Because I’ve been fitting wear-testers and staff for new running shoes for so many years, I know that many runners wear a shoe that’s too small for their foot. But, they insist it fits because the number on the box matches what size they typically wear.
My advice: Ignore the number on the box. I trick our wear-testers by giving them just the shoe, not the box, when I think they may benefit from going up a half size. You can find the right fit by visiting your local running shop and trying on multiple pairs—or by taking advantage of generous return policies from internet sellers.
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Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner's World, guiding the brand's shoes and gear coverage. A true shoe dog, he's spent more than a decade testing and reviewing shoes. In 2017, he ran in 285 different pairs of shoes, including a streak of 257 days wearing a different model.
