Sizing Guide For Motorcycle Boots

With all the different sizing standards throughout the world, selecting the right size motorcycle boots may not be as cut and dry as you might think. This article outlines a few tips and tricks that you can use to help you confidently choose boots that match your feet.

Nine sizes fit all

The standard American boot and shoe size system uses numbers to indicate length and letters to indicate width. Width measurements were standardized in the United States a century ago, yet different widths did not become popular until the 1920s. In most countries, shoes are typically available only in one or two widths. Most of our motorcycle boots are available in U.S. sizes 2 through 17 and nine widths, ranging from AAA to EEE.

What do you call that thing?

The Brannock Device (the familiar metal contraption commonly found on the floors of shoe stores nationwide) is commonly used to measure sizes in the U.S. The size system is linear. Men's size 1 is 7 2/3 inches long, and each additional full size is 1/3 inch longer than the one that precedes it.

Width wisdom

The nine widths of the U.S. system (from narrowest to widest are): AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E, EE, EEE. The D width is considered to be "medium" (which incidentally is the size of about 90% of the population.) Widths are measured linearly and are separated by 3/16 of an inch. Just to keep things interesting (and in proportion), the actual width measurement which yields a D width size varies with the length size.

Standard deviation

Despite these standards, motorcycle boots vary in size because the basis on which footwear is built tends to vary slightly. You may have shoes and boots in your closet which fit fine but are labeled with different sizes. Athletic shoes are notorious in this regard. It's not unusual to see someone with a size 10 foot wearing athletic shoes in size 11 or even 12, yet his motorcycle boots will likely be closer to his true size.

Secrets of the sock

Socks provide extra cushioning between your feet and motorcycle boots and allow your feet to breathe and stay dry. In cooler weather, socks also provide insulation to keep feet warm. In general, thicker socks made of wool or synthetic materials keep feet warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather when compared to thin cotton socks. For some motorcycle boots, an athletic sock, heavier dress sock, or lightweight boot sock works well. Different weights of sock can be used to adjust the fit.

Little-known measuring tips

1. Feet swell a bit and get larger as the day passes, which is why you should measure later in the day.

2. As people pass through their middle 40s into their 50s, their feet get larger. You can expect to gain a half to a full size during this period.

3. Left and right feet often differ slightly in size. Measure both feet and use the measurement for the larger foot. If the difference is over a half size, consider ordering custom-fitted motorcycle boots for a perfect fit.

Proper measuring technique

1. Sit in a chair with the foot firmly placed on a piece of paper large enough to make a tracing around your entire foot. Your leg should be tilted slightly forward so it will not interfere with the pencil as you trace around your heel. If possible, have someone else do the tracing of your foot for greater accuracy.

2. Trace an outline of your foot with a pencil held perpendicular to the paper at all times. Ensure that the pencil is held snug against the foot during the tracing.

3. Measure the length and width of the tracing at the points shown in the diagram.

4. The tracing will be slightly larger than your foot due to the thickness of the pencil. Subtract 0.2 inches ( 5 mm) from each measurement to compensate. This correction will give you the actual length and width of your foot.