The shape of the human foot (male) versus the shape of men's shoes?

Why do so many major shoe companies make shoes that bend as they proceed from heel toward toe? Look at the soles of most shoes. They aren't straight from heel to toe. Rather, they are concave inward. If you put the right shoe on the right and the left shoe on the left so that their heels are "headed" in parallel directions, the toes of the shoes will be tilted away from the heel heading, toward each other, by maybe 30 degrees.





My feet don't follow this floor plan. My feet are straight from heel to toe. When I put on a pair of new, regular D width shoes for which the inward bend angle is substantial, my big toes end up horizontally somewhere near the middle of the toe box while my little toes are jammed up hard against the shoe leather screaming to get out.





I've made some of my boots fit with a shoe-stretcher and some alcohol smelly liquid.





Does anybody else have straight-ahead feet like I do, or do I have anomalous feet? Do shoes often pinch your toes, especially your little toes?

The shape of the human foot (male) versus the shape of men's shoes?
No you don't really have anomolaus feet. It's a condition called "flat feet" I forgot the technical medical term for it, but it basically means your feet don't have an arch, I had the same condition (in fact I still do) I saw a podiatrist and they basically gave me inserts for my shoe to help my foot grow arched, but I have to admit it is very uncomfortable.





I do the same as above me said, I buy shoes in larger sizes to accomodate for the width, so on average I would buy a 12 where my feet would be close to the edge of the inside of the shoe, my father taught me a trick. Buy shoes that give you 1/2 an inch or a full inch from the tip of your toe to the tip of the shoe (meaning you should be able to press down on the shoe between your toe and the tip, unless it's steel toe)





This has helped me a lot, so instead of 12 i tend to buy maybe 13 or 13 1/2 size shoes. try on a pair of shoes that are 1 size, or 1 and a half sizes bigger than the shoe size squishing your feet.





That or you could always see a podiatrist and see what he says.
Reply:The "last" is also important. Some shoe companies build to curved lasts (like Montrail's "velocity" series of running shoes), while others build shoes on slightly curved or straight lasts (like Merrell's hiking shoes or "world" mocs). Vasque is somewhere between Montrail and Merrell in last curving. Report It

Reply:I have incredibly wide feet and have just as much trouble finding a pair of shoes or boots that fit comfortably as you do.


Even in footwear that claims to be extra wide, my foot, just below the toes is always compressed and squeezed by the shoe/boot that by the end of the day I can hardly walk.
Reply:Yours are a little unusual by the sounds.
Reply:If you have that much trouble wear Sandles
Reply:Air, Gel, and Other Cushioning Tricks





1a) Running shoes are built on a “last,” which determines the shape of the sole. There are basically three shapes of last: straight, semi-curved and curved.


b) The greater the curve of the last, the more flexible the shoe is likely to be. Conversely, straight-lasted shoes tend to be less flexible. So, a runner who needs motion control in his shoe usually does better with one built on a straight last.





Accommodating Wide Feet





2a) Running shoes not only have different shapes, they have different internal structures. Most running shoes are built in one of three ways: board-lasted, slip-lasted and combination-lasted. To see which type of build a shoe has, simply pull out the inner sole.


b) The good news is that some shoe manufacturers offer running shoes in multiple widths. (While most manufacturers offer no more than two widths, New Balance offers most of their better shoes in three or more widths.)








Find a Shoe Built for Your Foot





3a)Moving to a larger size shoe to accommodate wide feet can create problems, since the toe box and arch will no longer be in the appropriate relative positions. Men with wide feet simply need wide running shoes.





b) If you find a stiff cardboard-like material running the length of the shoe, it's board-lasted. This design is best for runners who need maximum stability.





c) If there is merely fabric stitched together up the length of the shoe, it's slip-lasted. This design provides maximum flexibility, and is best for neutral runners.





d)Combination-lasted shoes are a compromise. They have the “board” in the rear portion of the shoe, while the front is slip-lasted. These shoes offer more stability than a slip-lasted shoe, but less than one with a board last.





border shoe will not pinch yr little toe.




freckles