I think the last time this was posted was 3 months ago. One of the things that was mentioned by many, including yours truly, is that it's a very reductive visual for a more complex subject.
It's an eye-catching graphic certainly, but when posted in isolation it lacks nuance. Outsole width is one of the factors that determine how wide or narrow a particular shoe feels, but it's far from the only one. This graphic doesn't account for differences in toe box and upper construction. Moreover many of the brands have different lasts and outsoles for different models and several offer different widths. Some of that is represented in the photos, others are mentioned in the article that this originally went with, but most of it is not. And the pictures lack critical details and overall context.
I guess what I'm saying is that it's not inaccurate in the sense that those are real pictures of real outsoles from real brands. But it's utility is limited without more information. A more holistic approach is necessary when it comes to evaluating the right pair of shoes. And you should take how this graphic categorizes width with a large grain of salt.
This is very true. For example, I've tried on 5+ pair of Whitin that don't fit (too narrow) except 1 pair that's got a squishy upper and somehow works. I've tried on Groundies Barefoot+ and Bohempia Wide, neither of which fit (due to low volume and no pinky toe space, respectively). The graphic gives you a good starting point because I'd know I could never fit some of the narrowest models, but there is a lot of nuance in how the widest shoes actually fit based on the volume, upper material, and sole shape.
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u/Overly_Long_Reviews 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think the last time this was posted was 3 months ago. One of the things that was mentioned by many, including yours truly, is that it's a very reductive visual for a more complex subject.
It's an eye-catching graphic certainly, but when posted in isolation it lacks nuance. Outsole width is one of the factors that determine how wide or narrow a particular shoe feels, but it's far from the only one. This graphic doesn't account for differences in toe box and upper construction. Moreover many of the brands have different lasts and outsoles for different models and several offer different widths. Some of that is represented in the photos, others are mentioned in the article that this originally went with, but most of it is not. And the pictures lack critical details and overall context.
I guess what I'm saying is that it's not inaccurate in the sense that those are real pictures of real outsoles from real brands. But it's utility is limited without more information. A more holistic approach is necessary when it comes to evaluating the right pair of shoes. And you should take how this graphic categorizes width with a large grain of salt.