Vans and Nike are both famous brands, but their shoe sizes are different. But how are they different from each other? Keep reading to find the right size for your feet.
Vans sizing vs Nike is always a common question among people who love sneakers from these two worldwide-famous brands. However, not every shoe brand offers the same shoe sizes. This makes it a bit hard for you to choose the right size for your feet or when you want to compare sizes between two or more brands.
Sometimes, you didn’t notice that you were wearing an unsuitable shoe size until you walked for a while. Because of this, I will share with you everything about Vans sizing vs Nike, which size is larger or smaller, how it fits, etc. So, keep reading to discover all about Nike and Vans shoe sizes.
A Brief Overview of Vans Shoes
As many of you might know, Vans is a globally famous shoe company based in California. The brand focuses on different types of sneakers but is mostly geared towards extreme sports. Vans also provide the market with in-vogue old skool sneakers, such as MBX boots, snowboarding boots, and skateboarding shoes. Generally speaking, Vans shoe styles tend to enlarge over time.
Vans Shoes Sizing
It is true that we can’t tell if Vans shoes are big or small as they come in different sizes for women and men. In fact, Vans shoes come in a unisex design. Nonetheless, comparing Vans shoes with Nike shoes shows that they are a little bit bigger for women and big for men. But when it comes to kids’ shoe sizes, Vans shoe sizes are smaller than Nike shoes’.
Therefore, when looking for Vans shoes for children, it is recommended to get sizes that are bigger compared to Nike. For females, you should choose Vans shoes around half a size narrower than Nike shoes, whereas it is better to go down one full size for men, compared to Nike shoes.
According to Vans, their shoe sizes are measured based on the United States’ metrics and are usually true to size. Having said that, it can still be a little bit confusing as Vans shoes are designed for both men and women. In other words, they don’t signify specific sizes for females. So, most girls and women will no doubt find this relatively difficult. But don’t worry. The following chart will help you out.
Vans Sizing Compared To Nike
Generally speaking, Vans and Nike shoes have some similarities., especially the Nike SB. However, they are quite dissimilar when it comes to shoe size. So, let’s have a closer look at the following shoe charts for each brand to know the differences between Vans sizing compared to Nike.
How Does Vans Shoe Sizing Run?
According to Vans, their shoe sizes are particularly designed based on the standard US footwear size, which is decided by a Brannock device. As a result, Vans shoes typically run true-to-size. For example, if you often wear a size 8 with your casual shoe, then you should also choose size 8 for Vans shoes.
Nevertheless, one thing that a lot of people still feel confused about is that Vans don’t offer a shoe size chart for women. Hence, it might be a little hard for females to find suitable sizes if they have small or narrow feet. As you might know, Vans shoes are specially designed geared towards both men and women. So, whether you are a girl who loves chunky skates or a boy who wants some glitter on your shoes, Vans shoes have no gender segregation.
Vans Shoes Size Chart
I have included the Vans shoe size chart below to give you a look at their shoes’ dimensions.
| US Men | US Women | EU | UK | CM | Inches |
| 3.5 | 5 | 34.5 | 2.5 | 21.5 | 8.46 |
| 4 | 5.5 | 35 | 3 | 22 | 8.66 |
| 4.5 | 6 | 36 | 3.5 | 22.5 | 8.86 |
| 5 | 6.5 | 36.5 | 4 | 23 | 9.05 |
| 5.5 | 7 | 37 | 4.5 | 23.5 | 9.25 |
| 6 | 7.5 | 38 | 5 | 24 | 9.45 |
| 6.5 | 8 | 38.5 | 5.5 | 24.5 | 9.65 |
| 7 | 8.5 | 39 | 6 | 25 | 9.84 |
| 7.5 | 9 | 40 | 6.5 | 25.5 | 10.04 |
| 8 | 9.5 | 40.5 | 7 | 26 | 10.24 |
| 8.5 | 10 | 41 | 7.5 | 26.5 | 10.43 |
| 9 | 10.5 | 42 | 8 | 27 | 10.63 |
| 9.5 | 11 | 42.5 | 8.5 | 27.5 | 10.83 |
| 10 | 11.5 | 43 | 9 | 28 | 11.02 |
| 10.5 | 12 | 44 | 9.5 | 28.5 | 11.22 |
| 11 | 12.5 | 44.5 | 10 | 29 | 11.42 |
| 11.5 | 13 | 45 | 10.5 | 29.5 | 11.61 |
| 12 | 13.5 | 46 | 11 | 30 | 11.81 |
| 13 | 14 | 47 | 12 | 31 | 12.2 |
A Brief Overview of Nike Shoes
When compared to several of its rivals, such as Reebok and Adidas, Nike shoe sizes tend to be a little bit narrower. Not only is it shorter in length, but its sizes, in general, are also smaller. This, as a result, can be difficult for people with wide feet.
