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.”

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    3 hours ago

    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

    Why are you trying to find them in person?

    15 isn’t ridiculously huge, but anyone over like 13 has known for decades if buying in person you just ask what they have in your size and pick off that. Back in the day that meant going to a store in the hood and buying basketball shoes.

    But nowadays you can sort by size online and see much larger collections.

    Hell, Oddballshoes.com started well over a decade ago bro… The smallest size they stock is 14.

    The reason people comment is your short so it’s unexpected, not that your feet are remarkably big.

    • MintyFresh@lemmy.world
      2·
      1 hour ago

      I wear size 15s, and I can tell you it’s a nightmare. Slightly less so since the Internet made shopping easier.

      Stores don’t often stock anything above a 13. Like I’ve been in so many stores looking for a single pair of shoes, any pair, and found nothing. If you go online and filter by size, you’re looking at a 90% reduction in selection as compared to a normal size, say a 10.

      And then, when you do order some shoes, it’s 50-50 one company’s size 15 will have the same dimensions as the last or next company. I know this may not be a unique problem to big shoes, but it makes it that much more difficult.

      When I was younger and had a much less stable life, that is to say not having a lifestyle that was comparable with online shopping, I’d often go weeks shoving cardboard in my shoes in a feeble attempt to patch the holes in my soles. I still subconsciously avoid puddles and wet spots most people would think nothing of plowing straight through.

  • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
    74·
    5 hours ago

    If the rumors are true, if a dude has a foot that size, you can assume he must also have a long, massive sock.

  • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
    9·
    4 hours ago

    If you wore lifts or high heels you’d be taller and your feet would look smaller. And your butt would look cute! But you’d pay a price in stability.

  • Psaldorn@lemmy.world
    69·
    6 hours ago

    I just want to say kudos for the picture. It would have been easy to write this without it, but with it 🤌🏻

  • Bosht@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    4 hours ago

    Well at least you know if they roleboot the LOTR Trilogy you have a solid career path

  • _____@lemm.eeEnglish
    6·
    4 hours ago

    my feet aren’t large but wide and tall, like I have to undo the show laces like 3 notches to fit. and if I get a size higher then my toes have a gap between the tip of the shoe.

    I recognize that pain even if I’m not 100% in the same situation. trying shoes for me is also annoying, I specifically do not like when clerks try to help you or ask for your size because it almost always doesn’t work (oh yeah you’re size 13 but hmm your feet doesn’t really fit the width) I would much rather just try things on my own. naturally that doesn’t work on your case so you must have it rough

  • r4venw@sh.itjust.works
    16·
    5 hours ago

    I’ve got similarly large feet and instead of saying “let me grab my shoes” I often say “let me grab my canoes”. Always kills if you weave “canoes” in as a replacement for “shoes” with a straight face