Category Archives: Shoe Fit

With summer almost here, many of us will be switching to sandals. For those of us who have developed the bad habit of slipping our sandals on and off without tightening…Stop It.

Not to sound like your mother, but shoes which adjust (tie, buckle, Velcro) need to be snugly secured each and every time you put them on. If you don’t do this, then you’ll experience excessive heel slippage and toe gripping, which can cause hammertoes and blisters to name just a few.

Here is a wedge sandal which was typically slipped on and off. The image on the left shoes proper fit and the image on the right shows sloppy fit. Which version would you rather wear?

In the 1920’s, Charles Brannock invented a measuring device, which bears his name and is still used today in most retail shoe stores.

According to the Brannock Device, men’s shoe sizes are one size larger than women’s. For example a men’s size 9 shoe would fit a woman’s size 10 foot. The size increments for both are 1/3″ difference between each size. So if you need to go up or down a half size, you’re only changing the size by 1/6″. Not nearly as much as most of us think.

There is also a nifty conversion chart on the Brannock Device’s website which differentiates different sizing systems, including children and European sizes as well.

Here’s the link http://brannock.com/cgi-bin/start.cgi/brannock/charts.html

Given a choice between two pair of high heels with the same heel height, one boot and one non-boot, the boot will always win (given the same width).

A boot keeps the foot better aligned with the ankle, which increases stability, reduces wobble and allows for more comfortable walking.

If you’ve got a night out on the town of club hopping and dancing – then a boot will always be a better choice.

If you wear a men’s shoe greater than size 12 or a women’s shoe greater than size 11, you will have difficulty shoe shopping. Why? Because a bigger size means more inconsistency in width, length and depth.

Bigger sizes also usually don’t have half sizes, which makes finding the right fit even more dififcult.

Here are two pair of the same Keen shoes. A size 13 on the left and a size 12 on the right.

Notice how the size 13 is longer and more curved? This is clearly not one size larger, since a full size should only be 1/3″.

Bottom line, if your size falls into this category, you’ve got to pay particular attention to sizing and fit.

When in San Francisco looking for men’s shoes, look no further than Nordstom San Francisco Center and Steve Brown. Steve is one of those rare career shoe salesman, who is more interested in making sure your shoes fit right than in commission.

Working in men’s shoes for nearly three decades, Steve knows feet and he knows men’s shoes. I trust my family with him. I trust my patient’s with him. What more can I say than that? Call ahead for his hours and days working.

Nordstrom San Francisco Centre
865 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 243-8500

Ruby slippers to reader Paul for reminding me about one of my favorite websites Ian’s Shoelace Site: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/index.htm

This site has every lacing pattern imaginable with terrific step by step directions on how to lace each style. Want fun? Want fancy? Then Ian’s shoelace site is the place for you.

If you’ve got a special way of lacing, send me a description and image and I’ll post on my blog. If it works for you, it will probably be useful for others, so why not share?

Ruby slippers to reader Paul for showing us this modified Roman lacing style. This lacing combines the strait and criss-cross lacing patterns. The first lace is straight whereas the following laces are all criss-cross. As you can see, Paul cinches up each set of laces to secure a snug fit. Unlike the full straight lacing pattern, this one gives you a spiffier look, while still maintaining fit.