Welcome to Hitchcock Shoes!

Frequently Asked Questions About Fitting

We have listed below some of the common questions we receive from first-time and returning customers. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Our customer service representatives are specially trained to help our customers find the best and most comfortable shoes.

Shoe fitting is more complicated than you think

Many people think that all we need is a foot tracing to determine size. But shoe fitting is more complicated than that. Your foot is three dimensional and your shoe size is, too. Many first-time customers, who come to us because the shoes they have been wearing are too narrow for them, think all they have to do is move up to a wider width. We suggest having your foot measured on a brannock device to get the best possible fit. Please be aware the best way to fit shoes is to try them on. Despite our best efforts, there may need to be a couple of returns and exchanges to find the best fit for you. Once we know your fit, reordering will be much easier and less-time consuming.

More fitting information that may help you 

What is a shoe last?

The term "last", quite simply, is the wooden or heavy plastic form over which a shoe is constructed. Since few factories have the lasts and other equipment to make shoes wider than EE, we have had to develop the special equipment needed to make shoes in widths to 8E. Our lasts all have the extra fullness wide feet require, but they vary a little to suit the particular type of shoes made on them. 

How does this affect my feet?

Many first-time customers, who come to us because the shoes they have been wearing are too narrow for them, think all they need is to move up to a wider width. Thus, if they have been wearing an 8 "W" (which may actually be a D, E, or EE width, depending on the manufacturer's standards), they may ask us to give them an 8EEE in one of our styles. In fact, an 8EEE may prove to be more shoe than they need, for the grading of shoes is such that when you go up one width, you not only add 1/4 of an inch more girth to the shoe, you also gain up to 1/4 of an inch more length as well. (This is necessary in order to preserve the proper outline and prevent the shoe from becoming too blunt-shaped at the toe in wider widths.)

Thus, a 10EEE is both a wider and a longer shoe than a 10 D or 10 E. Similarly, when you add a half size of length, you gain not only 1/6 of an inch more room from toe to heel, you also gain about 1/8 of an inch more girth. What this means is that a person coming to Hitchcock Shoes for the first time should discard most of their preconceived notions about their shoe size. The size that you have been wearing from ordinarily shoe stores may not be your best size at all. 

So, if you are unsure of your size when you order from us begin with having your foot measured then reach out to our knowledgeable staff.