Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing Guide w/ Photos [Fit Big or Small?]


I’ve worn the Vans Sk8-Hi shoes and compared their sizing to other popular shoes and my conclusion is this: Vans Sk8-Hi sizing is very consistent with other types of Vans shoes, which means they have a snug design that runs a little bit smaller than normal shoe sizing. Vans.com has a sizing resource that I linked just below this paragraph which will help you verify your size.

***Verify Your Size: Vans.com now has its own sizing tutorial which matches your foot size to a Vans shoe size. Click here to view this Vans sizing guide available at Vans.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Vans.com).

Because Vans Sk8-Hi has a snug design with a shallow toe box, if you have wide feet, you will definitely want to order wide sizing. To order wide Vans Sk8-Hi shoes, you actually need to go to the Vans “Wides” page. Click here to view the Vans Sk8-Hi wides available at Vans.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Vans.com).

To measure Vans Sk8-Hi sizing, I compared Vans Sk8-Hi to over 25 other shoes to get a better idea how sizing compared. I took side-by-side sizing comparison photos of the Vans Sk8-Hi compared to these other popular shoes so that you can judge for yourself. Click here to jump ahead to the men’s photos and click here to jump ahead to the women’s photos.

For example, here I am comparing my Vans Sk8-Hi to Nike Dunk sizing:

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-dunk

If you look closely above, you can see the Nike Dunk has more length. That also was the case when I compared my Vans Sk8-Hi shoes to Air Jordan 1:

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-jordan

Many people describe the Vans Sk8-Hi as being within the realm of true-to-size, but I would advise you to expect a snug design that runs a little bit smaller than your normal shoe sizing regarding length. Remember, Vans Sk8-Hi was originally designed as a performance skate shoe, and the snug design provides a secure fit.

However, there were other types of popular shoes that had a more similar sizing length when compared to the Vans Sk8-Hi. For example, here I am comparing my Vans Sk8-Hi sizing to Crocs sizing:

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-crocs

And when I compared the sizing of Vans Sk8-Hi to the sizing of other popular skate shoes, I found many options that were similar. For example, here is a photo of my Vans Sk8-Hi shoes compared to Nike SB Force 58 sizing:

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-sb-force-58

Ultimately, my conclusion regarding the sizing of Vans Sk8-Hi is to expect a snug design that runs a little bit smaller than normal shoe sizing.

***Verify Your Size: Vans.com now has its own sizing tutorial which matches your foot size to a Vans shoe size. Click here to view this Vans sizing guide available at Vans.com (affiliate link takes you to Vans.com).

In this article I will show you all the sizing photos I took for the Vans Sk8-Hi so that I can provide you with Vans Sk8-Hi size advice that you can’t find anywhere else on the internet. I will also discuss the width and depth of the toe box and forefoot area of the Vans Sk8-Hi. All sizing photos use a size 12 for men’s and a size 7 for women’s.

Table of Contents

Men’s Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing Photos

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Air Jordan 1 Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-jordan

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Dunk Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-dunk

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-air-force-1

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-air-max-90

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-sb-force-58

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Etnies Marana Michelin Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-etnies

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike SB Chron 2 Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-sb-chron-2

***Verify Your Sizing: I think these Vans Sk8-Hi shoes have a snug design, but every foot is unique. Vans.com now has its own sizing tutorial which matches your foot size to a Vans shoe size. Click here to view this Vans sizing guide available at Vans.com to verify your correct size (affiliate link takes you to Vans.com).

