Why are most new athletic shoes "Wide" width?

[P&R Fan]

I was shopping today for a new set of white athletic shoes. I just get the cheap ones for daily wear. Have a nice set of Nike's for racquetball. Was at K-Mart and all they had in size 8 was "Wide" width. That's pretty much all they ever have when I buy new ones. Has our obesity epidemic made everybody's feet fat too?
Jim

 

[w-30dreamin]

I noticed the wide width as of late also.

Last pair of sneakers I bought I tried the regular width and then the wide width...the wide width felt better so I bought those.

It was the first time in my life I bought wide width.

I'm not a large guy,I would consider myself average.
6'1"
195lbs
size 10.5 shoe

 

[Rintimtin]

I heard that most people wear the wrong size/width shoe and dont even know it. This was my case until i was about 19 years old and went to buy a pair of Redwing work boots. The owner of the store was also a foot doctor and measured my foot properly and told me that the boots I had been wearing may have felt fine but were actually to large and not wide enough. I went down a half size and got a EE width and have never turned back. I now know what size to wear what width to wear and what type of insole and shank best relate to my foot shape. I havent had an uncomfortable pair of boots since.

Also I think people are slowly turning into hobbits.

 

[snubbyfan]

Why would obese people need athletic shoes? Isn't the reason they're obese is because they're not athletic?

 

[DeathGrip]

I don't have a weight issue. I paid for the beer gut.

I've always worn a wide when I could get them.

My latest NB's are wide and I noticed that there was a large selection of wides there. (sears) Not something I'm used to seeing. I was happy because I usually have to order them.

 

[LVSteve]

I've got short but wide feet which is a bit odd because the rest of me is slim. I have a relative whose feet area almost round, I swear.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Also, a little wider and a half a size bigger make it much easier to use a cushy insole like Dr Scholls.

 

[timn8er]

I heard that most people wear the wrong size/width shoe and dont even know it. This was my case until i was about 19 years old and went to buy a pair of Redwing work boots. The owner of the store was also a foot doctor and measured my foot properly and told me that the boots I had been wearing may have felt fine but were actually to large and not wide enough. I went down a half size and got a EE width and have never turned back. I now know what size to wear what width to wear and what type of insole and shank best relate to my foot shape. I havent had an uncomfortable pair of boots since.

Also I think people are slowly turning into hobbits.

Well, I know I love mushrooms....

 

[MSgt G]

Why would obese people need athletic shoes? Isn't the reason they're obese is because they're not athletic?

They're not athletic because their feet hurt!

 

[shouldazagged]

As a young man I wore a 9B.

As an old man I love my New Balance athletic shoes and walkers in 10EEEE. It's not obesity, it's decrepitude, arthritis, and hammer toes all the way across both feet. Family trait.

 

[WNC Seabee]

I wear a 14B. I just go ahead and buy skis.

 

[fat tom]

I'm a 10W,but an 11 feels so good,I buy a 12.
f.t.

 

[rimfired]

They won't fit me. I wear a 12 wide and have to try them to fit. Usually by order. And yes I have big hands too.

 

[spoon22]

I wear a 13 wide in most shoes. Nike is pretty much my enemy as I have to wear a 14 wide to be comfortable... its been so long since ive been able to buy a pair of shoes in store, which sucks because I cant try them on before I order them online. Being huge has its ups and downs (mostly ups)
Off topic but foot related:
I went out and got some custom inserts a few months ago, and let me say, it was one of the best decisions ive ever made. Worth every pretty penny.

Sent from my SAMSUNG - GALAXY S4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Need more half sizes

The older I get the wider my foot gets. But it's still a 11-1/2 & hardly anybody makes/sells a 11-1/2. What's up with that!! 11 is too tight & 12 is too loose!

 

[NCTexan]

No problem... Wide works for me!

 

[LazyKB]

I'm a 10W,but an 11 feels so good,I buy a 12.
f.t.

That one is old........and I was going to use it.

 

[Qball]

Hmm... ain't that odd?

Don't Ladies have the oppsite problem and buy way to small shoes?

 

[hangnoose]

wide foot

its about time. if there wasn't a need/demand, the mfg's wouldn't be making them. I wear 10 1/2 4e's if I can't find them I have to buy 11-12's and then the foot slides forward and back. + wide feet are better for swimming.

 

[25elk]

I don't see where anyone has answered the question posed by the OP. I have always had narrow feet and cannot even find casual athletic shoes that fit, as a result I am still wearing a worn out pair of Adidas walking shoes that are 20 years old that had the lining eaten out of the right shoe by a puppy more than 10 years ago. Anyway, I digress, the answer is the same as for most things these days...MONEY. Just like the "one size fits most" bs we are forced to accept, it is cheaper to manufacture only a few shoe widths instead of the old fashioned concept of making shoes that actually fit the wearer and were good for the foot. If you are older than 40 you probably remember when shoes came in sizes from AAA to DDDD (even in men's shoes), now it is narrow, which is the old "C", medium "D" and wide "EE". It is the same for boots unless you look for the 'made in USA' label and can afford the tariff.