Shoe Size

Mondopoint is a universal and standardised size system that takes the anatomic shape of the foot as a starting point. Below is an overview of MondoPoint sizes and the corresponding European and American sizes.

Mondopoint	225	232	240	247	255	262	270	277	285	292	300	307	315	322
French sizes	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49
UK	3	4	5	6	6,5	7	8	9	9,5	10	11	12	13	14
USA female	5	6	7	7,5	8	9	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
USA male	3	4	5	6	7	7,5	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15

Shoe Fit Tips

Tips for Finding the Right Shoe

Follow these specially designed fitting facts when purchasing a new pair of athletic shoes.

• Try on athletic shoes after a workout or run and at the end of the day. Your feet will be at their largest.
• Wear the same type of sock that you will wear for that sport.
• When the shoe is on your foot, you should be able to freely wiggle all of your toes.
• The shoes should be comfortable as soon as you try them on. There is no break-in period.
• Walk or run a few steps in your shoes. They should be comfortable.
• Always relace the shoes you are trying on. You should begin at the farthest eyelets and apply even pressure as you a crisscross lacing pattern to the top of the shoe.
• There should be a firm grip of the shoe to your heel. Your heel should not slip as you walk or run.
• If you participate in a sport three or more times a week, you need a sports-specific shoe.
• It is best to buy from a store that specializes in athletic shoes and has a good reputation. If you are a runner, make certain to ask local runners clubs and runners that you know where they recommend you purchase your shoes. You might also call the office of a local sports podiatrist for suggestions.
• Bring Useful information to the store. What injuries have you had in the past and what if anything is your current problem? Bring your old shoes in to the store. Which shoes have been succesfully used in the past and which ones caused problems? What is your general foot type and foot shape? How have previous shoe models worn?

Athletic Shoe

An athletic shoe is a generic name for a shoe designed for sporting and physical activities, and is different in style and build than a dress shoe. Originally known as sporting apparel, today they are known as casual footwear. Athletic shoes, depending on the location and the actual type of footwear, can also go by the name trainers (British English), sandshoes (Australian English) running shoes or runners (Canadian English, Australian English, Hiberno-English), sneakers (North American English, Australian English), gym shoes, tennis shoes, tennies (North American English, South African English) sport shoes, sneaks, takkies (South African English) and joggers (Australian English).
Men's and women's athletic shoes and special function shoes often have less difference between the sexes than in dress shoes. In many cases these shoes can be worn by either sex. It tends to be more on function than style.

Type of Athletic Shoe

Sneakers/trainers

(also called gym shoes or tennis shoes)
General purpose athletic shoes; made out of rubber, cloth, and/or plastic to be lightweight, flexible, and have good traction. Special varieties are available for basketball or tennis.

Running shoes

very similar to above, with additional emphasis on cushioning.

Track shoes

lightweight; often with plastic or metal cleats

Cleat (shoe)

a type of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Usually worn while playing sports such as rugby, football, American football, or baseball.

Golf shoes

with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of metal but replaceable "soft spikes" made of synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around the edge of each spike are much more common today (and are required on many golf courses since they cause less damage to the greens).

Bowling shoes

intermediate style between ordinary dress shoes and athletic shoes. They have harder rubber soles/heels so as not to damage bowling alley floors. They are often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.

Climbing shoes

a shoe designed for rock climbing. They typically have a close fit, little if any padding, and a smooth sticky rubber sole with an extended rubber rand.

Hiking shoes or boots

usually have a high somewhat stiff upper with many lace eyelets, to provide ankle support on uneven terrain, with extra large traction on the sole.

Walking shoes

have a more flexible sole than the running shoe, lighter in weight than the hiking boot, may have air holes, may not be water proof.

Skating shoes

typically called skates. They have various attachments for skating on the bottom of the shoe portion. Such as for Ice skates, Roller skates and Inline skates

Ski boot

a large, thick plastic boot specially designed for attachment to the ski.

Skateboarding shoes

This shoes have flat soles for a better grip on a skateboard. They are very wide and have extra layers of padding to protect the skateboarders feet. Many young people wear them for comfort.

Cycling shoes

equipped with a metal or plastic cleat to interface with clipless pedals, as well as a stiff sole to maximize power transfer and support the foot.

Wrestling shoes

light, flexible shoes that mimic bare feet while providing additional traction and protection.

Shoe Material

KEVLAR®

is one of the most important manmade organic fibres ever developed. Because of its unique combination of properties it is used today in a wide variety of industrial applications. The fibre possesses a remarkable combination of properties that has led to its use in a variety of commercial products since the 1970's.
Fibres of KEVLAR® consist of long, interconnecting molecular chains produced from poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide. Kevlar is 10 times the strength of leather.

Leather/canvas

This material is thin, stable and low density. A Kangaroo leather commonly used in football shoes because it gives a footballer that extra spring in his or her step and it offers good elasticity.

Compression-molded EVA

The most common insole material. EVA stands for ethylene vinyl acetate, a combination of two types of plastics. This material revolutionised the construction of sports shoes. It was made up of tiny air bubbles that provide cushioning and absorbs shock. This material is injection moulded into shapes, which serve as heel supports.

Polyurethane

Another type of material that behaves like plastic or rubber, and is used in midsoles. Polyurethane is a unique material that offers the elasticity of rubber combined with the toughness and durability of metal. Polyurethane is not as commonly used as EVA because it tends to be heavier and firmer.

Carbon Rubber

Durable rubber compound that makes up the majority of running shoe outsoles.

Blown Rubber

Air-injected rubber that is lighter, softer and more flexible than traditional rubber. Blown rubber is most often found in the forefoot. It provides a great feel but is less durable than carbon rubber.

What is shoe?

A shoe is a piece of footwear for humans, less than a boot and more than a slipper. This footwear is shaped to fit the foot (or the area below the ankle) with a flexible upper part of leather (or plastic) usually and a sole and heel of heavier material. Shoes differ from boots by not extending past the ankle.

Parts of a shoe

Sole

The bottom of a shoe is called the sole.

Insole

The insole is the interior bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are often added for comfort or health reasons (to control the shape, moisture, or smell of the shoe).

Outsole

The outsole is the layer in direct contact with the ground. Dress shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles made of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a single piece, or may comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the heel of the sole is rubber for durability and traction, while the front is leather for style. Specialized shoes will often have modifications on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the outsole to grip the ground; many kinds of dancing shoes have much softer or harder soles.

Midsole

The layer in between the outsole and the insole that is typically there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like running shoes, have another material for shock absorption, usually beneath the heel where one puts the most pressure down. Different companies use different materials for the midsoles of their shoes. Some shoes may not have a midsole at all.

Heel

The bottom rear part of a shoe is the heel. Its function is to support the heel of the foot. They are often made of the same material as the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion or to make the person look taller, or flat for a more practical use.

Vamp, or upper

Any shoe has an upper part that helps hold the shoe onto the foot. In the simplest cases, such as sandals or flip flops, this may be nothing more than a few straps for holding the sole in place. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will have a more complex upper. This part is often decorated or is made in a certain style to look attractive.