Helping you find comfortable-fitting shoes.

If you're looking for a new pair of shoes but can't figure out the difference between Nike and Vans sizing, you've come to the right place.

Both brands create some of the most popular sneakers on the market today, so we feel it's important to know some of the similarities and differences in their size and shape if, for example, you're looking to pick up a top pair of Vans or perhaps some of the best basketball shoes Nike has to offer.

Therefore, we've put together a guide to summarise all the information we feel you need to know regarding how the two brand's shoe's fit, including which sneakers run narrow and which look to be the best for wide feet.

Keep in mind though that not every model, even if they're from the same brand, will fit the same as their shape and material will influence how tight or loose they feel on your feet.

That being said, we'll kick things off by figuring out how both brands' shoes should fit. So, without further delay, let's get into it...

It's important to know how your shoes should fit before diving into Nike and Vans size charts to make sure what you're wearing is actually the right size.

Length-wise, Clarks recommends having about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of your shoes, with the natural bend of the sneakers falling around the balls of your feet.

Although this is a general rule of thumb, we feel it can be applied to a variety of different shoe types, from skate shoes to everyday sneakers, and even some of the best running shoes around from Nike.

With the length covered, you then need to consider the width of your shoes. We'd suggest making sure the widest part of your feet (i.e. the ball area and metatarsal bones) fit within the widest part of your sneakers, with just enough room to ensure your shoes don't compress against your feet and cause discomfort.

To help you figure out the right size for you, check out our guide on to measuring your shoe size right here for all the information you need to make sure you're comfortable in your sneakers.

Now that we've established how your shoes are meant to fit, it's time to explore how Nike and Vans compare in terms of sizing.

Looking at the two charts above from Nike and Vans' official websites, it would seem Nike sneakers actually run half an EU size larger than Vans shoes. For instance, a US men's 9 from Nike is a size 42.5 EU, whereas a US 9 from Vans comes in at just a size 42 in EU measurements.

This is definitely worth keeping in mind if you're looking to pick up a pair of trainers from either brand. That said, shoe size is only one piece of the puzzle. You also need to consider how Nike and Vans shoes compare in terms of width.

This isn't as straightforward as it is to figure out the length because shoe size only takes the length of the shoe into consideration. The width will also vary depending on the model.

For example, you may find a pair of Vans Ultrarange Exos are slightly wider fitting than a pair of Old Skools, although neither might offer quite as much room as some of the best Air Force 1s, which are renowned for their wide fit.

On the subject of wider shoes, you may be wondering which models from Nike and Vans vast range of sneakers are best placed to fit wide feet.

Nike's aforementioned Air Force 1 range is often seen as a slightly wider-fitting shoe compared to a pair of Nike ZoomX Dragonfly spikes, for example, which are designed to be lightweight and streamlined to maximise your speed on an athletics track.

However, Nike does have its own range of purpose-built wide-fitting shoes, which include the new Air Zoom Pegasus 39s, as well as a guide on which of its sneaker models typically fit the widest if you're unsure.

Over at Vans, it too has its own wide-fit range of shoes, which includes an array of different Old Skool, Slip-On, Sk8-Hi, Authentic, and Era colourways, arguably the brand's five most popular models.

Therefore, it would seem both brands have you covered if you're after a pair of shoes for wider feet.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you may also be wondering which Nike and Vans shoes run narrow.

As touched on, athletic-style sports shoes will typically run a little narrower than a regular pair of trainers for everyday wear due to the need to deliver a secure fit and a lightweight ride.

For Nike, you may find the brand's Flyknit and Free shoe ranges a touch tighter-fitting as they're designed to fit snuggly with the knitted fabric conforming to the shape of your feet for a secure lock-in.

Vans, on the other hand, are generally all made for skateboarding and, therefore, are roughly around a similar width. However, you may find a pair of Authentics or Classic Slip-Ons to fit narrower than a pair of Sk8-His, for instance, which appear to feature slightly wider toe boxes.

That said, both brands offer a wide variety of footwear, so we believe it's possible to find a comfortable pair of shoes from both Nike and Vans regardless of the shape and size of your feet.

Read More: Best Places To Buy Sneakers - Our Top Picks