Why do shoe sizes come in such small increments? For example, why is there a size 11 1/2? Why couldn’t this person just wear a size 12?? If socks only come in a few sizes- like size 10-13, why are there so many different shoe sizes???
Thanks.
Hey, I wear a size 11 1/2, NOT a 12! You can get blisters, foot damage, and injuries from improper fitting footwear. Do you know that there is an industry out there that makes custom fitted footwear for athletes and other high-end customers? The 1/2 size convention is simply just good enough for the market to be able to supply the demand efficiently.
I don’t see how the 1/2 sizes are necessary, especially when you consider that shoes stretch during the initial break-in period. If you buy 11 1/2, I’d bet they’d be a size 12 after you wore them for a month.
I dunno – I wear what would be called a size 14 1/2, except that it’s not traditionally made. I end up with either getting a size 14 and trying to stretch the shoe – usually failing miserably, or I get a size 15 and get plenty 'o blisters. My heels are calloused pretty thickly these days. 
I’ve looked into custom shoes, and even had a pair made once, but it’s just too damnably expensive for my income. I normally just get a 15 and wear extra socks, or pad the shoes a bit.
I can tell a half-size difference. If I’m not terribly unusual, that should answer the question right there. (I’m speaking of US shoe sizes here, as I assume that the OP is.)
The difference doesn’t sound like much - I believe a half size corresponds to a [sup]1[/sup]/[sub]6[/sub]-inch difference in length. But, in general, the “correct” size for me is noticeably more comfortable than a half-size in either direction.
To fit properly.
Because his foot would slip around inside the shoe, causing blisters, callouses, and/or unsure footing.
Socks are a whole different thing. The common size of men’s socks is 10-13, sort of a “one size fits most” (note that those are SOCK sizes, not SHOE sizes–the numbering systems are different). Socks stretch a fair amount, making this possible.
I bet they wouldn’t. I think you far overestimate how much shoes stretch.
One half shoe size (American) is a significant difference. Try wearing shoes a half size too small for a month, if you can stand it. Then try wearing shoes a half size too big. Your feet will answer your question for you.
One of my feet is a half-size bigger than the other. I have to buy shoes in a 7.5 for the larger foot, but then the other shoe is too big, so I have to put inserts in it to make it wearable for the smaller foot. And even doing so, I have a hard time getting a comfortable fit in a lot of styles.
If shoe-size increments were any larger, I’d have to buy two pairs of shoes to get one.
Ya gotta love that arrogantly naive Yankee imperialism about the entire world doing things in one way.
Have you ever heard of European shoe sizes Surreal? They don’t have half sizes.
On the other hand, your average 8.5 shoe in the USA is approximately shoe size 41 across the Atlantic. A 9 is a 42, so on and so forth.
Obviously, people buy the shoe that fits-- which makes American half-sizes necessary.
I expect all the blood that soaked into the leather would help too.
Because feet come in such a wide variety of sizes.
Mangetout-“I expect all the blood that soaked into the leather would help too.”
Could somebody please tell me what the HELL he’s talking about?
Blood from your abraded feet soaking into the leather and making it supple/stretch.
I take it that you understand now why you need 1/2 sizes. It’s a comfort thing, rather like certain creams :D.
Such SMALL increments? They could be smaller - I often wish they had a 7 3/4 because 7 1/2 is just a little too tight, and 8 is just a little too loose. 
Does anyone think the OP has a good point? It’s not so much of a question really as a opinion - “Half sizes aren’t necessary.” I can’t imagine why it is that he wants everyone to wear uncomfortable shoes.
The original OP could mean two different things.
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Why are the increments so small? This has been answered by many people.
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Why is the numbering system such that 1/2 sizes are used, instead of making them whole numbers?
The answers to #2 could be:
- It isn’t always, the brits do it differently.
- Who cares?
- <insert real historical reason>
My guess for #3 is that at some point, technology improved to enable shoemakers to manufacture shoes with greater precision. Rather than renumbering everything, they put in half sizes. You sometimes see street addresses with 1/2 numbers, same idea. I have no idea if this is true, just seems reasonable to me.
BTW, what size shoe do you wear Surreal?
I measure size 11, but I’ve found I can easily wear 10 1/2 or 11 1/2 if 11 is not available. I’ve also borrowed other people’s steel-toed boots that were size 13 with no problem. When I was a kid, my mother used to by shoes that were several sizes too big, so that when my feet grew there would still be room and they wouldn’t have to be replaced suddenly.
Now women, on the other hand, have to wear super-tight shoes in order to make their feet look small- and therefore more beautiful- and they have to see podiatrists later in life because of this unhealthy practice.
Not so.
I’m a woman, and since childhood I’ve had to be very careful about what shoes I wear because my feet blister so easily that even a seam in a well-fitted pair of shoes will rub blisters. I never wear tight shoes, rarely wear dress shoes and only really wear joggers (trying to remember correct American term! Do you guys say sneakers?). Ever read the story of the Princess and the Pea? That’s me with seams in shoes. I’ve even had blisters form along the edges of my feet where the sides of the shoes meet the soles.
I certainly never wear too tight shoes to make my feet look small, and don’t know anyone who does. I have a sister in law who wears a size 12 ladies shoe, most of my friends are around size 10, but people in my family have small feet. Mine are comparatively large at 7.5-8, Mum wears a 6, Aunt wears a 5 and often has to buy kid’s shoes because she can’t get her size in women’s shoes - she actually often ends up with shoes that are too large rather than too small simply because she can’t get anything to fit.
I’m talking Australian sizes, don’t know how they compare with US or UK sizing.
They don’t come in ENOUGH sizes.
Remember when every store carried narrow and wide in every size and style?
I do, because I have narrow feet and my brother had wide. Now we both complain that no shoes ever fit, unless we go to the $100 a pair kind at the Haberdashery-type stores.
Yeah, what Bromley said.
Why don’t we just manufacture one size of shoe and trim bits off people’s feet if they are too large to fit?