livejournal.com]

My 11 yr old son's feet are currently 2.5 sizes different. This makes buying suitable shoes ... interesting.
At least the big footwear chain stores over here do odd shoe discounts for kids, we just pay 25% extra rather than having to pay the full price for 2 pairs.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I need to use that URL more.

B

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that this is why I have An Official Policy. (http://minnehaha.livejournal.com/profile)

K.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

2.5 sixes is quite a difference. Hopefully the other foot will catch up at some point!

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Official policy noted! :-)

[casaubon.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately it probably won't. He was born with a very large big toe on his left foot and he seems to be stuck with it. It doesn't affect his walking, running or balance, so the only problem is sorting out his shoes and the odd bit of teasing/bullying at school (which thankfully hasn't been very serious).