Title: A methodology for determining the allowances for fitting footwear

Authors: Emily Y.L. Au; Ravindra S. Goonetilleke; Channa P. Witana; Shuping Xiong

Addresses: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 1 University Road, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong. ' Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 1 University Road, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong. ' Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 1 University Road, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong. ' Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 1 University Road, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong

Abstract: A psychophysical study was conducted to determine the ideal and acceptable foot-shoe allowances for widths and girths using an in-shoe simulator. Participants wore the in-shoe simulator product, walked, and rated the various regions of the foot. The ratings together with the foot scans were used to determine the ideal fit. The results of the signal detection analysis indicate that participants liked the perceived footwear tightness in 75% or more cases where foot-shoe allowance was less than 6.4 mm, 12.1 mm and 10.7 mm at the foot breadth, ball girth and waist girth respectively. The proposed tolerances could be useful for designing shoe lasts.

Keywords: footwear; fit; psychophysics; perception; tightness; shoe size; preference; foot-shoe allowance; tolerances; foot width; foot girth; shoe fitting; simulation; shoe lasts; shoe last design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2011.045003

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2011 Vol.2 No.4, pp.341 - 366

Published online: 22 Oct 2014 *

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