When buying any kind of new boots you will normally consider picking the pair that fits you well according to the length of your foot. Very rarely do people take the width of the foot into account.
This is mainly because you are not aware of how or which method every brand uses to categorize boots or shoes into different sizes.
Yes, it is true that it can be quite confusing when you see certain letters and numbers mentioned in the boots that define the true size of foot they will fit.
Well, I am here to clear this confusion for you today. In the US boot and shoe sizes include both the length and width of the foot. And to be more precise they always use letters to indicate the width of the foot.
Hence, when you see the letter ‘M’ mentioned in a pair of boots, it means that the width of those boots is medium. It is neither too wide nor is it too narrow, it is just right or the average width.
The important thing to note here is that although ‘M’ stands for medium width, this is particularly talking about a women’s foot and not men. For men’s boots, you will notice the letters ‘DM’ which indicates the medium-sized width of men’s feet.
At the same time, even women’s boot sizes are sometimes written as ‘BM’, which again simply means they are meant for women with a medium-width foot. As foot sizes differ between a man and a woman, so does the size of the boots.
There are various such letters that connote the various width sizes of both men’s and women’s feet, which we have discussed further in the article. Do read on to find out more.
Does the width of the boot hold any importance when buying boots?
Almost every individual mainly focuses on the length of the footwear when trying out a new pair of boots to buy, and neglects the width of the foot.
Hence, it is not uncommon to find people buying the wrong sized boots many a time. This only leads to a lot of discomfort in those brand new boots, and several foot injuries.
It is equally important to pay close attention to the width of the foot as well when buying new boots. They should fit you well in length and width to give your feet more stability.
You can even get your new pair of boots customized according to your correct size if you are aware of the exact width of your foot.
If you wear boots that are either too narrow or wide it can result in a couple of issues.
1.) Such as; your feet being under needless pressure when wearing narrow boots, which will further lead to pain, and your health can deteriorate.
2.) Another drawback of wearing tight or narrow boots is deformed toes that will ruin the beauty of your feet.
Similarly, if you wear boots that are too wide for you, then your stability on the ground will be compromised. Therefore, you should always have your feet measured at the footwear store before finalizing on a pair of boots.
A legit store will always have the essential tapes and scales to measure the definite size of your foot. After all, we all need to be comfortable and also avoid foot injuries, when we have to be on our feet all day.
See also: Do Boots Run Big or Small? (Perfect Boot Size Guide)
What are the other letters in boots that define the width of boots?
In this section of the article, I have discussed the various letters that you will notice on boots that specify the width of your foot.
Here are the various letters that you will notice on a man’s pair of boots;
1.) D or M indicates a man’s normal, regular, or medium width foot.
2.) EE, EW, or W indicates a man’s foot with a wide width.
3.) EEE indicates a man’s foot with an extra-wide width.
4.) B indicates a man’s foot with a narrow width.
See also: Should I Get D or EE Boots?
Here are the various letters that you will notice on a woman’s pair of boots;
1.) B or M indicates a woman’s normal, regular, or medium width foot.
2.) C or W indicates a woman’s wide width foot.
3.) A indicates a woman’s narrow width foot.
4.) AAA and AA indicate a woman’s extremely narrow width foot.
These letters should now help you figure out the next time you decide to buy a new pair of boots.
Tips on finding the right sized boots
Every person’s feet are different, so what might fit your friend well does not necessarily mean that it will fit you well too. Hence, it is necessary that you know your foot size well and accurately to buy and wear the correct size.
Take a look at a few of my helpful tips for finding the right-sized boots for yourself.
1.) First and foremost, you should measure your foot. If you are buying boots at a store then get the help of one of their footwear experts who use accurate measuring tapes and scales to measure one’s foot.
In case you are buying boots online then you need to measure your foot on your own using the correct tools.
2.) If the boots you are planning to buy have laces, then make sure you tie the laces completely to ensure that they fit and feel right.
3.) The best time to try a new pair of boots is in the afternoon because this means that you have already been on your feet for quite some time since the morning so they have probably expanded to their actual size.
4.) It is safe to buy the same size of boots if you are going to buy a different pair from the same brand again.
5.) In order to make sure that the new boots are comfortable, you should walk a few steps in them.
6.) When you are trying on your new boots, it is advisable to try them on a carpeted surface at first. This will allow you to learn if they are the best fit for your feet.
7.) By any chance if you are unsure about the actual size of your boots, then always make it a point to check inside the boot’s shaft or in the bottom.
8.) While trying out the new boots, bend your foot to check if your foot and the boot are bending in the exact same place.
9.) Wear the same socks that you are most likely to wear with your new boots when trying out the new pair.
10.) It is always best to buy half a size down than your usual shoe size if it is the first time you are buying boots.
11.) The arch of your foot and the arch of your boots must be perfectly lined up.
12.) If you are going to buy pull-on boots then you should know that for an ideal fit the heel should slip slightly when the boots are new. Because a new pair of boots have stiff soles, which start to flex as you continue to wear them.
However, in case this slippage does not really disappear with time and feels extreme then the fit is definitely not right. There should be some slippage for a proper fit.
13.) Another thing to note with pull-on boots is that the leather across the instep should not be tight but just the right amount of snug for an ideal fit, which eventually disappears too as they stretch out.
14.) The heel of the boot should have a snug fit in the cup of the heel.
15.) Always order half a size up to get a better fit, if you are in-between sizes.
16.) There should be a sufficient amount of room in the toe area of your boots so your toes can wiggle freely.
Follow these tips well and you should be fine when picking your next pair of new boots.
Wrapping up
In conclusion, it is safe to say that knowing about the width of the foot is just as important as the length of the foot to be able to buy and wear the perfect sized boots.
Wearing boots that are too wide or too narrow for you is never a good idea because you will certainly experience a lot of discomfort and pain in the long run.
It is vital that you are comfortable in your boots, especially if you have to be on your feet all through the day. Therefore, always make it a point to know the right size of your feet and make no mistake in this regard if you want the right bang for your buck.
