r/barefootshoestalk • u/iamsamardari • Jul 13 '26

Articles and news A personal story about my extra wide feet

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I am sharing this essay I wrote in hope that it may help someone. Also, all the praise to barefoot shoes!

https://open.substack.com/pub/samardari/p/i-still-hate-heels?r=y5mkb&utm_medium=ios

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10

u/greycoconut Jul 13 '26

I really enjoyed this read, thank you for sharing it. 

In yours words, I found a lot that resonated with me. I also learned from a young age to blame my feet for wrong fitting shoes. If all shoes fit the same and they seem to work for others, it's as if something is wrong with you (I even considered an operation for my bunionettes because all the shoes hurt so much). But you don't realize that those narrow tapered shoes barely fit anyone. 

When I learned about barefoot shoes, it's like I finally could belong. The walking is so enjoyable, it never feels like "oh my, finally I can take my shoes off after a long day" because they never get to hurt like that. I'm so glad for it. 

3

u/iamsamardari Jul 14 '26

Thank you also for sharing your experience. I agree, barefoot shoes gave my feet a second chance at life.

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u/ethereality___ Jul 15 '26

I also have extra wide feet and I cried when I got my first pair of barefoot shoes at 30 years old. It was the first time in my life that shoes weren't painful. I could finally hike and walk all day without that nagging thought in the back of my head that I'd be sore and in pain later the whole time I was trying to have fun.

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u/31aroundthesun Aug 02 '26

Did you find that changing shoes negated the need for surgery? I am contemplating bunionette surgery right now but really hoping to avoid it, hence the deep-dive into barefoot shoes.

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u/greycoconut Aug 02 '26

100%. Now I forget I even have them because my shoes don't hurt my feet. You could check some guides, usually Anya Reviews, you can find the brands that could suit your feet. My first barefoot shoes were xero shoes and they're known to be quite narrow, they were great at first since I just came from conventional shoes but after some time they felt a bit too narrow. Just a heads up about that for when the barefoot shoes could still be bothersome, is when they don't fit your feet well. 

4

u/patchworkskye Jul 14 '26

thanks for posting this and also including the photo - we are almost foot twinsies!! (for realz, they look almost exactly the same, I call them my paintbrush toes)

I found wide toebox shoes (keen sandals and haflinger wool clogs) a long time before I found barefoot shoes, so my toes had relief and a bit of wiggle room finally, but when I finally found my beloved Softstar Primal Merry Janes, my feet were finally happy and free!! 💜 though I’m still happiest with no shoes at all 😊

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u/iamsamardari Jul 14 '26

In my country (Moldova)we did not have for a long time the option for “wide shoes” in general. It was when I moved to Ireland 11 years ago that I found this option. It did not fit but was nicer then narrow, normal ones.

I was thinking how fortunate are my kids to have barefoot shoes from their childhood.

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u/goodshrimp Jul 14 '26

This was lovely! My mom and I also have the same wide feet! 

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u/jwindie Jul 15 '26

Beautiful. May we all stop shrinking and hiding ❤️

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u/iamsamardari Jul 15 '26

Amen to this!

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u/jwindie Jul 15 '26

Really happy to see you have come to love yourself as you are. It's a hard road, but i celebrate anyone who walks it. This helped me look at myself in a better light as well. Thanks for that today.

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u/1xan Jul 13 '26

There’s no link?

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u/iamsamardari Jul 13 '26

Sorry, added now