Trekking and hiking footwear should fit comfortably, without rubbing. Make sure that your heel sits securely and that your toes have enough space. Check to see if the heel fits properly by trying the shoe on first with the laces undone. If it’s loose at the sides, the heel is too wide. There should be a finger’s width of space between your toes and the tip of the shoe – an important aspect during descents to stop your toes hitting the front of the shoe.
If you are buying lightweight, multifunctional shoes with a more flexible textile upper, you will often find that you need a slightly longer fit to ensure that your toes do not get bruised at the front of the shoe. However, shoes and boots worn expressly for climbing should fit snugly and not be too long. For more ambitious mountaineering, direct and sure-footed rock contact is more important than greater comfort on descents.
FOOTWEAR SIZE CONVERSION
Product Size | 4 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EU | 36.66 | 38 | 38.66 | 39.66 | 40.66 | 42 | 42.33 | 43.33 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.66 | 47 |
US (mens) | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | |||
US (womens) | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10.5 |