Fit Your Foot (2024)

It’s time to say "Yes!" to comfort.

No doubt all shoe-lovers have squeezed into a pair of shoes for the sake of style at some point in their life.

Besides any immediate pain from pinching, wearing poor-fitting footwear can cause blisters, calluses, bunions, hammertoes, and corns, leading to pain and discomfort in your later years.

Fit Your Foot (1)

DID YOU KNOW…

  • 25% of your bones are located in your foot.

  • Every walking step you take exerts pressure up to three times your body weight on your feet.

  • The average American will spend approximately half of their lives in shoes.

  • Nearly 90% of women wear shoes that are one size too small.

  • Women are four times more likely to experience foot problems than men.

Munro offers up to 15 sizes and 5 widths ... That’s the FIT difference!

Fit Your Foot (2)

Within a style, select colors are offered in up to 15 sizes: from 5 to 11 , 12, and 13.

There is approximately 1/6” between size increments, so a size 9 is 1/6” longer than an 8.5 and 1/3” longer than a size 8.

Fit Your Foot (3)

Various styles and colors are offered in as many as 5 widths: Super Slim (4A), Narrow (2A), Medium (B), Wide (D), and Wide Wide (EE).

There is approximately 1/4” difference between widths, so a Medium width is 1/4” wider than an ‘A’ and 1/2” wider than a Narrow (AA).

MUNRO SHOES SIZE CHART

Fit Your Foot (4)

QUICK SHOE FINDER

Select Width

GETTING THE RIGHT FIT

TIPS ON HOW TO FIND THE BEST FIT

  • Visit a full service retailer to have your feet professionally measured so you get the best fit possible.

  • Have your feet measured using a Brannock or similar device and always measure both feet, as they are often different sizes.

  • Try shoes on at the end of the day since your feet normally swell and become larger throughout the day.

  • Stand up during the fitting process and be sure to walk around in the shoes before purchasing.

  • Try on shoes with the same type of stockings/socks you will wear with them and if you normally wear orthotics, take them to the fitting.

  • A shoe should be comfortable immediately upon trying on, do not expect tight shoes to loosen up with wear.

  • Look for shoe toe shapes that reflect the shape of your foot. A long straight foot may not fit well into a shoe that has a broad oblique shape, and vice versa.

Important Fit Tip: Pay Attention to your Arch Length!

What is that?

Arch length is the distance from the ball of the foot to the back of the heel. People can have the same overall foot length but different arch lengths depending on whether they have long or short toes. For shoes to fit properly it is critical for the ball of your foot to rest in the widest part of the forepart of the shoe, which is where the shoe is designed to bend during walking.

If you have short toes and buy a shoe that fits to the end of your foot, it may be too short for your arch length. This means the ball of your foot is in front of the ‘flex point’ of the shoe, cramping the toes and compressing the foot, causing discomfort.

How do you find your arch length?

The use of a Brannock or similar device is the best way to measure your arch length. Most full service shoe stores have Brannock devices and staff who are trained to use them.

Fit Your Foot (5)

Foot Differences

All three of these feet are a size 8 in length, but various widths.

They highlight some of the structural differences that make fitting shoes a challenge.

Fit Your Foot (6)

The Medium Foot

The Medium foot has the arch length that is appropriate for our size 8 shoe. The Narrow foot has an arch length that is 1/3” longer, so it should be fitted in an 8.5.

If she were to wear an 8, her foot would be squeezed as she walks because the widest part of her foot would not be in widest part of the shoe. Ouch!

The Narrow Foot

In the Narrow foot, the outside is not much darker than the arch. This indicates that the Narrow Foot is transferring weight from the ball of the foot directly to the heel, without ‘help’ from the outside of the foot, so the arch is getting more stress. This creates foot fatigue, discomfort and possible mechanical problems down the road. Not very happy feet, huh?

Medium and Wide Feet

Medium and Wide feet can also have this issue which is why Munro puts steel shanks in almost all their shoes to provide support and reduce foot strain.

What Can We Learn?

  • Notice that the toes of the Wide Wide foot are shorter than those of the Medium or Narrow. This foot will have more room at the end of her shoe than the Medium or Narrow foot, which may make her think that her proper size is too big. You must fit the shoe based on the arch length.

