Finding the right size in barefoot shoes can be slightly different from finding the right size in traditional shoes. There is no universal standard to sizing between brands, so it is important to check size chart for each shoe and compare with the measurements of your feet.
Grab a piece of paper, a pencil and a ruler and let's get started!
First, Measure your feet.
There are two common ways to measure the length and width of your feet. We recommend trying both methods at least twice to find the most accurate numbers.
Method #1
Foot Along the Wall
Place a blank piece of paper against a wall. You want the short side to be touching the wall or baseboard. Stand on the paper with your heel right up against the wall.
Take a book, yoga block or box and place it right at your longest toe. Take a pencil and make a mark here.
To find your width, turn the paper so that the long end is against the wall. Stand on the paper again, this time with the outside of your foot against the wall. Mark alongside your foot at the widest part or use the block as a guide.
Method #2
Foot Trace
Stand and place one foot on a piece of paper. Stand up tall and let the weight distribute evenly into your foot. If possible, have someone help you do the tracing. You can do it yourself as long as the foot remains in a natural standing position.
Using a pencil, trace as close to the foot as possible. Hold the pencil upright as to not let it point under your foot. Trace around your foot and toes. It's not necessary to go around each toe.
Now that you have your tracing, use a ruler to measure from the heel to your longest toe. Then, measure the width at the ball of the foot (the area below the toes), or where your feet are the most wide.
IMPORTANT NOTES
This measurement will be your ACTUAL FOOT SIZE. You will want to add .5 to 1.5 cm to your foot measurement to allow for room in your shoe for natural foot movement.
For example, my foot measures 24.1 cm in length and 9.8 cm in width. I will then add .5cm to my measurement, making it a total of 24.6. When I am choosing a shoe model, I will use 24.6 as my new measurement for casual shoes or sandals. For hiking boots, I may allow for more room and add 1cm.
If you typically wear thick socks or know you'll be wearing them with your footwear (winter boots for example) measure your feet with socks ON.
Shoe brands have their own size chart and measurements. Even if you are a 39 in one brand, that doesn't necessarily mean you wear that size in another manufacturer. So you must compare your measurements with each brand's sizing guides.
When in doubt, refer to the brand's preferred method of measuring and double check their size chart.