While the correlation between size and foot length is linear and studied in detail. We often forgot that the foot is a 3D object and cannot be defined in one measurement. Our conservative estimate is that for footwear fit to be accessed correctly, you will need at least 6 dimensions measured accurately.

In contrast- if you go to a good custom shoe manufacturer he will take close to 18 measurements of your foot in order to deliver the perfect fit.   When you walk into the store, you typically try out 3 or 4 different models to access your fit, you may even walk around the store. In essence, you are testing out other measurements which define the fitting of the shoe, such as arch length, width, toebox shape, etc.   

While buying a shoe online, this luxury is missing hence it becomes harder to buy footwear or you have  rely on services such as try and buy.       

Our suggestions while trying out shoes:

• Try the shoe on both feet. 90% of the time – fitting will differ between your right and left leg.
• Make sure you stand and walk a few steps in order to ensure that shoes are tested in a weight-bearing position.
• Try out shoes in the evening as your feet are likely to be most spread out at that time of the day.
• Most shoe fabrics don’t expand much- so if it feels tight while trying out its going to remain tight.
• While buying shoes for any athletic activity – make sure you have enough room in the front as your feet will expand.

In process of our research, we have scanned over 50,000 feet all over the world to build the best in the class fitting browser-based foot scanner.  Our research has shown 27 different types of shapes as the minimum baseline for all humans, but of course, we continue to grow our database and learn new things each day.

If you would like to help us out on this journey to simplify foot sizing, do size up with us. Each data point helps our systems become more robust and in turn helps you a better fitting shoe

Our virtual fitting app with quick requires you do three simple photos in order to get your complete 3D profile.

What happens after we have your profile ?

We generate a 3D model of your foot with all the required measurements. Next time you are browsing on one of our partner retailer sites- you can actually see how the shoe fits virtually.

Try our service here: https://shoesize.tech/demoapp/

 Leave us a comment to tell us about the foot scanner experience.

While there are established international standards for footwear sizing systems ( US, EU, Mondopont etc) Many brands publish their own “label size” in order to provide a better idea of the fitting or even change the gradation between sizes. Even the international size charts are benchmarked against the ideal foot length for a particular size.  While this is done with the best intentions, we understand that it is confusing to shoppers- who rarely know their foot length or width accurately.

There are several DIY measurement procedures recommended on almost every retailer, brand, and general information site, such as:

https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Your-Shoe-Size

or

https://www.healthyfeetstore.com/shoe-fitting-guide.html

While such methods provide a baseline guideline – the process is laborious and error-prone : (

However, if you are doing this, here is a list of common mistakes that are likely to happen, and please be mindful of the process.

 

1. Standing position: Unless the measurement is taken in a weight-bearing position, i.e standing the exercise is futile.  The optimum way is to stand with your feet slightly apart with equal weight on both legs.  You will need someone else to draw the outlines for you.

2.Paper crumpling & Toe cringing: Make sure you use clean & non-creased paper for this process. The paper is crumpled even slightly under your foot- the deviation will be substantial. Also, stand with your toes spread out comfortably.  

3. Foot Angle: Keep your foot a straight as possible. If your foot doesn’t fit on one paper, tape two sheets together and then do the process.

4. The angle of the pencil & line thickness: Using either a blunt pencil or not holding it straight will cause the line to inaccurate leading to inaccuracy in measurement. For best results, use a sharp pencil and hold it perpendicular to the ground. Bending either inwards or outwards will cause the line deviation.

5. Measuring the lines: Ensure your select the longest toe and the endpoint for the length & for the width, measure at the ballpoints even if your toe box is wider. As shoe width is only calibrated based on this ballpoint width.

6. Measuring directly in mm: Measuring in inches and converting to mm will loose some accuracy due to the fraction rounding. Find a ruler which is calibrated in mm to start with.

 Overall Error: Given the combination of factors that matter while taking these pictures to keep in mind this method only provides a ballpark reading and you will still need to order couple of sizes or actually try out the shoe.

Time to Disrupt is now!

