Shoes are one of the most commonly returned online purchases because there are so many variables that come with trying to get a perfect fit. Many purists will tell you that they would never buy shoes online. While we would prefer to have you in the store (it makes things easier) sometimes that’s not possible.
Here’s our advice for buying shoes online:
Know your feet.
The main cause of returned orders for shoes purchased online is due to ordering the wrong size. You can combat this by accurately measuring your feet at home.
Securely attach a piece of paper to a firm and flat surface.
Place one foot on the paper while slightly bending your knee.
Use a pencil to trace the edge of your foot around the paper.
Repeat steps 1-4 with your other foot.
Mark the tip of your longest toe and the edge of your heel on the tracing.
Use a measuring tape or a ruler to determine the distance between the two marks you made. This will tell you precisely how long your feet are.
If one foot is longer than the other, use the length of the larger foot when checking sizes.
Aside from length, it is important to also be familiar with the width of your feet and whether or not you require a wider shoe (marked by “W” or “EE”).
Know your materials.
The materials used to craft shoes can vary based on brand, style, and shoe type. Knowing how these materials differ in their fit, comfort and durability can help you find the fit you desire.
Leather shoes are flexible, breathable and are durable. This allows them to adapt to your feet over time. Even if leather shoes feel tight initially, they will stretch and mold themselves to you after they’re broken in.
Fabric and canvas shoes are great for warm weather as they are lightweight and breathable. These materials usually do not require a break-in period as they are extremely flexible. Though because of this, they can also lack support and wear out faster than leather.
Know your brands.
While not every SAS or Munro shoe fits the same you will at least have a pretty good idea what works for your foot if you have previous experience with them. Keep in mind that fit can change between models (even those made on the same last).
If you are unfamiliar with a brand, spend some time online researching it. Finding sizing standards and whether a brand “runs true to size” or “fits wider than usual” can be invaluable when shopping online.
Walk around with the shoes on.
It might seem obvious but when you get a new pair of shoes make sure to try both on and walk around your house.
They should be comfortably snug in the instep but roomy in the toes. Heel slippage is a common complaint and it’s something we can resolve in store through some basic adjustments.
If you feel that your new shoes would fit comfortably if only your heel didn’t slip then contact us for a solution.
Be flexible about your size.
Sizes will vary between manufacturers, and even between models. No one has a single fixed size.
Running shoes tend to fit small while leather dress shoes tend to fit larger. Also each manufacturer uses different sizing systems.
If you’re a women’s 8 in North America, you may be a 39 in European and a 5.5 in UK sizes.
Last and most important of all, if you are unsure and need help please contact us for advice. Either905-527-1950 email us at info@millershoes.com or call 905-527-1950
