[Saved version] Do you know your foot size? How to measure the correct foot size that you can't ask anymore!

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Are you choosing your shoes properly?

The other day, an acquaintance asked me my shoe size.

When I answered, "23.5 cm, roughly D to E width with high instep", I was asked again, "What is Wise?"

If you work at a shoe store, Wise is common knowledge, but it seems that it was an unknown word for those who didn't...

I briefly explained about Y's, but in the end I was met with a face of "I don't really understand", and I completely lost my confidence as a shoemaker.

Actually, I've experienced this kind of episode several times in the past, and every time I experience it, I just wonder, "How do people choose shoes?"

Go to a shoe store → Find shoes that interest you → Try them on → Buy them

I think it's generally like this, but I'm worried about what criteria I use when deciding to buy after trying them on...or rather, I'm worried.

The conclusion made on the spot is that it is "appropriate".

As a result of choosing randomly, it may be that you are wearing shoes of the size that does not really fit.

This suspicion quickly turns into conviction.

There are a lot of girls who wear heels when they walk around town! ! !

(This time, it was easier for women to spot the non-conforming size, so I limited it to women, but I'm sure there are men too.)

Exhibit: Photo AC

There are many girls whose heels seem to come off every time they walk.

I couldn't stop them one by one and tell them, "Your shoes aren't the right size."

Come to think of it, I vaguely remember once asking a friend who wore Kappo Kappo pumps why they were wearing the wrong size.

It's a long time ago, so I don't remember exactly what kind of response it was, but I think he said something like , "Because it hurts if you don't relax."

Now that I'm a shoemaker, that's no longer the case! I can categorically say that I was still a student at the time.

(I don't think that's the case) I guess I ignored it while thinking.

From this memory, I came to the conclusion that the suspicion that "I am choosing it appropriately" is close to the conviction that "There is a misunderstanding about the size of the foot". I thought I'd write down the directions.

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Japanese who are not interested in feet and shoes

In Japan, the notation of shoe size in “cm” is the mainstream. There are some shoes with width notation, but I don't see them very often.

Wise is sometimes written as "sokui" in Japanese, and is simply the size of the outer circumference of the widest part of the foot.

Wise is determined by calculating how much this foot circumference is relative to the length of the foot (from the tip of the foot to the heel).

In addition to the size notation of how many centimeters, shoes have alphabets from A to E. That is Wise notation.

Currently, the width is represented by A to E, where A is small (narrow) and E is large (wide), such as A → B → C → D → E → EE → EEE → EEEE.

For example, even with the same 23.0cm shoes, the size is quite different between "23.0cm A" and "23.0cm EEE".

This does not change depending on the difference in body shape (thin or fat), it is congenital and basically does not change greatly due to changes in body shape or aging. (A change of up to 2 sizes may occur due to a significant change in body shape.)

If a person with Wise EEE wears shoes with Wise A, they may get stuck in the middle and they may not be able to enter, or they may bite in more than necessary and cause blisters. Your feet will not be fixed inside, and your feet will slip and cause injury.

It is very important to know one's width, not just the size (cm), but it is said that Japanese people are not particularly interested in the size and width of their feet.

Is it the influence of zori and geta culture, where the width and foot circumference do not affect the comfort of wearing?

When I actually take the questionnaire, the result is like this.

the size of your feet,

— mamian-Kobe outgoing women's shoes brand (@MAMIAN) May 25, 2020

A whopping two-thirds of people have never measured themselves!

So choosing the correct size is an impossible task.

Furthermore, a long time ago, it was said that ``Japanese feet are characterized by wide feet and high insteps,'' and many people still believe this, and it seems that this is the ``misunderstanding of foot size''. increase.

However, although the current average size of both men's and women's feet is increasing, the width and width have not changed much, and it seems that the number of people with narrow feet and thin feet is increasing.

In fact, many Japanese people have thin feet, and it is said that the average width is about D to E.

Many of the shoes that claim to be "easy to wear" are sized EE and EEE and sell "comfortable feeling". The illusion that “we are wide and have high insteps” is prevalent in such shoes.

Again, you can't know until you actually measure it, so it's easy to misunderstand your own feet.

If there are 10 people, there are 10 sizes of feet, and not many people have exactly the same size.

Ease of wearing = from knowing your size.

Loose = easy to wear, not painful.

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Benefits of knowing your foot size

What are the benefits of knowing your exact foot size?

A clear advantage is

- Easier shoe selection

・Wide range of shoes to choose from

・Keep your feet healthy

I think these 3 points are big.

You may be able to send a better shoes life.

《Choosing shoes becomes easier》

This is simply a story that by obtaining various information on the foot, it becomes easier to choose what kind of shoes to choose and what kind of shoes suit your feet.

It's a common story that the shoes you chose based on your previous experience didn't actually fit your feet at all, and you found shoes that were more comfortable based on your foot size.

Knowing your foot size will make choosing the right shoes easier and more comfortable.

"Width of selectable shoes spreads"

The type of shoes that I thought I was not good at until now, but I wonder if it suits my feet... There are times like this.

The point is, it's a feeling that you can fix your dislike.

Conversely, you may be able to find something that you can wear even in the type of shoes that do not fit.

For example, you want loafers, but it's hard to find one that fits your narrow feet... → You can wear a lace-up type that can adjust the width! And so on.

You may encounter wonderful shoes that you never thought possible.

"Keep your feet healthy"

Wearing ill-fitting shoes is not good for your foot health.

In addition to foot deformities such as bunions and bunions, the way you walk itself may become strange, and this may affect your legs and lower back.

In particular, it seems that people with narrower feet have more foot problems due to wearing shoes that do not fit properly.

The stress caused by shoes is greater than you think, and it affects your body in various ways.

