Fitting Guide

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Phone 07 3395 0157 or email us at askme@footgear.com.au

What is the best way to find out my shoe size?

The best way to find your shoe size is to visit one of our Footgear stores where our staff can personally size you, and help to assess the best fit, for you, from our range. You can find your nearest store by using the Storelocator. However, where this isn’t possible there are a few steps you can follow to determine your shoe size. The easiest way to calculate your shoe size is to determine your foot length by measuring it from heel to toe.

 

Measuring your feet at home?

For this method you will need; a piece of A4 paper, pencil or pen and a ruler (a second person to help is always useful as well).

Step 1. Draw a straight line down the middle of the page making sure the line is longer than your foot.

Step 2. Wearing the type of socks or stockings you plan to wear with the shoes you wish to purchase, place your foot on the piece of paper with the line drawn running through the middle of your foot (from the longest toe through to the back of your heel).

Step 3. With your foot placed firmly on the paper, trace the outline of your foot.

Step 4. Taking your foot away you will be able to see where the outline of your foot and the straight line on the paper intersect. Measure the straight line between these intersecting points with a ruler or measuring tape and record the length in centimeters.

Step 5. Repeat all these steps with the opposite foot.

Step 6. Using the longest measurement, go to the appropriate brand’s size guide where you will be able to see what size your foot measurement converts to.

Handy Hint: when trying to measure your feet on your own, sticky-taping or pinning the piece of paper to the floor can help to keep it steady, enabling you to draw a more accurate outline.

Note: The Fitting Guide is only a guideline. If you have any doubts contact our customer support.

 

What about the width?

Most of our brands, excluding Birkenstock, come in standard width fittings. It can depend on the style of shoe as to what will suit your foot, with most styles fitting the majority of people’s feet.

Birkenstock

Birkenstock offers two different width fittings; Regular (Medium to Wide Feet) and Narrow (Narrow to Medium Feet). The most common width fitting is regular. When ordering Birkenstock the choice in selecting a width fitting will appear as either "EU 37" for a regular fit or "EU 37 Narrow" for a narrow fit. Please note that not all styles are available in both fittings. Please note that when fitting a Birkenstock your foot should fit inside the foot bed with 1cm of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Your heel should also sit nicely inside the heel cup and not on the edge. For more information on fitting Birkenstocks you can contact our Birkenstock on Albert Lane store on (07) 3211 3200 or email us at askme@footgear.com.au.

ECCO

ECCO’s line of shoes utilizes a unique type of fit, the “Freedom Fit”, which enables their shoes to fit a very wide variety of feet. ECCO shoes fit from heel to instep as opposed to conventional shoes that fit from heel to ball joint (the width across your feet at the toes). Fitting heel to ball joint restricts the natural spreading of your toes when walking. Fitting through the "Freedom Fit" allows the foot to stay secure in the shoe whilst allowing the toes to move freely as you walk. This in turn enables ECCO shoes to fit a variety of widths comfortably.

 

How to check if your shoe fits correctly?

If you already own or have purchased one of the shoes from our range and want to check that it is the correct fit, you can follow some simple checks:

Length

The recommended toe room in a shoe allows for about half an inch (1 cm) of space between the longest toe and the end of the shoe (about a thumbnail). Toes should never touch in the end of your shoes in the correct fit..

To check the length of your shoes you can place the shoes on your feet, leaving any buckles or laces undone. Then move your foot to the front of the shoe so your toes are just touching the end. If the length is correct you should be able to comfortably fit your index finger down into the back of your shoe, behind the heel. This will give you an indication of how much space you have at the front of your shoe when your foot is placed back into the heel cup and the buckles or laces are fastened.

As most shoes at Footgear have removable insoles, there is another length check you can perform. If possible, remove the inner sole of your shoe and place it on a hard floor surface. Then standing, step on the insole with your heel to the back. In the correct size you should have about one centimeter of space between your longest toe and the end of the inner sole.

Width

The upper of most shoes should not be skin tight. To check that a shoe is not too tight pinch a little area of the upper material to make sure it isn’t skin tight.

Heel Fit

The heel is designed to fit snugly. This should not be confused with a tight fit as your heel should still be able to move a little bit, which is natural. If the heel fit is correct you shouldn’t be lifting out of the back of the shoe and there shouldn’t be any slipping when you walk.

Overall feel of the shoe

Walking on a hard floor or firm surface will give you a good indication of the shoe’s fit and comfort features. As previously mentioned your foot shouldn’t be slipping either at the heel or slipping forward into the front of the shoe. However, your foot should not be restricted from its natural movement. For example, it is normal to have enough room to wiggle your toes. You should be able to walk smoothly and effortlessly without feeling unsteady or unbalanced. A perfect fit is not always possible to achieve in every scenario. There are millions of different types of foot shapes, widths, and sizes as well as many different styles of shoes.

Handy Hint: Always consider the type of socks or stockings you will be wearing during use as this can alter the fit and overall comfort of your shoe.

Handy Fact: Feet tend to swell throughout the day and change over time. A shoe you bought five years ago might not fit your foot in the same way today. It is always a good idea to have your feet measured regularly.

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What if the shoe does not fit?

Always check the length of the shoe is correct. If the length is correct but you still feel that the shoe isn’t fitting properly there are a few possible solutions you can try, depending on the problem, to customize the fit and comfort of your shoe.

Problem: The heel slips even when your laces are tied properly.

Possible solution: Try adding a second (generic) inner sole to the one already in the shoe. You can place it on top of or underneath the existing one. This will help raise the foot into the instep where the shoe is designed to fit. If a full inner sole takes up too much room, you can also try a half inner sole under the ball of your foot.

Problem: The shoe is the correct length but feels too tight around the foot.

Possible Solution: Increase the space inside the shoe by using a thinner insole. Replacing a 5mm insole with a 3mm insole will increase the volume in the shoe by about half a shoe size. However, if the shoe is excessively tight in the frontal area you may need to try going up a size. Sometimes a larger shoe will provide added toe room while still holding the rest of the foot securely.

Problem: The ball of your foot isn’t fitting into the widest part of the shoe.

Possible Solutions: Where your foot flexes should match up with where the shoe flexes. A shoe will flex at its widest section. By placing one hand around the heel of your shoe and using the other hand move the front of the shoe up and down, you can see where the shoe should flex. When walking you may feel that the flex of shoe and foot don’t match, causing the foot to feel restricted. If this is the case, you may need to try a larger or smaller size to help fit the ball of your foot.

Lacing your shoes

Always make sure you are lacing your shoes according to your foot type. It is always a good idea to completely remove the laces when fitting a new shoe and re-lace them while the shoes are on your feet. Many shoes come in a horizontal lacing style known as "bar-lacing". This is not always ideal for a wider foot, so re- lacing to a standard crisscross style may enable a better fit.

 

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