Boot sizing

[Drover110]

Hello...getting increasingly frustrated trying to find black non-Goretex boots that fit so throwing myself on the skills and judgement on you all..need some advice, good, bad and indifferent. My damn silly feet are 263mm long x 110mm wide in thick socks...9s seems too big (heel slides about) but gives the width I need. Nowhere locally will measure my feet for boots or anything else (so much for customer service) and nowhere sells the boots I'm interested in so I must buy via the post. Have tried 9M AB30 British Army cold weather boots (not bad), 8L in same (bit small) so wondering if an 8.5 W could be answer? Like the look of Altbergs although apparently they are sized so that you need a half size up...so 9W from them?????

Would really appreciate some advice as fed up endlessly scouring web for the perfect boot!

 

[Laurentius]

Either it is me, or shoe sizing has got increasingly erratic over the years, one manufacturers sizing is different from anothers. The only solution seems to be to try it on, if you are lucky enough to have standard feet in the first place, because there is nothing that fits me accurately, one foot slightly bigger than the other, and both too broad in comparison to length for any standard industrial last. Ironically my grandfather was a bootmaker, but he went long before my time.

 

[garethw]

Hi there
If you have wide feet the Lowa Combat and Mountain boots are available in wide fitting. They are goretex lined though... I just got a pair of the combat boots and the quality is outstanding. I took advice from the net and got a half size bigger than normal and the fit fine.

They are a bit hard due to the thickness of the boot and the new leather, but I've no doubt I'll break them in quickly enough, as they don't rub!!

Failing that the good ol' German Paraboot is available in various fittings, given in mm's. You may find your size there.
cheers
Gareth

 

[bullterrier]

Sounds like your feet are about the same length as mine - not sure about the width, but I do know mine are wide.

I have a couple of pairs of Altbergs - black Peacekeeper and Warrior (I think) models, one with a flexible sole, the other with a stiffer sole.

And both in 8 and a half. I spoke to the factory before I got them, and they said the half size is all to do with the width. I have tried the straight size 8 but can only fit them with thinner sports socks, so no good. I've done plenty of miles in the 8 and a halfs and they are spot on.

Altbergs are really good boots and you would do well to get them. My Peacekeepers are 7 or 8 years old. Good boots!

 

[shaggystu]

.....Nowhere locally will measure my feet for boots or anything else (so much for customer service) and nowhere sells the boots I'm interested in so I must buy via the post......

what boots are you interested in? from stoke-on-trent i don't imagine you'd have to travel too far to find a reputable shop that would stock what you're after/ measure your feet properly/ offer some advice. day out in the peak district maybe? http://www.outside.co.uk/ (no association etc.) even if they don't stock what you're after they'll measure your feet for you and offer some advice.

stuart

 

[Dogoak]

The trouble seems to be that no manufacturers use a 'standard' last for each size, so one 9 will be another's 9 1/2. My advice would be to measure your feet and then get the retailer to measure the foot bed.

This might help.................http://www.i18nguy.com/l10n/shoes.html

It's the same with sleeping bags, no standardization of thermal efficiency.

 

[shaggystu]

The trouble seems to be that no manufacturers use a 'standard' last for each size, so one 9 will be another's 9 1/2. My advice would be to measure your feet and then get the retailer to measure the foot bed.......

the "last" is far from the only thing that determines the size of a boot, what about the volume of the boot? wiggle space for the toes? how tight the thing laces up around your ankle? how long your toes are (ie, where does your foot articulate)? how heavy is the bag that you'll be carrying? what time of day is it? (this is not a joke, it matters enormously) etc. measuring your feet, measuring a boot, and then expecting them to be comfortable.....you'd be very very lucky if that worked IMO

i think that if feet were issued in standard sizes then boots could be standardised too, but they aren't, so they're not.