From my own experience, searching the web, the comments I've received in my previous two posts(Vibram Five Fingers and Vibram Five Fingers: 1 Month Later) and in conversation, sizing the Vibram Five Fingers is quite a concern and challenge. This is understandable as they're not shoes in the sense we know it and they need to be snug. If they're too big, you will notice.
Well, here's my guide to sizing the Vibram Five Finger Classics based on my own experience. Your experience may vary.
- Measure your feet in inches (I know, metric makes much more sense, but you'll understand why in a mo) and the take the largest of the two and round down to the nearest ¼ inch.
- Take this figure and locate the appropriate size on the sizing chart on the Vibrams US site here. This is why you need to measure your feet in inches.
- Order the size one smaller than the chart recommends. For example, if like me you largest foot came in between 11 inches and 11¼ inches, round down to 11 inches which equates to a size 44 and then order the 43.
I know this sounds odd, but this is what I've had to do. The 44's were way too big.
Hopefully this saves you a bit of time and removes the need to have to send your order back for a smaller pair.
Let me know how you get on with these instructions. All comments will help others who come to buy their own pair of Vibram Five Fingers.
Update: Begin to Dig has an indepth post on sizing the different Vibram models with and without the injiniji socks.
{ 6 Comments… read them below or add one }
dude i hear that the KSO may be a different size issue again!!!!
Hmmmm. I suspect you've probably got a bit more margin for error with the KSOs as they seem to secure closer to the ankle, so if they're a little big, they shouldn't flap in the breeze
The sizes on the web site fitted fine for me without dropping a size. In fact a size down was too small. My wife who we are trying to fit for though is a different story. I haven't confirmed it but the women's seem narrower and she has wide feet so the right size by the guide for her is no use. We are swapping to the next size up but I might actually order the mens for her of the right size instead.
(PS. I'm a 10.5 normally and wear the 45 in Classic and 44 in KSO and they're GREAT!)
Hi, I'm planning to get some vibram classics, but i'm confused about sizing (i'm in the UK). I hope i'm not asking a silly question, but how do you measure your foot?
@Brian: No, it's not a silly question at all - I don't think I was too clear in my post. Just follow the details at the bottom of the sizing chart on the Vibram site here.
Yeah, I agree with the suggestion to round down as well. I normally wear about a size 9, measured my foot out (right 10 1/2", left 10 1/4") and ordered a size 41. They're definitely too big. Going uphill my foot runs back into the heel with my toes almost fully leaving the toe slots. Even standing normally I can't get my toes to grip objects very well. The shoe is a bit loose and even with the strap overtightened, I can't get a snug fit. Gonna try again with a smaller size because otherwise they're awesome..