Planning to buy shoes soon?
Before you do, make sure you know your foot size. The last thing you want is to purchase an expensive pair of sneakers or jogging shoes only for them to not fit.
This becomes an even bigger problem when shopping online since you can’t try the shoes on first. You’ll have to base your shopping choices on your measurements.
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to measure your shoe size. We’ve got several tips below for you to check out right here. Continue reading to learn more:
Necessary Tools
Don’t get a measuring tape and start marking from tip to tip. Before you measure your feet, make sure you have the right tools. You may even need the assistance of a friend to make sure you get accurate measurements.
Get a sheet of paper, measuring tape or a ruler, and a pencil. Make sure the sheet is big enough for your foot — an A4 might be big enough for some people. To avoid mistakes and to have some space for notes, use an A3 sheet.
Points to Measure Your Shoe Size
To measure your shoe size, mark the tip of your big toe and the back of your foot. For the latter, don’t mark from the bottom of your heel. Mark it from the back, where it’s at its longest. This is why you simply can’t measure the bottom of your feet; you have to consider the measurements for the back part of your foot and Achilles.
If you only measure the points your sole touches, you could end up with a tight fit. Measuring from the widest points guarantees you’ll have enough space for your feet to move and breathe.
Also, make it a point to mark down the measurements in both centimeters and inches. This will help you later when you have to convert from US shoe sizes to another chart.
Measuring Width
Don’t forget to measure the width of your feet too! Some shoes might seem like a good fit when you consider their size but may feel too tight and restrictive due to the narrow design. Avoid this by measuring the width of your feet and then look for it in the appropriate size charts.
Again, place your feet on the sheet of paper. This time, you’ll need to measure the distance between the two widest points of your feet. You can find these right below your toes, at the ball of your feet.
This will form a diagonal line for most people. Remember to measure from the tips, at your foot’s widest point, and not only on the portions of your sole that touch the ground. Measure in both centimeters and inches.
Socks or Barefeet
Should you measure your feet with socks or without?
It greatly depends on the type of shoes you plan to buy. If you’re going to purchase sneakers like the Air Max Kicks, consider measuring with socks. If you’ll buy sandals, measure your feet without them on.
For better results, you’ll want to measure with socks on. Put on the thickest pair you know you regularly wear. Make sure these are the socks you plan to put on when wearing a type of shoes too.
Putting on socks when measuring your feet is important because you might end up with an uncomfortable fit when done otherwise. However, there is a quick and simple method to make sure you have wiggle room for your toes and thick socks.
What’s a Good Fit
How do you know you got the right measurements? What constitutes a good fit?
It should feel snug, not tight. You don’t want to feel any pinching on the sides. If it pinches, the shoes aren’t wide enough for your feet.
Now try walking. The back of your feet shouldn’t easily slip off, but the back of the shoes shouldn’t bite into your Achilles or the bottom of your heels.
Press down on the tip of the shoes. There should be some space after your big toe. A general rule of thumb is to leave a thumbs-width amount of space since this will give your toes enough room to wiggle and for thick socks.
Insole Length Doesn’t Matter
When you shop for shoes, don’t rely on insole length. Keep in mind that different brands handle manufacturing and shoe design differently. Insole length for one type of sneakers might not be the same for another.
There’s the issue of padding, type of fabric used, and manufacturing requirements. This makes insole length vary from shoe to shoe. Always rely instead on the outer measurement for consistency.
Understanding Size Charts
The most confusing part of buying shoes and measuring your feet is understanding a shoe size chart. The easiest method is to look at US shoe sizes and then convert from there.
Men’s shoe sizes start at size 6 and then go bigger from there. A size 6 is 9.3 inches or 23.5 cm. This goes up to size 16, which is 12.5 inches or 31.8 cm.
To convert this to women’s shoe size, simply add two. This means a woman’s size 8 is a man’s size 6.
You also need to understand how to compare shoe sizes. A size 9 in the US is a size 8.5 in the UK, 42 for European charts, and a 27 in Japan.
Get the Right Shoe Size Now
Now you know how to measure your shoe size. Use the right tools, measure the right points of your foot, and don’t forget to measure the width. Never go by insole length and take time to understand the different size charts.
Of course, knowing your shoe size is only half the equation. You also need to learn how to identify good shoes and which types of shoes to wear for different occasions.
We’ve got the tips you need. Continue reading our posts to pick up all the information you need regarding footwear and fashion!
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