What's my skate size?

In order to answer that question you need to first measure your feet and then choose your fit preference.

How to Measure Your Feet for Inline Skates

Finding the right size inline skates is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable skating experience. Here's how to measure your feet to determine your skate size:

  1. Stand barefoot on a piece of paper and trace your foot. Make sure your weight is evenly distributed and your toes are relaxed.

  2. Measure the length of your foot from the back of your heel to the tip of your longest toe. Use centimeters (CM) as a reference to find your proper skate size. If measuring in inches, 1 inch = 2.54 cm.

  3. Measure both feet and use the longer heel to toe measurement to determine your skate size.

  4. Write down your measurements to reference later on.

Here's Leon explaining how to measure and size your feet for skates from the original Shop Task retail location in Vancouver in 2013.

Choose Your Fit Preference

The fit of your skates is crucial for performance and comfort. We recommend the following fits for different levels of skaters:

Performance Fit - For experienced or advanced skaters. Your toes should be touching the end of the liner, even with some pressure, as long as your toes are flat (not curling). For maximum performance and control, you want to minimize all movement of your foot inside the boot. We recommend that you choose the size closest to your actual centimeter (cm) measurement or 0.5-1cm shorter. For most people, this will result in a skate size that is one full size smaller than your shoe size.

Comfort Fit - For beginner skaters. Your toes should be very close or lightly touching the end of the liner. For comfort, it's ok if you can wiggle your toes, as long as the rest of your foot doesn't move inside the skate. We recommend that you choose the size closest to your actual centimeter (cm) measurement or up to 0.5cm longer. For most people, this will result in a skate size that is a half size smaller than your shoe size.

Find Your Skate Size

  1. Find the size chart for the brand and model of skates you want to buy. This should be available on the product page or the manufacturer's website.

  2. Take your foot measurement in centimeters (CM) as described on our "How to Measure Your Feet" section.

  3. Compare your foot measurement to the size chart to find your recommended skate size.

  4. Keep in mind that some brands may have slightly different sizing, so make sure to double-check the size chart for each brand.

  5. If you're between sizes, we recommend sizing down for a performance fit or sizing up for a comfort fit, depending on your preference.

  6. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any doubts or questions about sizing. We're here to help you find the perfect fit!

Things to Remember

When it comes to sizing inline skates, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Skates should fit tighter than your shoes. Unlike shoes, your feet don't need to bend inside skates, so it's best to have a tighter fit. This will help the skate feel like a part of your body.

  2. Skates are always the tightest when they're brand new. Inline skate liners have thicker padding than your shoes and will expand/stretch by up to one full size as the foam compresses over time (10-20 hours of skating).

  3. Everyone's feet are different. If you have pronounced features on your feet or your feet are extra wide, you may want to choose a comfort fit or, if possible, upgrade your liner to a heat-moldable liner, like the Intuition Skate Liners.

  4. Insoles and orthotics can affect the fit. Orthotics could make the skate fit tighter, depending on how thick they are. Keep that in mind when choosing your size. Aftermarket insoles, like Superfeet, can help improve the fit. They stabilize your heel, support your arch, and align your foot properly in the skate.

  5. Socks also play a role in skate fit. We recommend thinner calf-height socks. Our favorite socks are made by Lorpen.

Returns and Exchanges

If your skates don't fit well, don't worry. We offer returns and exchanges within 14 days of purchase/delivery. Just contact us and we'll help you find the right size for you.

We hope this guide helps you find the perfect fit for your inline skates. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.