By Morgan Cvetkovic-Jones

Purchasing Running Shoes Online

Finding the optimal fit for your running shoes could mean the difference between a new PB time and a foot full of blisters. Identifying the right fit for you is imperative but it can be a bit of a challenge when shopping online. The following guide provides a framework to help you with your next running shoe purchase. The table below gives you an idea of how each running shoe fits, by offering a recommendation in line with the result you get when measuring your feet using our Foot Measuring Chart, along with a note on how the shoe rates in terms of overall ‘volume’.

PLEASE NOTE! It is important that you use our Foot Measuring Chart to size your feet and not to go off a preconceived perception of your shoe size. This gives us a standard candle that we can both work from and makes our sizing suggestion much more likely to be accurate.

Our size recommendations vary between UK and EU sizing formats. We use the sizing scale used by the brand for its lasts at the point of design and manufacture.

How we work it out

1. Using a printed copy of our Foot Measuring Chart we take a measurement of our male and female tester’s shoe size – this chart provides a consistent measurement for both the Rock+Run tester and your own feet. For example, the male tester's feet were measured as a UK 8/EU 42 on the chart.
2. Each of the running shoe models is then sized according to this initial measurement (UK8 in his case) and worn for a running test. If this size fits well then it is submitted as ‘Regular Size’. If not, then a larger/smaller size is tested until a perfect fit is found (‘Upsize/Downsize’).
3. A volume rating (Low/Medium/High) is provided for each shoe. Again, the male tester has narrow, low volume feet so anything that was a perfect fit was judged as ‘Low’ volume, anything with some room as ‘Medium’ volume and anything with lots of room in the body of the shoe as ‘High’ volume.

Our sizing recommendations are based on comfort when running across hilly and rough terrain. Shoes that are too small can be very painful when running downhill and shoes that are too big won’t provide you with enough control or stability over uneven ground. We recommend a fit which allows your toes a little bit of wiggle room whilst ensuring your heel doesn’t slide or move whilst you are running.

Sizing Yourself

So, here’s how to use the system:

1. Download the Foot Measuring Chart and print off a copy, making sure the document has been printed to its actual size (i.e. make sure the printer isn't pre-set to print documents at 80% for example - it must be 100%).
2. Measure your foot following the instructions on the sizing chart.
3. Then use the table below to get an idea of what size you should be choosing to get the perfect fit for your desired running shoes.

For the UK-EU conversion chart, see the base of our Foot Measuring Chart. 

Check out our full range of Running Footwear here

Disclaimer: Please note that although all efforts have been made to give accurate information, regarding assisting you with the sizing of your shoes, due to the nature of specialist footwear and the variances in peoples feet we cannot guarantee our formula 100%. As such we are unable to refund return postal fees on the basis of an inaccurate fit based on the above information – remember it’s a guide, if you're unsure pay your local outdoor store a visit for in-store fitting.