Does everyone leave a thumb width of space in their marathon (or other distance) race shoes?

I like half a thumb length or less in my smaller foot.

Kvothe wrote:

I like half a thumb length or less in my smaller foot.

So you have feet with two different sizes? How different? What size gap do you like for your bigger foot?

I would say the thumb wide is base most shoes are not shaped like the human foot. The big toe gets squashed and your feet are a little more unstable, therefore change you biomechanics and generate a little less power. Longer races will see potential toe nail brushing too.

matbar wrote:

I would say the thumb wide is base most shoes are not shaped like the human foot. The big toe gets squashed and your feet are a little more unstable, therefore change you biomechanics and generate a little less power. Longer races will see potential toe nail brushing too.

I keep thinking about this - isn’t the shoe be designed based on where the forefoot sits in the shoe and is cushioned? So both the width of the shoe and the midsole underneath made for where the balls of your toes are going to sit (which is the widest part of most people’s feet. The length people’s toes are variable so some people with long toes would need less space up front and people with short toes would need more to accommodate where there forefoot sits in the shoe?

I leave very little space in all my shoes. Everyone's feet are different. Figure out what works for you.

The relative lengths of the toes (to one another) are not the same for all people. There is a strong genetic/ethnic factor (e.g., Kalenjin vs European).

I myself don't based on the thumb, but the index. It's longer than the thumb and tends to get black nail if space is too tight. Some people do have the thumb as their longest.

two sizes? wrote:

Kvothe wrote:

I like half a thumb length or less in my smaller foot.

So you have feet with two different sizes? How different? What size gap do you like for your bigger foot?

I’ve measured thousands of feet selling shoes. I’d say 8 out of 10 people have a half-size difference in their feet.

Two things to consider:

1. You standing in a shoe does not mimic the motion of your foot while exerting high levels of force by running. Your foot needs to be able to splay to properly absorb the impact and to flex and propel you forward. If your toes are touching the shoe while you are standing, you’re not going to be able to run as well.

2. As important as toe room, the arch of the shoe should also match the shape of your foot. If you incorrectly size your shoe in either direction, likely the arch will be in the wrong place. Ideally, you should not be aware of the arch of the shoe, as it will match perfectly with your own.

I agree your toes should not touch, but a thumb width is about an inch which is a lot. I think shoe stores tell people this mostly because it's an easy reference and they don't want people to return their shoes. There is no way you feet are going to splay an inch in length. Your second point is exactly right and is also the danger of ordering shoes online - you need to try a shoe on and see how it fits your foot. Again, if you say a thumb width of space it allows people to wear a shoe that may not actually fit them right but they can make accommodations and make it work, but not all shoes work for all people. If you fit a shoe so it feels right everywhere else you don't need all that extra space up front.

When it comes to footwear, accommodating different foot sizes can be a challenge. In such cases, people often opt for shoes that fit the larger foot and use padding or insoles to compensate for the size difference in the smaller foot. Alternatively, some individuals may choose to have custom-made shoes to ensure a proper fit for both feet.

I myself have a size 45 foot, so it's so hard for me to find shoes sometimes. I hope that the factory will make bigger shoes.

seems to be about half a size. The right shoe will fit dead on, no room left, the left shoe has extra room. If the right shoe has extra room, the left feels like its floppy in the toebox.