Wear thicker socks (or multiple pairs). Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to make a loose pair of shoes fit better is to "bulk up" your feet with thicker layers of socks. For example, you might try exchanging a skin-tight pair of dress socks or tights for a padded set of crew socks.
As we all know, if you wear a shoe that is too tight it will hurt your feet and lead to foot ailments, such as blisters, bunions and calluses. But wearing a shoe that is too big will cause us to walk in an unnatural and dysfunctional way. This can lead to serious foot problems.
Signs that your shoes are too big
Shoes that are too big may likewise give you blisters caused by the friction of your foot moving around. If your shoes are too big in length, you might notice your foot sliding backwards and forwards, while shoes that are too wide will cause your feet to slide from side to side.
Arch support is also a major part of a shoe's fit. Shoes that are too loose can lead to poor arch support, shin pain, and arch collapse. Loose-fitting shoes may also cause trips and falls, as your foot can't feel the surface as well as it should.
Gait Changes – If your shoes are too big, they can end up affecting your natural gait. This can lead you to walk in an unnatural and even dysfunctional manner as your work to keep your heel from slipping out of the shoe, which can lead to new foot pain or problems like Achilles Tendonitis.
Without debate, by far the riskiest part of wearing shoes that are too loose is increasing your risk of various foot and ankle injuries. Whether it is jamming your toe or spraining an ankle, loose shoes aren't worth it.
If a woman is buying a pair of court or dress shoes, half a size too big could make it quite difficult to walk as the shoe will slip. A loose fit could put you at risk for injury. If you are between sizes, sizing down is a better option in this situation.
Signs that your shoes are too big
Shoes that are too big may likewise give you blisters caused by the friction of your foot moving around. If your shoes are too big in length, you might notice your foot sliding backwards and forwards, while shoes that are too wide will cause your feet to slide from side to side.
How to tell if shoes are too big or too small. The easiest way to tell if a shoe is too big or too small is to take a look at how much room there is in the toe of the shoe. Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
Stick to your true size. Sometimes we think shoes that are a size smaller can stretch over time or that we can make slightly loose shoes fit better with pads and what not, but the best buys are the ones that fit your feet perfectly at the time you buy them.
Turns out, there is a research-backed answer: Experts recommend between ⅜” to ½” of space between the end of your toes and the front of the shoe—roughly the width of your thumb.
When purchasing the perfect shoe, fit is always the most important. If your shoe is too tight, you may have blisters, numbness and general discomfort; to avoid this, many experts recommend buying a running shoe half a size larger.
Blisters and bunions. Corns and calluses. Hot feet and hammertoes. These foot problems—as well as others—are signs that you're wearing shoes that are either too big or too small.
As a rule of thumb (or toe), you should have about 3/8″ to 1/2″ of room from the tip of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Your big toe is not automatically your longest toe. Pick the shoes that match your foot shape.
As your feet grow longer, they also grow wider- and as you go up in shoe sizes, you also need a bit more width in your shoes. While you could go up a size, a size 12 is a bit wider than a size 11, you then have to worry about adding extra length to your shoes that you don't actually need.
Without debate, by far the riskiest part of wearing shoes that are too loose is increasing your risk of various foot and ankle injuries. Whether it is jamming your toe or spraining an ankle, loose shoes aren't worth it.
While most shoes will stretch and mold to fit your feet over time, many can be manually stretched. Leather shoes are easiest to stretch, but most fabrics and materials can also be stretched.
If the shoe's toe box is too small, your toes will rub against the top of the shoe and you will get calluses or sores. Check the space at the end of the shoe. Stand up and make sure there is 3/8" or 1/2" (about the width of your finger) between your longest toe (usually the second toe) and the end of the shoe.
For both men's and women's shoes, stick a finger in between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe, if your finger slides in with a bit of space to spare, you should probably go down a half size. If it doesn't fit that well, go up a half a size to a full size.
If your laces are done up too tightly the footwear can squash your toes. If they are too loose this will cause your foot to move around and slide too far forward causing your toe nails to hit the front of your shoe. Find out more about lacing techniques in our How to Lace Walking Boots guide.