If you're looking to buy new Nike or Reebok shoes, then knowing how the two brands compare in terms of sizing is essential to ensure what you're buying will fit correctly. Fortunately, we've put together a guide to help you compare some of the similarities and differences in the shape and size of Nike and Reebok shoes.
However, it's worth keeping in mind that not every pair of sneakers, even if they're from the same brand, will fit exactly the same. For example, you may find some of Nike's best Dunks fit slightly wider than a pair of the brand's best running shoes as one is made for basketball and, therefore, multi-directional movement, while the other is designed to be as streamlined as possible to maximise your pace going forward.
As a result, putting together a direct comparison is tricky. However, we've made sure to include all the information on each brand's sizing so you can figure out what you need for a comfortable fit.
How should their shoes fit?
Before we take a closer look at how the two brands compare, we feel it's important to know how your shoes should fit to help you determine whether what you're wearing is actually the right size for you.
When it comes to length, Clarks' general rule is that you should leave one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of your shoe, with the natural bend of the sneaker falling around the ball of your foot.
This can be applied to Nike and Reebok shoes as well, regardless of whether you're eyeing up some of the best Air Force 1s from Nike or a pair of Nano X2s from Reebok.
One way to tell if you're shoes are too big is to see how much space is left between your heel and the end of your sneaker. If you can slide your finger easily into the space, then you might find going down half a size beneficial. If there's no gap at all, then we'd recommend looking to go up half a size.
Pretty straightforward so far, although getting the width of your shoes right is where things start to get a bit tricky.
Again, Clarks recommends ensuring the widest part of your foot (i.e. the ball area and metatarsal bones) fits within the widest part of your shoe, with enough room spare to stop your foot from being compressed inwards. If your shoes are too wide, your foot may slide forward and your heel will end up lifting out as you walk.
As a result, we'd recommend checking out our guide to measuring shoe size for more information on determining what size shoes, both in terms of length and width, you need.
Nike vs Reebok size guide
With how your shoes should fit covered as well as how you can measure your feet, let's take a closer look at both Nike and Reebok's size charts to see how the two brands compare.
As you can see from Nike and Reebok's size guides, both brands are actually pretty similar length-wise. A UK men's size 8 from Nike, for example, measures 27cm, the same as a UK men's size 8 from Reebok.
One thing to note though is that a size 8 from Nike equals an EU size 42.5, whereas a size 8 from Reebok is only an EU size 42. This difference is incredibly small though, so should be fairly unnoticeable when it comes to getting the right fit.
The width of your shoes is a little harder to work out as neither Nike nor Reebok provides the same kind of size chart here. As touched on earlier though, the width of a pair of shoes will vary depending on their purpose.
For instance, you may find there's a little less room in a pair of Reebok Floatride Energy 4 adventure shoes compared to some of the brand's best basketball shoes as they're designed for lateral movement as well, so feature a little more width to prevent restriction during side-to-side movements.
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Which shoes fit wide feet?
If you are looking for a pair of shoes from either Nike or Reebok which specifically fit wider feet then you're in luck. Both brands offer a selection of sneakers that are purpose-built to give you a little more width.
Nike even provides information on when you should look for a pair of wide-fitting shoes, with the main example being if you have size 8 feet that measure 3.9" or above in width, then you may find wide-fit shoes more comfortable.
In terms of what shoes are on offer, well Nike's Extra Wide collection is fairly limited, although you can find the popular Revolution 7 in both regular and extra wide fit options. Reebok's selection also doesn't include all of its shoes, but there are several popular models available to buy in a wider size.
Ultimately, if you're struggling to find shoes to fit your feet, then both Nike and Reebok have a selection of wide-fit sneakers to suit your needs.
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Which shoes run narrow?
As mentioned, you might find athletic sneakers, like running shoes from either brand, fit slightly narrower than others, but which models should you be looking out for in particular?
Well, Nike mentions its Free shoe range can often feel a little tighter than you might expect due to internal webbing technology designed to hold your feet in place for a more secure lock-in.
You may also find this to be the case with its Flyknit range as well which typically fits quite snuggly due to the knitted mesh conforming to the shape of your feet.
By comparison, Reebok shoes appear as though they fit relatively true-to-size, with there being no indication from Reebok to suggest any of its models run narrow. As a result, you shouldn't have to worry too as much about whether Reebok shoes will be too tight and uncomfortable when on your feet.
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And with that, we're wrapping things up. Hopefully, you can now shop with confidence when buying Nike or Reebok shoes online.
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