Men's and women's feet are typically shaped differently, and shoe manufacturers design their shoes based on the general structure of men's and women's feet. "The biggest difference between men's and women's shoe size boils down to foot structure. Men's feet are normally wider from the heel to toe compared to women's, which are narrower in the heel and wider on the forefoot," Nguyen explains. While men's shoes are generally more suitable for men's feet and vice versa, there are exceptions. Lobkova points out that women with larger or wider feet may benefit from shopping for men's shoes to have a broader range of options to choose from.