Sizing a Spring Plate

How do you select the correct size spring plate for your needs? This article examines the history of shoes sizing and how to select the correct size spring plate.

How do you select the right size carbon fiber spring plate?

It's true that no good company gets ahead without honest criticism.  One of the tools we use to listen to our customers and to learn what our customers like and dislike is our Google reviews.  As a Google Trusted Store, Myfootshop.com receives customer feedback on each and every order.  Google reviews are an objective and honest review of our site.  We learn a lot from Google Trusted Store reviews, and if you want to read a bit about us, follow this link.

One of the negative reviews that we got was from a customer who had difficulty determining which size Spring Plate to order.  She said that it was difficult to determine which size Spring Plate to purchase because the sizes were only 1/4" different.  The instructions for ordering a Spring Plate from Myfootshop.com say to remove the inner sole from your shoe and measure the length of your inner sole.  If you're unable to determine which Spring Plate to purchase, choose the size smaller.

Why just a 1/4" difference between sizes?  Well, it all goes back to King Edward in the 14th century.  King Edward II decreed in 1352 that shoe sizing was to be standardized by the size of a barleycorn - 1 barleycorn would equal one shoe size.  I may be one of the few folks with barley in my basement since I brew beer.  But I think for most of us we're not in the habit of taking a few barleycorns with us when we go shoe shopping.  But measure a barleycorn and you'll see it's about 1/4".

Fast forward to the 1880s. A shoe salesman by the name of Edwin B. Simpson of New York developed our current measuring system for shoe sizing.  Use of The Brannock device and standardized sizing has simplified shoe fitting.  For adult male and female shoe sizing, each increase in shoe size is 1/3" in length and 1/4" in diameter of the foot.

In response to our customer, I wish we could make sizing easier when ordering Spring Plates, but is important to optimize the size.  As King Edward and Edwin Simpson stressed, every 1/4" does matter when it comes to proper sizing.

Jeff

Jeffrey A. Oster, DPM

Medical Advisor
Myfootshop.com

Updated 4/23/2021

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XLT Carbon Fiber Spring Plate Graphite Insole

Stronger than steel and light as a feather, the XLT Carbon Fiber Spring Plate Graphite Insole stiffens existing shoe insoles, limiting range-of-motion in the forefoot and mid-foot, while treating many foot conditions including forefoot pain, metatarsal fractures, hallux limitus and turf toe. See sizing information below. Sold individually right or left, not as a pair. By Myfootshop.com.

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XAT Carbon Fiber Spring Plate Graphite Insoles

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Advantage Orthotics™ 3/4-Length Carbon Graphite Arch Supports

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