# Need shoes for neanderthal feet. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423 "2016-04-07T12:14:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![perillotours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@perillotours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perillotours)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/1 "2016-04-07T12:14:33Z")
When you have neanderthal feet, it’s hard to find fitting shoes. The following is a link to an album of my feet. Note the space between the toes, and near equal width from ball to toe. Length: 10.63 in/27.1 cm Width: 5.625 in/13.52 cm For some pictures, I have my foot on the outsole of a shoe that is US Men 9.5 8E. My foot is wider than the outsole; the shoe is too narrow for me. Going up to size 10 will allow my foot to slide up and back as I walk. The problem is that so many shoes taper sharply from ball to toe. My feet do not taper like that. If I could find shoes with less of a taper, that would also accommodate the bunions. Please suggest any suitable brands. I currently wear “Hebden” from DB Shoe Co. UK. Men size 10, 6E. It’s too narrow from the ball to the toe, so those parts of my feet hurt whenever I wear them. Custom molded/bespoke shoes are not a viable option now. Here are some brands that do not fit: -Anything less than 6E -Anything from wideshoes (hitchcock shoes). The problem is with tapering. -Nike, ASICS, New Balance, Vivo Barefeoot, Lem Shoes, Anthony Alan footwear, Merrell, Drew ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/2 "2016-04-07T13:13:23Z")
This post has been here almost an hour and no one’s mentioned that there is no link to the pictures? No only am I surprised, I’m kind of disappointed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/3 "2016-04-07T13:15:43Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > This post has been here almost an hour and no one’s mentioned that there is no link to the pictures? No only am I surprised, I’m kind of disappointed. 🙂 The metric units indicate he’s not a real neanderthal. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/4 "2016-04-07T13:17:06Z")
Sketchers come wide and are pretty comfortable. You could also try just googling your shoe size. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/5 "2016-04-07T13:20:27Z")
As a woman with Flintstone feet - that’s Fred, not Wilma- I’d love recommendations for women’s wide width shoes that are not butt ugly or cost $6,000. Also, I really want to see pictures of the OP’s feet. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/6 "2016-04-07T13:21:54Z")
So the issue is that your feet are very, very wide, but not all that long? I have the opposite problem (15 AA). I can ski barefoot. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/7 "2016-04-07T14:42:36Z")
I’m guessing from the mention of size 9.5 shoe for a foot 10.6 inches long that you are in the UK. A 9.5 UK shoe converts to an 11.5 US size. Here is a link to a page on the [Big N’ Wide Shoe](http://www.shoebuy.com/s.jsp/r_prof/d_AdultM/b_0?Category=&Size=9.5&GeneralWidth=EW)site that shows shoes available in widths of up to 9E. They aren’t cheap, but then you didn’t expect them to be, did you? ETA - This [site](https://justwideshoes.com/) has shoes up to 14E, although selection for 10E and up is very limited, expensive and UGLY. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/8 "2016-04-07T15:11:43Z")
Mammoth leather should naturally stretch to the needed width. If not, see Thog over in Cave 113. He’s an expert. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/9 "2016-04-07T15:48:09Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > As a woman with Flintstone feet - that’s Fred, not Wilma- I’d love recommendations for women’s wide width shoes that are not butt ugly or cost $6,000. Also, I really want to see pictures of the OP’s feet. Have you tried [Munro shoes](https://www.munroshoes.com/)? They come in both wide and double wide, in a large variety of attractive styles. They can cost around $200, but can frequently be found on sale (try Nordstrom, Zappos or Amazon - you can go to Nordstrom to try them on). I have been wearing them almost exclusively for about 20 years, and absolutely love them (I’m an 8W). Today I’m wearing the [Robyn boot](http://www.zappos.com/munro-american-robyn-black-suede). I meant to add that my Mom wears a double wide shoe, and has also had great success with Munros. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/10 "2016-04-07T15:53:29Z")
[Birkenstocks.](http://www.birkenstock.com/). made for sturdy squarish German feet… a bit pricey but they last forever… ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/11 "2016-04-07T16:19:06Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Have you tried [Munro shoes](https://www.munroshoes.com/)? They come in both wide and double wide, in a large variety of attractive styles. They can cost around $200, but can frequently be found on sale (try Nordstrom, Zappos or Amazon - you can go to Nordstrom to try them on). I have been wearing them almost exclusively for about 20 years, and absolutely love them (I’m an 8W). Today I’m wearing the [Robyn boot](http://www.zappos.com/munro-american-robyn-black-suede). > > I meant to add that my Mom wears a double wide shoe, and has also had great success with Munros. Some of those are really cute! (but I’d definitely have to find them on sale somewhere.) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/12 "2016-04-07T17:37:36Z")
My feet are 11EEEE, plus I have peripheral vascular disease which makes them swell up. The only shoes that I can wear comfortably are a pair of Merrell hiking shoes. Of course, that model has been discontinued. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/13 "2016-04-07T18:15:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The metric units indicate he’s not a real neanderthal. And his join date indicates that this may be the first and only post we ever see of perillotours. Ugh, I just realized his username is an advertisement for Italian Tour Packages. I wish we could get a mod in here to delete this entire thread. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/14 "2016-04-07T18:46:28Z")
I’d be happy if even a few shoe producers would acknowledge that there are more and more of us with feet far outside the bell curve. I’ve worn 11AAA since I was 12 years old and for most of y life I’ve been limited to custom-made shoes. Since the advent of the internet and worldwide shopping capability, I’m occasionally able to find a pair floating about somewhere, but for the most part, shoe producers ignore me. I thought wide shoe sizes were more readily available, and I’m sorry to hear that’s not true. (I don’t need the foot pics though, thank you. If I want to look at weird feet, I’ll just look down) ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/15 "2016-04-07T20:22:55Z")
Crocs run wide and are really comfortable. Don’t listen to the naysayers; I have three pairs and I don’t think they’re ugly at all. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/16 "2016-04-07T20:37:34Z")
**stillownedbysetters** , that [munroshoes.com](http://munroshoes.com) site \*\*SpoilerVirgin \*\*linked to has both narrow and super-narrow selections, along with wide and super-wide. Nice womens’ shoes! ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/17 "2016-04-07T21:55:06Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > Crocs run wide and are really comfortable. Don’t listen to the naysayers; I have three pairs and I don’t think they’re ugly at all. 🆒 Thank you, Mr. Batali. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![perillotours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@perillotours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perillotours)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/18 "2016-04-08T02:21:18Z")
Here’s the album: [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/oDPq5eL.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/iMljq) Please note that these shoes are 8E and still too narrow. ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/19 "2016-04-08T12:20:13Z")
Oh. F\*ck. You checked your DNA sample? Sorry, can not help you besides the obvious answer to buy some hand made shoe crafting. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/20 "2016-04-08T15:11:39Z")
> [@perillotours](#): > > Here’s the album: > > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/a/iMljq) > > Please note that these shoes are 8E and still too narrow. That’s not a Neanderthal foot. Clearly Denisovan though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423.md?page=2)