  • The arch length is the distance from the center of the 1st metatarsal joint (the one at the ball of your foot under the big toe) to the heel. A black line has been drawn from the measuring point for arch length on each foot to the left hand side of the page so you can see the variation.

  • The darker areas indicate where the foot impacts the ground. You can see that the Wide Wide and Medium foot put weight on the outside of the foot, which is normal, because the foot is designed to transfer weight from the big toe across the ball to the outside of the foot and then down the length of the foot to the heel.

Fit Your Foot (2024)

FAQs

How should your foot fit in a show? ›

Stand up and make sure there is 3/8" or 1/2" (about the width of your finger) between your longest toe (usually the second toe) and the end of the shoe. Always stand and walk around in the shoes to see if they are comfortable, fit well, and don't chafe or rub anywhere. Your heel should not slip or slide while walking.

Is one thumb too big for shoes? ›

Make Sure You Have Extra Room For Your Toes.

The further you run the more your foot will naturally expand. This means it's wise to have just a little extra room (about a thumb's width) between your longest toe and the front of the shoe.

How many fingers to fit in a shoe? ›

Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Another way to check this is to slip a finger between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe. There should be just enough space for your finger to fit nice and snugly.

What is the healthiest heel height? ›

One should never wear a heel over 3 inches in height because it changes the biomechanics of how you walk. This leads to shorter strides, more pressure placed on the balls of your feet, and unnecessary stress on your knees and lower back. Proper fitting shoes provide a proper platform for our feet to support our body.

Is a 2 inch heel too high? ›

Low heels are typically 1-2 inches, or 2.5-5cm. In low heels, the heel is short enough that the balls of your feet shouldn't be left aching, even if you're on your feet all day. High heels are generally 3-4 inches, or 7.5-10cm.

What is a Cuban heel style? ›

A Cuban heel is a sturdy style of footwear that characteristically features a heel that grows narrower toward the bottom. It also is known for the heel's front-facing portion having a flat, straight edge paired with a slight curve along the back.

How should toes look? ›

Proper alignment: when viewed from the top, the toes should be symmetrical, straight, not overlapping or crossing over each other.

Should your pinky toe touch the side of your shoe? ›

Also, make sure your toes fit inside the toe box, the area that contains the front of your foot. It's okay if your pinky toes touch the side of the shoe, but they shouldn't feel smushed or push out the mesh. You can try a larger size, but it might be that the style just isn't right for you.

Is it better to size up or down in heels? ›

If you're used to wearing flats, the pitch of a higher heel might seem odd at first, but it gets better with practice. Since the foot is in a different position when you wear heels, you might need to size up a half size or so to give the foot enough room to lay comfortably inside the shoe.

Should my big toe touch the end of the shoe? ›

You have about 0.5cm of free extra space in front of your big toe. Put on a pair of socks, put the shoes on and stand on tip-toe. There should be extra “functional” space, i.e. additional room for the toes that allows the foot to move naturally.

Is it bad to wear shoes a half size too big? ›

But wearing a shoe that is too big will cause us to walk in an unnatural and dysfunctional way. This can lead to serious foot problems. When buying new shoes, one should buy shoes that fit comfortably. Also, do not assume that a size in one brand equates to the same size in another.

What is the shoe size trick? ›

Georgie explained: “They say if you put in your shoe size, plus two 00's minus the year that you were born, plus the year that we're in now, you should get this number," as she showed the final figure was “338”. She added: “The last two digits are how old you are or how old you're going to be this year.”

Do shoes add 1 inch? ›

Thick-soled sneakers: Popular among younger generations, these sneakers have a thick platform-style sole that can add one to two inches. These offer a casual way to appear taller without sacrificing comfort. Boots with raised heels: Many boots come with a slightly elevated heel that can add one to two inches of height.

How much room should be in the back of a heel? ›

Ensure about half an inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. There should be around 3mm/eighth of an inch between your heel and the back of the shoe. Wiggle your toes to check for adequate space at the front.

How should toes fit in heels? ›

Round the ball of your foot you want to feel secure, but not squished. Make sure there's a bit of space for your toes and that you don't feel too much pressure around your footbone. For heels with toe and ankle straps, you simply want to make sure that your foot feels secure and held down.

How do you know if your boot is too big? ›

Boots should not be too loose or too tight on your foot. The best fit should be snug (but not tight) around the whole of your foot, with enough room to move your toes and a maximum of a quarter to a half-inch of slippage at the heel.

References

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