Fit + Sizing Information - Shoes

Men's and Women's Running Shoes

The two main fit issues to consider when choosing a running shoe are gait pattern and size.

Gait: Your gait is how your foot rolls from initial ground contact to toe-off. Most people strike on the back lateral portion of their heels and then end up pushing off near their big toes. Rolling inward too early or severely is called "overpronation." Overpronation can throw your alignment out of whack and lead to injury. Rolling outward is called "supination" and can also lead to injury. Brooks offers several types of running shoes for different gait cycles. These range from Neutral (for the biomechanically efficient) to Control (for those who need the most aggressive pronation control).

Size: We generally recommend that you order your Brooks running shoes 1/2 size to one size larger than normal dress shoes. For men's footwear, "D'" is the default width when no width is otherwise specified. For women's footwear, "B" is the default width. You can tell that you have the right size when there's about a thumb's width distance between the tip of your big toe and the top of the shoe. This allows extra room for any swelling that might occur on longer runs. Also, make sure that your foot is not spilling over the footbed on either side. If it is, consider a wider width.

Whenever possible, it is best to visit your local running and walking footwear store for a proper fitting and guidance to help you find just right Brooks shoe for your foot and gait. You can also refer to our online Shoe Advisor for assistance. If you've been running in another brand and want to try Brooks, check out our Running Shoe Comparison Chart.

Kids' Running Shoes

Children's shoes are sized in two waves. The first wave starts at size 1 for prewalking tots and extends to size 13.5 (measuring 7 3/4 inches from heel to toe.) The second wave again starts at size 1 (at just under 8 inches from heel to toe), and extends through adult sizes.
Our boys or girls Kids' Ghost, with sizes 10.5-13.5, 1-7, starts in the first size wave and then continues into the second wave. The rough age range for this shoe begins around 3 years old.

Our boys or girls Kids Adrenaline, offered in sizes 1-7, fits the second (larger) wave of children's shoe sizes. This range would normally accommodate children aged six years and older.