I am a theoretical physicist and currently Director of 
July 02, 2011
Why must we buy shoes in equal-size pairs?
Apparently 60% of the population have left and right feet that are of different sizes, and of those 80% have larger left feet, which apparently has something to do with right hand dominance. (I got this information after a quick search from this website but cannot vouch for its reliability.) So that means that 40% of the general population have feet of equal size, 48% have larger left feet, and 12% have larger right feet.
I belong to the larger left foot group. When I buy a new pair of shoes, if I forget to try it in the store with my left foot, I end up with a pair in which the left foot starts to feel pinched and uncomfortable later in the day when people's feet start to swell. For some, the inequality is so great that they buy two pairs of shoes in two different sizes and use only one of each, which seems like a colossal waste. As a partial and somewhat clumsy solution, this website offers people a way of exchanging unused mismatched shoes.
But why must shoes be sold in equal size pairs at all when this does not suit the needs of more than half the population? Why not allow people to pick the correct size for each foot? Doing so should lead to little or no waste, even if 100% of the population had the same side foot being larger. For example, if I needed a size 11 left shoe and a size 10 for the right, someone else with a larger left foot would need a size 10 left and a size 9 right, and so on. So all the mid-range sizes would be paired off and sold, except to different customers.
There may be a few left over of the largest right shoe sizes and the smallest left sizes but assuming the above distribution is right, a quarter of those would be bought by people with larger right feet, leaving only a few unsold. And over time, manufacturers would be able to estimate production more accurately and eliminate even this waste.
So shoe manufacturers and retailers, what about it?
Comments
My problem isn't that of having one foot larger than the other but rather being a man with narrow feet. I've only once been able to buy a pair of boots (a pair of Nick's logging boots) in a B width, at a local store, off the shelf. All the rest of my shoe and boot buying is done online through stores that carry narrow widths. Most manufacturers will accommodate a standard D width - my feet slosh around in these - and/or really wide feet with E and EE, etc., but few seem to make narrow widths. The last annoying aspect of my problem is that I'm pretty much limited to the styles I can find: either work shoes or dress shoes (and some athletic shoes) but anything in between or trendy tends to come only in a D width.
Another narrow foot person here. When I used to run I went to the New Balance store because they have lots of narrow sizes. I got a AA, but they said I probably could have used a AAA.
There is another similar issue- bras. Most women are two different sizes to some degree, with many having a larger discrepancy. (no pun intended!) Of course most bras only have one closure, it would be cool if they sold halves with one clasp in the front and one in the back so you could pick two and make your own. A lot of overhead/shelf space as you need various sizes in both left and right, though. Perhaps an idea for an online store.
It is fortunate that now women can buy bikini halves separately since usually the size on top is only loosely related to the size on the bottom. Or like me, you don't mind showing off the top but want to hide the bottom. (not that I've worn a bikini in the last 20 years, though!)
Shalom Mano,
For years women complained of the same issue when buying two-piece bathing suits.
B'shalom,
Jeff
Well, Mano, today's you're lucky day. It just happens that the cookout we're attending today is being hosted by a friend of ours who works in the design department for a major shoe manufacturer.
I'm going to raise this issue with him (after a couple of beers to loosen him up, of course!)
I'm also a left-larger guy, but I never remember which is larger. But now that I've taken a measurement (left is larger by 3/8"), I'll likely never forget.
Peter,
That's great. I'd be curious as to his reaction to the idea.
Interesting point but (and I'm sorry for my negativity) I don't think it will become mainstream. I'm sure some manufacturers may start doing this if there is the demand but I'm not sure. If you think how many style consious people there are, and that these people buy clothes probably more and more often than the rest of us, they probably won't buy different size shoes. It would be like buying different size gloves. And also there isn't that much choice already (like narrow/normal/wide fits). Interesting point though.