FAQ

WHAT ARE SOM SHOES FOR?

SOM Footwear is a casual sneaker designed to be versatile or multipurpose. The roomy toe box and the zero drop flexible sole provide balance and stability which allow users to do pretty much anything. Whether it be minimalist running, biking, hiking, dancing, fencing, CrossFit, street performing, parkour, playing capoeira, traveling, working, walking the dog, running errands, or spending a night on the town, SOM Footwear is your go-to shoe! Learn more on the product specification page here.

If you're familiar with the SOM story, you know that Sense Of Motion Footwear was born because founder and avid runner Olie Marchal was experiencing back pain in his everyday life. Olie discovered that his footwear was the problem, so he set out to make his own pair of shoes, here in America, that would allow his foot to function naturally as if he were barefoot.

DO YOU MAKE SHOES FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN?

Yes, all of our shoes are unisex and gender neutral. They are meant to be worn by both men and women.  You’ll see both men’s and women’s sizing listed when ordering

HOW MUCH IS SHIPPING?

-We charge $7.99* for domestic ground shipping, one way, on every shoe order. No codes or coupons needed. Additional charges apply for orders shipped to Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

* Note: During the holiday season our flat rate of $7.99 won’t be available, and you will have to choose your postal service during checkout. Shipping costs suppliers vary from $8 to $13, West Coast to East Coast.

Customers who subscribed to SOM VIP are not affected by these ups and downs.

- FREE Shipping is available through our SOM VIP membership.

WHAT IS SOM VIP?

SOM VIP is our premium benefits membership that can be purchased at the end of the checkout process and is good for one year of exclusive rewards and services. For more information, please visit the SOM VIP page for all the perks a VIP receives.

WHAT IS YOUR EXCHANGE/RETURN POLICY?

Please visit our Exchanges & Returns page for more information on our current policies.

HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT SIZE I AM?

Our sneakers are true to American standard sizes. We have a standard fit in the heel (size D) with a wide toe box (that goes up to 2E).  We generally suggest ordering your usual size.  Our shoes are unisex, though we use men’s sizing. For women’s sizes, simply add 1.5 to the men’s size (ex: a men’s 5 is a women’s 6.5). To help keep the math to a minimum, we list both men’s and women’s sizes on our sneakers.

If you still have questions about sizing, check out our Sizing Chart for specifications and try out our Printable Sizing Outlines to test any sole's size before you buy.

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH MODEL WILL BEST SUIT MY NEEDS?

We currently offer several models on our Featured Products that cover a broad range of settings, from shoes for the office to shoes for outdoor activity to shoes for everything in between. All of our models utilize the same footbed foundation and general design. There is a product specifications page that express the differences between models.

There is also our collection of Sole Mates (limited models, each different from each other). Every so often we have shoes that do not make it to full production. Although available in only a few sizes, you never know what you may find, so it’s best to check back often.

We are always thinking about our next shoe design. If you have any ideas, feel free to let us know!

WHICH SHOES ARE BEST FOR NARROW FEET?

Because our Nutrail models feature a lighter, more flexible lacing structure, the generous toe-box fabric can bunch up and fold when the laces are over-tightened. For those with a narrow foot or who like a very snug fit, models like our HiLite in Black, Trailhead, Norwood Classic, and Urban Trekkers use a traditional lacing structure that will not create this bunching effect when laces are tightened.

WILL SOM SHOES WORK WITH MY ORTHOTIC?

All of our models have a removable 2mm insole that can be replaced with your own orthotic, but we cannot guarantee your custom orthotic will work in our shoes. Every orthotic is different, with a different size, thickness, and shape. If you are unsure if your custom orthotic will fit inside our shoes, please consult our Sizing Chart for measurements and try our Printable Sizing Outlines to compare your orthotic with our size soles.

If you still have questions about orthotic fit and sizing, email us at somteam@somfootwear.com.

ARE SOMs VEGAN?

Yes, our models are vegan! For more information on the materials used for each model, see our product specifications.

ARE THE MATERIALS IN THE SHOES AMERICAN-MADE?

We do our best to use as many American-made materials as possible throughout all of our model designs, from the faux leather in our Urban Trekkers to the synthetic suede in our Norwood Classics to the SuperFabric in our Trailhead, HiLite in Black (HLN) and Cross Sport. All of our polyurethane cup soles are also made in the USA.

