# 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:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/21 "2016-04-08T16:29:33Z")
Don’t know how much you know about shoes, so excuse if I am repeating something you already know. While most people can wear standard ‘off the rack’ shoes, many of us can’t. We just don’t fit the mold and need a different shape shoe, than a standard ‘d’ or even ‘e’ can provide. The shape of a shoe is called a last and lasts come in a myriad of shapes, from AAA to EEE. Unfortunately most mass produced shoes don’t come in such a wide range, which is why you’re having issues. My go to place for first-timers is Allen Edmonds [http://www.allenedmonds.com/shoes-101/lasts.html](http://www.allenedmonds.com/shoes-101/lasts.html) which goes up to EEE. Note: these are not fashion-forward shoes, nor are they $50; but I find them to be at a good price point for the type of personalized sizing you may need. The only alternative would be to go bespoke and that’s very expensive. Note: AE has clearance sales, as well as a ‘shoe bank’ which sells seconds, so you could find bargains. The best thing to do is go a store and have a fitting, but you can speak to a representative, tell them your issues and they may be able to provide suggestions. You can return shoes, as long as they don’t show signs of wear. There are of course other shoe companies that provide a similar service such as Alden’s, but and I don’t know your budget, many of them are considerable more expensive than AE. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/22 "2016-04-08T16:49:10Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > That’s not a Neanderthal foot. Clearly Denisovan though. :eek: Given the clearly prehensile big toe I would go with [Australopithecus.](http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2014/03/15/1226855/400146-326211dc-aba6-11e3-bbbe-18ebc4e71679.jpg) It reminds me of my favorite word from German: _Handschuhe_, or gloves; literally “hand-shoes.” I think you need foot-gloves. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/23 "2016-04-08T18:01:59Z")
I have dainty feminine feet and like Munros a lot. The hold up well. ---
**Author:** ![perillotours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@perillotours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perillotours)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/24 "2016-04-09T00:48:54Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > :eek: > > Given the clearly prehensile big toe I would go with [Australopithecus.](http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2014/03/15/1226855/400146-326211dc-aba6-11e3-bbbe-18ebc4e71679.jpg) > > It reminds me of my favorite word from German: _Handschuhe_, or gloves; literally “hand-shoes.” > > I think you need foot-gloves. 😉 They’re not prehensile. If they were, that would be somewhat of a consolation for the pain. Everyone else who might respond: My foot is at least 8E. EEEEEEEE If you’re mentioning 4E that’s already too little. Drew Apis footwear/Mt Emey Hitchcock shoes Those three are promoted as extra extra wide (6E) but they all taper too much. If I could find something with less taper, that would work. Lems shoes Feelmax, Anthony Alan Footwear Vivo Barefoot Vibram These are all proclaimed to have a wider toe box, but they’re still made for D (average/normal) width. I realize bespoke/custom molded is pretty much the only option, but that’s not in budget. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/25 "2016-04-16T11:54:50Z")
Have you been to a podiatrist? I’m seeing a foot that needs a custom orthotic, if not a custom shoe, because the metatarsals are…not supposed to be in that shape. The bones that make up the arch of your foot aren’t arching, causing them to spread wide instead of up and around. If you have health insurance and foot, ankle, or back pain, this could be a good thing - they may well pay for the custom made shoes you can’t afford out of pocket. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/26 "2016-04-16T16:49:55Z")
I have an internet business that sells shoes and what have found is that if you go up a size in length you will also increase width a bit (ie a 14 D medium will fit a 13 E wide pretty well). Rather than looking for an almost impossible to get non-bespoke 8 7E I would try a 10 4x (= 5E-6E) or 11 4X (=5E-6E) which are available at retail and would not look nearly as odd on your feet as a 8 7E . Here is a link with some extra wide shoes > **[Men's Footwear Sale | OnlineShoes.com](https://www.onlineshoes.com/US/en/mens-footwear-sale/)** > > Official OnlineShoes.com Site - Shop mens footwear on sale for the best deals on mens discounted running shoes loafers, sandals, oxfords & more! ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423/27 "2016-04-16T18:46:28Z")
Wide short feet here. I’m heavy & big. Barefoot & Crocs it is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-shoes-for-neanderthal-feet/751423.md?page=1)