Men's Non-Work Boot sizing

[BarkingGhostar]

So, I had been looking recently for a pair of nice boots. Whether they were chukka or Chelsea I found something interesting in my search online. It seems most if not all sources for men's casual/dress boots recommend that you select a size down from your usual sneaker/athletic footwear. Now this concerned me in that trying to find assistance locally was going to be a problem and mostly because of my feet. In sneakers, I wear a 10-1/2 EEEE in a New Balance. I've worn this size for years and the pretty much the exact size for sneakers. But finding shoes, casual/dress, is next to impossible locally and even remotely begins at $500. It just seems that a brother with a wide foot must pay through the roof for width accommodations.

Anyway, as I was out there on the world wide web looking for boots I found some I really became enamored with but the idea of dropping a half grand on an online boot opportunity just wasn't something I could sleep easy with and the last thing I wanted was going through the hassle of returns and restocking fees. As such, I bowed away from the Paul Evans and their OxBlood boots and selected a Chukka boot from the Thursday Boot company. I was about to get their Chelsea boot in 10-1/2 but then I noticed the Chukka was offered in a wide size. No, not EEE or even 4E, but still not normal width. I got them this week and knowing how a leather shoe (and boot) is a little stiff at first was quite surprised at how well they fit right off of the bat. And for $149 I was even more pleased with this rare attempt at footwear that wasn't a sneaker.

But I wanted to ask the bros out there that have a wide foot (2E or wider) have you found yourselves sizing up, down or not at all when it came to non-work boot consideration? Personally while I am amazed that one can get tailored clothing online (just did a sports coat and now waiting on a suit), I am more shocked that no one (maybe my ignorance) offers you the ability to put foot to black paper and trace out your footprint (and maybe a second paper sheet for the profile/arch) and have a shoe/boot tailored as well.

 

[stargazr]

Never noticed a difference between work boots and other types. Anyway I start with my usual size and the widest they have. If it doesn't fit I send it back. Don't bother trying to find wide sizes locally.

It seems the last few years quality changed with made in China products, and a shoe I used to use and count on fit/durability is now a different shoe that I should have chosen one size larger or avoided altogether.

I just bought a pair of US made shoes for casual wear (SAS) which fit great but of course they weren't cheap.

 

[brianmanahan]

when i can't find a boot that fits in width, i usually go .5 or 1 sizes too long and get the widest version available

 

[BoomerD]

In New Balance, I wear 12 EEEE. For my working years, I generally wore White's Boots, but occasionally, when White's was too busy to accommodate my order, if time allowed, I bought Nick's. Both are very well made, hand-made boots and can be bought off the rack...or, if you are willing to spend the money, you can order them specially fit. Right now, they start at about $550 for off the rack.
There were a couple of times when I needed a pair of boots in an "emergency" and could get Red Wings. Not terrible...but not nearly as good as the other two.
Now that I'm retired, I don't have the need for such heavy boots, yet still need boots for working around the yard.
I've been trying to get boots that fit properly for 2 years. I'll order...send them back because of poor fit or construction...try something different.
I finally found a pair of Irish Setter boots that, while not perfect, are better than anything else I've tried. They don't have the 4E width that I'm used to, so I tried their 12 EE...and they fit...they're actually wide enough to allow me to wear a heavier wool sock if I choose.

Oh...and try Zappos...free returns if they don't fit.

Another option I've been looking at is Orthofeet. MOST of their boots are too light weight for what I want, but they did recently come out with a work-weight boot...but it has a composite toe, so I haven't tried them yet. I've worn their slippers for 7-8 years. Good, comfortable, well built.

Orthotic Boots for Men with Arch Support

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[Captante]

Never noticed a difference between work boots and other types

Work:

Other:

Seems fairly straight-forward to me no?

But then I suppose it depends on what you do for work!

