You may prefer extra roominess or tightness in your footwear, depending on how you like the shoe to feel. It’s normal for preferences to vary from person to person. Measurements aside, shoe fit is subjective. Meanwhile, you may want a slightly roomier fit, with more wiggle room in the toe box, for an everyday shoe. For athletic performance, you may want a soccer, football or baseball cleat to provide a snug, tight fit. A shoe with laces may allow you to loosen or tighten the fit for a more personalized feel, while a slip-on shoe will have less adjustability. For example, leather might feel softer and more pliable than certain synthetic materials. Some fabrics will have more stretch and softness than others.
Many soccer players, especially elite-level athletes, choose to size down in their soccer cleats so they can feel a more sensitive touch on the ball. While Nike soccer cleats are designed to fit true to size, they serve a different purpose than a lifestyle shoe, for example, so they are likely to feel different than an Air Force 1 on-foot. For example, a Mercurial soccer cleat is made with a different last than a pair of Air Force 1s. A last is the footform that a shoe is built on, and different shoes (including different Nike shoes) are made with different lasts.
(For the most precise measurement, consider using a ruler with centimeters, rather than inches.) This measurement represents the length of your feet. Mark the tip of the big toe and the outermost part of the heel, and use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the distance between the two points.It’s common for a person’s feet to be two slightly different sizes. Repeat the process with the other foot.That way, you can keep your feet still and capture the most accurate measurement. If possible, ask another person to help you with this step. With a pen or pencil pointed straight down, trace the outline of your foot on the paper.You can also sit in a chair, but make sure your feet are firmly planted on the ground. Stand with one foot on the paper and a slight bend in your knees.Tape a piece of paper to a hard floor, ensuring the paper doesn’t slip.Before measuring, put on the same pair of socks you plan to wear with the shoes.Feet tend to swell throughout the day and may have a slightly larger measurement in the evening than in the morning.
For the most accurate measurement, it’s best to measure your feet at the end of the day.