So, I’m a pretty average-height guy—5’7”. Not tall, not short, just… there. My feet, however, did not get the memo. They are gigantic. Size 15. Which means I leave footprints that suggest someone much larger (or possibly Bigfoot) passed through, got spooked, and took off running.

People always comment. First, the double-take. Then: “Whoa. Those are… big.” And finally, the classic: “How do you even find shoes?”

Badly. That’s how.

Shoe shopping for me is like searching for an ancient artifact. Store clerks disappear into the back, only to return shaking their heads, as if I’d asked for a unicorn saddle. “We might have one pair in the back…” And what they bring out is always tragic—some orthopedic dad sneaker the size of a small canoe, usually in a shade best described as “beige disappointment.”

For a while, I tried to hide it. I slouched. I crammed my toes into size 13s like a Victorian woman chasing a terrible beauty standard. I even considered custom shoes—until I saw the price and briefly thought maybe barefoot life isn’t so bad.

But now? I’ve embraced it. I don’t tip over easily. I get extra legroom on buses just by existing. And when people ask about my shoe size, I just smile and say, “Great for swimming.”

  • DaveHustlepuff@lemmy.world
    1·
    55 minutes ago

    I’m 5’7” too and my shoes size is 9.5 US, and I was ashamed of my feet. Now seeing yours, those were astounding. You sure won’t need fins when go diving.

  • cows_are_underrated@feddit.org
    1·
    1 hour ago

    For some reasons your feet look waaaay bigger than they are. My feet are the same size and I can agree. Buying shoes is a nightmare. Luckyly we got a store that sells all kinds of stuff and this is the only place I am able to find shoes that fit and that aren’t absolutely ugly.

  • Underwaterbob@lemm.eeEnglish
    4·
    3 hours ago

    Haha! I feel part of your pain. I also wear size fifteen. I got the height to go with them, though. Still, I live in Korea, and well, they do not have big feet around here.

  • wanderwisley@lemm.eeEnglish
    13·
    7 hours ago

    You could see your feet coming around the corner then about 10 minutes later you show up.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
    24·
    8 hours ago

    So EU size 47.

    Geländevernichtungsbretter (ground flattening boards) or Kindersärge (childrens coffins), as we call those kinds of shoes. I had a friend with EU size 48, but at least he had the matching height.

  • pyre@lemmy.world
    15·
    8 hours ago

    okay so:

    1. does this make running a problem or are you actually a better runner than the average person? looks like it would be a hindrance but I’m curious

    2. obviously there are rumors about feet size … do you find women coming on to you more because of this?

    • Jealousdonkey@lemmings.worldOPEnglish
      6·
      4 hours ago

      It’s not a hindrance but I do think I have more “drag” than the normal-footed guy. Like I just have more weight at the ends of my legs and surface area so I don’t think it helps. I can run fast though. I’m really great at swimming, where my paddle-like hands and feet really come into their own. For q2 - not as much as you’d think. Women are not so forward to make a move on me just because they think my big feet implies something else. I get more women through my natural charm.

    • MouldyCat@feddit.ukEnglish
      3·
      5 hours ago

      Don’t know about running but it should definitely be an advantage for swimming. Michael Phelps, the Canadian champion swimmer, has size 14 feet.

      As for women coming on to him, maybe women penguins?

      • Liz@midwest.socialEnglish
        1·
        5 hours ago

        You should be pedaling with the balls of your feet. Toe drag would only be an issue in a tight turn, but you can scrape your pedal doing that if you set your pedals wrong, so your toes don’t matter much.