How to find the "right" size Chuck Taylors?

[sgtrock]

Hey guys,

Bought a pair of Chuck Taylors today after reading all the great press they get here and elsewhere. Problem is they feel too big. They didn't feel quite so big in the store (I walked and squatted and stared right back at the people buying their shoes for appearance) but at the gym they just didn't feel right. I bought size 11 (US), my normal size, and compared them to 10.5 which seemed a bit tight.

So here's my (possibly stupid) question: What is the "correct" way to size the shoe? Should it be tight in the arch, heel, toe, what?

The 10.5 was generally a little tight though I may have been able to loosen it a bit, and there wasn't as much toe "wiggle room" as I usually like. My concern was the foot spreading a bit during the workout, as happens to runners. If so then the shoe may be too tight.

The 11 has about a 1/4-1/2" between the big toe and the end, but when doing deadlifts today and lifting the toe there is about a 1" gap. Not sure if that is considered too much. The heel is ever-so-slightly loose, but the rest of it feels fine, and I can tighten it just enough without being too much -- the sides/arch area feel great.

I have been warming up walking on a treadmill for 10 minutes, but that wasn't doable today -- the shoes felt a bit too large for my gait (I could adjust, but still) and the stiff sole burned up the bursitis in my heel so I had to call it quits. And the shoe felt like it wanted to bend in the middle of my big toe, not at the first knuckle, but I didn't notice this in the store.

Otherwise the shoes felt great and I felt a lot more stable in the lifts. Too bad they don't have a 10.75 size or something...

Thanks for the help!

[Cleave]

For lifting it wounds like you have the correct fit. When you start squatting and dead-lifting your feet can grow. The proper fit for Chuck's is slightly larger than your normal needs. Not snug.

[sgtrock]

OK then, I'll stick with them and try them out for a while. Like I said, the soles felt a LOT more stable than my running shoes.

When you start squatting and dead-lifting your feet can grow.

Do you mean that the feet will spread sideways under load, i.e. they will spread out during the workout and then reset later? If so then that happened some when I ran as well. I only ran 5Ks but I still felt a difference at the end of a run.

Or are you saying my feet will actually physically change size over time to adapt to the increased demands? i.e. after lifting for a while I'll go up say perhaps half a size in every shoe I wear?

Thanks!

[anchorman45]

I have a similar question about Chuck Taylors. I have been thinking about getting a pair for squatting and deadlifting but I was wondering which type would be better, the ankle height low-tops or the high-tops.

I don't have a preference for one or the other except whichever would be best for lifting. If anyone who has tried them has an opinion it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[sgtrock]

I'm not "experienced" by any stretch (only doing this three weeks or so) but the ones I bought (mentioned above) are low tops and I like them. Turns out they are great for the lifting. I just wasn't used to the larger size and tried my normal "walk 10 minutes to warm up" routine in them -- no, bad idea, now I bike for a few minutes.

I'm pretty sure I saw a post from Mehdi somewhere that said he had high tops but left them loose or unlaced as they went up, so I guess its personal preference.

I'd suggest trying them on in the store and squatting, bending over and standing up (deadlift motions), etc. You'll get stares from the soccer moms and their kids and the guys who buy workout shoes to look good, but you'll have a better idea. It usually takes me a bare minimum of half an hour to decide on a pair of workout (running) shoes, and I may try on 10 pair.

Hope this helps.

[sgtrock]

Just to follow up to my original question with results in case anybody else reads this, after using them for a few weeks I am VERY PLEASED with the fit. Thanks Cleave for the help!

[ricepower]

Your feet are larger at the end of the day than in the morning, this is due to blood flwing into your feet when standing up. The difference can be significant. With canvas shoes (no padding) like chucks & vans, shoes becoming overtight can be very unforgiving. Often painful and causing blisters.

[Barry06GT]

Don't guess, try them on someplace. You can find them in any cheap big box store: Sears, Target, they all have them. If there is a Megalow, Mega Mart, Shoe World, or Try N Save in your area, go there, try them on, they are unisex so if you don't see them in the Men's area, go ahead and try on a pair of one in the Woman's section - they are all the same cheaply made crappy old school sneekers.

.

[Wooderson]

So here's my (possibly stupid) question: What is the "correct" way to size the shoe? Should it be tight in the arch, heel, toe, what?

For all shoes, no matter what type (dress, running, Chuck's, whatever), the correct way to size them is to buy a shoe where the widest portion of the front portion of the shoe hits the ball of your foot, right by your big toe. This will ensure two things: you don't buy a shoe that is too small for your arch and heel support, and that you don't blow out your shoes. This will also mean most shoes will feel "big". Don't fit shoes to the length of your foot.

[MidLifter]

I have a similar question about Chuck Taylors. I have been thinking about getting a pair for squatting and deadlifting but I was wondering which type would be better, the ankle height low-tops or the high-tops.

You need ankle mobility for squatting. Get the low tops.

[ekoehler0311]

The best advice on shoe size comes from runners. When I sought the advice, they told me the best way to size your shoe is to find the right width. The size of the box (toe) is not as important as long as you have enough room there without hitting the end of the shoe with your toes. Too wide and your foot will slide (not good during a squat), too narrow and your ankle will roll (again not good). If your shoes are the right width, then you should see about 1" space, but no more than 1-1/4" space at the lacing on top of your foot.

[Wooderson]

The best advice on shoe size comes from runners. When I sought the advice, they told me the best way to size your shoe is to find the right width. The size of the box (toe) is not as important as long as you have enough room there without hitting the end of the shoe with your toes. Too wide and your foot will slide (not good during a squat), too narrow and your ankle will roll (again not good). If your shoes are the right width, then you should see about 1" space, but no more than 1-1/4" space at the lacing on top of your foot.

That's the point of what I posted actually. You get both the right width and length by finding a shoe that has it's widest part at yours - the ball of the foot. What you don't want to do is get on that fits length wise and then get one that is wide b/c the ball of your food doesn't fit with the ball of the shoe in a show that happens to fit the length of your foot (hope that made sense).

[baughmjk]

When I bought my Chucks I was told by the guy at the store that their sizes tend to run a little larger than other shoes. Trying on a pair in my normal size and a pair one size lower seemed to confirm this so I went with the smaller size. I would have gone with a half size smaller, but they didn't have any, so instead of a 12 I got an 11.

At first they were a little uncomfortable--my toes would rub on the sides of the shoe, but not the front. However, after a few weeks of breaking them in, they fit like a glove, keep my feet secure when lifting, and are comfortable to walk in.

To anyone buying Chucks for the first time, I would recommend looking at a slightly smaller size than you are used to.