Shoe size ratio: USA and Russia on modern counters

Every person from time to time is faced with the need to buy new shoes or boots. Fortunately, this does not present any problem: just go to any boutique, shoe store or just drop into the market and choose a new thing to your taste. And here difficulties begin.

Products from all over the world: a wide selection and warm-up for the mind

On modern counters you can find shoes from Germany, China, Italy, the USA and dozens of different countries, and - and this is the most unpleasant - almost everyone has their own size designations. Which, of course, do not coincide with our usual domestic ones. Russian shoe sizes are one of the largest in size. As a result, it becomes almost impossible to stop your choice without measuring out a couple of dozens of visually suitable options. And what if you order the most attractive ballet shoes through the online store, but the product return service is not provided in it? In this case, to be mistaken even by one size means to lose not only money, but also the time that will be spent on the repeated purchase and delivery.

The biggest problems, as a rule, arise for Russian buyers with designations for US products. For example, the sizes of women's shoes 8.5 and 9.5 can plunge almost any customer into confusion. Meanwhile, these are the most “popular” Russian shoes 38 and 39.

What determines the size difference?

What is such a strange ratio of shoe sizes? The USA and Russia, as well as other countries, are constant trading partners and, it would seem, should be interested in a unified measurement system. The reason for such differences is simple. It lies in the method of calculating the shoe size and in the units of measurement used in different countries. In Russia, the sole number is measured in centimeters, while Americans traditionally use inches for this purpose (1 inch - 254 mm). This is one of the reasons why the sizes of US shoes are translated into Russian sizes with such difficulty: with an exact recount, the result will almost always be a fractional number.

It should also be borne in mind that in Russia the numbering goes from the minimum to the maximum, without gaps, and in the United States there are also children's sizes, which are calculated separately from adults. For example, the number “1” on shoes does not mean that residents of the overseas neighbor have small children flaunting a leg comparable to the leg of a Russian teenager. Just shoes for babies are in another department of the boutique, and there you will probably find the same markings. In matters such as the ratio of shoe sizes, the United States and Russia are unlikely to ever come to an agreement, so it’s better to remember such nuances before going for a new thing.

Rules for calculating shoe size

Currently, there are several shoe size calculation systems:

• International standard. According to him, the size of the leg is equal to its length in centimeters, rounded to 5 mm.
• European standard. It is also calculated in centimeters, but the unit of measurement is 2/3 cm.
• English metric system. She uses inches and takes into account exclusively the insole length.
• US standard. Like English, he also prefers inches. The minimum children's size in it is 3.9 inches, and the “step” of 1/3 inch is taken as the unit of calculation.

In addition to these, the most common standards, the numbering of China, Brazil, France and some other countries can be distinguished. However, they are increasingly using the European or international system, which makes it easier to try on shoes.

Shoe size ratio: US and Russia in a dispute between civilizations

The minimum size in the USA is “0.5”, this is the size of the shoes of a newborn baby. Its length is a little less than 4 inches; in the Russian tradition, this is 10.1 cm and is designated as “16.5”. An example of how US shoe sizes are translated into Russian can be seen in the following table:

How to find out the size of your leg?

Some people find it easier to memorize the aspect ratio of shoes. The United States and Russia, fortunately, do not change their metric tables every year. However, for most, remembering such a number of numbers (even if you decide to choose only “your” size range) is quite a challenge. There is a way out here. For example, you can remember only the Russian sizes of shoes - the good thing is that they are found on our counters most often. Or carry a printed table and check with her before trying. But all this is half measures. US sneakers may be the most desirable in the whole boutique, and a table or smartphone with Internet access may be forgotten at home. Therefore, it is most convenient to remember once and for all the principles by which shoe sizes are calculated, and if necessary, simply carry out a simple mathematical action in your head.

Calculate your size

Attach a ruler or tailor's meter to the foot and measure its length, from the rounding of the heel to the most prominent protruding finger. In the English and American systems, the thumb is traditionally considered to be such, but in reality it can be the middle or ring finger. You should not chase the “norm”: you still can’t walk in shoes that are tight, so it’s better to calculate the real size, not the average size, in advance.

It’s most convenient to place your foot on a piece of paper and circle it with a marker. At the same time, if the value for the right and left legs turned out to be different, choose the largest. It is best to take measurements at the end of the day or after a long walk, as the legs slightly swell from the load and become larger.

The resulting figure must be transferred to the usual number on the sole.

• For boots or shoes of the Russian manufacturer, you will have to divide the length of your foot by 2 and multiply by 3, and then add one and a half cm to the resulting number: the so-called “functional allowance” left by the manufacturers just in case of a protruding toe or feet of different lengths.
• For goods from the USA, it is easiest to first calculate the domestic shoe size: Russia “overtakes” America in this regard by 22 points. Which you will need to subtract from the resulting foot size.

A little about convenience

When calculating your size, it is worth remembering that there is still such a parameter as the "fullness" of shoes or the volume of the foot. This number is calculated by a rather complicated formula and, as a rule, is rarely used for everyday shoes. You will need the completeness indicator if you decide to buy skates, ski boots or other hard shoes, where a tight fit of the material to the foot is necessary. In this case, the easiest way is to use a persistent table.

In general, it is worth remembering that calculating the aspect ratio of shoes is now not a problem. The main thing is not to get lost after seeing an incomprehensible designation on the sole, and not to rush to measure everything in a row.