Shoe sizes - how to accurately compare US & UK/European sizes?!

[FairWeatherSailing]

Hi

Shoe size advice please!!!!

I need to know a reliable chart (or website) online that will tell me - fairly accurately, at least! - what a US shoe size means to a UK wearer!

i.e. How can I safely compare US & UK/European sizes?!

I have recently bought 2 pairs of US-made (and therefore of course US-sized) shoes - for ladies adult. I had been informed by several websites that size 8 is approximately the equivalent of a UK size 5-and-a-half [my size; although I take a UK 6 if my size is not available]). I thought this would be a reliable guide.

However . . . ! One pair of these US shoes (made by Merrell) claims on the label inside the shoes to be a US size 6 & (rather oddly) a UK size 6 also! Secondly, on trying the shoes on they feel way too small & more like a UK size 5.

The other pair of shoes (made by ACG) claims on the label inside the shoes to be a US size 8 & a UK size 7 [unfortunately I bought TOTALLY the wrong size by accident, but ignore that point!! as of course they are way too big for me ]. The problem is that this is clearly not the same US-size-to-UK-size translation as the other pair of shoes!!

So:

1. Problem 1: I have now checked even more websites re this problem in size comparisons, & have found that different online shoe charts vary greatly in what they state a US size equates to in a UK size!

1. Problem 2: It looks as the problem is made even worse as the size 'translation' varies from manufacturer to manufacturer!!

Grrrr!! ,-)

Obviously shoe-buying is an art as much as a science , & nothing beats trying shoes on in a shop, but in the face of Internet-selling that is not always an option. I just need to know the best 'translation' of 1 country's sizing to another.

Any advice from you all out there?!

Thanks

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FairWeatherSailing

Some of the US sizes are totally different. I found trainers were different to normal shoes. I am a 5 and wasa US 7, but trainers were different, I think a 6.

I would say that the most common is for US shoe sizes to be two sizes up from UK.

I've bought shoes whilst in holiday, i agree with Eglu they're usually around 2 sizes bigger.

Hi FairWeatherSailing

You have hit the nail right on the head - there is absolutely no standardisation in shoe sizing whatsoever.

I own a shoe shop and come across this everyday at work. Just because you measure a 6 in one style of shoe doesn't mean you wouldn't need a 5 or a 7 in another one.

Every manufacturer works to their own sizing and the last used to make the shoe, the materials and the way a shoes fastens will all have an effect on fit. Velcro single or double fastenings will fit differently to slip ons or lace ups or pumps.

Merrell however, as you have found is notorious in the shoe industry for having completely arbitrary sizings. Lovely shoes but a nightmare to fit. Most people end up with a totally size to what they originally requested.

I am assuming the shoes you have recently bought were online purchases. If that is the case then under direct selling regulations you can return them for a refund or an exchange of size if they don't fit you.

I am afraid there is no easy answer to your question, however in general if you find a style of shoe that works for you with a manufacturer then other shoes of that style should be ok with that manufacturer. Eg if a Merrell lace up size 6 suits you then all their lace ups should be ok in a 6 but with a velcro or a pull cord fastening your

Sorry I have probably not been very helpful but I do sympathise.