How is the shoe quality score calculated?
What is the SoleMatch quality score?
SoleMatch shows a quality score next to the price band, fit and width notes for every sneaker, sandal, boot and flat you compare. It's meant to give you a quick way to size up a shoe before you buy.
How is the score calculated?
SoleMatch's own description does not explain the method behind the quality score. We don't know if it comes from lab testing, customer feedback, materials, or something else. Because that detail isn't published, treat the number as SoleMatch's own rating rather than an independent lab test.
What the score does not cover
- It is not a personal fit test for your foot.
- It does not guarantee how the shoe will hold up over time.
- It is not confirmed to come from an outside lab or third-party test, as far as the description tells us.
Fit, width, price, returns and shipping still matter
Alongside the quality score, SoleMatch lists fit and width notes, a price band, a return/trial window and ship time for each pair. These are general notes meant to help you compare quickly across brands — not a personal fitting and not a guaranteed policy.
- Double-check sizing details on the retailer's own site before you order.
- Confirm the exact return window and shipping time directly with the seller before you buy, since retailers can change these policies.
Using SoleMatch without an account
SoleMatch is described as free, with no login required, so you can compare shoes side by side without signing up. The description doesn't say whether your searches or entries are stored, so avoid typing personal details into the search box if that concerns you.
What to do next
This guide only explains what is publicly described about SoleMatch's quality score. It is not shoe-buying advice and not a guarantee of fit or durability. Use the free tool to look at your own shortlist: enter the pairs you're considering and compare the price band, quality score, fit and width notes, return window and ship time side by side, then confirm any details that matter to you directly with the retailer.