Are shoes a little too big? I know everyone has struggled with this issue at least once or twice in their life, even when I bought my favorite new pair of shoes online. Buying shoes online can be tricky, as your usual size may not be the same for all brands. You would always be skeptical about the size until it arrives and you try them on.
For me, nothing more disappointing than not being able to snug in my favorite shoes just because they were too big. If you are in the same situation as me, there is nothing you can do about it other than to wear your oversized pair of shoes and embrace it anyway!
How to know if shoes are too big and how to Fix Shoes That Are Too Big
Does trouble find an answer on how to tell if shoes are too big? No worries, I've got you covered. If you want to know if my newly bought shoes are a little too big, then the simplest way to tell that is by looking at how much space you've got in the toe area. Ideally, there must be a one-finger width distance between your longest toe and the Heel.
Another way you can know if the shoes are too big is by slipping your finger between the foot and the Heel of the shoe. If your shoe is bigger, there must be enough room for you to perfectly fit your finger in that space. If your finger snuggles smoothly without any tight squeeze, you should opt for a size half down; if it's a tight squeeze, you can opt for a size half up.
How to fix your shoes that are too big
In my experience, wearing a size shorter or larger than your usual size is unsafe because if you do so, you are self-inviting various foot problems such as blisters, arch pain, chafing, etc. Thus, wearing the right shoe size is always recommended.
However, if you have no other option but to keep the oversized shoes and use them, here are some 'shoe too big' hacks that you can opt for for a longer run. I will suggest some easy hacks that will tell you what to do if your shoes are too big? So, without much saying, let's begin!
1. Put Multiple Socks
This is probably the oldest method that even I have tried, and I would also suggest opting for when you're wearing shoes that are too big.
Multiple layers of thick shocks can give you a great cushioning effect and fill the extra room inside your shoes.
This makes your foot perfectly inside the shoes and provides stability while walking. Nevertheless, not everybody feels comfortable roaming around with multiple socks.
In addition, the choice of wearing thick socks also depends on the climate you have in your surroundings. This method would be highly useful in chilly winters where you need maximum protection around your foot.
But, in monsoon or summer, not very much! Adding multiple layers can make your feet sweat profusely and smell bad. However, if you take proper care of the cleaning part, the bad odor wouldn't be an issue.
2. Use Grip Socks
Is your shoe half size too big? Try using grip socks. These are the socks people use while walking on uneven or slippery surfaces.
These grip socks not only prevent you from slipping on tricky floors but also prevent slipping inside the shoes, even if it's half a size bigger than your actual size.
Those who don't want to wear multiple socks can opt for this method to avoid sweating during summertime.
3. Stuff Insoles/Liners
If you are looking for a solution to make too big shoes fit better, the most amazing backup you got is stuffing all sorts of things inside your shoes to make them feel tighter after wearing them.
For instance, you can buy insoles or liners in various sizes and compositions. The cushioned design of liners or insoles is meant to fill the room inside the shoes and provide stability while walking or running.
Some of the best solutions for fillers are PVA insoles, Heel supports, or Arch pads; any of this stuffing would be great for long-lasting comfort. If you don't want to go for insoles or liners for any reason, then you can go for a much cheaper stuffing option such as toilet paper, cotton balls, newspapers, etc.
But let me tell you, this won't feel comfortable if you are going to wear the shoes for a longer time. Besides, there can be other risks affecting the effectiveness of this method, such as weather temperature, humidity, sweat intensity, etc. So, if you are very certain about your daily activities, only then opt for this method.
4. Permanent Inserts
Are you looking for a solution on how to make shoes that are too big fit? Well, if you are hunting for this solution, then it means you are very keen on keeping your oversized shoes.
If that's so, you must choose a more long-lasting method. In my opinion, shoe inserts would be a great choice as they are much longer-lasting than insoles.
If durability is what you seek, then I would suggest you opt for shoe inserts made of Poron material instead of gel or latex. Because Poron is much more durable than latex and is also used in orthopedic shoes which means you can rely on the comfort and stability you will get with these types of shoe inserts.
5. Insert Ball-Of-Foot Cushions
Not everybody likes fully stuffed insoles in their shoes if shoes are slightly too big. I am one of those people. Thus, a better option is to purchase a ball-of-foot that you can keep in the foot area where it offers excellent comfort and does slip off while walking or running.
These are much preferred over shoe inserts due to their utmost comfort. ball-of-foot cushions are available in various colors, sizes, and shapes based on the type of shoes you wear.
6. Sewing
Anyone with some sewing experience can opt for this method. Besides, there is nothing much you have to prepare; all you need are some elastic bands and a sewing kit.
Sewing the inside of the shoes means you are pulling the material jointly, therefore making it fit perfectly according to your feet' size.
Use the safety pins to attain the band in place while keeping it tight. Then you can sew the places where you need most tightening.
Once done, remove all the safety pins from the shoes, so you don't get hurt accidentally. If I am stuck with the issue that my shoes are too big, then I'd use the sewing method to make them shorter in size.
How to fit into shoes that are too big
The question of how to make shoes fit that is too big is the most common I see on the internet. To which the answer is quite simple. Here I present some easy tips that will make your shoes fit better on your feet.
If you have leather shoes, then you can add thin insoles in the shoes that will make them approximately 1/4th smaller in size. After the insole is set, all you have to do is put the laces tight enough to give you a better fit than before.
To make your shoes smaller in size, the best thing you can do is add a tongue pad. The tongue pad is made of suede material that not only decreases the size of the shoes but also provides soft comfort on the instep of your feet.
Sometimes even after stuffing your shoes with some materials to make them fit better, they still make your feet slip off the Heel. To avoid this problem, you can use a heel grip that gives a sturdy grip over heel slippage. You can buy the heel grips online or try to buy them from the nearest shoe store.
Effects of wearing oversized shoes
It happens too often that you find a beautiful pair of shoes, but unfortunately, you purchase the wrong size. Going for a small size guarantees pain. But what are the side effects of wearing shoes that are too big for your feet? Some of the common effects of wearing big-size shoes are:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How to tell if shoes are too big?
The easiest way to tell if the shoes are bigger is by checking how much room you have got in the toe of the shoe. In other words, there should be one finger's width of the distance between the toe and the end of the Heel.
2. What to put in shoes that are too big?
The cheapest and the easiest way to reduce the size of your shoes is by stuffing them with thick socks, Wadded cotton balls, tissue paper, or even toilet paper, for that matter. If you don't want to use this household item, then you can also opt for a premium sole pad that will give you a nice cushioning effect and simultaneously provide stability.
CONCLUSION
In sum, there is no magic remedy to making your shoes smaller. Thus I recommend buying the right size shoes for your feet. Unluckily, if you can't find the correct size of shoes, you can always opt for some ordinary solutions. Some of which I have already mentioned in my post. This was everything you needed to know about how to make shoes that are too big fit.
Jeffrey has a Master of Science degree in sports science and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Jeffrey has worked in sports medicine clinics, corporate wellness facilities and rehabilitation clinics. He/She is an exercise physiologist and fitness consultant who has been writing about sports equipment and training techniques for athletes and fitness enthusiasts for over a decade.