Shoe Fitting & Sizing Guide

Free Shoe Fitting & Gait Analysis — Find Your Perfect Fit

Getting the right shoe isn't just about size — it's about how your foot moves, where it lands, and what kind of support your body needs. At Grivet Outdoors, our staff are trained to analyze your gait, scan your foot, and put you in the right shoe the first time. No appointment needed. Always free.

What Happens During a Fitting at Grivet Outdoors

A fitting at Grivet isn't a sales pitch — it's a conversation. Here's what to expect when you walk in:

•       Foot scan: We use a foot scanning machine to measure your exact length, width, and arch profile. This takes about 60 seconds and gives us data most people have never had — including whether your left and right feet are different sizes (they often are).

•       Gait analysis: We watch you walk or run — either in the store or on a treadmill — to see how your foot strikes, rolls, and lifts. This tells us whether you need a neutral shoe, a stability shoe, or something in between.

•       Honest recommendations: We'll bring out a selection that matches your foot shape, gait pattern, and what you're using the shoe for — not just whatever is on sale. You try them, walk around, and we'll keep going until it feels right.

•       No pressure, no appointment: The fitting is free whether you buy that day or not. We'd rather you leave with the right shoe in two weeks than the wrong shoe today.

How to Measure Your Feet at Home

If you want to come in prepared — or if you're ordering online and want a starting point — here's how to measure your feet accurately at home:

•       Measure in the afternoon or evening when your feet are at their largest (feet swell throughout the day).

•       Stand on a piece of paper and trace around your foot. Measure from the back of your heel to the tip of your longest toe.

•       Measure both feet — most people have one foot slightly larger than the other. Always fit to the larger foot.

•       Measure your width at the widest point of your foot, just across the ball.

Important: Home measurements are a starting point, not a final answer. Shoe lasts vary significantly between brands — an Altra size 10 fits very differently from a Brooks size 10. This is exactly why we scan your foot in person.

Running Shoe Sizing: Why You Probably Need to Go Up

The most common mistake people make when buying running shoes is buying them too small. Unlike dress shoes or casual sneakers, running shoes should fit with a thumb's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.

Here's why:

•       Your foot swells during a run — especially on longer efforts or in heat. A shoe that fits perfectly at rest can become painfully tight at mile 8.

•       Your toes need room to splay naturally when your foot strikes. Cramped toes lead to blisters, black toenails, and lost toenails on longer runs.

•       Most runners end up in a shoe that's a half size to a full size larger than their street shoe size.

The right fit: your heel should be locked in with no slipping, the midfoot should feel snug but not compressed, and your toes should have room to move freely at the front.

Understanding Shoe Widths

Most shoes come in standard (medium) width, but a significant portion of the population needs something wider or narrower. Running in the wrong width is one of the leading causes of blisters, bunions, and forefoot pain.

Standard width codes

•       B (Women's standard / Men's narrow): The default women's width. Men with narrow feet may also find B-width shoes more comfortable.

•       D (Men's standard / Women's wide): The default men's width. Women with wide feet often find D-width shoes a better fit than standard women's sizing.

•       2E (Men's wide): Noticeably wider through the forefoot. Good starting point for men who feel cramped in standard widths.

•       4E (Men's extra wide): Significantly wider. Common for people with bunions, wide forefeet, or foot conditions that require more room.

Brands we carry with strong wide-width options

•       Brooks: Wide widths reliably available in the Ghost and Glycerin lines. The Ghost Max is often the only men's 4E option available

•       Hoka: The Clifton and Bondi are our most reliable wide options. The Gaviota is sometimes available in wide as well.

•       New Balance: Wide widths available in select styles, though the range varies by season.

•       Altra: Naturally wider toe box in all their shoes — often the right fit for wide-footed runners without needing an official wide width.

•       Topo: Like Altra, Topo designs all their shoes with a wider toe box — a great option for wide-footed runners who want a different fit or style.

Extended Sizing

If you've struggled to find your size at other retailers, we stock many styles in men's sizes 8.5–15 and women's sizes 6.5–11. Men's size 13 and above can be particularly hard to find with real selection — we carry multiple options at those sizes so you're not stuck with whatever happens to be left.

Work & Slip-Resistant Shoes

We carry black/black colorways year-round for customers who need athletic shoes for work or professional settings. We also stock the Hoka Bondi SR — a slip-resistant version of the Bondi built for workplaces like restaurants, hospitals, and anywhere non-slip footwear is required.

Neutral vs. Stability: Which Shoe Do You Need?

