Works Boots and Safety Shoes

How to Choose the Correct Size for Safety Shoes

Safety Shoes: How to Select the Right Size to Avoid Fatigue, Foot Pain, and Postural Issues

Wearing the correct shoe size is crucial, especially for footwear used in work environments where you spend many consecutive hours on your feet under stressful conditions. Wearing shoes that are even slightly too tight can lead to increased fatigue, foot pain, circulation problems in the legs, and postural issues that can affect your spine. On the other hand, shoes that are too large can become loose, making it difficult to walk and potentially causing them to slip off accidentally.

Finding the right size safety shoes can be particularly challenging for those with smaller feet, as most models and brands typically cover sizes ranging from 38 to 48. Diadora Utility, however, offers safety shoes starting from size 35, often indicated with the label "Woman Last."

Safety Shoes: How to Choose the Right Size

Not all shoe models fit the same, so it's always best to try them on, especially if it's your first purchase or if you're switching brands or models. For those who prefer to shop online, free return policies make it easy to exchange shoes if they turn out to be a bit too tight or too loose.

How to Try on Shoes in Store

If you plan to buy safety shoes in a store, follow these five tips:

1. Try on shoes in the afternoon or evening when your feet are more swollen. In the morning, especially on cold days, your feet tend to be less swollen, but you'll be wearing the shoes for many hours on feet that are subject to heat, fatigue, and stress.
2. Wear the socks you usually wear to work; avoid thin "leisure" socks.
3. Take a few steps; don't try on shoes while standing still or, worse, while sitting. Walk and pay attention to the fit: Do the shoes move? Do they stay firmly in place? Are the sole and upper flexible enough during the roll of your foot?
4. Touch the tip of the shoe: Ideally, there should be at least 1 cm of space between your big toe and the front of the shoe.
5. Slide a finger between the shoe and your heel to check that it’s not too tight or too loose: It should fit without too much effort but not too easily.

Choosing the Right Size When Buying Online

If you're buying a new pair of safety shoes online and want to switch brands or models instead of reordering the same ones you've used before, remove the insole from your old comfortable shoes and measure it. Compare the length of the insole with the size chart provided on the website.

If you can't or don't want to measure an old shoe, measure your foot directly. Wear the type of socks you usually wear. Place a piece of paper on the floor aligned with a wall and place your foot on it, with your heel against the wall. Mark the paper with a pen or pencil at the tip of your longest toe. Repeat this process for both feet, as they may differ in size.

Measure the distance between the edge of the paper against the wall and the mark you made, repeating this process for both feet, and note the larger measurement (in mm). Find your shoe size by comparing this value (in mm) with the size chart on the website.