The Golden Boot shopping guide

Everyhting you need to know about shopping for shoes online.

Shopping for shoes online at www.thegoldenboot.co.uk

Shopping online with The Golden Boot is easy. Use the online shoe shopping guide below to assist with your choice of size, style and brand of shoes. We pride ourselves on providing a personal service, so if you require any further assistance please call one of our highly trained sale advisers on 01622 752349 or come and visit us in store!

Finding the right product

To browse for products by brand and style, you can use the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
Alternatively, if you have something specific in mind you can use the quick search box in the top-right corner of the page or use our advanced search.

Select the colour, size and fit

Clicking on a product that you are interested in will bring up a larger image and a description of the product itself. The description informs you of how the product fits in terms of length and width, and also gives details on the materials, such as the type of leather and what kind of sole it has. Using the drop down menus, you can specify the colour, size and fit that you require, and then you can click the “Add To Basket” option to confirm your choice. If this option is not available it means that the item is only available in store or via telephone.

If your size or colour is not available for selection it means that it is not currently in stock, if so, please ring us on 01622 752349 to discuss ordering options.

Shopping cart and checkout

After adding the item(s) of your choice to the shopping cart, carefully review your choices and their sizes to confirm that they are correct. After this, you can click on the “Go To Checkout” option to proceed with payment.

If you are not signed in, you will then be asked to log in or create an account. A guest checkout is also available. From here you can check your delivery address and billing address, which is saved to your account record. If you are ordering a sale item, or if your order is below £50, you must select the appropriate charged shipping method. All orders of £50 or more are eligible for free UK delivery. Clicking “Continue” will then take you to the secure payments gateway.

Telesales

In addition to online orders, all of our products can be purchased over the phone and our expert staff can be on hand to advise on sizes, fittings and product descriptions. Our staff can be contacted on 01622 752349

Delivery and returns

Delivery on orders of £50 or more is free of charge. However, orders of less than £50 and items that are in our sale are subject to charged shipping. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions page for more details.

This guide is designed to help you make the best of our website and the product descriptions. The product descriptions are written by our shoe-fitting staff who try the shoes on and describe what they feel like on the foot. Additional information like width fitting, heel hight, calf length etc are provided to help you choose the right product.

Ordering over the phone

If you'd rather order by phone, please call us on 01622 752349. The telesales are dealt with by the same people that would fit you instore, they are able to advise you on fit, payment and delivery options.
To explore products and order online please use the menu on the top. Use links on the right to jump to another section of our shopping guide for more info.

What are the width fittings and how to choose the right one?

We sell shoes in 3 width fittings online, and you will see a width fitting in almost all of our product descriptions.
It is important to remember that different brands and even different shoes from the same brand can fit differently, generally more casual styles will fit wider.

Ladies D fit, average fit and fashion fit

The most popular width fitting is «Average fit» which is indicated by a letter D. It is the most common fit.
Average fit can also be indicated as «Fashion fit» which can be seen on ladies fashion/high heel styles, fashion shoes fit slighty more narrow to casual shoes.

Ladies E fit, EE fit — wide fit

E & EE indicate a wide fit, EE fit is wider than E fit. These can also vary from brand to brand. EEE — EEEEE wide fits are not available online, however we have some of these width fittings in stoch in our shop.

Mens F G & H width fittings

Most of our mens shoes come in average G width fitting. Clarks styles come in average G and wide H fittings. Loake styles come in narrow F and average G fittings.
If a mens shoe description is missing a width fitting, please assume its an average G fit.

Childrens C D E F G & H fittings

Childrens shoes come in a range of width fittings. C, D and E fittings are narrow fit, where C is the most narrow and E is closer to average. F fit is average fit (the only fitting available to order online.) G and H fittings are wide, H being the wider of the two.

If you need help regarding the fit, or would like to order a fitted product, please phone us 01622 752349

If you are unsure about width fittings, we advise you to come in to our shop and we will professionally measure your size and find the right shoe. Alternatively, phone us — we are always happy to help! 01622 752349

Size conversion Charts

Mens and ladies products on our website are shown in UK and EU sizes. Childrens shoes will be shown in UK or EU sizes depending on the brand. If you are unsure about shoe size, you can get a rough idea using our print-out shoe size measure (guide only).

Ladies	EU	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43
	UK	2½	3	4	5	6	6½	7	8	9
	US	5	5½	6½	7½	8½	9	9½	10½	11½

Mens	EU	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
	UK	6	7	8	9	9½	10½	11	12	13	14	15
	US	6½	7½	8½	9	10	11	11½	12½	13½	14½	15½

Childrens	EU	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41
	UK	3	4	5	5½	6	7	7½	8	9	10	11	12	12½	13	1	2	2½	3½	4	5	5½	6	7
	US	4	5	6	6½	7	8	8½	9	10	11	12	13	13½	1	2	3	3½	4½	5	6	6½	7	8

Boot calf width, choosing boots.

