Anyone who has suffered at least once in his life because he put on the wrong shoes is unlikely to ever repeat such a mistake again. Both tight and wide shoes, sneakers or boots can bring real suffering and incomparable discomfort. In order not to torment yourself and your feet, you need to know how to determine the size of shoes. In addition, it is important to be able to understand the features of the metric systems used by manufacturers 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 up-to-date tables with standard sizes for women, men and children.
Basic Metric Systems
Many people, when buying shoes abroad, probably had more than once experienced difficulties in choosing the right pair. Turning the model they are interested in upside down in order to determine its size, they see there not the numbers 35, 36 or 40 familiar in European countries, but much smaller values - 6, 7, 8, etc. But what are theyindicate, and why some manufacturers indicate on their products sizes that are 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, shoemakers use a shtichmass numbering system. According to it, the basic unit for measuring the length of the block is one piece, equal to 6.67 mm. In some states, the footprint of the shoe, that is, its length, is calculated in inches. Then how to determine the size of shoes in each individual case? You need to measure the length of the foot in centimeters and just know your parameters in different systems.
A simple table of shoe sizes will help you find out this data. How to correctly determine your indicator? Having calculated the length of the foot in centimeters, you need to substitute the resulting value under the appropriate column in the table and remember the sizes of interest.
Women's, men's and children's shoe sizes
All manufacturers usually make standard shoes that should fit perfectly on the foot of most consumers. But often you have to deal with a situation where a pair of shoes of the right size turned out to be small, and the other, the same in length (at first glance), but of a different model, just right. At each individual enterprise, the same pads are used, but they may differ from one company to another. Regardless of the shoe model, the length of the insole for any pair is always unified, although it is precisely because of the width and length of the toe, decorative elements or the type of fastener that it may not fit, beingnarrow in rise.
Most manufacturers make products in standard sizes, but for men, women and children these are different indicators:
- kids shoes - sizes 21-32;
- teenage shoes - 33-41;
- women's shoes - 35-41;
- men's shoes - 40-47.
In this case, it is always necessary to take into account the anthropogenic indicator of consumers living in the territory where the shoe manufacturing company is located. So, goods from Asia are usually small, because the inhabitants of this region are short, with small feet. Taller and broad-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, putting it on a piece of paper, and then determine the maximum 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 must be rounded up to five millimeters.
For example, if during measurements the length of the foot is 25.8 cm, then this figure is equated to 26 cm, which corresponds to the 40th European shoe size. Usually, each subsequent model of shoes from the size differs from the previous one by one size, but sometimes there are factories that produce products with a half-size difference. This allows you to choosea more suitable and comfortable pair to wear.
Measurement methods
Now we will tell readers a few more ways to find out the size of shoes and determine the length of your foot. If you don’t have a piece of paper and a pen at hand, but have a ruler, you can use a 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 leg should be carefully removed without moving the “mark”, and measure the distance from the wall to the book.
Also, an insole made from shoes that are suitable and comfortable for you is quite suitable for this purpose. It is enough to take it out and measure the length by 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 be true.
Why know the fullness of the leg?
Besides the length of the foot, it is important to know one more of its parameters - fullness. Despite the fact that all shoemakers start from the length of the insole in the manufacture of their products, the leg may simply be too narrow or wide, have a high instep or enlarged 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 compressed and deprived of normal blood supply.
There are many systemsdetermining the width of shoes: 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 shoes - 7-8 mm. However, manufacturers cannot afford to sew each model in such a huge amount, therefore, in practice, most often there are only five options for completeness (a schematic representation in the picture), of which there are the second, third and fourth on free sale:
- super-narrow (AAAA);
- narrow (AA);
- normal (B);
- full (C);
- very plump (D).
How to find out the size of shoes by completeness? This indicator is measured in the area of \u200b\u200bthe fingers, where the metatarsal bones protrude on the foot. With normal leg fullness, each shoe size has its own optimal instep height:
- 35 p. – 21.7 cm;
- 36 р. – 22 cm;
- 37 р. – 22.5 cm;
- 38 р. – 22.9 cm;
- 39 р. – 23.3 cm;
- 40 p. – 23.7 cm;
- 41 р. – 24, 1 cm.
For other widths, this data is different.
Children's shoe sizes
Baby shoes need to be chosen more carefully than adults. The algorithm of actions in this case is the same: you can circle the foot and measure the length of the resulting outlines, or make a footprint (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 onbare feet, and wearing warm socks for the baby. This will prevent you from "smallering" and prevent the likelihood of buying shoes back to back.
Parents of older children also often face the question of how to determine the size of teenage shoes. This is especially important to know during the period of active physical growth of the child. But in fact, there is nothing new in this process. We only note that sizes from 33 to 41 are considered teenage (in the American system, they correspond to indicators 2–8).
Can foot size change over time?
Actually, yes. With age, the legs are trampled, the foot expands, the bones increase, the fingers and nails are deformed. Because of this, those who wore size 37 shoes in their youth are likely to buy larger products in both length and width in retirement. But even during the day they "grow up". How to determine the size of shoes if the legs swell in the evening? Don't do it in the morning. It is better to postpone purchases and fittings for the afternoon.
What size should the shoes be?
First of all, it should be "in size". What a leg, such shoes, 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 with corn insulation will not cause corns, but with a high degree of probability they will contribute to foot deformities.
Small and uncomfortable shoes alsodangerous for both children and adults. If a person cannot freely move his fingers, 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, increase the likelihood of fungal diseases of the feet and a number of other unpleasant situations.
