How to Fit Safety Shoes
Before You Try Safety Shoes On
1. The best time to buy boots is in the afternoon or early evening when the foot is at its largest. If you must purchase early in the day, remember your feet will swell later on. Allow extra room when fitting.
2. Bring the socks you plan on wearing with you when you try on safety shoes.
3. Make your decision based on fit more than style.
4. If you have not recently, have your foot measured. One foot is often larger than the other. Favor the largest when selecting size. Styles vary in size, so purchase shoes by feel as well as measurement. In fact measurement is just a starting place. You may wear as much as 1 full size different depending on the brand or style.
When You Try Safety Shoes On
1. Try the shoe on, and push your toes to the front of the shoe until they touch. Your index finger should fit behind your foot. This helps to indicate if the shoe fits properly.
2.Make sure that the ball (the area of protrusion at the base of the big toe) of your foot fits well at the widest part of the shoe.
3. Safety Toe shoes need to be fit about a half size larger than normal footwear. Since there is hard cap in shoe there is no stretch in toe box area. You do not want your toes touching the end of the safety shoe.
4. Are there any areas of the boot, which seem to be tight? Snug is good. Tight is bad. Don’t expect safety toe footwear to stretch near the toe area. Leather footwear will stretch behind toe box. Remember if it does not feel good new, it probably will not later.
NOTE : Most shoes or boots will slip slightly when new if not laced tight. Once the sole of the show becomes limber, slight slipping will stop. This is more noticeable in slip on or non lace shoes and boots.
5. Walk around to get a feel for how the shoes feel. Make sure they flex in the correct place and do not dig into your feet. You should be able to wiggle your toes under the toe box. If not try another model or a larger size.
Remember
There is no one style or brand that will fit everyone. Try on different styles to determine what feels best on your feet. For example, some people need shoes with high arches where others can not comfortably wear shoes with high arches.