ASTM F539-78(1994)

Standard Practice for Fitting Athletic Footwear

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a practical method for fitting athletic footwear. This practice is applicable to the following general flexible types of footwear: baseball, basketball, football, jogging, and tennis.  
1.2 There are as many variations in shoe forms and materials available to users as there are variations in the anatomy of the user's feet. Shoe forms are different due to manufacturer's materials, type of construction, and also the type of activity anticipated in its end use.  
1.3  This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Nov-2001
• ICS: 61.060 - Footwear
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.54 - Athletic Footwear

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F539-01 - Standard Practice for Fitting Athletic Footwear
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1833-97(2017) - Standard Test Method for Comparison of Rearfoot Motion Control Properties of Running Shoes
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 539 – 78 (Reapproved 1994)
Standard Practice for
Fitting Athletic Footwear
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 539; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 5. Measurement Procedure
1.1 This practice covers a practical method for fitting 5.1 The user shall be in a sitting position during measure-
athletic footwear. This practice is applicable to the following ment of the foot.
general flexible types of footwear: baseball, basketball, foot- 5.2 To measure the right foot, hold the measuring device so
ball, jogging, and tennis. that the fitter can read the words “right heel” which appear just
1.2 There are as many variations in shoe forms and mate- in front of the heel cup. Thus, the fitter will place the heel of the
rials available to users as there are variations in the anatomy of user’s right foot in the right-heel cup of the device.
the user’s feet. Shoe forms are different due to manufacturer’s 5.2.1 To measure the left foot, hold the device so the fitter
materials, type of construction, and also the type of activity can read the words “left heel”; thus, the fitter will place the heel
anticipated in its end use. of the user’s left foot in the left-heel cup of the device (see Fig.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 1).
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 5.3 Set the measuring device for operation by moving all
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- parts to position as shown (Fig. 1).
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
NOTE 1—Move the width bar out and push the pointer back to the end
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
of its slot.
5.4 Placement of Measuring Device:
2. Terminology
5.4.1 If no fitting stool is used, place the measuring device
2.1 Definitions:
on the floor, adjust the position of the device directly below the
2.1.1 end use, n—the use for which the footwear is in-
knee so that a right angle exists between the leg and foot (see
tended.
Fig. 2).
2.1.2 last, n—a block or form shaped like a person’s foot,
5.4.2 If a fitting stool is available, place the measuring
used by shoemakers in building or repairing shoes and boots.
device on the face of the fitting stool; then place the foot on the
2.1.3 ill-fitting—a term descriptive of footwear that is either
device with the heel firmly in the heel cup. Then, move the
too loose or tight on the foot for its intended purpose or
fitting stool toward the user so that the leg and foot form a right
protection thereof.
angle with the measuring device (see Fig. 3).
2.1.4 fitting stool—a low stool, generally having a forward
projection, the top of which recedes at an approximate angle of
NOTE 2—Caution: Do not measure the foot while the user is standing.
The device is calibrated to compensate for expansion of the foot if the
30° and is utilized for the fitting of shoes.
footwear is properly fitted.
3. Significance and Use
5.5 Remove the user’s present footwear one at a time and
3.1 Ill-fitting shoes can cause discomfort, but more impor-
conveniently place aside just prior to measuring the user’s foot.
tantly, prolonged use causes disfiguration of the bone structure,
During measurement, the user should be wearing an appropri-
bunions, corns, callouses, and finally fatigue, often leading to
ate pair of socks, preferably absorbent.
serious accidents.
5.6 Determination of Ball-to-Heel Length (Arch Length)—
Place the thumb over the ball joint of the foot as shown in Fig.
4. Apparatus
4 and move the pointer so that the inner curved side of the
4.1 Measuring Device, suitable for performing the mea-
pointer fits around the ball joint of the foot and the two high
surements described in this practice.
ribs of the pointer come in contact with the thumb as shown in
Fig. 4. When the pointer is in proper adjustment, the low
middle rib (marked A in Fig. 4) will be touching the bone on
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-8 on Sports
the side of the foot (marked B in Fig. 4). This may be checked
Equipment, Surfaces, and Facilitiesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F08.54 on Footwear.
with the index finger. Read the size indicated by the pointer as
Current edition approved Aug. 18, 1978. Originally published November 1978.
the arch length.
An acceptable measuring device is available from the Brannock Device Co.,
509 East Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13202.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 539
FIG. 1 Measuring Device
FIG. 2 Use of Measuring Device Without Fitting Stool
NOTE 3—The arch length of the foot being measured in Fig. 4 is 8 ⁄2.
5.9 Determination of Width—Determine the width by firmly
pushing the width bar to the edge of the foot, but do not
5.7 Determination of Toe-to-Heel Length (Toe Length)—
squeeze the foot. Select the number on the width bar that is the
Look straight down over the end of the toes (make sure the
same as the length size previously determined. Follow down
sock is pulled tightly over the toes and press the toes down so
this line and observe which width area it touches, or comes
that they lie flat against the base of the device) and read the size
nearest (see Fig. 6). If it comes between width marks, choose
indicated as the toe length (see Fig. 5).
the wider width for a thick foot, or the narrower width for a
5.8 Determination of Measured Foot Length in Terms of
thin foot. If the foot is extremely fleshy or has a very high
Shoe Size—Compare the arch length with the toe length and fit
instep, it may be necessary to fit the foot to an additional width
as follows:
wider. If the foot is extremely thin, compress the foot slightly
5.8.1 If the arch length and toe length measurements are the
with the width bar and take the reading while holding the bar
same, the reading is the correct shoe size (see Table 1).
in this position.
5.8.2 If the arch length and toe length measurements differ,
5.10 To measure the opposite foot, reverse the device end
the shoe size should correspond to the larger of the two
for end, so that the other foot is in the correct heel cup. Follow
measurements as follows (see also Table 1):
the procedures in 5.5-5.9.
5.8.2.1 If the toe length is longer than the arch length, then
the correct shoe size is equivalent to the toe length.
6. Observation and Interpretation of Fitting Problems
NOTE 4—When taking measurements, always be sure the pointer is
6.1 Observe signs in the user’s present worn footwear for
correctly placed.
specific problems illustrated in 6.2-6.6.
5.8.2.2 If the arch length is a half size longer than the toe 6.2 Observation of Sweat Lines:
length, the correct shoe size is equivalent to the arch length 6.2.1 The sweat line inside of the shoe indicates how the
measurement (see Note 4). ball of the foot sets in the shoe.
F 539
FIG. 3 Use of Measuring Device with Fitting Stool
FIG. 4 Measurement of Arch Length
6.2.2 The sweat line
...