Further, the last can be measured in several different ways resulting in different measurements. It leaves all responsibility and risk of choosing the correct size with the customer. It makes no promise about manufacturing tolerances or for what size of foot the shoe is actually suitable. This measure is the easiest one for the manufacturer to use, because it identifies only the tool used to produce the shoe. The length of the " last", the foot-shaped template over which the shoe is manufactured.
However, it will vary with manufacturing tolerances and only gives the customer very crude information about the range of foot sizes for which the shoe is suitable. This measure has the advantage that it can be measured easily on the finished product. The length of the inner cavity of the shoe.It puts on the manufacturer the burden of ensuring that the shoe will fit a foot of a given length. However, this measure is less popular with manufacturers, because it requires them to test carefully for each new shoe model, for which range of foot sizes it is recommendable. It applies equally to any type, form, or material of shoe.
For customers, this measure has the advantage of being directly related to their body measures. The median length of feet for which a shoe is suitable.In this case, both feet are measured, and purchasers of mass-produced shoes are advised to purchase a shoe size based on the larger foot, as most retailers do not sell pairs of shoes in non-matching sizes.Įach size of shoe is considered suitable for a small interval of foot lengths, typically limited by half-point of the shoe size system.Ī shoe-size system can refer to three characteristic lengths: The sizes of the left and right feet are often slightly different. Foot length is measured with the subject standing barefoot and the weight of the body equally distributed between both feet. The length of a person's foot is commonly defined as the distance between two parallel lines that are perpendicular to the foot and in contact with the most prominent toe and the most prominent part of the heel. 2.4.2 Soviet Union (Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States)ĭeriving the shoe size Foot versus shoe and last.