It is a challenge to find as many American made materials as possible, and some are becoming harder and harder unfortunately, but we do all that we can to work locally wherever possible.

HOW DO SOMs HOLD UP OVER TIME?

We are committed to providing high-quality footwear to our customers and test every model in the rugged Rocky Mountains (our backyard!). We use durable materials for our uppers and, when the tread starts to wear, we offer resoling to extend the life of SOMs even further.

But don’t just take it from us; check out some of our customer testimonials to see how SOMs have performed out in the world.

HOW DO I WASH MY SOMs?

Easy! Simply toss your shoes in the washing machine on the normal setting with cold water and gentle soap. Let them dry in the shade; never use direct heat.

I'VE HAD MY SOMs FOR A WHILE, AND THE SOLE IS STARTING TO WEAR OUT. CAN YOU RESOLE THEM?

We are proud to offer resoling to our customers! To learn when your soles are ready, and what to do when they are, visit our Resoling page.

Free resoling is also part of our SOM VIP program.

WHY DO WE RESOLE ONLY ONCE?

HOW ARE SOMs RECYCLED?

When it's time for your SOMs to be resoled, we ship the old soles to a recycling plant that breaks the materials down to be reused as crumb rubber for playgrounds and running tracks.

WHAT IS THE SOM CASH-BACK REFERRAL PROGRAM?

Spread the word! If you love your SOMs, tell your family, friends, neighbors, mail carrier, dog groomer and anyone else you meet about SOM! When you purchase your own pair, you will set up an account on our website. When you refer your friends and family to the site, remind them to type:
Referred By: (your full name), in the comment box.

When we have sold a pair of shoes to that new customer, we will send you a check for $5.00. It's that simple!

IF I DON’T WANT TO PURCHASE MY SOM SNEAKERS ON YOUR SECURE WEBSITE, IS THERE A PLACE WHERE I CAN BUY THEM IN PERSON?

We have an outlet store attached to our factory in Montrose, CO that is open to the public most Mondays-Thursdays from 9am-5pm. You can also give us a call to make sure we don't have special events outside of the factory. Factory tours are by appointment. We are located at 1006 N. Cascade Ave. in beautiful Montrose, CO.

WHEN IS YOUR OUTLET STORE OPEN?

Our Outlet Store is generally open to the public Mondays-Thursdays from 9am - 5pm. If you are traveling, give us a call to plan ahead and make sure we are not away to a special event. Factory tours are by appointment.  We are located at 1006 N. Cascade Ave. in beautiful Montrose, CO. Factory hours are 9am - 5pm Monday to Thursday.

DO YOU OFFER MILITARY OR FIRST RESPONDER DISCOUNTS?

We do not offer military or first responder discounts, but we thank you for your service and appreciate all that your do to keep us safe. We do our best to offer fair prices all-year-round, so there is no need for coupon codes or having to wait for seasonal sales.

WHAT ORGANIZATIONS DO YOU SUPPORT?

It is interesting to us that people want to know everything about what we do in our company. Over the years, it never occurred to us that it was expected, as a company, to make public the organizations, causes, and people that we support. When help is received because of hardship, why would you want to put that under a spotlight? Rather, the goal is to help so that the hardship fades or disappears.. 

We live in a community that has a big heart. It comes naturally to us to act toward people in need or groups who do good for different sections of our local population. Often we have helped more than we could afford. We follow our founders' hearts and our team-workers' hearts, and we think that this should stay within our walls. At the factory outlet store, we started a donation box that people can take from and so pay what they can afford. Sometimes, a pair of shoes that still has life left in them can make a difference in someone's turmoil. We have shipped shoes to organizations that redistribute to people in need. We have helped non-profit silent auction fundraisers, including organizations that work to protect our natural resources. We support organizations that help during fire or tornado disasters. And so on.

Rest assured, we do our part to make a better world in every way we can, in our local communities and abroad. And we encourage you to do the same; there is no better formula to improve our society!

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Send an email to somteam@somfootwear.com or leave your questions in the comment box when you place your order. We will only process your order once all of your questions are answered satisfactorily.

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