5 tips to choose the correct shoe size

Since the shape and size of our feet constantly changes, it’s one of the reasons why you should always pay attention so you don’t make a bad choice. The previous statement might sound exaggerated, so here’s a couple numbers to back it up:

At the beginning of the 20th century, the average size of a women’s shoe was 35. Today it’s 39. Men’s sizes went from an average of 39-40 to 43. This is due to several factors, such as an increased intake of vitamins or an unhealthy lifestyle that leads to obesity – so your legs have to adapt to the weight they have to carry every day.

The following five tips should always be considered when buying shoes, both in-store and online.

Five rules for choosing the correct shoe size

Try them in the second half of the day

During the day, blood is constantly circulating through your legs, and as a result, your feet slightly increase in size. Which means that a pair of sneakers that fit you perfectly in the morning might mean blistered feet in the evening.

Be careful when buying narrow shoes

They might look great, but their sizing can be a bit off. Narrow shoes have much less space for your feet, so don’t worry about getting a slightly larger pair then you’re used to.

Socks

When trying on shoes, wear a pair of socks that you know will spend the most time in them.

Size does(‘nt) matter

The size’s numerical value itself isn’t that important – every brand has a slightly different sizing, so, for example, a size 41 doesn’t have to be the exact same size between two different brands. Check our sizing table for a comparison.

One foot is slightly larger

Although the difference is minimal, our feet are slightly different. So if only one shoe fits you comfortably, pick a slightly bigger size.

How to measure the size of your feet?

Measuring the size of your feet is done in five simple steps. You’ll need a piece of paper, a pencil and a ruler.

1. Put your foot on the paper.
2. Trace the outline of your foot on the paper.
3. Using two perpendicular lines, connect the two farthest points of your feet.
4. Measure the distance with a ruler.
5. Write down the result in centimeters and convert it to a shoe size with our sizing table.

For the best results, measure both your feet. Don’t make an average out of them – consider the larger one as the correct size.

Now that you know what shoe size to pick, take the next step and check out our guide on picking a pair of sneakers.