Forget secrets about dating or gym routines — a new study suggests men are surprisingly in tune with their buddies’ feet. According to a recent survey by Footwires, 56% of straight men say they could tell you exactly how bad their friend’s feet stink.
But the surprises don’t stop there. The poll of 80 men found that 12% admitted to having actually shared shoes with a friend at some point, while 22% estimated they know how many days their best buds wear the same socks. That’s right: some men apparently track sock rotation like it’s Wall Street.
Experts say it makes sense. As men spend more time together — at the gym, on trips, or just lounging — they naturally share personal details about their physical attributes, from hair loss patterns to, yes, foot odor.
One survey participant said:
“I can tell within a mile if my buddy’s socks are fresh or if he’s been rocking them for three days straight. Bro always takes his shoes off when he gets to my crib”
Footwires’ surveyor’s say the findings reveal a surprisingly deep level of intimacy between male friends — just maybe not the kind you’d expect.
So next time your buddy offers you his sneakers, you might not think twice… or marvel at the bond that comes with knowing someone’s feet almost as well as they know your own.