Elevator Shoe Sizing: Why Your Usual Sneaker Size Is the Right Choice

Read before you buy | Sizing guide

Elevator Shoe
Sizing Guide
Why Your Usual Sneaker Size Is the Right Choice

"Can I order my usual size?" "Will the built-in lift make them tight?" This article answers those questions: how LEVANO sizing works, how to choose if you have wide or high-arched feet, what to check when trying them on indoors, and how to use the free size exchange.

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5 cm UP Elevator Sneakers no01 — LEVANO shoes can be chosen in the same size as the sneakers you usually wear.

When buying elevator shoes for the first time, the most common worry is size.

Once you hear that the height comes from a structure inside the shoe, it is natural to wonder whether the insole will make them cramped, or whether you should go up a size.

The short answer: for LEVANO shoes, use the same size as the sneakers you usually wear. This article explains why, how to choose if you have wide or high-arched feet, what to check indoors once they arrive, and how to exchange them if the size is wrong.

What this article covers

The short answer: your usual sneaker size
Why the same size works
Choosing a size for wide or high-arched feet
Size ranges and notes by shoe type
Five things to check indoors when your shoes arrive
Free exchange if the size is wrong

POINT 01

The short answer: your usual sneaker size

For LEVANO shoes, we recommendthe same size as the sneakers you usually wear. Compared with well-known brands such as Nike, New Balance and adidas, there is no major difference in fit. Sizes run in 0.5 cm steps, so you can simply choose your usual size.

If you are unsure, use the following guide.

Quick sizing guide

Your feet	Recommended choice
Standard width and arch height	The same size as your usual sneakers
Wide feet or a high instep	One size up
Torn between two sizes	The larger one (with about 1 cm of room at the toe)
Planning to wear leather shoes or loafers for long hours	Start with the same size; go one size up if the instep feels tight

POINT 02

Why the same size works

The height of an elevator shoe comes from an insole structure built into the shoe. LEVANO shoes are designed with this structure included, so the size labels follow the same standard as ordinary sneakers.

Unlike a shoe with an insole added afterwards, the interior does not become smaller by the amount of the lift. So there is basically no need to go up a size.

In fact, choosing a size that is too big lets the foot slide forward with every step, the heel lifts and you tire more easily. Elevator shoes are more stable and easier to walk in when the foot sits firmly inside.

POINT 03

Choosing a size for wide or high-arched feet

Wide feet

You are more likely to feel pressure across the width, so one size up is more comfortable. Leather shoe and loafer types in particular do not stretch much sideways, so allow some room.

High instep

If the instep feels tight, go one size up. Sneaker types can be adjusted with the laces, so the same size is often fine.

If you usually adjust by half sizes

LEVANO sizes run in 0.5 cm steps. If there are brands where you usually go up a half size, apply the same thinking here.

POINT 04

Size ranges and notes by shoe type

By type: size range guide

Type	Size range	Notes
Sneakers (no01 to no13, etc.)	25.0 to 28.0 cm (no05: 23.0 to 28.0 cm)	Laces let you adjust pressure on the instep. Your usual sneaker size is fine
Leather shoes and loafers (no20, no21, etc.)	24.0 to 27.5 cm	One size up for high insteps or wide feet. Leather softens with wear
Japan-made cowhide (no28 to no31)	24.0 to 26.5 cm (no31 up to 27.0 cm)	Cowhide moulds to the foot with wear. Start with the same size
Sandals (no15, no16, no30)	no15: 24.0 to 27.5 cm / no16: 24.0 to 28.0 cm / no30: 23.5 to 26.5 cm	Check that the toes do not extend past the front and the heel sits on the footbed

Size ranges vary by model. Check the product details on each product page before buying.

POINT 05

Five things to check indoors when your shoes arrive

Size exchanges and returns require the shoes to be unworn and tried on indoors only. Before wearing them outside, check the following five points indoors.

1. Does the heel stay put?

Take a few steps on the spot and check that the heel does not lift out of the shoe. If it does, the size may be too big.

2. Is there about 1 cm of room at the toe?

Standing up, aim for around 1 cm between the tip of your longest toe and the end of the shoe.

3. Is there strong pressure on the instep or across the width?

A snug fit is fine, but pressure that hurts is a sign of the wrong size.

4. Walk indoors for about five minutes

Elevator shoes take a little getting used to because of the heel angle. Walk for a few minutes and see whether the unfamiliar feeling fades.

5. Match the thickness of your socks

Try them on with the socks you actually plan to wear. Thin and thick socks change the fit.

POINT 06

Free exchange if the size is wrong

At LEVANO,one size exchange is free. It is available within 7 days of delivery, provided the shoes are unworn, tried on indoors only, and the product labels and accessories have not been removed. To request an exchange, send us your order number, name, product name and reason via our contact channel (LINE).

Returns are accepted under the same conditions. Shipping is free both in Japan and overseas, and orders are usually dispatched within one business day of confirmation.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Q. I am torn between two sizes. Which should I choose?

Choose the one that leaves about 1 cm of room at the toe. If they are very close, the larger size is the safer choice. Check the fit indoors when they arrive, and if it is wrong, one exchange is free.

Q. I plan to wear thick socks. Should I go up a size?

If you always wear thick winter socks, one size up is an option. The surest approach is to start with your usual size and try them on indoors with the socks you will actually wear.

Q. Does the fit differ from overseas sneaker brands?

Compared with well-known brands such as Nike, New Balance and adidas, there is no major difference in fit. Use the size you usually wear in those brands as a guide, and check the fit indoors when they arrive.

LEVANO SIZE SUPPORT