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Reebok Club C Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-reebok-club-c

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Reebok Pump Omni Zone II Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-reebok-pump

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Cortez Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-cortez-sizing

Vans Sk8-Hi vs DC Court Graffik Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-dc-shoes

Vans Sk8-Hi vs New Balance Numeric 272 Sizing

new-balance-numeric-272-vs-vans-sk8-hi-sizing

Vans Sk8-Hi vs New Balance 574 Sizing

new-balance-574-vs-vans-sk8-hi-sizing

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Adidas Superstar Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-adidas-superstar

Vans Sk8-Hi vs K-Swiss Classic Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-k-swiss-sizing

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Crocs Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-crocs

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Converse Chucks Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-converse-chuck-taylor-all-stars

Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing vs Nike Court Vision

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-court-vision

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Reebok Classic Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-reebok-classic

Vans Sk8-Hi vs New Balance 550 Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-new-balance-550-sizing

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Blazer Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-blazer-sizing

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Converse Pro Leather Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-converse-pro-leather

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Adidas Gazelle Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-adidas-gazelle

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Saucony Shadow 6000 Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-saucony

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Hey Dude Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-hey-dude

Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing vs Vans Authentic

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-authentic

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Vans Old Skool Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-old-skool

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Vans Slip On Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-slip-on

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Vans Ultrarange EXO Sizing

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-ultrarange

Vans Sk8-Hi vs Vans Era Sizing

vans-era-vs-sk8-hi-sizing

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing Photos

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Air Jordan 1 Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-air-jordan-1

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Dunk Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-dunk

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-air-max-1

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-sb-force-58

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs DC Court Graffik Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-dc-shoes

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Adidas Cloudfoam Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-adidas-cloudfoam

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Converse Chucks Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-converse-chucks

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Reebok Club C Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-reebok-club-c

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs New Balance 574 Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-new-balance-574

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Blazer Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-blazer

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Adidas Superstar Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-adidas-superstar

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Court Vision Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-court-vision

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Birkenstock Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-birkenstock

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Cortez Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-nike-cortez

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing vs Hey Dude

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-hey-dude

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs K-Swiss Classic Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-k-swiss

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Vans Authentic Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-vans-authentic

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Vans UltraRange EXO Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-ultrarange

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Vans Old Skool Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-old-skool-sizing

Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Vans Era Sizing

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-vans-era

Are Vans Sk8-Hi Wide Fit or Narrow?

Vans Sk8-Hi sizing has a snug design, but there are a couple things to unpack when discussing the width of Vans Sk8-Hi.

First of all, yes, Vans Sk8-Hi shoes are offered in wide sizing, but you need to visit the “Wides” page at Vans.com. This is where you can view all the types of wide Vans Sk8-Hi shoes offered at Vans.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Vans.com).

The Vans Sk8-Hi has a snug toe box due to 1) the sizing length that runs smaller than normal shoe sizing and 2) a shallow toe box that isn’t as deep as most types of shoes. It is important to remember that the Vans Sk8-Hi was designed to be a performance skate shoe, and the snug design provides a secure fit for skaters.

If you need a roomy toe box, it would probably be best to size up or order wide sizing.

Vans Sk8-Hi Toe Box Depth

Here is the toe box depth of my Vans Sk8-Hi compared to Nike Air Max (Vans Sk8-Hi on the left):

vans-sk8-hi-toe-box-depth-vs-nike-air-max

As you can see, there is a noticeable difference in the depth of those toe boxes. And here is the toe box depth of my Vans Sk8-Hi compared to Nike Court Vision:

vans-sk8-hi-toe-box-depth-vs-nike-court-vision

The main takeaway is expect the Vans Sk8-Hi to have a shallow toe box compared to normal shoe sizing. However, when we start comparing the Vans Sk8-Hi toe box depth to the toe box depth of other skate shoes, we see a more similar fit.

For example, here is the Vans Sk8-Hi toe box compared to Nike SB Blazer:

vans-sk8-hi-toe-box-depth-vs-nike-blazer

And here is the Vans Sk8-Hi toe box compared to Nike SB Chron 2:

vans-sk8-hi-toe-box-depth-vs-nike-sb-chron-2

The snug toe box is very common in skate shoes to help create a secure, dependable fit. If you need more space in the toe box, it would be best to size up or order wide sizing.

***Verify Your Sizing: I think these Vans Sk8-Hi shoes have a snug design, but every foot is unique. Vans.com now has its own sizing tutorial which matches your foot size to a Vans shoe size. Click here to view this Vans sizing guide available at Vans.com to verify your correct size (affiliate link takes you to Vans.com).