Having said that, Nike shoes tend to expand a bit in width, making them much more comfortable over time. In addition, the toe box of Nike shoes is large, providing extra room for your toes to spread out while walking, running, or during workouts.
Another thing to note is that several Nike sneakers offer noticeable arch support, which is wonderful for people with high arches. However, those with flat feet might not feel really comfy.
Nike Shoes Sizing
As many of you might know, Nike shoe sizes have been popular for being small compared to most other shoe brands. Therefore, most people have to buy bigger sizes than Vans’ sizes. But this turns out to be a great option for people with narrow feet. In most cases, you should increase the Nike shoe sizes by 0.5 inches compared to Vans sizes. However, you even want to go for a full size larger if you have wider feet. In some unique cases, you might want to increase the size by one and a half times.
What is fantastic about Nike shoes is that the brand provides users with an app that allows you to scan your foot for the correct size to avoid issues related to wrong sizes. Nevertheless, traditional measurement by measuring your foot against the wall and finding the equivalent length on the Nike shoe size chart is still effective.
But Vans and Nike also share the same feature, which is that both sneakers tend to widen or stretch out over time. In other words, your Nike or Vans shoes might be slightly tight at first, it can be more comfortable after some time.
However, the stretch can only be expected for people with narrow feet when it comes to Nike shoes. To compensate for this, you can find incredible arch support for people having high arches.
Nike Shoes Size Chart
Now, let’s take a look at the Nike shoe size charts for men and women.
Nike Shoe Size Chart for Men:
| US Men | CM | Inches |
| 6 | 23.7 | 9.33 |
| 6.5 | 24.1 | 9.49 |
| 7 | 24.5 | 9.65 |
| 7.5 | 25 | 9.84 |
| 8 | 25.4 | 10 |
| 8.5 | 25.8 | 10.16 |
| 9 | 26.2 | 10.31 |
| 9.5 | 26.7 | 10.51 |
| 10 | 27.1 | 10.67 |
| 10.5 | 27.5 | 10.83 |
| 11 | 27.9 | 10.98 |
| 11.5 | 28.3 | 11.14 |
| 12 | 28.8 | 11.34 |
| 12.5 | 29.2 | 11.49 |
| 13 | 29.6 | 11.65 |
| 13.5 | 30 | 11.81 |
| 14 | 30.5 | 12 |
| 15 | 31.3 | 12.32 |
Nike Shoe Size Chart for Women:
| US Women | CM | Inches |
| 5 | 22 | 8.66 |
| 5.5 | 22.4 | 8.82 |
| 6 | 22.9 | 9.01 |
| 6.5 | 23.3 | 9.17 |
| 7 | 23.7 | 9.33 |
| 7.5 | 24.1 | 9.49 |
| 8 | 24.5 | 9.64 |
| 8.5 | 25 | 9.84 |
| 9 | 25.4 | 10 |
| 9.5 | 25.8 | 10.16 |
| 10 | 26.2 | 10.31 |
| 10.5 | 26.7 | 10.51 |
| 11 | 27.1 | 10.66 |
| 11.5 | 27.5 | 10.83 |
According to the chart, you can see that men’s US size 9.5 for Vans sneakers will be equivalent to US size 10 for Nike shoes. This can be converted to size 42.5 in the EU sizing system and 8.5 for the UK sizing.
