L.L.Bean boot sizing can be a little tricky, so we've written this article to ensure you have the right size of Bean boots.
L.L.Bean is the master of boot-making; you would be too if you had been making men, women, and children's boots for over a century. By now, their mastery of the boot-making process is only akin to an art form: except for the rubber base, each pair of boots is hand-crafted in about 85 minutes.
L.L.Bean duck boots have slowly made their way into the world of cool footwear, which is how you might find shoes in your size back-ordered for a few weeks.
![L.L.Bean duck boot sizing guide]()
Few things are more irking than having your favorite snow boots delivered only to find that the fit is wrong. Lucky for you, you'll find everything you need to know about L.L.Bean boot sizing here.
The L.L.Bean Boot Size Chart
L.L.Bean boots are available for men, women, and children. They come in different lengths, designs, and sizes to help you get the perfect boot depending on where and how you wish to wear them.
Men's boot sizes run from size 4 all the way to size 20. They also come in three width fittings: medium, wide, and narrow.
Women's boot sizes start from size 4 to size 13, and they only come in a medium fit.
![L.L.Bean Women's Boots]()
L.L.Bean Women's Boots: Sizes 4-13
Children's Beat boots start from size 10 for kids through to size 8 on the adult scale. There are no half-sizes.
The children's size chart includes measurements in centimeters to make it easier to order. To get a more accurate fit, L.L.Bean recommends tracing your child's foot and then measuring between the longest toe of their foot to the heel. This will give the centimeters to help find the right size for children.
How Do Bean Boots Fit?
This is where L.L.Bean duck boots sizing can get a little confusing. Of course, you need to consider the socks or boot liners you will use along with your boots.
L.L.Bean provides generous sizing to allow for insulation during cold weather. If you wear light or medium-weight socks, order one size down from your standard size. If you wear a half-size, order one and a half sizes down. For example, order size 7 boots if you regularly wear sizes 8 or 8.5.
If you're wearing with heavyweight socks or winter boot liners/insoles, order your standard size if you wear a whole size and the next size down if you wear a half-size. For example, order size 8 if you regularly wear sizes 8 or 8.5.
If you feel unsure about ordering a full 1.5 sizes down, even if wearing thin socks, go to a store and try on the shoes. You may find yourself comfortable with the boot that's the next size down.
How Can I Get the Right Fit for L.L.Bean Boots?
Different rules apply when ordering rain or snow L.L.Bean duck boots compared with work boots, warm weather boots, or hiking boots.
For snow boots, the rubber part of the shoe allows rooms for thick socks or liners and an air pocket to keep your feet snuggly and warm. If your shoes are too small, you can end up with colder feet even when wearing thick socks.
To get the right fit, carry a sample of the socks you intend to wear with your Bean boots regularly. Do this whether or not the shoes have an inner insulative lining.
Put on your boots, and push your foot forward in the shoe without tying the laces (just stand up and place your toes on the ground behind you and wiggle gently to move them forward in the boot).
Check how much space is left between the back of the boot and your heel - it should be at least one finger's width. If you can't get your finger in quickly, your boots are too small. If you fit more than one digit, it's too big.
Next, find out whether you have a wiggle room for your toe. Lace-up the boots, then stand up and try to wiggle around. Your toes should move freely; if they feel squashed or compressed, the boot is too small.
Evaluating Other Bean Boot Sizing Factors
Getting the right width is the next step. Tap your toes gently onto the floor behind you, as you did before. Your feet should shift forward slightly, but not touch the front of the shoe; if they do, the boot is too big for you.
Evaluate how well the boots fit around the ball of your foot and across the instep.
Your foot is widest at the ball, so you shouldn't feel any pressure around there. Constricting this area can cause you to develop blisters and pain. The boot shouldn't feel too tight on the instep either.
You can check for heel slip by rocking back and forth from the heels to the balls of your feet. You can also take a walk around the store.
You have the perfect size if your heel stays in place or lifts no more than a tiny fraction, certainly not enough to be uncomfortable.
If buying long L.L.Bean boots, ensure that you have a comfortable fit around the calf area. If you regularly tuck your paths inside the boot, wear pants to the fitting and try to tuck them in. You should be able to accommodate your pants and walk without any discomfort.
For your Chelsea-style L.L.Bean duck boots sizing, ensure that you feel a little pressure when pushing your foot through the heel. You should notice minimal slippage when walking, and the elastic sides at your ankle should hold snugly.
What Height of L.L.Bean Duck Boots Should I Get?
L.L.Bean boots come in 6-inch and 8-inch styles. There are also 10-inch styles, and they usually have several additional insulation features.
The height of boot to get depends on your personal preferences as well as the weather you intend to wear them in. 8-inch boots are more versatile if you're going for boots that you can wear all year round.
Some people find that the 6-inch boots end at an awkward spot above the ankles, while others prefer this length for warmer weather boots.
If you get the 6-inch options, look for the ones with a padded collar to prevent friction around the edge of the shoe.
