In this article I will directly compare Vans vs Nike sizing using side-by-side comparison photos of my Nike and Vans shoes so you can get a better idea how they fit. After trying these shoes, do Nike and Vans shoes fit the same?
Most types of Nike shoes fit true to size. Vans shoes fit a little snug compared to Nike sizing. Is it enough to adjust sizing? For me, it wasn’t, but don’t expect a loose fit for Vans. If you are between sizes for Vans, sizing up is best. I would recommend viewing the side-by-side comparison photos I took comparing Nike sizing to Vans sizing. Click here to jump ahead on the page to view men’s side-by-side comparison photos. Click here to jump ahead on the page to view women’s side-by-side comparison photos.
One of the most important things to consider when comparing Vans vs Nike sizing is the depth of the toe box area. Vans classic shoes have a very shallow toe box, which creates a more snug, secure fit.
Here is the toe box of Vans Old Skool compared to Nike Air Max:
And many types of classic Vans shoes run a tiny bit shorter in length than normal shoe sizing. Is it enough to adjust sizing? For me, it wasn’t. I order normal sizing for Vans, but my advice is just do not expect a loose fit. If you need a looser fit, or are between sizes, it may be best to size up Vans.
For example, here is my Vans Old Skool compared to Nike SB Blazer:
One exception is Vans Authentic sizing, which I found to have a more true-to-size length.
Vans Authentic shoes don’t have padding around the collar like the Vans Era, Vans Sk8, Vans Slip-On, and Vans Old Skool shoes. This creates more space inside the shoe, and a more true-to-size length.
Here is a look at the Vans Authentic collar on my shoes:
Still, like other types of Vans, the Vans Authentic does have a shallow toe box, so if you need extra space around your toes, you may need to adjust sizing.
I also found the more modern types of Vans shoes (like Vans UltraRange EXO and Vans EVDNT) to have a more normal sizing length.
In this article, let’s take a closer look at all the Vans vs Nike sizing photos I took so you can get a better idea how the sizing length and width compares for these shoes.
Vans vs Nike Sizing for Men
Men’s Vans sizing is a bit snug compared to Nike shoe sizing. Below are photos of Vans shoes compared to popular Nike shoes. All photos used a size 12 men’s shoe.
Vans Old Skool vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike Air More Uptempo Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike Waffle One Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Vans Old Skool vs Nike Cortez Sizing
Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Dunk High Sizing
Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike SB Chron 2 Sizing
Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Vans Authentic vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Vans Authentic vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Vans Authentic vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
Vans Authentic vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
Vans Authentic vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Vans Authentic vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Vans Authentic vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Vans Slip On vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Vans Slip On vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Vans Slip On vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
Vans Slip On vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
Vans Slip On vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Vans Slip On vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Vans Slip On vs Nike SB Chron 2 Sizing
Vans Slip On vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike SB Chron 2 Sizing
Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Vans Era vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
Vans Era vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Vans Era vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
Vans Era vs Nike Cortez Sizing
Vans vs Nike Sizing for Women
Women’s Vans sizing is a bit snug compared to Nike shoe sizing. Below are photos of Vans shoes compared to popular Nike shoes. All photos used a size 7 women’s shoe.
Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Cortez Sizing
Women’s Vans Sk8-Hi vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Women’s Vans Old Skool vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Women’s Vans Old Skool vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Old Skool vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Old Skool vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Women’s Vans Old Skool vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Women’s Vans Old Skool vs Nike Cortez Sizing
Women’s Vans Old Skool vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Women’s Vans Authentic vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Women’s Vans Authentic vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Authentic vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Authentic vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Women’s Vans Authentic vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Women’s Vans Authentic vs Nike Cortez Sizing
Women’s Vans Slip On vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Women’s Vans Slip On vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Slip On vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Slip On vs Nike Waffle One Sizing
Women’s Vans Slip On vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Women’s Vans Slip On vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Women’s Vans Slip On vs Nike Cortez Sizing
Women’s Vans Slip On vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Women’s Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Women’s Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike SB Force 58 Sizing
Women’s Vans UltraRange EXO vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Women’s Vans Era vs Nike Air Jordan 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Era vs Nike Dunk Sizing
Women’s Vans Era vs Nike Cortez Sizing
Women’s Vans Era vs Nike Court Vision Sizing
Women’s Vans Era vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing
Women’s Vans Era vs Nike SB Blazer Sizing
Vans vs Nike Sizing Width
Vans vs Nike sizing width is very similar, and both types of shoes have what most people consider to be a normal width. That’s the short answer.
