Do our feet get smaller as we get older?

Question

I went to my Redwing shoe store yesterday. To buy new shoes. I buy a pair every 1-2 years. The lady has my shoe size on file, since 1986. She said that EVERYONE, the older they get, the smaller their feet get. Do you think this is true?

I have been weightlifting for 22 years. My shoe size went from a size 11, medium width, to yesterday - size 13, widest width they sold!! She said I am the ONLY customer they have that, every time I come in, I need a bigger size shoe. Not complaining, mind you. Just though what she said about feet getting smaller was an interesting statement. Never heard it before.

Answer 1

She's WRONG WRONG WRONG and full of ****. You must be a good looking fellow and she was probably trying to impress you.
The opposite is true, your feet get bigger as you age or as your weight increases.
At age 21 I wore a size 7.5
At age 31 I wore a size 8
At age 41 I wore a size 8.5
and now at 52 I were a 9

Answer 2

She's crazy, if anything the opposite is true. Lots of people I know have had their shoe size increase as they aged. Just the years of walking would tend to make feet spread at least in width, and probably length too. Then too, there is the aspect of shoes coming from other countries where the "last", or whatever they call that thing they use to pattern the shoes on, are all different sizes. Shoes from Italy may be very different in size number to shoes made in Brazil or wherever.

Answer 3

I think the lady is mistaken. Actually it's just the opposite. As you age, 50+, your feet begin to flatten out from years of usage, the foot pad become thinner and you need larger shoes. You also need more cushioning in the bottoms of your shoes because your feet pads are wearing down. A foot specialist told me this and it made perfect sense especially in light of my own lifetime experience.

When I married at 19 I wore an impossible size 4 shoe. Settled for the rare finds of size 4 1/2. After I had a child my shoe size increased to a size 5- 5 1/2.
I now wear a much more suitable and mainstream size of 6 and sometimes a 6 1/2 depending on the manufacturer of the shoe. Some imported shoes from Europe for instance run quite small.
My mom never changed her shoe size her whole life and never deviated from what she was told by "expert shoe fitters" and she was miserable wearing what she was told instead of wearing what was comfortable to her.

Anyway, I think the lady is misinformed.
According to my foot doctor, it's perfectly normal that the human foot becomes larger as it flattens, however the spine compresses and we become shorter in stature with age.
Pretty soon I expect to look like a hobbit.

Answer 4

That is so funny. My 7 mnth Pit is named Dozer also. anyway to your question. I guess it depends on how you react to him when he does it.' Mine would nip and we would hold his mouth closed tightly and say a strong NO. He got the idea but being a stubborn pit puppy it took a few times. Remember also. He is in the middle of his adolesence stage so it could be just teen age boy behavior. but, if your really concerned. reach out to a trainer. They are better in giving advice. Good luck by the way, My Dozer is a dark brown brindle with a white chest and front legs. By the way, Roushfan; Your 14m had dog all your life?? what, the last 4 that you were old enough to know anything. My 13 yr old dghtr has more logical sense then you.

Answer 5

My feet went up a shoe size and i'm 25. I also find that all brands run differently. In some brands i'm 9 and i some i'm an 11...kinda annoying!

Answer 6

I find what she said to be an odd statement. My feet have slowly gotten bigger over the years (longer and wider).

I've never heard of anyone having their feet become smaller as they get older.

Answer 7

ummm, well usually youre feet just stop growing around 30 but im not sure about shrinking its possible but i wouldnt count on it. dnt worry. im fifteen next month and am the same shoe size as you are =]

Answer 8

Well, when growing in the long run, no. Growing from a child to an adult. But when going from an adult to an elderly adult, maybe. For some reason, our feet might get smaller when growing older. We usually grow shorter, too.

Answer 9

Nah - not true for me either - my feet are bigger and wider than when I was a young Joe

Answer 10

I've never heard that.....but just an FYI, I have slowly gone from a 7 to an 8.....so I'm with you.