The ratio of shoes sizes: the US and Russia on modern shelves

Any person from time to time is faced with the need to buy new shoes or boots. The good news is that this does not present any problem: just go to any boutique, shoe store or just drop by the market and choose a new outfit to your taste. And that's where the difficulties begin.

Goods 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 United States and dozens of different countries, and - and this is the most unpleasant - almost everyone has their own designations of sizes. Which, of course, do not coincide with the familiar to us domestic. Russian shoe sizes are one of the largest in size. As a result, to stop your choice, without measuring a couple dozen visually suitable options, it becomes almost impossible. And what if you order the attracted ballet dresses through the online store, and the service of return of goods in it is not provided? In this case, making a mistake even for one size means losing not only money, but also time that will go to re-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 are capable of plunging almost any customer into confusion. Meanwhile, this is the most "popular" Russian shoes 38 and 39.

What does the difference in size depend on?

What is so strange about the ratio of shoes? The US and Russia, like other countries, are regular trading partners and, it would seem, should be interested in a unified measurement system. The reason for these differences is simple. It lies in the way the shoe size is calculated and in the units used in different countries. In Russia, the sole number is measured in centimeters, while Americans traditionally use inches for this purpose (1 inch to 254 mm). This is one of the reasons why the size of US shoes for Russian sizes are translated with such difficulty: with accurate recalculation, the result will almost always be a fractional number.

It should also be taken into account that in Russia the numbering goes from the minimum number to the maximum, without breaks, and in the United States there are also children's sizes that are calculated separately from adults. For example, the figure "1" on shoes does not mean that the residents of a transatlantic neighbor have small children flaunting their foot, comparable to the foot of a Russian teenager. Just shoes for babies are in another department of the boutique, and there you will surely find the same marking. In such matters as the ratio of shoes sizes, the United States and Russia are unlikely to ever come to an agreement, so it is better to remember such nuances before you go for a new thing.

Rules for calculating the shoe size

Currently, there are several systems for calculating the size of shoes:

• International Standard. According to him, the size of the foot is equal to its length in centimeters, rounded to 5 mm.
• The European standard. It is also calculated in centimeters, but the unit of measurement is 2/3 cm.
• English metric system. It uses inches and takes into account the sole length of the insole.
• Standard of the USA. Like English, he also prefers inches. The minimum child size in it is 3.9 inches, and for the unit of calculation a "step" of 1/3 inch is adopted.

In addition to these, the most common standards can be identified numbering of China, Brazil, France and some other countries. However, those are increasingly using the European or international system, which facilitates the fitting of shoes.

The ratio of shoes sizes: the US and Russia in the dispute of civilizations

The minimum size in the US 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 it is 10.1 cm and is designated as "16.5". Example, how to translate the size of US shoes to Russian, can be seen in the following table:

How do you know the size of your foot?

Some people find it easier to memorize the ratio of shoes sizes. The United States and Russia, fortunately, do not change their metric tables every year. However for the majority to remember such quantity of digits (even if you decide to choose only "the" range of the sizes) it appears quite difficult task. There is a way out here too. For example, you can remember only the Russian size of shoes - the good thing is that they are found on our shelves most often. Or carry a printed table and consult with her before fitting. But all this is half-measures. Sneakers US can be the most desired in the entire boutique, and a table or smartphone with access to the Internet - forgotten at home. Therefore, it is most convenient to once and for all memorize the principles by which the sizes of shoes are calculated, and, if necessary, simply carry out a simple mathematical action in your head.

Calculate your size

Attach the ruler or tailor to the foot and measure its length, from the rounding of the heel to the most prominent finger. In English and American systems, such is traditionally considered to be large, but in reality it can be both an average and an unnamed finger. It is not worth pursuing the "norm": you can not walk in shoes that squeezes, so it's better to calculate the real, rather than the average, size in advance.

It is most convenient to put your foot on a sheet of paper and circle it with a marker. In this case, if the value for the right and left legs was different, choose the largest. It is best to do gauntletting at the end of the day or after a long walk, because the load from the foot slightly swells and becomes larger.

The resulting figure must be translated into the familiar 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, then add to the resulting number of one and a half cm: the so-called "functional allowance" left by the manufacturers just in case of a bulging finger or different in length of the legs.
• For goods from the US, it is easiest to first calculate the domestic shoe size: Russia "overtakes" America in this plan by 22 points. Which you also need to subtract from the resulting size of the foot.

A little about convenience

Calculating your size, it is worth remembering that there is another parameter, such as "completeness" of shoes or the volume of the foot. This number is calculated by a fairly complex formula and, as a rule, is rarely used for everyday shoes. The completeness indicator you will need if you decide to buy skates, ski boots or other hard shoes, where a close fit of the material to the foot. In this case, the easiest way is to use a constant table.

In general, it is worth remembering that to calculate the ratio of shoes sizes is not a problem now. The main thing is not to get lost when you see an incomprehensible designation on the sole, and do not hurry to measure everything in a row.