The longer answer is it can obviously vary a bit by shoe, and specifically regarding Vans shoes, you will want to be mindful of the shallow toe box that can create a snug fit. Quickly, here are some of the most important things to know about width:
- Nike Exceptions – Most types of Nike shoes have a normal width. Exceptions include the Nike Cortez and Nike Blazer which fit narrow compared to normal shoe sizing. The Nike Air Force 1 fits wider/roomier than normal shoe sizing (especially in the toe area).
- Vans Toe Box Depth – Classic types of Vans shoes (Authentic, Old Skool, Sk8, Era, Slip-on) have a very shallow toe box area that can create a snug fit near the toes. If you need a roomier toe box, wide sizing may be needed (learn more with photos).
- Vans Forefoot Width – Vans shoes have a very regular width in the forefoot near the ball of your feet. This area is not too wide nor too narrow (learn more about Vans width).
Let’s discuss some of these Vans vs Nike sizing width issues in more detail.
Vans Sizing Toe Box Depth
Vans classic shoes have a shallow toe-box design that helps create a snug fit (which is important for performance as a skate shoe). If you need more space in the toe box area, you may need to order wide sizing or size up a half size.
Here is the toe box depth of the Vans Authentic compared to Nike Air Max (Vans Authentic on the left):
As you can see, there is a noticeable difference in the depth of those toe boxes. And here is the toe box depth of Old Skool Vans compared to Nike Air Force 1:
And here is the toe box depth of Authentic Vans compared to Nike Air Jordan 1:
I think you get the point without me posting every Vans vs Nike sizing toe-box photo. If you want to see more, click the links below to see more toe box information for each specific classic type of Vans shoe:
The main takeaway is expect the classic types of Vans shoes to have a shallow toe box compared to normal shoe sizing. However, when we start comparing the toe box of these shoes to the toe box depth of Nike skate shoes, we see a more similar fit.
For example, here is the Vans Old Skool toe box compared to Nike SB Blazer:
And here is the Vans Old Skool toe box compared to 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.
Nike Sizing Exceptions
Most types of Vans and Nike shoe have a normal amount of width in the forefoot area. For example, here is men’s Vans Authentic vs Nike Air Max:
The overall shape of the shoe in the forefoot area is very similar. And here is women’s Vans Authentic vs Nike Air Max:
There are a few exceptions for Nike that don’t have a normal amount of width.
The Nike SB Blazer has a narrow design compared to normal shoe sizing. Vans forefoot width near the ball of your feet is wider than Nike SB Blazer:
The Nike Cortez also has a narrow design that fits about a half size smaller than normal shoe sizing for both men and women. Here is Vans vs Nike Cortez sizing:
And one exception for Nike that has a wider, roomier design in the Nike Air Force 1. The Nike Air Force 1 has a deep toe box, which creates a lot of extra space near the toes. Here is Vans vs Nike Air Force 1 toe box:
Sizing Guides for Vans
To view more Vans sizing photos, click below:
- Vans Slip On Size Guide
- Vans Era Size Guide
- Vans Sk8-Hi Size Guide
- Vans Authentic Size Guide
- Vans Old Skool Size Guide
- Vans UltraRange EXO Size Guide
- Vans EVDNT Size Guide
Sizing Guides for Nike
To view more Nike sizing photos, click below:
- Nike Dunk Low Size Guide
- Nike Dunk High Size Guide
- Nike Air Force 1 Size Guide
- Nike Air Jordan 1 Size Guide
- Nike Air Max 90 Size Guide
- Nike Air Max Excee Size Guide
- Nike Blazer Size Guide
- Nike Air More Uptempo Size Guide
- Nike Cortez Size Guide
- Nike Court Vision Size Guide
- Nike Waffle One Size Guide
Vans vs Nike Size Charts
For official size charts, click below:
Vans vs Nike Sizing Conclusion
Most types of Vans shoes run a little snug compared to Nike shoe sizing. Is it enough to adjust sizing? For me, it wasn’t. I ordered my normal sizing for Vans, but it wasn’t a loose fit.
Vans shoes have a shallow toe box which creates a snug and secure fit (which is important for performance skate shoes).