Skip to content

HOW TO SIZE SAFETY BOOTS PROPERLY - THE WORK BOOTS TRUE-TO-SIZE GUIDE

YOUR GUIDE TO AVOID DRAMA WHEN BUYING SAFETY FOOTWEAR ONLINE & IN STORE

It’s important that we equip our feet with the right protective gear for the job. The quality, fit & function of your work boots can truly make or break your work life. Wearing cheap or ill-fitting work boots impacts your work performance, posture & can increase your pain levels. Creating preventable pain in your back, knees, ankles & toes. So the importance of making sure your work boots fit perfectly from the start will save you a lot of pain & hassle down the line.

Quick Tips | How To Determine The Best Boot Size

  • Try on or measure feet in the afternoon, when feet are longest.

  • Measure your feet while standing & wearing socks.

  • Measure from the heel to the longest toe.

  • Each foot is a different size, the longer foot determines the best shoe size.

  • If in-between sizes, always go up one.

BUYING SAFETY SHOES IN STORE

7 Steps To Finding The Perfect Fit


  1. Choose The Right Work Socks.

    We recommend wearing work socks because they are designed to reduce pressure, improve circulation, & allow your feet to breathe. Unlike moisture-absorbing, cotton-only socks. Some work socks cater to different pain points too. Like arch support, weather conditions, & hardiness. Work socks are also usually thick enough that they impact what size fits best. So always try the boots on with socks you’re likely to wear.

  2. Remove Restrictions

    To get a proper feel for the boots, always try on both at the same time. Make sure there are no restrictions if possible; such as laces, tags, or anything keeping your feet from moving freely. This will enable you to test your natural stride while gathering optimal data on the fit & feel.

  3. Take A Proper Test Ride

    Our workplaces often aren’t as flat & easy as a store floor. Add in some extra movement to determine the true feel & how they might function at your workplace. Replicate movements that you do often at work. For example; standing in place, walking, climbing stairs, hopping up, doing knee raises, squats, kneeling over, twisting motions, lifting motions & running. Test the grip, weight, support, agility & ankle mobility according to your workplace needs.

  4. Walking Checklist
  • Your heel shouldn’t come up out of the boot.

  • Your heels shouldn’t rub against the back.

  • The sides of your feet or toes should not feel any painful pressure.

  • Your toes should not slide forward or hit the end of the boot.

  • Your toes should have about an inch of room in front of them at all times.

5. Test The Ankle Support
Slowly roll your ankle & stand on the sides of your feet to test the boot’s ankle support. Observe how your ankles feel. Is it too restrictive or too compressive? Does it feel comfortable? Crouch up & down, observing if there is enough mobility for required ankle movements.

6. Check For Chafing & Pressure Marks
Check that the tongue, interior stitching, and any other pieces of the boot do not chafe or dig into your foot. Pull your feet out of your boots to check for red spots. Red spots indicate places where the boot has been rubbing or chafing against your feet and may point to potential issues in the future where rubbing can get worse and blisters can appear.

7. Optimize Your Boot Lacing Pattern

Once you find a pair of well-fitting work boots, lace them up in a heel lock pattern to keep your feet extra secure and help prevent blisters. This special boot lacing pattern relieves pressure on the front of your foot while making sure your heel stays in place and your ankle is properly supported.

 

Special Considerations | Wide Feet

If you have wide feet, do not try to fit your foot into a boot that is too narrow for your foot. You should also not try to size up in regular boot sizes, because even if larger boots fit the width of your foot, the boot will be too long. Which can cause blisters, chafing, & heel slippage. Instead, try on boots that naturally come in wide sizes like the MILOW safety shoe


BUYING SAFETY SHOES ONLINE

5 Steps To Measuring Your Feet Accurately.

  1. Measure In The Afternoon
    Measure your feet in the afternoon because they change shape throughout the day. After a day of walking on them, and stretching them out, they will become wider & longer compared to their original size in the early morning. Take into account how your socks might add a few mm too.

  2. Measure While Standing
    Ideally, you should be standing instead of sitting during measurements. As this also affects the size of the feet. Ask for assistance if possible.

  3. Measure From Heel To Longest Toe
    Upon measuring, place the foot on a tape measure and measure it from the heel to the longest toe. The measurement from the heel to the longest toe is your shoe size.

4. Measure Both Feet
Do not rely on left or right. Always measure both feet as differences in length are common. A difference of 3 mm in length, give or take, is quite normal.

5. Favor Your Longest Foot
Always make your shoe purchases according to the longest foot! Use our shoe size chart to compare foot length and shoe size. If you’re halfway between two sizes, always go up.

 

Measuring Your Feet With The Paper Method

If you are unsure of the size you normally wear in any of those 'Sizing Types', then measuring your feet length will provide a guide as to what size footwear you need to order. Follow the simple guide below, measure 'both feet'. You will most likely find one foot is slightly longer than the other, which is quite normal.

Then find your boot size on our size chart by comparing your foot measurement. Please be aware that all boot and shoe manufacturer sizes vary slightly, and sometimes even vary between styles from the same manufacturer. So using this information is not foolproof and should be used as a guide only.


Step By Step Guide

  1. You'll need a large piece of paper.
  2. Stand with your heel against a flat wall.
  3. Mark the longest distance from your heel to the tip of your toe.
  4. Then measure it & compare it to our size chart (PLEASE CHECK UNISEX OR FOR LADIES MODELS!)
  5. If in-between two sizes, go up a size.

 

Stitchkraft| Sizing & Charts:

Different companies & shoe types sizes can differ greatly in overall fit. To get the most accurate measurement for Stitch Kraft, use the paper method detailed in the section above. Once you have your "Heel-to-Toe" length, you can find your best fit with our size chart (PLEASE CHECK UNISEX OR FOR LADIES MODELS!)

Tip: If you’re between sizes, always opt to go up one.

Make a mistake? We also offer free returns if you need to swap sizes after a purchase.

 

STITCHKRAFT | FINAL TIPS

  1. Don’t Be Afraid To Contact Our Support Team
    If your feet have an unusually high instep or you have wider than normal feet, take the time to send us a message via “contact the seller” before placing your order. We will be able to provide more information and advise you of alternative options.

  2. If All Else Fails, You Can Exchange Them For The Right Size.
    If you still get it wrong, don't worry. We will always be happy to exchange them for your correct size. However a few extra minutes spent double-checking could save you delays and frustration later on.

 

60 day free return

You have 60 days from the date of purchase to return goods in NEW condition FREE OF CHARGE.

Learn more

Express shipping

All orders placed before 10am Monday to Friday are dispatched same day from our Melbourne warehouse.

Learn more

In-store shopping

See, feel and try our huge range of work boots & safety shoes in store in Tullamarine - Open To Public!

Learn more