Choosing footwear with the right amount of extra toe room

Our customers often ask us about the right amount of extra toe room for a given foot length. So, in this article, we will summarise it as the answer is different for each type of shoe. But the final choice is always yours. This article can only give you a little guidance.

 

What is extra toe room?

It is the free space between the big toe and the tip of the shoe. This space should not be too large (the foot may "swim" in the shoe) and not too small either (the foot will quickly outgrow the shoe leading to tightness and unnatural bending of the big toe, which will certainly not promote healthy development of the foot).

Measuring foot length

Before choosing the right amount of extra toe room, we first need to know the length of the foot. On our website you will find detailed instructions for measuring foot length. That's why we won't discuss it in detail here and just list a few rules.

• we always measure barefoot or in thin socks,
• the foot must be flat on the ground and it is important to stand while measuring,
• we always measure both feet because their lengths may differ

Choosing the right size

We have measured the foot, now we need to know the length of the shoes you are interested in. On our website, under the shoe descriptions, you will also find a chart with either the inner length of the shoes or the length of the insole. The two lengths need to be distinguished, however, because the inner length of the shoes is greater than the length of the insole.

In general, the right amount of extra toe room works out to 0.8–1.2 cm. At our shop, we have observed a range of 0.5–1.5 cm depending on the type of footwear. Therefore, we practically divide the recommended extra toe room according to the type of shoes that you can find in our online shop.

Orthopaedic and rehabilitative sandals

In the case of these shoes, extra toe room of 0.5 cm proved to be the best. This is because these shoes have a specially shaped insole to support proper arch development. If the foot is not properly centered on the insole, it can do more harm than good. In addition, orthopaedic and rehabilitative sandals may differ from regular shoes by up to 2 sizes.

Slippers

One centimetre of extra toe room is ideal. In the case of slippers, you don't have to worry about adding extra toe room, it is already included in the size chart. Additional toe room can be problematic as the child may trip over the tip while walking.

Year-round footwear

With this type of footwear, you can't go wrong with 1 cm of extra toe room. We recommend paying attention to the period when the shoes are purchased. We assume you will start giving your child thicker socks when transitioning from autumn to winter, so you may choose even more toe room.

Winter footwear

We recommend 1.5 cm of extra toe room due to layering for cold weather.

Summer footwear

In order for feet to both look good and fit comfortably in sandals, we recommend at most 1 cm of extra toe room.

Canvas shoes

Due to the fact that these shoes are mainly made of fabric that can gently adapt to growing feet, we recommend at most 1 cm of extra toe room.

Rubber boots

Extra toe room of 1–1.5 cm is recommended depending on the thickness of the socks. For insulated rubber boots, we recommend at most 1 cm of extra toe room.

Conclusion

This article provides simple rules of thumb and the final choice is always yours. We hope that we have helped you at least a little in choosing the right amount of toe room. In case you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us and we will try to help you.