Scan Results: How to Talk About the Main Foot Measurements

What are the main foot measurements?

There main foot measurements are (1) length, (2), width, (3) arch, and (4) instep and (5) heel width. 

Length is most often used to determine shoe size but depending on the person's unique foot shape, length may not be the best attribute to use in every situation.

Example: If your customer's foot length measures at a size 10, but you notice they have a higher than average width and instep height. This means they will most likely need a larger size to accommodate this extra volume and width.

How do I use the scan results to fit customers? 

Remember, you don't need to be a foot expert to fit customers well. The customer is the ultimate fitter and only they know how comfortable they feel in a pair of shoes. Assist your customers by:

• Educating the customer that the #1 cause of foot disorders or pain is bad-fitting shoes.
•  Understanding the unique characteristics of your customer's feet to find the best fit for them.
• Recommending or eliminating shoe styles based on their scan results. Each shoe style is only a "perfect fit" for a certain range of feet.
• Fit is a feeling. Comfort is the #1 most important factor when purchasing shoes. If your customer feels comfortable in a pair of shoes, then those shoes fit them well. 

How do I talk about the measurements?

Length:

• "Your left foot is a little longer than your right. Because of this, when trying on shoes it is important to also try on the left shoe to make sure it is not too tight."
• "Shoe sizes are not standardized across brands so even if you think you know your size it is important to try on shoes and make sure that you have enough room in front for your toes."

Width:

• "As you can see, you have narrow feet so shoes may feel a bit roomy. You can wear thicker socks, but there are some shoe styles that run more narrow and may fit you better."
• "Compared to over 20 million other people's feet around the world, your feet are wider than average so it's important that we find shoes that have a wider width that will fit your feet."

Arch:

• "It looks like your arches are pretty average, which means you can probably fit into and feel comfortable in more shoe styles... how do you feel in those?"
• "As you can see here, your feet are a bit flatter than average. This means you might feel more comfortable in shoes that don't have hard insoles."

Instep:

• "Your instep height is higher than average - have you ever had trouble slipping into boots that don't have side zippers? Or that slip-on shoes like Vans might feel a bit too tight on the top of your foot?"
• "Your instep height is lower than average. This means you can slip into shoes more easily and you might have to tighten shoe laces a bit more to make sure you're fitted more snuggly."
• "People's insteps vary significantly and that's why a lot of shoes have laces or elastic bands so people can adjust it better to their feet."

Heel Width:

• "Your heel width is narrower than average. Do you ever find that the back of your heel slips out of your shoes when walking? You might benefit from a shoe with a narrower heel counter and some thicker padding."
• "Your heel width is wider than average. Do you ever find that the back of your heel feels a bit tighter in shoes, or maybe you get blisters more easily in the back of your heels? We should be mindful and make sure that we find you a pair that feels comfortable in the back of your foot as well." 

When going through each characteristic we suggest you refrain from giving any sort of medical advice or saying that there is something "wrong" with the customer's feet.