What this site is for
Search for oopbuy sneakers and you get a spreadsheet with a thousand rows and no way to tell them apart. Every pair looks like the product shot. This site exists to explain the differences that a thumbnail hides: toe box height, sole thickness, the angle of the heel, the width of the last, and the half-size drift that turns a good pair into a bad one.
The guides are grouped by brand because brands share lasts. A Nike-style court shoe and a Jordan-style basketball shoe are built on different shapes, and the sizing advice for one does not transfer to the other. Once you know the shape family, choosing a listing becomes much less of a gamble.
Why sneakers are the hardest category
Clothing forgives. A hoodie that is two centimetres wide still fits. A shoe that is half a size off is uncomfortable on the first walk and unwearable by the end of the month. And unlike a garment, you cannot alter it.
Shoes are also the heaviest common item in a parcel, so a mistake costs twice: once for the shoe and once for the shipping you paid to move it. That is why the sizing routine on this site is longer than you might expect, and why we keep repeating the same instruction — measure your foot in centimetres.
The shape families
Almost every listing in a sneaker spreadsheet falls into one of a handful of shapes. Recognising the family tells you what to expect before you open the product page.
| Family | Shape | Fit tendency | Typical weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court low (AF1 style) | Wide, flat, thick midsole | Runs large; half size down | 1.0–1.3 kg |
| Basketball retro (Jordan style) | High collar, narrow waist | True to length, narrow | 1.0–1.4 kg |
| Knit runner (Yeezy style) | Sock-like, no structure | Runs small; half to full size up | 0.7–0.9 kg |
| Retro runner (NB, Asics) | Wide toe box, layered upper | True to slightly narrow | 0.8–1.0 kg |
| Trail / max cushion | Rock plate, aggressive outsole | True; roomy toe | 0.9–1.2 kg |
| Skate (Vans style) | Flat, vulcanised sole, wide | Runs large; size down | 0.8–1.0 kg |
| Boots | Structured, heavy sole | True; break-in required | 1.3–2.0 kg |
How to size a pair you cannot try on
Stand on a piece of paper with your heel against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe, and measure the distance in centimetres. Do it in the evening, when your foot is at its largest. Then compare that number to the foot-length column on the product page, not to the EU size on the box.
If the listing only gives EU sizes, use the conversion as a starting point and then adjust for the shape family. A court low usually needs half a size down from your measured size; a knit runner usually needs half a size up. Wide feet need more room in the toe box regardless of length. Our sizing and QC guide has the full conversion table and the measurement routine.
What to check in warehouse photos
Ask for both shoes photographed side by side, from the side, the top and the back. The shapes should match. Check the toe box height, the angle where the upper meets the sole, and the heel counter. Glue marks show up most clearly on white midsoles, so look along the join line.
Check the size label inside the tongue, the insole, and whether spare laces are included. If the listing promised a specific box, check that too. Anything that looks wrong is cheaper to fix before the parcel ships than after.
Weight and shipping
A pair of sneakers without a box weighs roughly 0.8 to 1.1 kilograms for low tops and 1.2 to 1.4 for basketball retros. Boots are heavier. The box adds 300 to 500 grams and a lot of volume, which matters because shipping lines charge volumetric weight when it exceeds actual weight.
Remove the box unless you are collecting it. Stuff the shoes with paper to hold the shape, and if you are shipping two pairs, put them in one parcel rather than two. A single parcel almost always costs less per kilogram.
What we will not tell you
We cannot tell you that a listing is genuine, and we do not try. Listings in this category are frequently unbranded or sold under a different name, and the photos may show a sample rather than the exact pair you will receive. What you are buying is a shape at a price, and the honest question is whether that shape is worth what is being asked.
Prices move with exchange rates and restocks. Every figure on this site is a planning number; confirm it on the product page before you pay. If a pair is dramatically cheaper than everything else in its family, assume the materials are thinner and decide whether that matters for how you will wear them.
Where to start
If this is your first sneaker order, start with a court low or a retro runner in a neutral colourway. They are forgiving on fit, easy to judge in photos and useful with almost any outfit. Read the sizing guide first, then pick a brand guide and compare two or three listings before you commit.