Does Finding Shoes That Fit Get Harder As You Age?

[teej1985]

My feet keep getting wider in the toe box. Newbalance used to make shoes that were perfect, but stopped in 2023. I've returned Orthofeet, Hoka, SKS, and more that looked promising, but didn't work. The latest frustration was having to return some 12EEEEEE shoes as too narrow in the toes. I am wearing badly worn out New Balances from 2021-2023.

I loved the New Balance 990 V5. I used to wear 2E - for the V6 of the 990, i just ordered a 3E (or was it 4E?) to try and it still doesn't feel right.

 

[AllDone]

Both increasing age and increasing weight will make your feet flatten out, becoming wider and longer. You also lose the fat pads on the bottoms of your feet which makes standing more uncomfortable. Mix in a little arthritis …

I used to wear some shoes that were pretty comfortable, but the company that made them dropped everything but the fashion line, so no more walking shoes. I finally tried some Hokas after seeing that Rupert Murdoch, a genuine billionaire, wore some to his most recent wedding. They've been pretty comfortable on my arthritic feet. I like the Bondi.

There are a couple of different lacing patterns that relieve midfoot arthritis pains. The elastic speed laces help too.

Hell will freeze over before I wear heels again. Black Hokas will have to do for formal events.

 

[Allytx]

My problem is that I have to have narrow or slim shoes in dress, casual or running type shoes, but fewer and fewer manufacturers make narrow shoes. I wear New Balance, SAS, and Naturalizer shoes. But even those are getting down to fewer models.

 

[Route246]

My shoe size has been gradually increasing all my life, both length and width.
In college I wore 10B and now it's 12D.
Pretty normal, I think.

Similar here. Always been 10D most of my adult life. Now I'm 11 or 11-1/2 E or EEE.

 

[donheff]

For me it is probably learning I never wore proper shoes. I wore orthotics for about 35 years due to achy feet. A couple of years back, I developed a neuroma in my right foot. After tons of efforts to get relief, I watched a compelling interview with a foot therapist (not a doctor) asserting that many issues like mine are caused by a narrow a toe box. Finding shoes with wide toe boxes is a PITA - if they are wide enough in the box, they are often loose around the heel. Eventually I found an appropriate pair of Kiziks which have the extra benefit of easy on an off. Now I don't use orthotics and both the neuroma and what I thought were arch problems are gone.

Mine is what I call an "N=1" study. No science to find here, just anecdote.

 

[Exchme]

I loved the New Balance 990 V5. I used to wear 2E - for the V6 of the 990, i just ordered a 3E (or was it 4E?) to try and it still doesn't feel right.

Yep, I wore 990's for 30 years, buying a new pair every few months as their 4Es were a great fit. Back then I wore 11 4E, then later crept up to 11.5 4E. I was so happy when their 6Es came out as they were the best fitting shoes I ever owned...and then they stopped making them. Now they just focus on the mainstream of people that don't have wide feet as their new models have a narrow toe box, so between my feet getting wider and the shoes getting narrower, it's a no-go.

 

[statsman]

Now they (re: New Balance) just focus on the mainstream of people that don't have wide feet as their new models have a narrow toe box, so between my feet getting wider and the shoes getting narrower, it's a no-go.

Yep. I have worn cross trainer shoes from New Balance in size 10 4E for over 30 years. Wonderful shoes that were comfortable, sturdy, and they lasted a long time. Now, as you and others have noted, the toe box on their shoes have gotten narrower when going from, say, v2 to v3 for a given shoe model. In addition, I am finding the last set of their shoes that still fit, purchased a few years ago, are falling apart way too fast.

I haven't found a suitable replacement yet.

 

[pacergal]

Dansko clogs, Birkenstock and sketchers are my go to shoes.
comfy, wide toe area, easy slip in/slip on

 

[statsman]

Dansko clogs, Birkenstock and sketchers are my go to shoes.
comfy, wide toe area, easy slip in/slip on

I have yet to find one slip in/slip on shoe that is wide enough in the toe box where I don't have slipping issues at the heel. I truly need a shoe I can tie, and the more eye-loops the better for lacing option.

 

[aja8888]

Yep, you're not old enough for widening yet. Give it 5 to 10 years and you feet will start to spread.

LOL!

 

[aja8888]

Dansko clogs, Birkenstock and sketchers are my go to shoes.
comfy, wide toe area, easy slip in/slip on

I love still tying my shoelaces......at my age, it means my mind is still working like it should!

 

[Koolau]

I still prefer Velcro closers on my shoes. I hate shoe laces.