Should you buy boots a size bigger? This is the question on most people’s minds when they are looking for workboots, hiking boots or other.
It is said that if the shoe fits, wear it. Does the same case apply with boots? Should you buy perfectly fitting boots or a size bigger?
Keep reading to find out.
Should you buy boots a size bigger? Not too big not too small
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Your boots should not be too big or too small.
If they are too big, they can cause discomfort and blisters as the heel slips. Wear a too-small boot and you will end up with corns and ingrown toenails.
Do we even need to mention the blistering pain that comes with wearing too tight-fitting boots?
What Is The Right Boot Size?
By now you may have realized it is challenging to find the perfectly fitting shoes for your feet. For instance, if you wear boot number 39 from a particular manufacturer, you will find that a similar-sized boot from a different manufacturer does not fit you.
Studies have shown that 3 out of 5 people are wearing wrong sized boots.
The best boot size is one that leaves enough room for your toes to wiggle. The toes should not be squashed or pinched against the boot’s front.
Is it better to get shoes a size bigger?
The boots should feel comfortable when you wear them. Not too loose and not too tight. You should get that snug feel.
Luckily there is a solution if your boot is a bit loose. It could be that you wear an in-between size or you bought a size bigger.You can use insoles or thicker socks to get that snug fit.
Unfortunately, you have no solution if you buy a tight boot. You need to stop wearing it or else you will get foot deformities such as corns, bunions, and hammertoes.
Or you can enlarge the boot. We wrote an article on that topic some time back. You can read it and see how to stop shoes from pinching your feet.
The size depends on the type of boot. If you are wearing pull-on boots, there should be a slight heel slip while there should be no heal slips on lace-ups.
An advantage with lace-up boots is that you can make it fit you by the way you lace it up. If the boots are tight, you can skip eyelets and if they are loose-fitting, you can tighten the lace.
How to Ensure You Buy the Right Boot Size
It is perfectly possible to get a pair of boots that fits, leaves some wiggling room for your toes and keeps your heels comfortable.
Here are a few things to help you buy boots of the right size:
Measure for boots in the afternoon
Feet get bigger in the afternoon. To make sure you buy boots that will fit you, shop towards the end of the day. If you buy in the morning when your feet are smaller, they may not fit you when your feet enlarge. If you are buying your work boots online, measure your feet in the afternoon.
Always measure your feet before you buy the boots
Adult’s feet change in size especially as you get older. In addition, you may have different sized feet. You will need to use the size of the larger foot when buying the boots.
Test using insoles you will be using
If you have insoles that you will prefer to wear with the boots, take them along and put them in the boots as you test. Test the boots before removing the tag when they are delivered.
Wear the socks you will use with the boots
When measuring your feet, wear the socks you will normally use with the boots. Their thickness will affect how the boot fits you. Should you buy boots a size bigger if you use thick socks? Yes!
Walk around to break in the boots
Don’t wear the boots to work before you break them in. Walk in them several minutes daily to make them conform to the shape of your feet. Make sure the toes can wiggle, the heels do not slip and the ball of the foot is not pinched.
Wrapping Up
There you have it. Should you buy boots a size bigger? There should be enough space to wiggle your toes, but not too large. If one foot is larger than the other, buy shoes that are half a size bigger based on the larger foot.