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how to measure foot size

I explained it at length, but let's actually measure the size of the foot!

The size of the foot is mainly represented by [foot length] [foot width] [foot circumference (width)].

[leg length]

length from toe to heel

[foot width]

The width of the widest part of the foot

[Foot circumference (Wise)]

Circumference of the most swollen part of the foot (obtained using the length of the circumference and the length of the foot *See details below)

Knowing these three sizes will give you an idea of ​​what size shoe to buy.

It makes it easier to buy shoes online, even if you can't actually try them on.

Furthermore, if you remember the [toe type] as well, it will be easier to choose shoes.

The shape of the human foot changes depending on which toe is longer, and each shape has the best toe shape.

There are three types of finger shapes. This is easy to understand even for an amateur, so self-judgment is enough.

[Egyptian type]

Most Japanese are like this. The thumb is the longest and tapers in a straight line toward the little finger.

It is a foot type that can be used with almost any type of toe, but it is said that if you wear a toe that is too thin, your long big toe will bend and you will be prone to bunions.

A toe that fits an Egyptian foot... Round toe, oblique toe

A toe that does not fit Egyptian feet...Slender pointed toe

[Greek type]

The index finger is longer than the thumb, and the foot is shaped like a mountain.

A slim toe that conforms to the shape of the finger is easy to fit, but a short or square toe can bend the index finger and cause injuries, calluses, blisters, and hammer toes.

A toe that fits a Greek foot...Pointed toe, almond toe

A square toe that does not fit Greek feet

[Square type]

Most of the toes are of uniform length, and the foot looks square when viewed from above.

It is the least common type and the width of the entire toe is wide, so it is a difficult type to choose shoes.

A toe that fits a square foot...square toe

Toes that don't fit square feet...Pointed toes, other slim toes

Let's find the perfect shoe for you based on your foot shape and the data on foot length, foot width, and width that will be explained later.

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[Let's measure yourself]

First of all, it is a way to measure [foot length] [foot width] [foot circumference (width)] at home.

Here, we will introduce the Japanese method of measuring, so please keep in mind that the figures may be slightly different from those of overseas brand shoes.

Different countries have different standards for foot measurements.

And I want to be careful that everyone is asymmetrical.

The size of the foot is also the same, and most people have slightly different sizes on the left and right, and in rare cases, there are people who have a size difference of about 2 sizes.

When measuring, be sure to measure both feet.

All you need is a piece of paper big enough to fit your foot, a pen or pencil, and a ruler or tape measure .

For women, A4 size copy paper (vertical knitting 297 mm) will be enough.

① First, draw a cross on the paper.

Since the tip of the heel is aligned with the intersection of the cross, it is better to write it at the bottom of the paper ◎

(2) Align the tip of the heel with the intersection of the cross and the tip of the toe with the tip of the cross.

In most cases, the heel protrudes behind the part that touches the ground, so use a ruler or the like to ensure that the tip of the heel is exactly at the intersection.

The longest part of your toes should be on the line.

③ Measure the length and width of the foot.

Foot length → mark the longest part of the finger on the cross line.

Foot Width → Mark the widest part on both the inner and outer sides when viewed from directly above.

I mean here.

Remove your foot from the paper and measure the length of the mark from the heel to the fingertip on the cross line, and the length of the mark on the inside and outside of the foot with a tape measure or ruler. The length and width of each foot.

④ Measure the foot circumference.

Measure the length of the circumference of the foot by connecting the most bulging parts on both the inside and outside of the foot when viewed from directly above.

⑤ Calculate the width by referring to the following data.

Example) Foot length 22.8cm, foot circumference 22.0cm → Wise D

In the case of foot length 25.4cm, foot circumference 22.3cm → Wise B

If you have paper, a pen, and a ruler, you can easily measure at home.

It's less accurate than professional measurements, but you may be able to capture the characteristics of your feet that you didn't even notice.

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[Let's get measured by a professional]

Your feet have professionals called "shoe fitters" for your feet.

As for what they do, they measure my feet, teach me how to choose shoes that fit, adjust the insoles to match shoes that don't fit, and I think the shoes at this store fit. So I'll tell you.

By the way, recognition in Japan is low, but in other countries it is a fairly high-ranking position.

(If you are interested, please check the outline of the shoe fitter qualification test and the examination fee. Your eyes will pop out.)

If you just measure yourself, it's just a number, and you need to study what to choose based on, but if you leave it to a shoe fitter, you'll be able to learn various things based on the numbers, so choosing shoes should be a lot of fun.

Then, where should I go to meet Mr. Shoe Fitter?

They come to department stores and specialty shoe shops, but there aren't many of them.

You can search for a shoe fitter here, so please try to find a shoe fitter in your town.

▽Search (Move to the website of the General Incorporated Association Foot, Shoes and Health Council.)

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[Let's measure with ZOZOMAT]

ZOZOTOWN, a major online shopping company, has released a product called ZOZOMAT that allows you to measure your feet with your smartphone!

I tried it quickly, but...

*Sample data

Ohhhh!

Not much different from what I measured...

There are no difficult operations, just launch the app and follow the instructions on the screen to take pictures.

It's really convenient if you can measure so far with just this.

Based on the results, it will tell you the recommended shoes (even size!), which is very convenient!

I can't hide my surprise that this is the time...

Of course, this data can be used as a reference when shopping at a shoe store in town, so there is no loss in measuring once.

▽ZOZOMAT (move to ZOZOTOWN site)

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summary

As long as there is gravity on the earth, as long as humans continue to walk on two legs, the legs will continue to be burdened.

How you perceive that burden will greatly change your interest in your feet.

If you want to live with healthy feet 10 or 20 years from now when you become a grandpa or grandma, why not pay attention to your foot size and how to choose shoes?

May your shoe life be a wonderful one.