This is the question we answer during every gait analysis. Here's what it means and why it matters.

Neutral shoes

Neutral shoes are designed for runners whose foot rolls inward only slightly — or not at all — when they land. The shoe provides cushioning and flexibility without trying to correct your gait. Most people with normal to high arches run well in neutral shoes.

Stability shoes

Stability shoes are designed for runners whose foot rolls inward more than it should — a motion called overpronation. A firmer section of foam on the medial (inner) side of the midsole guides the foot toward a more neutral position. Most people with low arches or flat feet benefit from stability shoes, but the best way to know is to have someone watch you run.

Motion control shoes

Motion control is the most structured category — designed for significant overpronation or for heavier runners who need maximum support. Less common than neutral or stability, but important for the right customer.

Our take: The best way to know which category is right for you is gait analysis — watching you actually run. Arch height alone is not a reliable predictor. We've fit high-arched runners in stability shoes and flat-footed runners in neutral shoes based on what we see in motion. Come in and let us watch you run.

Insoles and Orthotics: When the Shoe Isn't Enough

Sometimes the right shoe gets you 90% of the way there, and an insole closes the gap. We carry a selection of aftermarket insoles that can add arch support, cushioning, or stability beyond what the factory footbed provides.

•       Superfeet: The most common upgrade. Their Green and Blue insoles add firm arch support that's particularly effective for plantar fasciitis and flat feet.

•       Currex: Activity-specific insoles in low, medium, and high arch profiles. Good option for runners who want insole support without the rigidity of Superfeet.

•       Custom orthotics: If you have a prescription orthotic from a podiatrist, bring it in — we'll help you find a shoe with enough volume to accommodate it comfortably.

Socks Matter More Than You Think

A technical running sock can eliminate blisters, improve fit, and significantly extend the life of your shoes. We always recommend trying on running shoes with the type of sock you'll actually run in — not the cotton ankle sock you wore into the store.

•       Merino wool: Temperature-regulating, naturally odor-resistant, and blister-resistant even when wet. Darn Tough and Icebreaker are our top picks.

•       Synthetic: Lighter and faster-drying than wool. Good for hot-weather running. Balega and Feetures are staff favorites.

•       Compression: Graduated compression socks can reduce fatigue and improve recovery on longer efforts. Feetures and Swiftwick make options we stock and trust.

Fitting FAQ

Do I need an appointment for a fitting?

No. Walk-ins are welcome at all four Grivet Outdoors locations. If you can, weekday mornings tend to be quieter and you'll have more one-on-one time with our staff. Weekends are busier — we'll still take care of you, but expect a short wait during peak hours.

Is the fitting really free?

Yes, completely free. Gait analysis, foot scanning, and fitting consultation — all free, with no obligation to buy. We do this because the specialty retail model only works if we put people in the right shoe. A return or a runner who quits because of injury costs everyone more than a free fitting.

What should I bring or wear?

Wear or bring the socks you typically run in if you have them. If you have custom orthotics, bring those too. If you're dealing with a specific pain or injury, mention it when you walk in — that context helps us narrow down the right options faster.

Can you fit me for hiking boots or trail shoes, not just road running shoes?

Yes. We fit customers for the full range — road running shoes, trail running shoes, hiking boots, approach shoes, and casual walking shoes. The same principles apply: foot shape, gait, intended use, and terrain all factor into the recommendation.

Do you carry wide widths in stock?

Yes. We stock wide widths in many of our top running brands including Brooks, Hoka, and New Balance. If we don't have your exact size in store, we can order it.

I've been running in the same shoe for years. Should I still get fitted?

Yes — especially if your current shoe has been discontinued, if you've had any new injuries or pain, or if it's been more than a couple of years. Shoe technology changes quickly, and your gait and foot shape can change over time too. We've had plenty of longtime runners discover through a fitting that they'd been in the wrong shoe for years.

Ready to Get Fitted?

Walk in at any Grivet Outdoors location. No appointment, no charge — just bring your feet and tell us what you're training for.

•       Cooper-Young (Outlet): 2164 Young Ave., Memphis, TN 38104 — (901) 505-2560

•       East Memphis: 699 S Mendenhall Rd., Memphis, TN 38117 — (901) 425-5291

•       Germantown: 9067 Poplar Ave., Suite 101, Germantown, TN 38138 — (901) 249-8860

•       Olive Branch: 5400 Goodman Rd., Suite 113, Olive Branch, MS 38654 — (662) 408-4458