You found them. The perfect pair of Sambas or maybe those chunky Gazelles that have been haunting your Instagram feed for weeks. But there is a catch. They’re listed in men’s sizing, and you’re used to shopping the women's aisle. Or maybe you're a guy trying to snag a rare colorway that was only released in "female" drops. Honestly, the whole adidas women to men size situation is a mess if you just guess.
Shoes shouldn't be this stressful.
Most people assume there is a universal rule for footwear. They think, "Oh, I'll just subtract two sizes and call it a day." That is a one-way ticket to blister city. Adidas doesn't follow the same logic as Nike, and they definitely don't follow the same logic as New Balance. If you mess this up, you’re looking at a return label and another week of waiting for the right pair to arrive.
The Standard Rule (And Why It Fails)
The "official" word from the brand is pretty straightforward. Generally, the difference between an adidas women to men size is exactly one full size. If you wear a women’s size 8, the brand suggests you grab a men’s size 7.
Simple, right? Not really.
Sizing isn't just about the length of the foot. It's about volume. Men's shoes are traditionally built on a wider "last"—that’s the mechanical form shaped like a human foot that shoemakers use to build the sneaker. If you have narrow feet and you drop down that one size into a men's model, you might find your heel slipping out with every step. Conversely, if a man tries to squeeze into a women’s shoe by just adding a size, he might find the toe box painfully restrictive.
I’ve seen people try to use the "1.5 size rule" which is common for brands like Nike. Do not do that here. If you apply a 1.5-size difference to Adidas, you will end up with a shoe that is far too small. Stick to the 1-size gap as your starting point, but keep your foot width in mind.
Comparing the Gazelle, Samba, and Ultraboost
Let’s look at real-world examples because a chart doesn't tell the whole story. The Samba is notorious. It’s a narrow, low-profile shoe. Because it’s so slim, many women find that the adidas women to men size conversion feels more natural if they stay closer to their actual size or only go down a half step if they have wider feet.
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Then you have the Ultraboost. This is a performance running shoe. Your feet swell when you run. If you are converting sizes in a performance model, you have to account for that 5mm of extra space you need at the front of the shoe. A woman wearing a 9 might think a men's 8 is the play, but after three miles, that men's 8 might feel like a torture device.
The Superstar is another beast entirely. It runs big. Almost everyone—men and women alike—ends up sizing down in the shell-toe. So, if you're a woman who usually wears a 7, and you're buying a men's Superstar, you might actually need a men's size 5.5 instead of the "standard" 6. It sounds crazy. It feels wrong when you're clicking "add to cart." But the math of the "last" doesn't lie.
Measurement is King
Forget the numbers on the tongue for a second. Grab a piece of paper. Stand against a wall and trace your foot. Measure that length in centimeters.
This is the only way to be 100% sure.
Adidas provides a centimeter (JP) measurement on most of their size tags. If your foot is 24.1 cm long, you are a women's 7.5 or a men's 6.5. This removes the gendered guesswork entirely. It’s the "pro tip" that sneakerheads use when buying vintage pairs from Japan or Europe where sizing conventions get even weirder.
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The Width Problem Nobody Mentions
Standard "B" width is for women. Standard "D" width is for men.
When you navigate an adidas women to men size swap, you are effectively changing the width of your footwear. For a woman with a wider foot, buying the men’s version of an Adidas sneaker is actually a genius hack. It gives your metatarsals room to breathe. But for men buying women's exclusives? You're moving into a narrower territory.
I’ve talked to collectors who hunt for the women's "Orchid Tint" or "Ice Mint" colorways. They often have to size up by 1.5 instead of 1 just to compensate for the narrowness of the female-specific mold. It’s a gamble. Leather stretches, but the rubber cupsole of a Forum or a Stan Smith? That’s not moving for anyone.
UK vs. US Sizing: The Hidden Trap
Here is where it gets truly spicy. Adidas is a German company. Their internal logic often leans heavily on UK sizing.
In the UK, men’s and women’s sizes are often the same. A UK 6 is a UK 6. If you are looking at a box and see "UK 6," and you’re a US woman, you are looking at a US men's 6.5 or a US women's 7.5.
Many third-party resellers list shoes in UK sizes without making it obvious. You see a "6" and think you're getting a US Women's 6. You're actually getting a shoe that fits like a US Women's 7.5. Always, always check the "CM" or "FR" (French/European) sizing on the tag if you're confused. The FR size (like 38 or 42) is much more consistent across the board.
Practical Steps for the Perfect Fit
Don't just guess. You'll regret it when you're standing in the FedEx line.
First, measure your foot in centimeters. It takes two minutes. Do it at the end of the day when your feet are at their largest.
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Second, check the specific model reviews. If you're looking at the adidas women to men size for a pair of Yeezys (which are technically Adidas), you almost always have to go up a half size regardless of the gender conversion because they run notoriously small. If it's a Continental 80, they're pretty true to size.
Third, look at the eyelets. Women's models sometimes have fewer eyelets or a shorter tongue. This affects how the shoe "locks down" on your foot. If you're a man buying a women's shoe, you might find the lacing system feels a bit dainty or doesn't reach high enough up the bridge of your foot.
Fourth, consider your socks. Are you wearing thin no-shows or thick crew socks? That's a half-size difference right there.
Finally, if you are between sizes after doing the conversion, go with the larger one. You can always add an insole or tie the laces tighter. You cannot, however, make a small shoe bigger without compromising the structural integrity of the heel counter or the toe box.
Getting the adidas women to men size right is basically a rite of passage for sneaker fans. Once you figure out your "Adidas number" in centimeters, you'll never have to worry about the "Men's" or "Women's" label again. You just buy the shoe you like and wear it. That's the way it should be.
Immediate Action Plan:
- Measure your foot from heel to longest toe in centimeters right now.
- Locate the CM/JP size on your best-fitting current pair of sneakers.
- Compare that CM value to the Adidas size chart rather than the US Men's or Women's number.
- Read three reviews for the specific model you want to see if it "runs large" or "runs small."
- Order based on the CM length to bypass the gendered sizing confusion entirely.