Anyone who has been tormented at least once in his life by shodding unsuitable shoes is unlikely to ever repeat such a mistake. Both tight and wide shoes, sneakers or boots can bring real suffering and incomparable discomfort. In order not to torment yourself and your legs, you need to know how to determine the size of the shoes. In addition, it is important to be able to understand the features of the metric systems that manufacturers use in different countries. In this article, we will provide readers with information on how to find out the size of shoes, as well as provide relevant tables with standard values for women, men and children.
Basic metric systems
Many people, buying shoes abroad, have probably had more than once difficulties in choosing the right pair. Turning an interested model upside down in order to determine its size, they see there not 35, 36 or 40 numbers that are usual in European countries, but much smaller values - 6, 7, 8, etc. But what they mean, and why some manufacturers point to their products sizes not familiar to all normal people, but some kind of abracadabra, many do not know.
The fact is that in Russia, Ukraine, and most other European countries, shoe makers use a staggered numbering system. According to it, the basic unit for measuring the length of the block is one pin, equal to 6.67 mm. In some states, the footprint of a pad, that is, its length, is measured in inches. Then how to determine the size of shoes in each individual case? It is necessary to measure the length of the foot in centimeters and just know your parameters in different systems.
Find out these data will help a simple table of shoe sizes. How to determine exactly your indicator? Having calculated the foot length with a centimeter, you need to substitute the obtained value under a suitable column in the table and remember the sizes of interest.
Sizes of women's, men's and children's shoes
All manufacturers usually make standard shoes, which should ideally sit on the foot of most consumers. But often you have to deal with a situation when a pair of shoes of the right size turned out to be small, and the other, the same length (at first glance), but of a different model, just right. Each individual company uses the same pads, but they may differ from one company to another. Regardless of the shoe model, the length of the insole of any pair is always unified, although it may not be suitable because of the width and length of the toe, decorative elements or the type of fastener, being narrow in the rise.
Most manufacturers sew products in standard sizes, but for men, women and children, these are different indicators:
- children's shoes - sizes 21-32;
- teenage shoes - 33-41;
- women's shoes - 35-41;
- men's shoes - 40-47.
At the same time, it is always necessary to take into account the anthropogenic indicator of consumers living in the territory where the shoe manufacturer is located. So, goods from Asia are usually small, because the inhabitants of this region are not tall, with small feet. The taller and wide-boned Europeans need to carefully check the sizes of shoes made in China, Korea and other countries of the East.
How to measure the foot of an adult?
The easiest way is to circle the foot with a pencil or pen, placing it on a piece of paper, and then determine the greatest distance from the edge of the heel to the toes. How to find out your shoe size, knowing the length of the foot? You need to check the table, which shows the data of different metric systems and the corresponding shoe sizes. The result should be rounded to five millimeters.
For example, if the foot length is 25.8 cm when measuring, then this figure is equated to 26 cm, which corresponds to the 40th European shoe size. Usually, each subsequent model of shoes from a size is different from the previous one by one size, but sometimes there are factories that produce products with a difference in half size. This allows you to choose a more suitable and comfortable to wear pair.
Measurement methods
Now we will tell readers a few more ways how to find out the size of shoes and determine the length of their foot. If you do not have a piece of paper and a pen at hand, but there is a ruler, you can use the book to calculate the desired indicator. Below is an illustrated step-by-step instruction for this. How to determine the size of shoes using a book? You need to stand near the wall and, resting your heel on it, put a book to your fingers. Then, the foot should be carefully picked up without shifting the “mark”, and measure the distance from the wall to the book.
An insole made of shoes suitable and comfortable for you is also quite suitable for this purpose. It is enough to extract it and measure the length with a centimeter. But the pair should not be heavily trampled, because in the process of wearing the shoes are deformed, and the result may not correspond to reality.
Why know the fullness of the leg?
In addition to the length of the foot, it is important to know one more of its parameters - completeness. Despite the fact that all shoe makers are repelled in the manufacture of their products precisely from the insole length, the foot can simply be too narrow or wide, have a high rise or increased bones. Because of this, shoes bought without trying on will not fit a person. Anyone who ignores the fullness indicator will not be able to feel comfortable while wearing uncomfortable shoes. Mainly because his limbs will be squeezed and deprived of normal blood supply.
There are many systems that determine the width of the shoe: French, English, American, Russian. Each of them highlights up to a dozen options. The standard range between their units: for model shoes - 4-5 mm, for everyday - 7-8 mm. However, manufacturers cannot afford to sew each model in such a huge amount, so in practice most often there are only five options for completeness (a schematic image in the picture), of which there are a second, third and fourth in free sale:
- super-narrow (AAAA);
- narrow (AA);
- normal (B);
- full (C);
- very complete (D).
How to find out shoe size by completeness? This indicator is measured in the area of the fingers, where the metatarsal bones protrude on the foot. With normal leg fullness, each shoe size has its own optimal height indicator:
- 35 p. - 21.7 cm;
- 36 p. - 22, cm;
- 37 p. - 22.5 cm;
- 38 p. - 22.9 cm;
- 39 p. - 23.3 cm;
- 40 p. - 23.7 cm;
- 41 p. - 24.1 cm.
For other completeness, these data are different.
Sizes of children's shoes
Kids need to choose shoes more carefully than adults. The algorithm of actions in this case is the same: you can trace the foot and measure the length of the outlines, or make a foot print (if the child does not want to stand at all) or put the child on a flat surface and make marks near the heel and fingertips. Experts recommend taking measurements not on the bare foot, but putting on the baby warm socks. This will not give a "measure" and prevent the likelihood of buying shoes right up to the mark.
Parents of older children also often have the question of how to determine the size of teenage shoes. It is especially important to know this during the period of active physical growth of the child. But in reality there is nothing new in this process. We only note that teenagers are considered sizes from the 33rd to the 41st (in the American system, indicators 2–8 correspond to them).
Can foot size change over time?
In fact, yes. With age, the legs get trampled, the foot expands, the bones increase, the fingers and nails are deformed. Because of this, the one who wore shoes of the 37th size in his youth, in retirement, is likely to buy himself big both in length and in width of the product. But even during the day they "grow up." How to determine the size of the shoes if the legs swell by the evening? Do not do this in the morning. Shopping and fitting is better to postpone until the afternoon.
What size shoes should be?
First of all, it should be "in size." What a foot, such a shoe, but with a small margin. For adults, it should be 0.5 cm, for children - up to 1 cm. It is necessary to completely exclude situations when shoes are bought for growth. Large shoes or sneakers will rub your foot. Boots and boots on the insulation of corns will not do, but with a high degree of probability will contribute to the deformation of the foot.
Small and uncomfortable shoes are also dangerous for both children and adults. If a person cannot move his fingers freely, this leads to a serious risk of “earning” frostbite of the extremities due to hypothermia resulting from insufficient blood circulation. Tight summer shoes contribute to the appearance of diaper rash on the legs, increases the likelihood of fungal diseases of the feet and a number of other unpleasant situations.