Vans Sk8-Hi Width of Forefoot

A second thing that needs to be unpacked when discussing the width of Vans Sk8-Hi shoes is the width of the forefoot area near the ball of your feet. This area in the Vans Sk8-Hi actually has a more regular width that is comparable to normal shoe sizing width (and wider than some other skate shoes).

For example, you can see below how this area is wider on the Vans Sk8-Hi than the Nike SB Blazer:

vans-sk8-hi-forefoot-width

Although the design of Vans Sk8-Hi is snug compared to normal shoe sizing, this snug design is very typical in skate shoes (because as we discussed above, these types of performance shoes need a secure fit). When you compare Vans Sk8-Hi to other popular skate brands, the sizing is very similar. For example, here is Vans Sk8-Hi sizing and width compared to Etnies shoe sizing:

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-etnies

The main takeaway is expect the Vans Sk8-Hi to have a snug fit, with a shallow toe box (but the forefoot area near the ball of your feet has a more regular width). If you have wide feet, it would be best to order wide sizing.

What Types of Vans Fit Looser Than Vans Sk8-Hi?

As we have discussed, Vans Sk8-Hi shoes have a snug design. What about other types of Vans?

All classic types of Vans shoes (Old Skool, Authentic, Sk8, Era, Slip On) have the same snug design that runs a little bit smaller than normal shoe sizing. You can judge for yourself by checking out the side-by-side comparison photos I took comparing Vans Sk8-Hi to other Vans shoes. Click here to see the men’s photos and click here to see the women’s photos.

However, some of the more modern types of Vans I found to have a more regular fit (and therefore fit a little bit looser than the Vans Sk8-Hi). I want to specifically point out the sizing of Vans UltraRange, which is a more modern type of Vans skate shoe. Here I am wearing mine:

vans-ultrarange-exo-shoes

When I compared the Vans UltraRange EXO to Vans Sk8-Hi sizing, I found the Vans UltraRange EXO to fit a little bit longer than the Vans Sk8-Hi. Here is my comparison photo for men:

vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-ultrarange

And here is my comparison photo for women:

womens-vans-sk8-hi-sizing-vs-ultrarange

The Vans UltraRange EXO may be a good alternative to the Vans Sk8-Hi if you prefer a more regular fit with modern comfort and modern detailing.

For more sizing comparison, visit the articles linked below:

If you want a quick overview of the sizing of all types of Vans shoes, visit my Vans Size Guide.

Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing Conclusion

Do Vans Sk8-Hi Run Big or Small?

My Advice: In my experience, Vans Sk8-Hi shoes run a little small compared to normal shoe sizing. Still, many people order normal sizing, but don’t expect a loose fit. If you prefer more of a loose fit, or are between sizes, it would be best to size up.

The toe box of the Vans Sk8-Hi can feel snug. This is due 1) to the length of the shoe being a bit smaller than normal shoe sizing and 2) a toe box depth that is shallow compared to normal shoe sizing. This snug design is essential for performance skate shoes to help deliver a secure fit.

The width of the forefoot area in the Vans Sk8-Hi (near the ball of your feet) actually has a more regular width that is comparable to normal shoe sizing width (and wider than some other skate-style shoes).

Still, because of the snug design, if you have wide feet, it would be best to order wide sizing. This is where you can order wide sizing for the Vans Sk8-Hi shoes at Vans.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Vans.com).

The main takeaway for Vans Sk8-Hi sizing is to expect a snug design that runs a little bit smaller than normal shoe sizing. If you prefer a loose fit, or are between sizes, it is probably best to size up. I would also recommend you use the Vans.com sizing resource linked below:

***Verify Your Sizing: Vans.com now has its own sizing tutorial which matches your foot size to a Vans shoe size. Click here to view this Vans sizing guide available at Vans.com to verify your correct size (affiliate link takes you to Vans.com).

Paul Johnson

Paul is a lead content creator for Workwear Command. He has had several blue-collar jobs which have provided him a wide range of experience with tools and gear. He also has a business degree and has spent time in business casual office settings.

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