The Weekly Gripe

Gripes the News
The Soapbox
Gripes in the pipes
*

Where can you find comfortable half size shoes?

45 comments  Add a comment

Long ago, back in the 60s and 70s, you could go into a shoe shop and find something that was actually comfortable.  A large number of them used to do shoes in half sizes.  Nowadays, it's really hard to find shops that stock these.  Why?  Have our feet magically changed so that they are now whole sizes?

No, of course not.  It's just that half sizes are inconvenient for the manufacturer.  They would much rather we squeezed our toes into shoes that were slightly too small.  Or flopped about in ones just a touch too big.  Eventually, we get fed up, donate the shoes to Oxfam and buy a new pair.

The other thing I notice is that most shoes seem to just have a piece of elastic at the front to hold them on.  What happened to proper straps with actual buckles?  They actually stayed on and were comfortable. 

A pair of half size shoes? Now, with this elastic thing, you have to clench your toes to keep the shoe on and you end up with bunions. Again, it's shoe manufacturers trying to save money.

And have you noticed - when you put the shoes on a flat surface like a table - the toe part doesn't lie flat?  It sort of curves up.  Not really comfortable to wear, yet again.  If I want to look like a medieval jester, I'll buy the red and yellow cap!!

So, what's going on?  I find that the only place I can get shoes in half sizes is the USA.  So, you end up paying shipping costs.  ('m tired of never having a decent pair of shoes.  I wish the shoe manufacturers would improve their designs.

By: Fedupinwales


Leave a comment

First Prev 1/4 Next Last

Chris 6 and a Half

Chris 6 and a Half

Right then here goes my punt. We should get a campaign - may be an on line petition to the "shoe manufacturers institute" and once we have enough names then get onto Woman's Hour. I have just spent a miserable 2 days in Brum - to be told I could order half sizes on line (doh!) and bring them back in store if they don't fit. Where I did find stores that sold half sizes guess what? They had sold out. So the demand is self evident. Whose game on for a petition?
21/09/11 Chris 6 and a Half
-5
Goodie

Goodie

Hi, I totally agree with you. I have always been size 5 1/2 and I have now resigned myself to just shopping at Clarke's, because hardly anyone bothers about the in betweeen sizes. I must point out though that Clare's have come a long way and now always have fashionable designs in half sizes. However, I would like some choice from other sources. Although there are more shoe designs than ever, the shoe designers do not cater for the feet, just the purse. I would love to be involved in a protest movement, publisising shoe manufacturers who still cater for needs of our feet, against those who try to squeeze us into the neerest size, just to make their profit margins bigger. Gudrun Clarke, Romford
25/03/11 Goodie
1
desperate in england

desperate in england

What do you do if Hotter shoes rip your feet to shreads ? I also am either sliding around in a 7 but crippled in a 6.
14/11/10 desperate in england
2
Rock climbing hero

Rock climbing hero

Best shoes ever and worth every penny are MBTs. Check their outlets in the UK for a bargain. They do 1/2 sizes.
Beware of fakes on hundreds of professional looking websites (china) . They are fraudulent.
13/09/10 Rock climbing hero
2
Murphy Taylor

Murphy Taylor

Chop yer toes off then terry. it worked for me. and that goes to people with half sized shoes aswell.

HANDY HINT: chop your toes down to where your toenails start, and you wont be wearing inconvienient half sized shoes anymore!

Your welcome guys.
20/07/10 Murphy Taylor
5
Terry

Terry

What I hate in shoe shops more than half size issues is that they never have the size you want. I mean I want 12 or 13 and they only do up to the size smaller.
04/04/10 Terry
11
Murphy Taylor

Murphy Taylor

Also you are saying I am using some name called England is Mine or something, im scottish, and I don't have anything against wales I was joking, not got a clue who is impersonating fedupinwales or whatever so move on.
02/04/10 Murphy Taylor
32
Murphy Taylor

Murphy Taylor

that is not me, I am relalively new to this site, I don't know who is impersonating fedupinwales, nor do I have anything against that user.

stop blaming me, its not me, I dont know who it is ok..

god...
02/04/10 Murphy Taylor
3
so bored with you

so bored with you

"God mate what are you on about? I don't know who those users are but I have only ever used the name Murphy Taylor."

Except when you are using all those other names or when you are impersonating people like Fedupinwales? What a cheap and nasty thing the troll is, cowardly like all bullies.
29/03/10 so bored with you
-4
fedupinwales

fedupinwales

Oh dear, looks like the moronic element has crept in.

Sbia adra.
28/03/10 fedupinwales
-5
Murphy Taylor

Murphy Taylor

''Murphy Taylor
Do you really think we don’t all know that you are also posting as Art Rosenheim, Fitter 102, H.I.D 4 LIFE!, England Is Mine and a host of other names over the last few days? Your weak attempts to type in a different style, using different “voices” are fooling no one but boring everyone.''
---------------------------------------------------------

God mate what are you on about? I don't know who those users are but I have only ever used the name Murphy Taylor.

But I agree with the poster below me, welsh birds are dirty.
26/03/10 Murphy Taylor
-8
Kathleen W

Kathleen W

I don't see what is pointless about this gripe. Retailers should pay more attention to what their customers want.

Regarding the "charged full price for special offers " gripe - I think the big supermarkets take enough of people's hard earned cash without scamming us with fake offers that they "forget" to load into the computer system.
25/03/10 Kathleen W
-1
fedup of fedupinwales

fedup of fedupinwales

Murphy dont worry about it fedupinwales posts some of the most pointless and stupid gripes ever seen on this site see the Charged full price for special offers one for a perfect example, btw I agree with you Gavin and Stacey is crap! Some of the welsh women are dirty though and enjoy it up the wrong un.
25/03/10 fedup of fedupinwales
-21
so bored with you

so bored with you

Murphy Taylor
Do you really think we don’t all know that you are also posting as Art Rosenheim, Fitter 102, H.I.D 4 LIFE!, England Is Mine and a host of other names over the last few days? Your weak attempts to type in a different style, using different “voices” are fooling no one but boring everyone.
25/03/10 so bored with you
-13
Murphy Taylor

Murphy Taylor

Are all people in wales like this, fedupinwales?

Is Wales a land of people with Half-Sized Feet, Gays(i've seen little britain), Transgender people, midgets and sheep?

I have never been, although I have seen Gavin and Stacey which could confirm my fears.

I don't currently have enough ammo to wipe out the welsh, and it would probably cost quite a lot for an atomic bomb, not sure what the market is like these days. I know Britain does have nuclear weapons, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out where they keep them but i'd imagine they would be pretty well guarded so that's that plan out the window...

Apart from trying to run as a local MP and work my way up to Prime Minister and then re-instating the death penatly for anyone who tampers with Sheep, or better yet any farmyard animals, shouldn't take to long ..(apart from goats though, for obvious reasons....I love goats..)

yes ..yes that's what i'll do...yes...YES!..yes.....yes....
25/03/10 Murphy Taylor
-8

First Prev 1/4 Next Last

FEATURES

Gripes the News
Gripes in the pipes
The Soapbox
spinner