Regardless of your shoe size, always pick around 0.5-inch larger in size when you are buying Nike shoes as they are usually smaller than others. This way, you can expect the right fit.
Pro Tips
If you are using the above Nike shoe size chart, you should buy at least a half or even a full size bigger than your normal fit. For example, if you usually wear a size 8 or 8.5, then a pair of Nike size 9 shoes will be the most comfortable fit for you.
For those with wider feet, consider ordering half a size broader in the width option. In case that option is not available, you should go for a full-size wider.
How Do Vans Slip-On Shoes Fit?
While almost all Vans shoe styles fit true-to-size, some do not. And one prominent example is Vans Slip-on shoes.
Generally speaking, slip-on Vans sneakers usually come in a tighter fit, both in width and length. Nevertheless, always consider ordering a full size up. The reason here is that this slip-on style tends to stretch after several wearing. Therefore, if you go too far from your normal fit, it could be loose-fitting after a certain time of breaking them in.
Besides, Vans offer a medium-width option for their slip-on shoes. So, you can completely try half a size wider if you find it too snug in terms of width.
Pro Tips
People having feet in between sizes, such as an 8.5 is small, but 9 is large, it is better to choose the larger size. In this case, it is size 9. Then, you can consider investing in a better pair of shoe inserts to fill up the extra room. These insoles are not too expensive while still making your feet much more comfortable and tighter.
In case the size is larger than expected, you can try adhesive heel pads to attach to the heel. These are also a cheap alternative to make big shoes fit better.
For more tips, you can also read my guide on how to tell if your shoes are fit.
Tips For Finding The Right Shoe Size For Your Feet
I have gathered some of the best tips on how to get the perfect shoe sizing for you:
Never assume your feet and shoe size. In order to get the best fit, you should measure your feet. Sometimes, you even want to measure 2 times for the exact measurements. An easy method is putting your foot on paper placed on an even floor. Remember that your heel should be against a wall. Spot on the paper where your longest toe touches, and calculate from the wall to that point.
Refer to the specific size chart of the brand you are going to buy from. As you can see above, shoe sizes vary depending on different brands. It means that if you fit a size 8 in Vans shoes, it doesn’t mean you are also a size 8 in Nike.
In case you plan to wear thick socks with your shoes, then wear them while measuring your foot sizes. The same applies to insoles/inserts, particularly if you are going to use orthotics that can occupy a large amount of room inside your shoes.
Measure both of your feet after exercise or in the afternoon. These are considered the times when your feet tend to swell and might give you more precise measurements.
For more tips on feet measurement, watch the following video:
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Vans shoe sizes the same as Nikes?
The answer is no. Vans offer shoe sizes that are different from Nike’s. In particular, Vans tend to be bigger than Nike. So, if you are alternating between these two, always follow the size charts from both brands.
How Tight Should Vans Shoes Fit?
Initially, Vans shoes are usually snug-fitting, like they are hugging your feet. However, they are never so tight that you feel uncomfortable. So, when you are trying Vans on, feel the toe box where your toes reach it. Ideally, there should be a minor gap between the front of the shoes and your longest toe.
Are Vans loosening over time?
Yes, Vans shoes do loosen up after some time. This is why you should not choose a larger size. Nonetheless, if you feel uncomfortable, then the shoes might be too small. In this case, it’s better to replace another pair.
Conclusion
When comparing Vans sizing vs Nike, it is really crucial to converting from one to the other using the specific shoe size chart of each brand. In addition, you should remember that Vans and Nike don’t fit the same way. Usually, Nike shoes are narrower than Vans and almost all other brands. What’s more, its shoe sizes don’t tend to stretch over time either.
I hope that this guide on Vans sizing vs Nike will be helpful for you. If you are still confused about Vans sizing or Nike sizing, don’t hesitate to drop me a comment.
