More often than not, men and women tend to find themselves looking at shoes from the opposite gender. This often results in them asking what is the difference between mens and womens shoes. This is a pretty common question in the industry already and if you're part of the crowd who isn't aware of the answer to this, then you're at the right place. We're here to help enlighten you on the difference between these two, and hopefully, help you find the right shoes for you in the process.
One of the major differences between men's and women's shoes is the width. Most men's shoes come in a standard D width, but there are wide versions available in 2E and 4E. On the other hand, most women's shoes come in a B width. There are also narrower versions, like 2A, of both.
Although men's shoes are wider and longer than women's, they are still smaller than women's. Also, women's shoes have a narrower heel area than men's shoes. This helps support the foot and reduce wear and tear. If you're unsure about the difference, you can try converting shoe sizes between brands.
Men's shoes have more pronounced heels than women's shoes, so men's running shoes tend to have a wider toe box. At the same time, even the body shape and size of the two genders could affect the design of the shoes. Women's shoes tend to have lighter and softer midsoles as they tend to be lighter in weight while it's the complete opposite for men. The way the two genders pronate is also different resulting in different arch supports as well. It could be very confusing for anyone, so the next time you want shoes from the opposite gender's aisle, make sure that you take note of the differences stated above and try on the shoes rigorously first before deciding whether to purchase them or not.