Boots come in different heights and calf widths, we aim to provide you with accurate measurements, but they are only a guide. We measure the calf width around the topline of the boot. The measurements on the description are usually taken from a size 5 or size 6 product, the numbers will vary from size-to-size. Some boots offer elasticated gussets or straps for calf adjustment.

Boot height is measured at the back of the boot, excluding the heel which is also measured at the back and shown separately.

Childrens shoes

We offer a range of non-fitted childrens shoes online, however all of our fitted styles are not available for purchase on the website. We do not sell fitted products online as it is extremely important that childrens shoes are fitted professionally. There are 23 different children’s sizes in the UK sizing system (including half sizes) and 6 different width fittings. Thats 138 different fit options and to find the right one a profesional fitter will check: length, width, depth, heel, toplines, fastenings, arch, heel grip, and make sure the child walks naturally in the new shoes. The fitted shoe size and fit may vary from the measure determined by the measuring gauge. Measured size is only a starting point in the process of fitting.

What to do when you get the shoes

You must try the shoes on before you have to wear them for a prolonged period. Wear shoes for a while indoors and make sure they are comfortable and the foot is securely fixed but not too tight. Give us a ring if there is a problem. Before wearing the shoes outside, treat the products with protector spray (Except patent, canvas and rubber materials). Refer to the product description for more specific shoe care advice. We have a selection of shoe care products on offer.

Making the most of our product descriptions

Our priority at The Golden Boot is to provide a professional service of the highest quality, in store and online. In order to assist with your online shopping we provide in-depth product descriptions to best explain how a shoe fits and feels in an effort to help you decide whether is it suitable for you. Throughout these descriptions we use terms such as ‘Average Fit’, ‘Leather Upper’ and ‘EE Fitting’, and it is in this section where we aim to explain these terms and give you insight in to how the process of product descriptions work.

Everyone’s feet are different!

Our experienced members of staff always try on new shoes that arrive in-store and describe how they fit and feel. The members of staff that try on these shoes vary in the size of their feet, as well as the width, and so from their own personal opinions we generate product descriptions that aim to cater for all different shapes and sizes of feet. It is also worth noting that a lot of people’s left and right feet are different sizes, and it is in this instance that we would advise to go by the size of the bigger foot, and consider an innersole for the smaller foot.

