How Tight Should Your Basketball Shoes Be?

You might want the newest and trendiest looking basketball shoes, but fashion should never trump fit. Basketball shoes should fit differently than non-sports shoes, giving a snug fit in some places, but leaving room in others to help you move better on the court.

Toes

You might have been told to leave a little growing room in shoes when you were a kid and that rule is still in effect for basketball shoes. Dick's Sporting Goods suggests leaving a thumbnail's length of space between the end of the shoe and the end of your longest toe. In addition, according to PodCare.com, your toes should not be squeezed but instead you should have enough room to spread them out comfortably. An improper toe fit can lead to blisters, toenail problems, corns or calluses.

Width and Bend

The midsole is the middle of the foot area, around the points where your feet are the widest. Your foot should fit comfortably over this part of the shoe, according to Dick's Sporting Goods. You should not have much movement there, but your foot should not be forced to stretch out to cover the width either.Your shoes should only bend where the toes bend at the ball of the feet and not at the midsole. Bending in other areas means that the fit is too loose.

Heels

The proper fit for the heel area of the shoe is different from the toes and midsole fit. Your heel should feel firm and snug in the shoe, which helps keep the foot stable. The heel can have some slight motion, but should not slip up or down or in and out of the shoe. That motion should be no more than the fingernail length given in the toe area.

Men's vs. Women's

Men's and women's basketball shoes are made differently and in most cases cannot be worn by members of the opposite sex. Men's shoes are built on a wider frame than women's shoes are because women generally have narrower feet. A woman trying to wear a men's shoe would have to spread out her foot too far across the midsole, while a woman's shoe would be too tight for a man to wear.