How Much Insulation Do I Need?
6-inch L.L.Bean duck boots come with no additional insulation; therefore, they are not ideal for the winter. However, they run large, leaving plenty of room for thick socks or boot liners/insoles.
8-inch boots come as standard, Thinsulate boots, Gore-Tex/Thinsulate boots, and shearling-lined boots. The first two are ideal for three-season wearing, and in areas where winter temperatures don't hit the single digits.
If you spend lots of time outdoors at the peak of winter, get either of the last two options.
Do L.L.Bean Boots Run Big or Small?
L.L.Bean duck boots tend to run big across both men's and women's ranges. They only come in whole sizes, the company makes accommodations for thick socks or boot liners within its sizes.
This is why you need to order 1 or 1.5 sizes down for boots you intend to wear with thin or medium-weight socks.
Bonus Tip: Only Order Narrow if Your Feet are Super Narrow
A pro-tip for your L.L.Bean duck boots sizing is to order your boots in two sizes. This may be especially helpful for in-betweeners in the half-size range and those with tricky feet.
Note that different types of boots adhere to different sizing guidelines.
If you don't want to order two sizes and return one, order a larger size and see whether you can make them snug by lacing up. It's better to order them a little larger and tighten with laces.
Additionally, L.L.Bean boots come in three widths for men. Even if you have a narrow fit, L.L.Bean recommends ordering the medium fit, especially for winter or rain boots.
Unless your feet are actually super-narrow, the fit of narrow shoes may feel a little tight, especially if you hope to pair them with thick socks or removable liners.
If you're sure about length but unsure about width, you can also order different widths together and compare the fit side-by-side. For example, if you're a 7, you can order 7-Medium and 7-Wide and try them according to the criteria in the fitting section above.
Luckily, L.L.Bean has splendid customer care, which makes it very easy to send back the boots that don't fit well.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to get your L.L.Bean boot sizing correct when you order your next pair. Most people find it helpful to have at least two pairs of L.L.Bean boots to have a boot for every situation.
You'll need a 6- or 8-inch unlined for all but wet and winter weather and an 8- or 10-inch insulated one for freezing weather.
You can save and invest in the pairs over time, starting with the more insulated one. Also, some people choose to buy standard boots then use L.L.Bean liners during the winter, but this could make your boots uncomfortably big the rest of the time.
We hope you've picked up some helpful tips on L.L.Bean boots sizing through this guide.
What's your experience buying L.L.Bean boots? We'd love to hear your comments here in our online discussion about L.L.Bean boot sizing!
L.L.Bean is the master of boot-making; you would be too if you had been making men, women, and children's boots for over a century. By now, their mastery of the boot-making process is only akin to an art form: except for the rubber base, each pair of boots is hand-crafted in about 85 minutes.
L.L.Bean duck boots have slowly made their way into the world of cool footwear, which is how you might find shoes in your size back-ordered for a few weeks.
Few things are more irking than having your favorite snow boots delivered only to find that the fit is wrong. Lucky for you, you'll find everything you need to know about L.L.Bean boot sizing here.
The L.L.Bean Boot Size Chart
L.L.Bean boots are available for men, women, and children. They come in different lengths, designs, and sizes to help you get the perfect boot depending on where and how you wish to wear them.
Men's boot sizes run from size 4 all the way to size 20. They also come in three width fittings: medium, wide, and narrow.
Women's boot sizes start from size 4 to size 13, and they only come in a medium fit.
Children's Beat boots start from size 10 for kids through to size 8 on the adult scale. There are no half-sizes.
The children's size chart includes measurements in centimeters to make it easier to order. To get a more accurate fit, L.L.Bean recommends tracing your child's foot and then measuring between the longest toe of their foot to the heel. This will give the centimeters to help find the right size for children.
How Do Bean Boots Fit?
This is where L.L.Bean duck boots sizing can get a little confusing. Of course, you need to consider the socks or boot liners you will use along with your boots.
L.L.Bean provides generous sizing to allow for insulation during cold weather. If you wear light or medium-weight socks, order one size down from your standard size. If you wear a half-size, order one and a half sizes down. For example, order size 7 boots if you regularly wear sizes 8 or 8.5.
If you're wearing with heavyweight socks or winter boot liners/insoles, order your standard size if you wear a whole size and the next size down if you wear a half-size. For example, order size 8 if you regularly wear sizes 8 or 8.5.
| Sock Thickness | Shoe Size | Recommended L.L.Bean Boot Size |
| Light or Medium | 8 | 7 |
| Light or Medium | 8 - 8.5 | 7 |
| Heavyweight/Thick | 8 - 8.5 | 8 |
How Can I Get the Right Fit for L.L.Bean Boots?
Different rules apply when ordering rain or snow L.L.Bean duck boots compared with work boots, warm weather boots, or hiking boots.
