Navigating shoes sizes can be tricky business – especially if you are attempting to purchase shoes overseas or if you are buying shoes sized for the opposite gender. This article will take you through all the necessary conversions using a Women’s size 8 for our example. For a summary of the conversions, check out the chart below.
• Women’s to Men’s. To convert from a men’s size to a women’s size, simply add 2 to the men’s size. In our case, a woman who wears a size 8 in women’s shoe would need to shop for a size 6 in men’s.
• Athletic Shoes. It is normally a good idea to purchase athletic shoes that are a little bit bigger than your everyday shoes or dress shoes. This is because the foot tends to swell when we run (thanks to all that heat and sweat!). It’s very important not to cramp the foot in athletic shoes as this could lead to foot injuries such as ingrown or bruised toenails. Athletic shoes can always be cinched by tying the laces tightly. So a woman with size 8 feet, should purchase athletic shoes that are a size 8.5.