Sizing Guides & Charts
Your journey requires the right foundation. To ensure your chosen pair fits your earthly vessel with precision, consult this guide.
First doctrine: the label is the law
Every listing in the cabinet leads with its size, and that size is whatever is stamped inside the shoe itself. No conversions, no interpretations. When a title begins with "10.5 M", that is the tongue tag speaking, and the tongue tag does not lie.
Remember also: most artifacts here are one of one. There is no half size up waiting in the back. If the runes are unclear, ask us to measure before you commit. We will pull the insole, measure heel to toe, and send back the number in centimeters.
How to decipher your footprint
The most sacred measurement is your own. To summon your true size, perform the following ritual:
- Prepare the altar. Place a blank sheet of paper on a hard, flat surface.
- Make your mark. Stand with one foot firmly on the paper, wearing the socks you would pair with your sneakers.
- Trace the vessel. With a pen held vertically, carefully trace the complete outline of your foot.
- Measure the essence. Measure from the very back of your heel to the tip of your longest toe, in centimeters.
- Repeat. Feet come in near-matching pairs, not identical ones. Measure both and keep the larger number.
- Consult the charts. Compare your measurement to the charts below to unearth your size.
Pro tip: add about 0.5 cm to your measurement for movement and sock thickness. Your toes will thank you.
Universal sizing chart
Use your measurement in centimeters to find your size across regions.
| Length (CM) | US Men's | US Women's | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.9 | 4.5 | 6 | 4 | 36.5 |
| 23.3 | 5 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 37.5 |
| 23.7 | 5.5 | 7 | 5 | 38 |
| 24.1 | 6 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 38.5 |
| 24.5 | 6.5 | 8 | 6 | 39 |
| 25 | 7 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 40 |
| 25.4 | 7.5 | 9 | 7 | 40.5 |
| 25.8 | 8 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 41 |
| 26.2 | 8.5 | 10 | 8 | 42 |
| 26.7 | 9 | 10.5 | 8.5 | 42.5 |
| 27.1 | 9.5 | 11 | 9 | 43 |
| 27.5 | 10 | 11.5 | 9.5 | 44 |
| 27.9 | 10.5 | 12 | 10 | 44.5 |
| 28.3 | 11 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 45 |
| 28.8 | 11.5 | 13 | 11 | 45.5 |
| 29.2 | 12 | 13.5 | 11.5 | 46 |
| 29.6 | 12.5 | 14 | 12 | 47 |
| 30 | 13 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 47.5 |
| 30.5 | 13.5 | 15 | 13 | 48 |
| 30.9 | 14 | 15.5 | 13.5 | 48.5 |
The youth scale: a collector's loophole
Grade school (GS) artifacts run on the youth scale, often cost less, and fit more people than the label admits. A 7Y is roughly a women's 8.5, and seasoned collectors have been known to shop the kids' wall on purpose.
| US Y | UK | EU | CM | Fits like US W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Y | 3.5 | 36 | 23.0 | 5.5 |
| 4.5Y | 4 | 36.5 | 23.5 | 6 |
| 5Y | 4.5 | 37.5 | 23.5 | 6.5 |
| 5.5Y | 5 | 38 | 24.0 | 7 |
| 6Y | 5.5 | 38.5 | 24.0 | 7.5 |
| 6.5Y | 6 | 39 | 24.5 | 8 |
| 7Y | 6 | 40 | 25.0 | 8.5 |
The lore of the makers
Each maker has its own soul, its own fit. Heed the accumulated wisdom, then verify with the ritual above:
- Nike and Air Jordan tend to run snug or true to size, built for a secure, athletic fit. Wider feet, or anyone wanting a roomier casual fit, often go up half a size.
- adidas tends toward a slightly more generous fit in the classic models, so true to size usually holds. Performance models can run sock-like and snug.
- Vintage artifacts follow rules retired long ago. For anything older than its buyer, trust the measurement, not the label.
- The golden rule: individual models keep their own quirks. Always check the listing for sizing notes we have unearthed for that particular artifact.
The alchemic conversion: men's to women's
Many artifacts are released in men's sizing. The incantation is simple: add 1.5 to the men's size.
- A men's 7 is a women's 8.5
- A men's 10.5 is a women's 12
Path still unclear?
Send your raven with the name of the artifact in question and we shall illuminate the way, measuring tape in hand.
Shoe Odditorium, LLC is an independent reseller. Fit notes reflect our own experience with the goods we sell and are not provided by any maker.