Glossary and term definitions

Average Fit	—	This term is used to describe the vast majority of our shoes that are available online. It means that the shoe will fit the vast majority of people that do not have overly wide or narrow feet, and so we generally say that you should stick with the size that you usually go for in shoes. However, caution must be taken when purchasing «Average Fit» shoes if you have a high instep because you then may need to consider a shoe that is more generous on the width and height on the instep.
Ball (of the foot)	—	The ball of the foot is where the toes join with the rest of the foot
Brogue	—	The word “brogue” was first used to describe a form of outdoor, country walking shoe in the early twentieth century. These days the brogue implies a type of decoration executed on the upper (pattern made by perforations in the leather)
Calf Leather	—	Calf leather is a softer type of leather compared to the normal leather.
Calf Width	—	The circumference of the boot around the top line.
Chelsea Boot	—	A type of boot with no laces and an elastic gusset on the side
Crepe Sole	—	Crepe soles are made of natural crude rubber, the manufacturing process involves mixing latex with a natural material to achieve the required density and texture.
Dainite sole	—	Dainite soles are are a more durable option compared to leather in mens formal shoes. The key benefits include better performance in wet weather and when worn in snow. Dainite soles will last considerably longer compared to the leather, they are reinforced by silica and aluminum silicate.
Deck Shoe	—	A orignally designed for sailing, now quite popular as casual summer shoes. Traditionally worn barefoot.
Desert boot	—	A traditional boot design developed by Clarks, designed for use in sand. The design has grown in popularity to become a popular choice for casual wear. The Desert Boots have the signature crepe rubber sole.
Diamante Studs	—	A diamond simulant made of rock crystal, glass or acrylic.
Espadrille	—	Traditionally a fabric shoe with a rope sole. Modern shoes use rubber soles made to look like tope on the sides.
Generous Fit	—	We use this term to describe a shoe that comes up longer in the length than expected. Depending on what type of shoe it is, a Generous Fit may or may not be advantageous. For instance, if you were purchasing a high-heeled shoe to be worn in the evening, then a more secure fit would be appropriate. In this instance, we would recommend going down half a size. On the other hand, if you were purchasing an all day walking shoe, then a Generous Fit would be advantageous as it would give your feet extra space for when they get hot, and also permitting a thicker sock to be worn.
Gladiator Sandal	—	A strappy sandal design that is very popular during summer seasons. Designed to protect the sole while keeping the feet well ventilated.
Glove Insock	—	Lining of a shoe made using a single piece of leather.
Goretex	—	This is a type of lining used in many of our styles and guarantees that they are 100% waterproof, yet still breathable. This lining is often found in walking and hiking apparel and shoes that are designed to for all weather wear.
Heel	—	The elevation of the rear part of the sole in relation to the ground
Heel (foot)	—	The rounded posterior portion of the human foot under and behind the ankle.
Injection Moulding	—	In footwear, injection mouding technology primarily applies to soles. It involves filling a void model of the sole with hot rubber or polyurethane which stiffens as it cools. Injection moulded soles can offer better durability but generally can-not be replaced. Injection moulding is also used in manufacturing of Crocs shoes.
Insole	—	The insole is generally a piece of material lining the bottom part of the shoe’s insides. Some shoes have removable insoles which can be replaced by custom moulded orthopaedic ones
Instep	—	When referring to human feet, the instep is the arched middle part of the foot between the toes and the ankle. In a shoe the instep is the area covering the instep of the foot
Kitten Heel	—	This is a short slender heel, typically 3.5 ~ 5cm in height with a slight curve, setting the heel in from the edge of the shoe.
Latex	—	Latex is a natural rubber which is extracted from flowering plants.
Leather Sole	—	Leather has been the traditional material for making the soles of the shoes for centuries. These days the leather soles are used mainly in formal shoes. Leather soles are not as weather resistant as rubber soles, please take this into consideration when buying.
Leather Upper	—	This term means that the material used on the outside of the shoe is real leather and is not synthetic. It does not imply, however, that the lining is also real leather, as this would be stated separately.
Loafer	—	A name for a slip-on shoe
Mary Jane	—	A court shoe with a characteristic strap over the instep.
Moccasin	—	A lightweight shoe traditionally designed from one piece of leather, in modern days the term is applied to shoes that have the characteristic stitching around the front of the upper.
Oiled Leather	—	Leather treated with wax or oil. It is really supple and offers great performance in wet conditions.
Oxford Toe Cap	—	A single piece of leather toe cap in mens formal shoes.
Patent Leather	—	Patent leather has a smooth glossy finish and is highly reflective. The material originates in Japan where the leather was laquered to provide it with a characteristic shimmer. In modern days the leather is coated with thin layer of plastic to achieve the same effect.
Polyurethane	—	Polyurethane is a strong plastic commonly used in production of carrier bags and plastic bottles. It is relatively cheap and easy to shape making it a popular choice in producing the shoe soles. Also polyurethane soles can be quite light, they are not as durable as other sunthetic materials and can wear unevenly.
Protector Spray	—	Protector spray is a special substance developed to repel water and protect the sprayed material. We believe it’s a must-use treatment for all leather products, especially before using the new product and before wearing something in wet and snow.
Raw Hide	—	Compared to leather, raw hide is believed to be more durable and stiff. It is produced by stretching the skin and then drying it out. Due to the basic treatment the raw hide absorbs water easier than leather and if left wet it will quickly become soft and stretch.
Receptor Technology	—	Ecco’s design of the sole which aids walking and balance in performance footwear.
Scholl Bioprint	—	Scholl bioprint is a new material manufactured by mixing cork and rubber. The bioprint soles offer scientifically moulded footbed providing anatomically correct support while walking.
Shoe Tree	—	A device to help keep the shape of the shoe’s upper
Shoe-boot	—	A design in between the shoe and an ankle boot.
Stiletto Heel	—	This classic heel type is a long, thin high heel found on some boots and high-heeled shoes. The height of the heel varies from about 2.5 ~ 25cm depending on if the shoe has a platform sole. A true stiletto has a reinforcing pin of steel or other alloy within the heel, adding strength to this type of construction.
Suede Leather	—	Suede leather is a softer material compared to the standard leather. It is produced by shaving off the upper layer of the skin, making it more prone to marks. It also absorbs water easily. Please use the protector spray to look after suede products.
Upper	—	The outer part of the shoe which does not include the sole.
Velcro	—	Velcro, also known as Hook and Loop is a modern material used to replace the traditional lace, zip and buckle fastenings in shoes. It is generally used in childrens footwear, casual adult shoes and footwear aimed at cold weathers. Hook and loop fastenings provide the best grip when kept clean.
Vibram	—	Vibram are a company manufacturing high performance soles targeted at outdoor, work, recreation, fashion, repair and orthopedic markets. The soles are designed with comfort and performance in mind, while not sacrificing on durability.
Wedge Heel	—	This is a type of sole unit in the form of a wedge so that one piece of material serves as both the heel and the sole.
Wide Fit	—	Wide fit shoes offer extra room for the foot and range from E to EEEEE. For more on width fittings, please see our shopping guide.
Wide Fitting	—	This describes the style of shoes that are wider than average. Shoes of this type can help alleviate the discomfort experienced when wearing shoes that are too narrow for your feet and can reduce the pressure on the small toe, giving it more room. Wider shoes are also suitable for people who have a high instep as they provide more space for the top of the foot.
Yak Leather	—	Yak leathers are supple and strong, up to three times stronger than normal leather. Yak leather has a natural, rugged appearance and as such many show markings. (As stated by Ecco)