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Rick Owens High Top Sneakers Sizing and Buying Guide
Rick Owens high tops are some of the most recognized sneakers in fashion, right alongside heavy boots like the Bozo Tractor boot. The tall shape, the sculpted leather, and the long tongue make them easy to spot from across the street. They also cost a lot, so buying the wrong size is a painful mistake.
The problem is that sizing advice online doesn't agree. This guide sorts through it and gives you a simple way to choose a size and buy with confidence. You can always compare against the official size details at rickowenn.com.
Which Rick Owens Shoes Are High Tops
Two names come up most often. The Geobasket is the famous one, a basketball-style high top with sculpted leather panels, an upturned toe, and an elongated tongue. The Ramones is the brand's original sneaker, and it comes in both low and high versions. If you want to see a lower-profile style from the brand, the Abstract Bumper Low is a good example.
There are other options too, including Vintage Sneaks and DRKSHDW high tops made with canvas. If you'd like a lower and lighter style from the same brand, the Abstract Low nylon slip-on is an easy alternative to a tall sneaker.
Geobasket vs Ramones: Which One Suits You
The Geobasket looks bigger and sportier on the foot. It has a chunkier build and a stiffer upper, and some retailers describe the toe box as slightly narrow. Retail prices for the Geobasket often start above $1,000. Because the shoe looks big on the foot, roomy pants like the cotton multi-pocket cargo pants help balance it.
The Ramones sits a little lower in profile and is easier to wear with different outfits. The leather softens with wear, which makes it feel more forgiving over time. Slim bottoms like the distressed Tyrone skinny jeans show off its lower shape nicely.
If neither feels right and you want something with weight but less of a sneaker look, the Bozo Tractor boot gives you chunky shape in a boot.
How Rick Owens High Tops Fit
Here's where it gets tricky, because sizing guides disagree. Many guides say Rick Owens sneakers run large and suggest going half a size down. Others say they run true to size, with the Geobasket sometimes feeling tight in the toe box. One independent guide says the Geobasket is long with a slightly narrow toe box, and that half a size down works for many people, but it warns against treating that as a universal rule. For the full range of options, check the size charts at rickowenn.com.
What most sources agree on is this: the shoe is long, the width can feel narrow, and the high top sits higher on the ankle than a normal sneaker. That's very different from a low, flat shoe like the Abstract Bumper Slide, which leaves the ankle free.
Fit can also change by model, material, and season, so a size that worked in one pair may not match the next. The same goes for clothes, from wide styles like the drawstring graphic wide-leg pants to slimmer ones.
Rick Owens Abstract Bumper Low Black
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens Abstract Bumper Slide Beige
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens Abstract Low Nylon Slip On All Black
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens Bogun Suede Boots Clear Sole Milk
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens Bogun Suede Chelsea Boots Brown
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens Bozo Tractor Boot Brown White
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens Bozo Tractor Sabot Black
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens Canvas Low Top Platform Sneaker Black
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens Dr Martens Tall Lace Up Boots Black
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens DRKSHDW Denim Sneakers Blue White
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens DRKSHDW High Top Sneaker Dark Chocolate
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.
Rick Owens DRKSHDW High Top Sneakers Black White
In stock
Original price was: $1,200.00.$800.00Current price is: $800.00.How to Choose Your Size
Start with a few facts. For men, the official conversion often maps EU 41 to US 8, EU 42 to US 9, and EU 43 to US 10. That helps you convert, but it doesn't tell you how the shoe feels inside. For model-specific details, use the size chart on the Rick Owens shoes page.
Use these starting points:
- Average-width feet: try your true EU size and half a size down, then compare.
- Narrow feet: half a size down may work well.
- Wide feet: start with your true size.
- Between two sizes: try the smaller size first, but compare both if you can.
- Thick socks or an insole: stay with your true size.
Avoid dropping a full size automatically, since that can leave the toes cramped. If you're trying shoes on in a store, wear the pants you'll pair with them, like the DRKSHDW waxed slim flared pants, so you can judge the full look.
Breaking In Your High Tops
New leather high tops can feel stiff across the top of the foot for the first week. That's normal, and most people find the leather softens after a few wears. Heavy leather boots like the Bozo Tractor boot also benefit from a short break-in.
Don't size up just because a new pair feels snug on day one. Wear them for short stretches at first, like a quick errand in a panelled fleece zip jacket and jeans, and add more time as the leather relaxes.
After a long first day, give your feet a rest in easy, flat shoes like the Abstract Bumper Slide.
How to Buy: New, Resale, and Used
The safest option is buying from the brand's own channels or an authorized retailer. You can compare current pieces and sizing details at rickowenn.com and the Rick Owens shoes page.
Used pairs are often cheaper, and they've usually been broken in by the last owner. That can make the fit more forgiving than a brand-new pair. If you're building a full outfit, the cotton multi-pocket cargo pants go well with a used pair too.
When buying used, check these points:
- The sole: look for any sign of separation from the upper.
- The leather: check the toe and ankle for deep creases or cracking.
- The tags and stitching: compare them with official photos.
- The return policy: confirm you can send the pair back if the size is wrong.
Be careful with prices that look too good to be true for a "new" pair, and compare against the current price of similar shoes like the Abstract Bumper Low.
How to Style Rick Owens High Tops
High tops look best when the pants give them room to show. Wide and flared cuts work well, like the multi-zip flared pants or the two-tone waxed flared pants, as long as the hem sits just above the sole.
For a more relaxed look, the cotton multi-pocket cargo pants pair well with a chunky sneaker.
Keep your top half simple. In cooler weather, the panelled fleece zip jacket or the two-tone puffer bomber add layers without competing with the shoes.
Stick to dark, simple colors, like the drawstring graphic wide-leg pants in black, and let the sneakers be the main statement.
Should You Size Down in Rick Owens Sneakers?
For many people, yes, but not always, and not by a full size. The most honest answer is that it depends on your foot, and also on the style, since a lower shoe like the Abstract Low nylon slip-on fits differently from a tall sneaker.
If your feet are average or narrow, half a size down is a smart place to start, because the shoes are cut long. If your feet are wide, your true size is usually safer, since the toe box can feel tight in some models. If you plan to wear thick socks or an insole, stay with your true size, which is also useful in winter when you dress in layers like the down-filled puffer bomber.
The best way to be sure is to try the shoes on. If you're buying online, choose a store with free returns, and compare the measurements of the exact model rather than trusting the label alone. The size chart on the Rick Owens shoes page is a good place to start.
In the End
Rick Owens high top sneakers reward people who do a little homework. Start with half a size down if your feet are average or narrow, and give the leather time to soften. Buy from a trusted seller, check the return policy, and you'll end up with a pair that fits well and looks exactly like you wanted. Pair them with simple pieces like the classic cotton Jason jacket and wear them often.
FAQs
Advice varies, but many guides suggest half a size down, so compare with a lower style like the Abstract Bumper Low if you can.
Slim jeans like the distressed Tyrone skinny jeans or wide pants like the drawstring graphic wide-leg pants both work.
They're secure but heavy, and most people feel better after a short break-in, with easy shoes like the Abstract Bumper Slide for rest days.
Yes, they pair well with warm layers like the down-filled puffer bomber.
They're worth it if you love the design and will wear them often, and they match easily with pieces like the classic cotton Jason jacket.
