When looking at shoes to buy, there are two main things that count as the shoe’s “foot” – the heel and the ankle. The height of the heel and length of the arch bone it supports determine how tall your foot can be in a shoe.
The thickness of the sock below a shoe is a factor in measuring foot thickness. When looking at shoes with widths between Small and Large, try using an indoor soccer ball as a reference point. A soccer ball can be very thick or thin, depending on who you are talking to!
The boot shaft is the part of the shoe that hangs down when it is not being worn.
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Place a book on the floor
This tip is for those who want to measure their boot height without a floor-leveling device. You can do this by placing a large book on the floor and then stepping inside the boots.
The idea is that you walk around in the shoes and then get your feet out of the shoes and see how high they are in the shoes. From there, you can go down if your feet are high enough!
This method may not be appropriate for those who have very high heels or small feet, because you would need to buy bigger shoes to make up for the difference in boot height. You can also get more of a half-inch rise in shoe size with this method, giving you a more accurate measurement.
Another option is buying two different sized boots: one for walking around in, and one for when you need a higher elevation of footwear for outdoor gaming or sports.
Mark the book position
Once you’ve measured your book, it’s time to mark the position. You can do this by writing the page number on the front or back of the book, by using a pencil, crayon, or computer software.
Either way, you’ll need to divide the length of your boot shaft by 2 to get the height in millimeters. This will tell you how many pages your book has!
This is important to know as there are some books that are shorter than this. Some books may have a shorter boot shaft height due to having a smaller paper thickness or a thicker leather used for the cover.
Put on your boots
When you’re ready to wear your boots, it’s time to put on the height measurement. Put a pair of socks over your foot and then try to pull the boot up over the sock. If the boot is high enough, it will touch the top of the foot and hold in place.
If not, you may need to add more height in your shoe form the back of the shoe toward the sole. This is because some feet are slightly higher than others. This is why some people prefer certain styles of shoes!
To find if your foot is slightly higher or less normal, try putting a little extra weight in the shoes. If that works, then there are usually two options: add another layer of socks or add more height in by putting on a high-heel glove or sock.
Stand against a wall
When doing a boot tallness measurement, it is important to stand against a wall with your rear foot on the floor and your front foot on the ground.
This helps give a more complete measurement of the boot height. You can also do this while sitting, but not standing.
Boot shaft heights can be up to an inch or so different with different boots. Some get thicker shafts, some have thicker heels, and some have thinner heels. This is okay! It just needs to be measured again when getting new shoes!
The key is to know your actual height and how much you increase or decrease in size.
Have someone measure from the floor to your arch
Most people who wear high-heeled shoes have someone else measure their boot shafts for them. This is a good way to make sure your shoe is measuring correctly, as the person who puts the heel on the foot makes a difference in how high the boot shaft has to be.
Your boot shaft height can also be measured using a piece of wood about eighteen inches long, which is shaped like a rectangle. The wood must be cut at an angle, so this other person’s help is necessary.
This person must measure from the floor to the arch of the foot, and he or she must do this every week until they get it right.
Measure the length of your foot from heel to toe
If you have a short foot, you may be able to use a shorter boot shaft. If you have a long foot, look for a taller boot shaft. Both options can add height to your feet!
Short foot: If your shoe length is about a half-size small, try buying a larger size. A full size might be too big and break when put on.
Long foot: If your shoe length is about a one-size-fits-all, try buying a bigger size to get the correct fit. A smaller size probably would not fit well due to the length of the leg in the shoe.
Trying both sizes may help narrow down your search! There are usually size Heel measures and/or sites that can help with that information.
Use a boot sizing tool
When buying new shoes, don’t just rely on the size listed on the shoe. Instead, use a boot sizing tool. This tool can be found online or in a shoe store.
The boot sizing tool can be used as a quick gauge of what size foot you have. The tool can be used to find a true average width and height for your foot, as well as length of wear per foot.
Using the boot sizing tool, you can determine if your high insteps are going to fit comfortably in this model of shoe. You can also determine if you have enough room for a normal insert or if you would prefer more support with one size inserts.
You can also use the boot sizing tool to figure out which type of shoe are going to be the most comfortable for me! I have very high arches and very short feet, so these shoes give me more support than the regular shoes they make me feel like I am floating on clouds.
Visit a shoe store
If you’re looking to buy a high-heel shoe, visit a shoe store. They can help you measure your foot and give you a recommended boot shaft height.
Using the store’s measurements, they can create a custom high-heel shoe for you. Or, if you prefer a lower-heel shoe, they can make a sandal that fits your foot perfectly!
Many times, specialty stores or shops at the mall have better quality shoes than shop bought. And since heeled shoes are usually more expensive, going to the mall may be more cost-effective than buying at an online retailer.
When buying a new pair of shoes, make sure to take your boot shaft height and boot heel height into account.