Sizing Running Shoes

Running shoes are sized a little differently than regular shoes. A properly fitting running shoe will be fitted in the midfoot and snug in the heel.  Feet expand during a run, so there should be  enough wiggle room around the toes to accommodate the expansion.

This is especially true for cross country running shoes. If one foot is larger than the other, always fit according to the larger foot. And a running shoe that is a little too big is better than one that is too small.

Brannock Device

Most running shoes will fit smaller than the size marked on the shoe’s tongue. You can use a Brannock Device to find your normal shoe size. It’s easy to download a PDF to print out,  just search for Brannock Device PDF.

• True-to-size: Shoe fits according to the reading from a Brannock Device. If your foot measures size 9, you need a size 9.
• Half-size small: Fits a half size smaller than the reading from a Brannock Device. If your foot measures size 9, you need a size 9.5.
• Full-size small: Fits a full size smaller than the value obtained from a Brannock Device. If your foot measures a size 9, you need a size 10.

Size Conversion Chart

Here is another way to estimate your shoe size: Stand on a flat, hard floor. Put your heel up against a wall and measure your foot length. You can measure by standing on a piece of paper and marking the end of the longest toe, or by using a measuring tape.  Look on the following chart to match your measurement to your shoe size.

Go back to Cross Country Running Shoes 101 home.