What Does GS Mean in Shoes? GS vs. PS vs. TD vs. Men's
UpdatedThis content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission.
When purchasing shoes, you need to make sure you're getting the correct size. On top of keeping note of whether or not a shoe is labeled as a women’s or men’s release, you’ll need to check if a sneaker is a GS, PS, or TD release.
What GS Means
GS is an acronym for Grade School, meaning the sneaker is meant for kids.
Size Range Table: TD, PS, GS, Men’s, Women’s
Above is a size chart that shows a conversion between Men’s, Women’s, GS, PS, and TD sizes. Note: While a 7Y may be equivalent to a size 7 men’s (or 8.5 women’s), they will fit slightly differently. We’ll explain more below.
GS vs Men's Pairs: Materials, Price, Shape
There are a few youth sizes in the GS range that also convert over to men’s sizes, but there’s some nuance to that. Technically, yes, they’re the same length, but the width will be slightly altered since the GS pairs are constructed with a child's foot in mind. There’s also a drop in quality from men’s to GS, with the GS sneakers using less premium materials and sometimes even featuring different details.
Of course, with the drop in quality and the fact they’re marketed to children, GS sneakers are also cheaper. There’s no exact price difference, as sneakers come in varying price points, but there are savings to be had if you can fit into a youth size. For example, the Air Jordan 1 Mid SE Space Jam Hare is available for $140 in men’s sizing, but it’s also available for $120 in GS.
Can Adults Wear GS?
Technically, yes, adults can wear GS sneakers. However, they do run slightly slimmer compared to adult sneakers, so if you have a wide foot but can fit in GS sizes, it might not be wide enough for your foot. It’s quite common for women with smaller feet to purchase GS sneakers as they are cheaper and can be found more easily, especially for hyped releases.
How to Spot a GS Pair by SKU on a Release Page
Sneakers in different size ranges, like that of a GS vs. an adult, will have different SKUs. There’s no universal guide to being able to spot an adult SKU vs. a GS SKU, but some brands make it a bit easier. For Nike and adidas, SKUs follow the same parameters across almost all sizes.
Nike uses six alphanumeric characters, sometimes six numbers, other times two letters and four numbers, alongside a three-digit color code (like -001). The color code will remain the same across all sizes since that notes which color scheme the sneaker follows, but the first six characters will be different.
Following a similar pattern, adidas forgoes the color code at the end and uses six alphanumeric characters, though it’s almost always two letters followed by four numbers.
New Balance makes it pretty easy to spot the differences, as GS SKUs start with “GC,” PS with “PC,” and TD with “IC.”
Other brands follow their standard SKU system across all sizes.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
