Footprints

Footprints

Footprints can link someone to a crime scene.

They reveal shoe type, foot size, walking pattern, and sometimes even height or weight.

​

Why Footprints Matter

Hotspot

Can you find the shoe prints that match?

Poll

Would two pairs of the same shoe leave the exact same print?

• Yes

• No

Soles have different patterns (treads). Over time, wear makes them unique.

Tread Patterns

Footprint Features

• Length - can estimate height

• Depth - can show weight or force

• Tread - matches the shoe

• Spacing - shows the stride (running or walking, etc.)

• Angle - reveals walking pattern

Match

Have a guess at what each characteristic may say about how a person is moving.

• Longer stride

• Shorter stride

• Uneven stride

• Wide steps

• In-toeing or out-toeing

Walking fast or running

Walking slowly

Favouring one leg or injured

Carrying something heavy

Pigeon-toed or duck-footed

• Walking fast or running

• Walking slowly

• Favouring one leg or injured

• Carrying something heavy

• Pigeon-toed or duck-footed

Shoe Clues

​Clue	​What it Suggests
Deep toe prints	Running or moving quickly​
Heel deeper than toe​	Walking slowly​
One print is deeper than the other​	Favouring one leg or carrying weight unevenly​
Long stride length​	Running or walking fast​
Short stride length​	Moving slowly or carefully​
Wide space between feet​	Carrying something or trying to stay balanced​
Right foot angled outward​	Out-toeing or rotated leg posture​
Drag mark behind foot​	Limp, injury, or tired leg​
Worn sole edges (inner / outer)	Bow-legged, knock-kneed, or flat-footed gait