Trying on boots is a sure way to know if what you are planning on buying fits you right. If you’ve ever fitted boots and thought they fit perfectly length-wise but feel a little bit tight around the balls of your feet, you might not have the correct size after all. If you look at the boots tag, you might find the letter M in it.
The M in a boot size refers to a medium shoe width and it can be for a pair of women’s or men’s footwear. There are different shoe width categories aside from the letter M: AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E, EE, EEE, and W. The AAA is the narrowest width while the EEE is the widest width.
If you are struggling to find the correct pair, you might not be taking the boot’s width into consideration. This article will go into detail about the different shoe width categories so you can find the perfect pair of boots.
What Does M Mean In Boot Size
Boots have guidelines with regard to their sizes. Most people go to a store and try on boots based on the length of their feet without taking into consideration other factors such as the boots’ width.
We are all familiar with the standard US size chart: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and so on. Most footwear also offers half-sizes for people whose feet do not fit into the full-sizes. These are 6.5, 7.5, and so on.
However, these sizes should not be the only ones you should look at when buying boots.
When you are trying boots, you may come across the letter M. The letter as we all know means medium in terms of clothing but it’s the same way with boots as well.
The M in boots means medium in terms of the boot’s width. This also pertains to both men’s and women’s shoe width. You may also see the letters DM or BM – these letters still state that the shoe’s width is medium.
These letters are applicable to other footwear not just to boots.
Different Shoe Width Categories
Aside from the M width, there are also different shoe width categories and they are all indicated by letters as well. These letters let you know if the shoes are narrow, wide, or extra wide. Keep in mind that the letters have different meanings for men’s and women’s boots. You can measure your foot’s width by taking a tape measure and measuring the widest point of your foot, which is the lower part of the ball of your foot.
Let’s take a look at the different shoe width categories.
“A” Shoe Width
An A shoe width indicates that the boots are narrow. You will find this tag on women’s footwear as their feet are typically more narrow than men’s.
A single letter A shoe width would have a measurement ranging from 3.4″ to 3.9″. For reference, my shoe size is 9 and the width of my foot is 3.2″ so my shoe width would have to be in the A category.
“AA” and “AAA” Shoe Width
These corresponding letters still refer to a narrow width but the extra letters refer to an even more narrow shoe width.
Basically, A is narrow, AA is more narrow than A, and AAA is the most narrow width of all three. Take my foot, for example, my 3.2″ foot width would fall into the AA category. An AAA shoe is not as common unless you have super narrow feet.
“B” Shoe Width
As we talked about earlier, the B shoe width corresponds to the women’s normal shoe width. The B shoe width will still be a narrow fit for most men but for women, this may mean that the A category might be a little too tight if they have wider feet. Women with narrow feet can have a shoe width of A or B depending on the measurement of the lower part of the ball of their foot.
Most shoe manufacturers have the BM as the average shoe width in the US and if you do not find any width tag on the shoe, it probably is in the BM Category.
“C” Shoe Width
The C shoe width refers to both men’s and women’s shoes but does not mean the same thing.
If you see the C tag on women’s footwear, it means that the shoe’s width is wide while a C tag on men’s shoes means that it has a narrow width.
Men’s feet are typically wider than women’s so men do not usually buy shoes with a C width. Women with wider feet usually go for a C or D shoe width.
“D” Shoe Width
The D shoe width for women is also considered wide it has a wider width than the C in women’s footwear. In a pair of men’s shoes, D refers to a medium width which is the standard shoe width for men.
In this case, you will see a DM on the tag on men’s footwear. If not, it is safe to say that the shoe is in the D category as it is the standard shoe width for men. But of course, it is still best to fit the boots to ensure that they fit you.
“E”, “EE”, and “EEE” Shoe Width
The E category for women’s footwear is considered an extra shoe width. For men’s shoes, the E stands for just a wide width unlike women’s extra wide.
Like the A category, the more letters there are, the wider the shoe width would be. So, if you get an EEE width you are most likely getting the widest pair of shoes.
The EEE shoe width is not commonly seen in both men’s and women’s shoes unless they have super wide feet.
“W” Shoe Width
If you see a shoe with the W tag, it means that it has a wide shoe width.
A D shoe width on women’s footwear can also be tagged as W and an EE can also be tagged as W. Some shoe manufacturers would use a D tag for a wide shoe while others would just use W to avoid confusion. W can be more easily interpreted as wide rather than with the letter D.
Is Shoe Width Important?
Yes, the shoe width is important when choosing the right pair of footwear whether that be shoes or boots. Knowing your shoe’s width will keep your feet comfortable, happy, and healthy in the long run.
Wearing the wrong shoe sizes and width can cause foot problems such as blisters, inflammation, or bunions. While you can fix boots that are too wide with cushion insoles, it is still best to get fitted with the correct size.
Factors To Consider When Purchasing New Boots
With so many boots in the market, you need to buy boots that are best for you. Here are some of the things to consider when buying new boots:
1. Invest in good quality boots. This will ensure that they will last you a long time.
2. Buy boots in a physical store if possible so you can try on different pairs before buying one. Make sure to wear boot socks as they can affect the size of the boots. Most boots are not true to size and can run small or large.
3. If online shopping is the only way you can get boots, be sure to measure the length and width of your feet to make sure you get the correct size. You can also check the reviews to see if you need to go up or down a size.
Wrap Up
Shoe width is important to keep the feet healthy and comfortable. A medium boot width would correspond to the letter M but as we have discussed in this article, there are several width categories as well.
Next time you go boot shopping, make sure to factor in the width of the boots as well. This article has all the information you need to find the perfect fit!
