Guideline for Fitting Shoes

Most people stick faithfully to their shoe size. If you’re like me, at least, you don’t even bother contemplating other sizes when going shoe shopping. Once a size 7, always a size 7.  The truth is that shoes sizes vary widely based on brand and shoe type (despite the system’s attempt at standardization).  Shoe length and width are also not always correlated.  Officially, each size you go up in shoes corresponds to an increase of 1/3 of an inch in length and 1/4 of an inch in width.  But of course, these official units of measure are not to be relied upon.

Finding shoes that properly fit your feet is not an easy task.  Ultimately you have to rely on your own sense of what feels good on your foot.  Check out below for tips that will help you find that perfectly fitted shoe.

•    Shop for shoes at the end of the day when your feet are largest.  (Feet tend to swell as they go through the day).  You want to buy shoes when your feet are at their maximum size.  Shoes that are slightly too big can be cinched tightly using laces.  Shoes that are too tight are big trouble and can result in foot injuries and deformities such as calluses, blisters, corns, bunions, hammertoe and claw toe.

•    Measure your feet regularly.  Believe it or not, your feet change size overtime.  People with high arches, for example, tend to gain foot length as their arches gradually fall due to normal wear and tear.  Measure your feet from the crest of your big toe to the back of your heel.  If you’re having trouble, trace the outline of your foot on paper and then measure the tracing.

•    Buy shoes for your larger foot.  Again, it’s better to have shoes that are slightly too loose than slightly too tight.  If your feet are far enough apart in length or width, invest in shoes of different sizes.  This will protect your foot from developing foot injuries and foot deformities that result from ill-fitting shoes.  

•    Use this as a rule of thumb: there should be 3/8 to 1/2 of an inch of space between your big toe and the end of the shoe.

•    Purchase shoes based on what feels good, not on what size you think you should wear.  Pay attention to the width of the shoe as well as the length.  Pay particular attention to the toe box as this part of the shoe is responsible for the majority of foot injuries.  The toe box should be long and wide enough to allow your toes ample room to move.