Comparing Shape, Size and Fit of Barefoot Hiking & Sports Shoes | Hiking Enthusiast Investigates

In this article, I take you through a detailed analysis comparing the shape, size and fit of three shoes by the same maker, with the same size but all with a very distinct design and fit. Learning to compare barefoot shoes and insoles can definitely make choosing easier...

Table of Contents

• Introduction: Comparing Shape, Size and Fit of 3 Shoes

• Sizing

• Overall Shape

• Insole Shapes & Measurements

  • The "Step on Insole" Test

  • Measurements

• Toe Box Shape

• Conclusion

• Resources

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Introduction: Comparing Shape, Size and Fit of 3 Shoes

If you came here after reading this article, welcome back! The tale of my search for a versatile summer hiking shoe would not be complete without the present article. In my pursuit, I tried on shoes from different brands and even did a detailed comparison of three models from Xero Shoes analysing their shape, size and fit. Different shoes even within the same shoe brand can be shaped and fit very differently, and this example shows this very well. These are the shoes I'm comparing:

Scrambler Low  X  DayLite Hiker Fusion X Aqua X Sport

Sizing

Unboxing three shoes in one day was a first for me so it was definitely an interesting day. After an exciting shoe delivery, I'll take you through the aspects I checked in detail, step by step, so you can follow along for this virtual shoe assessment and for your own future shoe checks.

The shoes featured in this article are all the same size: a women's US 6, EU 36.5. Below, you can see some clear differences between them, even without trying them on yourself. Let me show you.

Overall Shape

First, we look at the soles of the shoes to get an initial impression of how they compare. With all the soles side by side, you can immediately see that the Scrambler Low and Aqua X Sport have a wider shape overall, while the DayLite Hiker Fusion has a more elongated shape. Please note: in some images I edited the background out for the purpose of making the outlines easier to see and compare, but I did not change the size of anything. All the proportions you see in this article are accurate.

The second step for me was to try on each shoe. When I put the shoes on, how they felt confirmed my suspicions:

1. The Scrambler Low feels a bit wider than other hiking shoes, eg. Xero's TerraFlex (which I reviewed here);

2. The DayLite Hiker Fusion is too elongated and not wide enough for my foot shape;

3. The Aqua X Sport is the most squarish of the three and has the most spacious toe box for my needs.

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Insole Shapes & Measurements

After step 1 (looking at the shoe soles) and step 2 (trying on the shoes), in step 3, I took out the insoles for two reasons: to do the "step on insole" test and to take measurements.

The "Step on Insole" Test

What's that?, you ask. I hear you. I don't know where my partner got this from, but he always does this insole test when he tries on a new shoe or when he is telling someone about barefoot shoes and explaining the concept behind foot shaped insoles.

This is a great tip to share your barefoot shoe knowledge with others, by the way! If you want to objectively demonstrate to someone how narrow their shoes are, guide them through this quick test. When someone wears non-barefoot shoes and does this, you will most likely see that the insole is much narrower than the foot, particularly in the toes area. Here's how to perform the "step on insole" test:

Take an insole out of a shoe; carefully place the corresponding foot on that insole; then transfer your weight to that foot and finally, analyse the overlap of your foot silhouette on the insole.

For me, this test doesn't necessarily result in a definitive yes or no on whether I will be able to wear that shoe comfortably. That decision comes from a combination of factors, this is just one of them. Assess the overall shape of the insole and whether it is wide enough for you (and your pinky toe). If your foot is a few millimeters wider than the insole (eg. 2-4 mm) this doesn't necessary eliminate this shoe for you, you need to see how it feels. If the shoe has enough volume overall, you should be good. But don't take my word for it, try it yourself.

The "step on insole" test also enables you to check how much extra length you have in front of the toes, which also helps to assess if the shoe is a good fit. The insole length should always be a bit longer than your foot. For more details on shoe fit check out this guide -> choosing the right shoe section.

Measurements

Let's take a look at the measurements of each shoe's insole, in centimeters. First, I contacted Xero Shoes directly to try to get the width of certain shoes and models however, that was a bit of an uphill battle. At first, they did not want to tell me the width of the shoes because it would require them to measure them and there are variations, bla bla bla. After several email exchanges and insistence from my side, they did eventually measure one or two shoe models in one or two sizes I had asked for at the start, but in the end it was not useful to me as I had moved on from my initial research. I think this is completely nonsensical and all barefoot brands should absolutely list the insole length and width for all their models. If Shapen and others can do it, Xero (and others) should do it too.

Back to the shoes I ordered... I did my best to measure at the correct points to find each insole's longest and widest measurements. Remember these are all a women's US 6, EU 36.5. Also, feel free to see it for yourself, in the pictures below my short list of conclusions.