For snow boots, the rubber part of the shoe allows rooms for thick socks or liners and an air pocket to keep your feet snuggly and warm. If your shoes are too small, you can end up with colder feet even when wearing thick socks.
To get the right fit, carry a sample of the socks you intend to wear with your Bean boots regularly. Do this whether or not the shoes have an inner insulative lining.
Put on your boots, and push your foot forward in the shoe without tying the laces (just stand up and place your toes on the ground behind you and wiggle gently to move them forward in the boot).
Check how much space is left between the back of the boot and your heel - it should be at least one finger's width. If you can't get your finger in quickly, your boots are too small. If you fit more than one digit, it's too big.
Next, find out whether you have a wiggle room for your toe. Lace-up the boots, then stand up and try to wiggle around. Your toes should move freely; if they feel squashed or compressed, the boot is too small.
Evaluating Other Bean Boot Sizing Factors
Getting the right width is the next step. Tap your toes gently onto the floor behind you, as you did before. Your feet should shift forward slightly, but not touch the front of the shoe; if they do, the boot is too big for you.
Evaluate how well the boots fit around the ball of your foot and across the instep.
Your foot is widest at the ball, so you shouldn't feel any pressure around there. Constricting this area can cause you to develop blisters and pain. The boot shouldn't feel too tight on the instep either.
You can check for heel slip by rocking back and forth from the heels to the balls of your feet. You can also take a walk around the store.
You have the perfect size if your heel stays in place or lifts no more than a tiny fraction, certainly not enough to be uncomfortable.
If buying long L.L.Bean boots, ensure that you have a comfortable fit around the calf area. If you regularly tuck your paths inside the boot, wear pants to the fitting and try to tuck them in. You should be able to accommodate your pants and walk without any discomfort.
For your Chelsea-style L.L.Bean duck boots sizing, ensure that you feel a little pressure when pushing your foot through the heel. You should notice minimal slippage when walking, and the elastic sides at your ankle should hold snugly.
What Height of L.L.Bean Duck Boots Should I Get?
L.L.Bean boots come in 6-inch and 8-inch styles. There are also 10-inch styles, and they usually have several additional insulation features.
The height of boot to get depends on your personal preferences as well as the weather you intend to wear them in. 8-inch boots are more versatile if you're going for boots that you can wear all year round.
Some people find that the 6-inch boots end at an awkward spot above the ankles, while others prefer this length for warmer weather boots.
If you get the 6-inch options, look for the ones with a padded collar to prevent friction around the edge of the shoe.
How Much Insulation Do I Need?
6-inch L.L.Bean duck boots come with no additional insulation; therefore, they are not ideal for the winter. However, they run large, leaving plenty of room for thick socks or boot liners/insoles.
8-inch boots come as standard, Thinsulate boots, Gore-Tex/Thinsulate boots, and shearling-lined boots. The first two are ideal for three-season wearing, and in areas where winter temperatures don't hit the single digits.
If you spend lots of time outdoors at the peak of winter, get either of the last two options.
Do L.L.Bean Boots Run Big or Small?
L.L.Bean duck boots tend to run big across both men's and women's ranges. They only come in whole sizes, the company makes accommodations for thick socks or boot liners within its sizes.
This is why you need to order 1 or 1.5 sizes down for boots you intend to wear with thin or medium-weight socks.
Bonus Tip: Only Order Narrow if Your Feet are Super Narrow
A pro-tip for your L.L.Bean duck boots sizing is to order your boots in two sizes. This may be especially helpful for in-betweeners in the half-size range and those with tricky feet.
Note that different types of boots adhere to different sizing guidelines.
If you don't want to order two sizes and return one, order a larger size and see whether you can make them snug by lacing up. It's better to order them a little larger and tighten with laces.
Additionally, L.L.Bean boots come in three widths for men. Even if you have a narrow fit, L.L.Bean recommends ordering the medium fit, especially for winter or rain boots.
Unless your feet are actually super-narrow, the fit of narrow shoes may feel a little tight, especially if you hope to pair them with thick socks or removable liners.
If you're sure about length but unsure about width, you can also order different widths together and compare the fit side-by-side. For example, if you're a 7, you can order 7-Medium and 7-Wide and try them according to the criteria in the fitting section above.
Luckily, L.L.Bean has splendid customer care, which makes it very easy to send back the boots that don't fit well.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to get your L.L.Bean boot sizing correct when you order your next pair. Most people find it helpful to have at least two pairs of L.L.Bean boots to have a boot for every situation.
You'll need a 6- or 8-inch unlined for all but wet and winter weather and an 8- or 10-inch insulated one for freezing weather.
You can save and invest in the pairs over time, starting with the more insulated one. Also, some people choose to buy standard boots then use L.L.Bean liners during the winter, but this could make your boots uncomfortably big the rest of the time.
We hope you've picked up some helpful tips on L.L.Bean boots sizing through this guide.
What's your experience buying L.L.Bean boots? We'd love to hear your comments here in our online discussion about L.L.Bean boot sizing!
