Who Has The Biggest Shoe Size In The World?

Shoe sizes might differ in each country. While some people have tiny feet, there are a few individuals who have difficulty picking up shoes for their oversized feet.

What is the biggest shoe size in the world? And who has those gargantuan foot sizes?

Let’s learn the true story of the world’s giant shoes in the Guinness World Record.

Average Shoe Size For Men & Women

There is a connection between shoe size and height for men and women. People with a smaller height have a smaller shoe size. And vice versa, taller ones have bigger ones.

According to the 2014 report of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the average shoe size for men is between 9 and 12, with an average of 10.5.

The shoe size range for women of normal height is between 6.5 and 10. However, taller women have shoe sizes from 9 to 15, while shorter ones have shoe sizes between 5 and 8.5.

Biggest Shoe Size In The World History

According to the Guinness World Records, US size 37AA is the biggest shoe size in world history, equal to 18.5 inches (or 47cm). That giant foot size was of Robert Wadlow, an American man.

Robert Wadlow (1918-1940) was also the tallest man in the Guinness Records up till now, with a height of 8 feet 11 inches.

His abnormally large foot size and high height resulted from hyperplasia – a medical disorder of the pituitary gland, causing the plethora of Human Growth Hormone.

When he died at the age of 22, his height and his foot size were still growing.

Largest Human Shoe Size Nowadays

Apart from Robert Wadlow, there are other people with oversized shoe sizes. Their brief biography will be shared in this section.

Biggest Men’s Shoe Size

Jeison Orlando Rodríguez Hernandez, who was born in 1995, in Maracay, Venezuela, has the world’s largest foot size of 45 in Venezuelan measurements (or a US size of 36 inches).

His left foot is 39.6cm (1.30 ft) and his right foot is 40.1cm (1.31 ft).

He was recorded as “the largest feet on a living person – male” in the Guinness World Record from 2014 to 2016.

Due to his abnormal foot size, Jeison finds it hard to get premade shoes for himself. He even had to undergo medical treatment to stop his feet from growing bigger.

Plus, he had to make shoes and sandals from old tires. Luckily, he received his first customized shoes in his size from Georg Wessels, a German shoemaker.

Jeison dreamt of becoming the world’s top pastry chef. He also wants to help people with the same foot condition as him.

Biggest Female Shoe Size

A US size of 18 is the biggest shoe size for a woman and also the shoe size of Tanya Herbert, a living woman from America.

According to the Guinness World Record in 2022, her left foot is 32.5 cm (12.79 inches) and her right foot is 33.1 cm (13.03 inches). This equals US women’s size of 18 or US men’s size of 16-17.

In other words, Tanya is listed as having “the largest feet on a living person (female)” in the Guinness World Record.

Not only is a woman with an abnormally big shoe size, but Tanya is also among the tallest living human in the world.

She has a height of 6 feet 9 inches. This is only 3 inches shorter than Rumeysa Gelsi, the world’s tallest living woman with a height of 7 feet 0.7 inches.

Tanya’s height and shoe size were due to her family history. His mom is 6 feet 5 inches, and his dad is 6 feet 4 inches.

Yet, she has to wear men’s shoes or even has to extend shoes to make them wider and fit her feet.

She hopes that her story will be a call to shoe manufacturers to extend their shoe size range and make more affordable shoes for women.

Largest Shoe Size In NBA

Shaquille O’Neal (1972), a former American basketball player, has the largest shoe size in NBA – 22. Tacko Fall and Bob Lanier are two well-known basketball players with the same shoe size as Shaq.

Besides his shoe size, Shaq also has a unique height of 7 feet 1 inch and a weight of 147kg. He is among the greatest basketball centers of all time.

Shaq started his professional basketball career in 1992. He worked for various well-known teams like Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.

During his years in NBA, Shaq has earned many recognition and awards for his talent. They include 4 times NBA champion, 3 times NBA Finals MVP, 15 times NBA All-Star,

Check more: Who Has The Smallest Shoe Size In NBA History?

Biggest Shoe Size On Display

The biggest shoe size on display is a size of 27.5 feet (8.5 meters long).

This unique, catchy shoe is displayed in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, at the Shoe Museum, and was made by Aetrex Worldwide Inc. This shoe weighs over 30 pounds and is over 4 feet long.

Making this gargantuan shoe is a big project, and it requires a lot of materials.

First, you need 60 square feet of leather.

After all pieces of leather are cut out, they have to be hand-stitched. This job needs a lot of time and effort.

FAQs

1. Are There Any Health Issues Associated With Large Feet?

There are numerous health problems related to people with larger feet face.

• Plantar fasciitis

This condition causes inflammation and pain in the arch and heel of the foot. It results from the overuse of incorrect footwear.

To reduce this condition, you should use shoes with arch support to stretch your feet well and lower your legs more.

• Overpronation

This condition occurs when your foot has to roll inward excessively and puts more stress on your knees, ankles, and hips.

To avoid this problem, you should choose shoes with great arch support with a high-quality heel counter.

• Gigantism

Gigantism is the result of the plethora of growth hormones in humans, especially younger children, by the pituitary gland. This illness can be treated with pituitary gland surgery.

• Acromegaly

This health problem is often caused by individuals with abnormally large hands or feet. It causes the excessive production of the growth hormone, leading to the “growth spurt” of the arms, the legs, and the face.

Unlike gigantism, acromegaly often occurs in our middle life.

After a blood test for diagnosis, acromegaly can be treated with medicine, surgery, or radiation.

2. How To Deal With Oversized Feet?

To deal with oversized feet, you should buy footwear products that are well-fitted with your feet and have supportive features.

The shoes should have extra empty space to let your feet breathe. Plus, you should prefer shoes from brands that offer extra-wide options.

Besides choosing appropriate footwear, you should visit your doctor if you notice any pain while wearing shoes.

This early action can quickly spot early signals of some health problems like plantar fasciitis or heel spur.

3. Have Shoe Sizes Changed Over Time?

Over the past three decades, the average shoe size of men and women has grown by one size, according to the National Shoe Retailer Association.

Final Words

In sum, Jeison Orlando Rodríguez Hernandez wears the biggest shoe size in the world – US 36 inches.

Apart from Jeison, there are some others with extraordinary foot sizes like Tanya Herbert or Shaquille O’Neal.

People with big feet might experience many difficulties in their lives. For example, they are hard to find shoes that fit them. Or there’re some health-related issues related to oversized feet.