Socks - do men and women have different feet?

Wyndham

Looking to buy some walking socks, and have looked at women's ranges, because... well, I'm female. I'm looking for some that are basically black, and many of the women's ones have bright colours on them - lovely in their way, but not what I want.

However, in the men's ranges, I can find what I'm looking for as the colours tend to be more muted.

Now, I can understand how some clothing is gender specific, because (and it's a generalisation I know) men and women have, shall we say, 'curves' in different places. But is there something fundamental about feet that means women and men have quite different ones? Or would I likely be OK to buy socks which are labelled as 'men's'?

Sorry if it's a daft question!

Emmia

I'd buy the mens socks, if you prefer the style. 

Feet are all different... wide, narrow, long toes, short toes and I'm not sure there's really a gender variation per se.

tizerbelle

I think generally men's feet may be a little wider than women's and some shops have different shoe sizings e.g., a woman's size 5 could be shorter than a man's size 5 but when it comes to socks - buy the ones you prefer men's, women's or even kids (if you have small feet).  Sometimes women's socks come in size 4-7 but I'm a large 8 so I will buy a man's 6-8 instead.  

TLDR - Yes, you can buy and wear men's socks!

MovingForwards

I've got male and female socks, can't tell any difference wearing them.

maisie_cat

The only reason I have ever bought female specific socks is that I like the colours. 

theoretica

The average sock labelled 'men' is bigger than the ones labelled 'women' - but some places do a choice of sizes including smaller ones for men.  Sometimes great value is to be had buying stuff labelled for teenage boys.

strawb_shortcake

I buy children's socks for myself now, I'm a size 4-5 but womens 3-6 socks are always too big. 

I'd look at children's socks as they're likely cheaper. Men often have wider lower legs so this may also be a factor in a difference between men's and women's socks

DullGreyGuy

Men's shoes are about 1.5 sizes bigger than a woman's so if you are a size 7.5 women you'd be a size 6 mens. 

Mens shoes are normally a size E whereas Women's are a C in fit... the fits are the same scale so a wide woman's D fit would be the same as a narrow male D shoe.

Socks are clearly more flexible in sizing than shoes and so just remember to downsize and you should be ok unless you have very skinny shoes in which case it may be too roomy, especially for hiking (or dress shoes)

theoretica

DullGreyGuy said:

Men's shoes are about 1.5 sizes bigger than a woman's so if you are a size 7.5 women you'd be a size 6 mens. 

EU and UK shoe sizes should be the same size number for the same length foot for men or women.  USA sizing however - the same length foot will be a different size number for men's or women's shoes and they have yet another sizing system for socks!

DullGreyGuy

theoretica said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Men's shoes are about 1.5 sizes bigger than a woman's so if you are a size 7.5 women you'd be a size 6 mens. 

EU and UK shoe sizes should be the same size number for the same length foot for men or women.  USA sizing however - the same length foot will be a different size number for men's or women's shoes and they have yet another sizing system for socks!

Stand corrected 

Wyndham

Thanks all - it's good to know. Appreciate you all taking time to comment.