Can a woman wear men's boots?

Style is much more flexible today; women’s and men’s fashion often cross conventional lines - for example, depending on the outfit, dark skin-tight jeans or boyfriend jeans, can be worn by both women and men. This holds true for shoes as well; boots such as Doc Martens are unisex, and Timberland boots can be seen both in women’s and men’s looks. So can a woman wear men’s boots?

Of course, women can wear men's boots! The only thing you need to consider is sizing because, as we all know, men’s sizes are larger than women’s equivalent - i.e. a men’s size 8 is larger than a women’s size 8. Keep reading to find out how to select the right size.

How to calculate size difference

As mentioned above, there’s a pretty significant size difference between men’s and women’s footwear. But you might be surprised to find out how easy it is to calculate this difference - simply subtract 1.5 from the women’s size for the men’s size! So, if you normally wear an 8.5 women’s then you will need a men’s 7.

Yep, it's that easy! Now you can get the pictured Dr Martens 1460 8 Up Gaucho Crazy Horse Unisex Boots you always wanted!

Men’s shoe width vs. Women’s shoe width

Generally, men’s shoes are slightly wider than women’s shoes - depending on the style of course. More unisex models like the Timberland Lace Up 6 Inch Waterproof Boots have a generous and comfortable toe box, ample arch area and a reasonable large heal cup. If you are looking at men’s shoes or boots they are generally going to be wide enough to accommodate most people's feet.

Which men’s boot designs are best for women's

There are some staples of unisex design - Chelsea boots, lace up boots, chukka or desert boots. But your use and taste are the only restrictions when trying to choose a men's boot. Hiking boots, work boots and men’s trail boots can all be worn by women if you like the look or need them for a specific use.