Shoe	Insole Length (cm)	Insole Width (cm)
Scrambler Low	23.10	8.40
DayLite Hiker Fusion	23.10	8.20
Aqua X Sport	22.80	8.40

Facts:

• The Scrambler Low and the DayLite Hiker Fusion have the same insole length; the Aqua X Sport is shorter;

• The Scrambler Low and the Aqua X Sport have the same insole width; the DayLite Hiker Fusion is narrower.

Conclusions:

• The Scrambler Low's insole (and overall shape) is measurably wider than the DayLite Hiker Fusion;

• The DayLite Hiker Fusion's insole is - for me - too narrow in proportion to its elongated shape;

• The Aqua X Sport's insole is verifiably the most squarish of the three;

• Even though the differences may be small, they do exist. Indeed, the insoles have slightly different shapes. Especially when you look at the toes area, you can see the Aqua X Sport is more square at the top, with an almost "rounder" curve than the others.

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Toe Box Shape

In combination with the "step on insole" test, it is important to understand that two different shoes with same length insoles might still fit you very differently. This has to do with the outer shape of the toe box, the materials used, the inner padding, the profile of the tip of the toe box, and so on.

Let's take a closer look at the space, the actual volume inside each shoe's toe box. Despite the Scrambler Low and DayLite Hiker Fusion's same length insoles, my toes felt not too spacious but OK* in the Scrambler Low but completely squeezed, soffucated and claustrophobic inside the DayLite Hiker. The Scrambler Low has a bit more width and perhaps available height inside the toe box, plus, the DayLite Hiker might have extra padding at the front, it is a thicker shoe. All in all, the shape of the DayLite Hiker is not wide enough for my feet, as I would have to get an overly long shoe for it to be wide enough, making it a no-go for me.

*Back to some details regarding the Scrambler Low, I did not keep this exact shoe but I did elect the model as my new summer hiking shoe. I got a very comfortable fit by going half a size up: I have the women's US 6.5, EU 37. It is a little long with thin summer socks but it works perfectly for long days where I'm on my feet literally the entire day and the extra room at the toe box is perfect for steep hikes. With thicker socks, I still have space to wear them without being cold, even in cold weather (under 5º Celsius). So I got myself the versatility I was after and I will write a full review soon - stay tuned for that!

Regarding the Aqua X Sport, I cannot say enough nice things about this toe box. It is extremelly spacious, because it is wide and "tall" at the very end so it doesn't squeeze my toes at all. This design makes complete sense because these are water shoes after all - they have a very thin, quick drying mesh all over, including in the toe box. I am already excited for next summer, I can't wait to take these shoes out on some challenging, slippery hikes.

Xero Shoes US

Xero Shoes EU

Conclusion

Taking the Xero Shoes brand as an example, their men's shoes are wider than their women's shoes and their men's smallest size is usually too big for me. Their men's models would likely suit me better if they would have my size. But hey, if my feet continue to get stronger thanks to my barefoot usage, who knows?!, they might fit me some day. With this, I want to encourage you to keep an open mind. Don't assume something fits you or doesn't fit just because of the number on the box, or whatever. Try the shoes on as often as you can, if you an find them near you, but when you can't, try to get information you need before making a purchase, and always buy from distributers that offer a friendly return policy, just in case.

I see how one could say that comparing the same size of different shoe models doesn't matter all that much, since shoe makers advise buyers to go half a size up (as is the case with the DayLite Hiker Fusion) or even a full size up for certain models. I would have to disagree with that. I believe this detailed comparison matters a lot. At the very least, it can help us all realise that "being" a certain shoe size isn't really a thing, it icertainly not a reliable thing. I'll say it again for the people in the back: all barefoot brands should absolutely list the insole length and width for all their models. I hope to see more and more of them doing this.

Regardless of what shoes you are searching for, even if you aren't currently considering any of the models showcased in this article, I hope you found some value in this analysis, that I was the goal - to guide you a bit more regarding shoe sizing and fit, so you can make well educated searches and choices, no matter which particular needs you are trying to fulfill at the time. Thanks for your visit, be back again soon. :)

Please note: this article is not sponsored in any way, I am simply sharing my experiences and opinions.

Resources

• What are barefoot or minimalist shoes?

• Barefoot Glossary - I created this glossary to help you navigate the terms of the barefoot world

• Read The Ultimate Guide to Foot Type and Measuring your Feet for Perfect Shoe Fit

• Find other interesting links in the Barefoot Shoes Resources

If my blog has helped you in any way, consider using my links for your purchases. When you use my link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For details, see my Disclaimer.

Xero Shoes EU

Xero Shoes US