Women's Shoes

Women's shoes at FlipBuy UK — 25 styles covering trainers, slip-ons, hiking shoes and ankle boots, from £15.99 to £45.99. UK sizes with measurements on every product page.

How to get shoe size right when buying online

Shoes are returned more than almost anything else online, and the size label is the least reliable guide. One measurement solves most of it.

Measure your foot, don't guess your size. Stand on a piece of paper against a wall with your heel touching it, mark the end of your longest toe, and measure heel to mark in centimetres. Compare that against the length chart on the product page.
Measure in the afternoon. Feet swell through the day by up to half a size — a shoe fitted in the morning can be tight by evening.
Measure both feet and use the larger. Most people have a noticeable difference and fitting the smaller foot is a common mistake.
Add roughly 1cm between your longest toe and the end of the shoe for walking shoes and trainers.
Consider the socks you'll wear. Hiking shoes with thick socks need more room than trainers with thin ones.

Choosing the right shoe for the job

Trainers and slip-ons

Everyday walking, commuting and casual wear. Slip-ons are convenient but offer less support for long distances — if you walk more than a couple of miles a day, laced trainers hold the foot better and reduce rubbing.

Hiking shoes

Built for uneven ground, with deeper tread and more ankle and arch support. Worth having if you walk on trails, in mud or on hills — ordinary trainers slip on wet slopes and offer no protection from stones underfoot.

Ankle boots

The most useful shoe in a British autumn. They cover the gap between hem and shoe that makes trousers and skirts feel cold, and they handle wet pavements better than trainers.

How to break in new shoes without blisters

Wear them indoors first, an hour or two at a time, over several days. This is the whole trick and most people skip it.
Wear the socks you'll actually wear them with during breaking in.
Treat hot spots before they blister. A patch of redness or heat means friction — plaster it or use a blister patch before it breaks the skin, not after.
Don't rely on shoes stretching. Leather and leather-look uppers give a little; synthetic mesh and rubber essentially don't. A shoe that's too short will never become long enough.

How to make shoes last

Rotate two pairs. Shoes need 24 hours to dry out internally between wears — moisture is what breaks down cushioning and causes odour. Alternating pairs roughly doubles the life of both.
Dry them properly. Away from radiators, which crack and shrink materials. Stuff with newspaper to draw out moisture and hold shape.
Clean off mud and salt. Winter road salt is corrosive and will mark leather and fabric permanently if left.
Never machine wash trainers unless the manufacturer says you can — it dissolves the adhesive holding the sole on. Brush with warm soapy water instead.
Use the laces. Slipping laced shoes on and off without untying breaks down the heel counter, which is what makes old trainers collapse at the back.

When to replace walking trainers

Cushioning degrades before the shoe looks worn out. Signs it's time: the tread is smooth in the areas you strike first, the shoe twists easily when you wring it, the midsole shows compression lines, or you've started noticing aches in the knees or shins after walking. If you walk regularly, most trainers are past their useful life at around 500-800km, whatever the uppers look like.

Common questions

How do I know my UK size?

Measure your foot in centimetres and compare against the length chart on the product page — this is far more reliable than the size label, which varies between styles.