Do Sneakers Run True to Size? What adidas, New Balance, Clarks and On Actually Publish (Canada, 2026)

Yes — in almost every case sneakers run true to size, and the brands say so themselves. adidas lists the Samba OG, Handball Spezial and Superstar as true to size. New Balance lists the 1906R, 2002R, 9060 and 550 as true to size. Clarks lists the Wallabee and Desert Boot as true to size. On lists its Cloud range as true to size in length. The advice to "size down half" that follows those shoes around the internet appears in none of their published guidance.

We're writing this because we spent this month auditing our own site and found the folklore inside our own pages. It's now gone. Here is the accurate version, brand by brand.

What each brand actually publishes

adidas Originals

adidas publishes a size chart per model and lists its terrace and shell-toe classics — Samba OG, Handball Spezial, Superstar and Superstar II — as true to size. There is no half-size-down instruction in adidas' own guidance for any of them. adidas also does not publish a shared last across its terrace shoes, which means your Samba size does not automatically carry to a Gazelle or a Campus. Check the chart for the model you want. Read the Samba vs Spezial vs Campus guide.

New Balance

New Balance lists its lifestyle models as true to size. The more useful fact, and the one most guides get wrong: the 1906R, 2002R, 9060 and 550 are made in standard D width only. New Balance does offer multiple width fittings across its wider catalogue, mostly in performance running and walking, but not on those four. And the 9060 is narrower through the forefoot than the 1906R, despite being the bulkier-looking shoe — midsole volume is not foot room. Read 1906R vs 2002R vs 9060.

Clarks Originals

Clarks lists the Wallabee and Desert Boot as true to size, in one standard width. The claim that Wallabees run large and should be sized down half is one of the most-repeated sizing myths on the internet and it appears nowhere on any Clarks property. These styles are cut on UK whole sizes; if your measurement lands between two, take the larger. Read Wallabee vs Desert Boot.

On

On lists its Cloud range as true to size in length, with a deliberately narrow, performance-oriented last. That combination is why On is the one brand where sizing up half is a legitimate move — not because the shoe is short, but because a wide foot, a high instep or a thicker sock needs the width. Read the On Cloud sizing guide.

Why "size down half" spread anyway

Two reasons, and neither is the brand's fault. First, a low-profile shoe like a Samba or a Wallabee feels snug over the instep at the correct length, and "snug" gets reported as "too small" and then — confusingly — solved by going shorter. Second, sizing advice is enormously profitable content. A page that gives a confident, specific-sounding rule of thumb ranks better than one that says "measure your foot," so the rule of thumb gets copied, and copying is now automated. The result is a very loud consensus with no source under it.

The cost lands on you. A shoe half a size short doesn't stretch into being the right length, and it usually comes back — which is why we would rather publish a boring accurate answer than a confident wrong one.

How to size a sneaker properly, in four steps

• Stand on a hard floor, heel against a wall, and measure heel to longest toe in centimetres. Do both feet.
• Use the larger foot's measurement.
• Compare it to the brand's size chart for that exact model — not your habitual size, and not your size in a different brand.
• Between two sizes? Take the larger.

Our Size Guide covers measuring and UK/US/EU conversion. If you're stuck, message us before you order — and if you can get to the shop, five minutes on your foot settles what no article can.

Shopping rather than measuring? See our Kelowna store or browse premium sneakers.

Frequently asked questions

Do sneakers generally run true to size?

Yes. adidas, New Balance, Clarks and On all publish their core lifestyle models as true to size, so your normal size in that brand is the correct starting point. Measure your foot and check the brand's chart for the specific model rather than applying a general rule.

Should I size down half in adidas Sambas or Clarks Wallabees?

No. Both brands publish those models as true to size and neither gives a size-down instruction. The advice is internet folklore. Sizing down shortens the shoe, which is the most common reason a pair is exchanged.

Which New Balance models come in wide widths?

Not the lifestyle models most people are shopping for. The 1906R, 2002R, 9060 and 550 are standard D width only. New Balance offers wide fittings elsewhere in its range, primarily in performance running and walking shoes.

When should I size up in a sneaker?

When your measurement falls between two sizes, take the larger. With On specifically, sizing up half is reasonable if you have a wide foot, a high instep, or wear thicker socks, because On builds a narrow last while keeping true-to-size length.

How do I measure my foot for sneaker sizing?

Stand on a hard floor with your heel against a wall and measure from the wall to your longest toe in centimetres. Measure both feet and use the larger number, then compare it to the brand's size chart for the exact model you want.