Whenever you are selecting a new pair of shoes for you to buy, you must have to keep in mind that your shoes should be a perfect fit for your feet. Mostly you look at the shoe size but that only covers one part of your foot. Finding a perfect fit pair of shoes for your feet can be a problematic task, especially when you have a narrow feet type.
What most people forget is that the shoes might be too wide or too narrow, this will end in discomfort and a sad wallet.
So, what can you do if you bought wide shoes and want them to fit narrow feet? Let us share some of the methods to make regular shoes fit better for narrow feet.
How To Tell If Your Shoes Are Too Wide
- If the shoe only fits your feet when the shoelace is tightened, or the shoelace plate overlaps at the bridge of the foot, the shoe is too wide.
- If you feel that your feet are sliding forward and backward or from side to side as you walk.
- You curl your toes to keep the shoes from sliding around or slipping when you are walking.
If you have any of these problems with your shoes, they are not a good fit for you. But what do you do if you already bought them and want to keep them? Is there a way to make wide shoes fit narrow feet? Of course, there is.
Tips to Make Wide Shoes Fit Narrow Feet
You find the perfect shoe, you think it fits just fine and it’s just your style. You get home and start walking more in the shoes and notice that the shoes are too wide. Now you want to make them fit your narrow feet. Well, this isn’t any more to worry about as by using several specific techniques, you can decrease the shoe size to let it fit on your feet and to reduce the risk of foot injuries in the future.
The best way to make your wide shoes fit your narrow feet is to buy shoes with a narrow width. But that ain’t always an option. We have gathered some of the best tips for how to make wide shoes fit narrow feet below.
1) Lacing Shoes for Narrow Feet
If you have skinny feet there is a way of lacing your shoes if they have shoestrings. It’s one of the simplest yet effective ways to lessen the shoe size and to make them fit your narrow feet effectively. Changing the way you tie your shoelaces can be helpful. Usually, shoes have two eyelets set on both sides, and in that case, always try to lace through the ones furthest from the tongue. This helps to close both sides of the shoe more tightly over the footbridge. This technique will bring both sides of the shoes together and will make a shoe fitter for your feet. There are other types of lacing techniques, too, which you can try in keeping your shoes fit your narrow feet. You can also search over the internet regarding the best lacing types and techniques for your more full shoes to make them fit.
2) Use a Cushioned Shoe Inserts
The first and one of the most straightforward techniques that you can use to make your shoes feel smaller is using an insole. You need to put an insole inside your shoe while keeping sure that the insole is placed in a way that provides shock support to the arch and the heel as well. Usually, insoles are available in different sizes and categories, but you have to select the one which provides the most comfort and ease to your feet. Not only this, select the insole which keeps your feet protected and reduces the friction inside the shoes and to the ground so that stability while walking is enhanced, and the chances of slipping also get reduced. This way making the shoe fit your narrow feet.
THE 5 BEST INSOLES FOR SHOES THAT ARE TOO WIDE
Powerstep Wide Fit Full Shoe
This is recommended by Podiatrists to prevent and alleviate foot pain, hammertoes, bunions, and foot, ankle, knee, and heel pain to mention some. They give you the best support you can wish for.
Powerstep Original Orthotics Shoe Insoles
These full-length insoles are one of the most popular insoles for shoes that are too wide. It’s able to fit most shoes and has built-in arch support. The insoles have dual-layer cushioning with Variable cushioning technology to protect your feet. The Powerstep original orthotic shoe insoles are recommended by podiatrists to prevent heel and arch pain and aching feet.
Timberland PRO Men’s Anti-Fatigue Insole
If you spend a lot of your time standing or walking on hard surfaces these are the insoles you’re looking for. With these, you get shock absorption to make sure to reduce discomfort and minimize fatigue in shoes that are too wide.
Superfeet GREEN Insoles
These insoles support the rearfoot and provide stability and structure to the foam layer. The Deep heel cup gives you shoes with shock absorption and maximum support for your feet and making your wide shoe feel tighter.
Dr. Scholl’s Stylish Step High Heel Relief Insoles
Designed for high heels and women with foot pains. This will make your wide heels fit your narrow feet and also give you some support.
Narrow Feet Shoe Brands
There are a couple of brands that create shoes for narrow feet. If you want the perfect fit from the beginning we ask you to look into these:
Narrow Shoe Brand for Women:
- Vaneli – have a large range of styles and shoes. Check them out.
- Brooks – Athletic shoes that are well-fitting, supporting, and available in different colors and styles.
- Comfortiva – casual narrow shoes for women that are very comfortable.
- Stuart Weitzman – more formal shoes for narrow feet that you can wear to work, dates, or other formal occasions. They are more expensive but worth it.
- By choosing a brand that has shoes for narrow feet you make sure they are a good fit and support your feet in the right way.
Improper Shoe Injuries
If you have problems with shoes that are too wide and you slip around in the shoes you have it can, ultimately, damage your feet in so many ways. Some of the possible damages that shoes cause to narrow feet include ulcers, blisters, and mild irritations.
Foot injuries while wearing an improper kind of shoes can even exceed these minor issues. It can badly twist your ankle when your feet slip around. It can severely impact your ankle bone, and you can end up having a foot plaster. For all these reasons and several more, you can’t risk wearing an incorrect shoe size or shoes that are too wide for your narrow feet.
People who are active in sport and running activities should never wear a pair of shoes that don’t fit their feet properly as they can get their ankle twisted because of this.
How To Make Sandals Fit Narrow Feet
Sandals are a must during the summer as they keep your feet cool and offer you a nice look. If you have narrow feet you can have trouble finding sandals that fit your feet. That limits your selection and that is not as fun. We have gathered some tips for you to try to make your sandals fit your narrow feet.
- Strappy sandals – adjust the straps so they are smaller. Talk to a shoe repair specialist or a cobbler about this for the best result. If you want to try to make the straps shorter yourself, simply cut any loose straps with a scissor. Make sure the measure the straps so you get the appropriate length and cut. After you cut them make sure to super-glue the ens together. Before using the glue, make your it’s safe for your sandals and allow the glue to dry before using the sandals.
- Leather sandals – Wet the shoes completely and let them dry. Most plain leather and uncured leather will shrink and make it a better fit. If you want to dry the sandals faster you can apply a blow dryer or toss them in the dryer.
- Inserts/Insoles – quickest way is to buy the best insoles for wide shoes to fit your narrow feet.
Some don’ts to Focus
While it is about lessening shoe size, you have to keep some don’ts in mind so that you don’t damage your shoes. Don’t use cotton balls, toilet paper, or any raw fabric to make your shoes fit your feet as it can create a complete mess.
Some of the people try using tip-toes pads considering them useful but end up being too uncomfortable because these pads have not been designed according to the shoe and foot curves. The toe pads cannot get adjusted in all the shoe types because of a lack of customization.
Moreover, these pads can also cause irritation to your feet, or you have to bear unnecessary pains, so try to avoid such techniques.