Until recently there have been no alternatives to this process. While several companies have attempted this – Most people ask you to download an app and do fairly complicated photos. Based on our research of the last 4 years and over 50,000 data points collected we are proud to present a browser-based solution that requires one simple photo.

All you need to do is open this link on your mobile browser and click on the photo:

 

While the oldest shoes which appeared 5,500 years ago were no more than gunny bags wrapped around the foot . However, this was a big step – literally and figuratively for mankind as it gave a huge boost to mobility.

From that point on wards to now shoes have gone from becoming a functional requirement to a representation of our creative expressions.

We have a list of some of the iconic shoes in last few decades, which may have been a turning point in design, aesthetics and function.

Source credit: Fifty Shoes That Changed the World: Design Museum

We would love to hear your inputs on shoes from 2009 onward which should be added to this list . Once we have enough suggestions, we will update this info graphic.

Do drop us a comment on shoes you would like to see added here!

Ever felt that some shoes just feel better than others although they are marked the same size and width ?  60% of your discomfort could be coming from the fact that your toes are not suited to the inner shape of the particular shoe.

While there is lot emphasis on selecting the right length and width for a shoe, but your toes play a key role in this process.

A huge part of  footwear comfort is defined by how your toes feel in the space given to them. There are two factors which contribute on this – shape on your toes and shape on the shoe in the toe-box area.

Both have several variations and it is critical to ensure the shape & volume matches and not just the dimensions.

Let’s start with the foot:

Shape of the toes can vary greatly from one individual to another. For some people the differences are quite obvious or others it’s much subtle. Toe box  shape has a huge impact on even the width selection of your footwear .

Toe box shape is determined by three factors

1) Shape alignment of the five toes.

 

2) Spread of the toes inward or outward.

3) Toe height

In some combinations such having a square toe box with outward toes – the width on the foot is decided by this region and  is often the deciding dimension for selecting a shoe. Using the traditional foot width – typically measured at the ball points would not provide a good fit.

While selecting shoe – apart from length and width next time do consider a toe box fit also!

In order to determine your toe foot shape and complete dimensions from one photo, please open this link on your mobile browser: www.shoesize.online.

Our app will tell you shape and help you understand shoe fitting better.

If you need recommendations about a specific brand or need any more clarifications- do drop us a comment.

Everyone’s been sort of been using this term loosely for the last decade or more, but what does it really mean ?

Virtual fitting simply put means the ability to predict fit of a particular garment or footwear over the user body. In reality, this system is meant to help you simulate different fits – as if you were trying out an item.

Why is this so key ?

Given that several new brands launch every quarter and almost most them have never have physical shop – the only way you can try out their garments or shoe is by making the first purchase. Even if you get the first one right – every time there is a new style, new fabric there is size adjustment required. In the pre-online era, for each item manufactured, it was assumed – it will be tried out in the store.

In fact the whole sizing system was made about 350 years ago ( 1647 according to SATRA website ) for batch manufacturing and not really intended for online shopping.

How does Virtual fitting work ?

For virtual fitting to be successful it essential for the user’s body profile in some measured along with clothing or footwear measurement. Several virtual fitting companies are building technologies to capture a consumer’s body profile in the simplest and fastest way possible , which will definitely help in solving the issues.

However – just knowing that the garment is   “Medium” is not very useful as this provides no indication to the actual measurement. The key will be to build a smarter database off the actual products and help a standardization of the inventory.

Why is the problem acute in footwear ?

Unlike apparel- where wearing one size big or small in many cases maybe only an antithetical compromise- with footwear it functionally impossible. Either wearing a shoe too small or too big can a fair bit of trouble starting with blisters to sever back pain.

How do we hope to solve the problem?

We at www. shoesize.online have a quick and easy technology to measure your foot length and capture few other critical dimensions and shapes. We also work with footwear brands to help standardize the shoe sizing.
Our system provides a fairly accurate simulation of how the shoe would fit on your feet

What ‘s coming next ?

As more and more brands and retailers take their business online – virtual fitting rooms are expected to become a norm and who knows  might even become the default version in physical stores also.