 

[Exterous]

I worked for a well known shoe/boot company for 4 years and never heard that as a general rule. Yes certain shoes run long, short, narrow etc but not as a general rule.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Dress Shoe sizing is a full one to 1.5 sizes below athletic shoe sizing. Odd, but its always been this way and is also the same for women's footwear as well - athletic compared to heels.

I'm a 9.5 in sneakers and a 8EEE in AE's.

Take you and your foot to the local work-wear boot shop and they will size you. They usually have Danner, Red Wing, Wolverine and can order others.

 

[Captante]

"Sizing" among pretty much all clothing is mostly just a suggestion these days.

Used to be you could compare within brands with some confidence, but even that is a thing of the past. Sneakers are particularly bad at it... my size varies up to a full digit between brands and often different models of the same brand in the identical size do not both fit.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

All, thanks for the feedback. Keep in mind this endeavor is for dressy-casual, not work.

 

[WelshBloke]

Theres no way I'd buy good formal boots online!
Particularly if you have weird flippers for feet like the OP!

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Hey, my feet are the result of Scottish and German descendants. And maybe a little seasoning from the Welsh and English.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I wear size 12 4E, or can fit 11 and 1/2 if i can find a 5E.

I got a decent pair of Timberland boots in the fall of 2000, they are a 12 "wide", a but less wide than I like, but, i broke them over 20 years ago and they fit comfortable for a few to several hours at a time. (wider and higher instep would be better).
I got them for snowmobiling originally, and use them in winter when i shovel, or if im going to be walking in deep snow, or if i decide i want to walk on frozen lakes or something fun like that. They are not at all "ugly", but, they arent "dress" boots for sure.

We usually go to a store "Rogans Shoes" to buy shoes, as they tend to stock a decent supply of wide boots and shoes. Though online, there are much more options.


Usually, shoes or boots marketed as "wide" are EE sized ... this may not be perfect, but its more or less gives the idea

https://shoewidthchart.com/

 

[Denly]

LPT, go try them out in store.

 

[BoomerD]

LPT, go try them out in store.

That's easy for you to say...I live at least 75 miles from the closest actual shoe store. (100 miles from a place that specializes in work boots)

 

[MrSquished]

I've been looking at Chelsea boots lately and I haven't found many that have a wide size. Some say get a half size up if your feet are wider. Birkenstock has a nice looking Chelsea boot with a true wide size

Stalon Nubuck Leather Black | BIRKENSTOCK

BIRKENSTOCK Stalon Nubuck Leather Black in all sizes ✓ Buy directly from the manufacturer online ✓ All fashion trends from Birkenstock

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I am always a size 10 in everything from sneaks to boots. Only thing I get bigger are hiking boots by half a size to accommodate thick wool socks.

Not sure if you've had Doc Martens before but they make a Chelsea boot in case you have. They are definitely a bit more on the casual tip but they make a Smooth Black style that has no yellow stitching and they can definitely would work with some chinos and a casual button down. People do seem to like Thursday boots as well, maybe check them out. They have a real nice looking pair of gray suede Chelseas I have bookmarked, but I am not sure about width.

 

[jmagg]

nm

 

[Captante]

Hey, my feet are the result of Scottish and German descendants. And maybe a little seasoning from the Welsh and English.

 

[Captante]

That's easy for you to say...I live at least 75 miles from the closest actual shoe store. (100 miles from a place that specializes in work boots)

So you better hitch the horse up to the old wagon an git to gittin ... that's a good 3 day ride! (assuming the local goat-path hasn't washed out into the pacific)

 

[BoomerD]

So you better hitch the horse up to the old wagon an git to gittin ... that's a good 3 day ride!

No shit. Zappos to the rescue! (free shipping, free returns)

 

[Captante]

No shit. Zappos to the rescue! (free shipping, free returns)

Seriously I love being out in the country BUT it's also really easy to take for granted having many LOCAL options to get stuff... and by local I mean 5-7 minutes at 20-25 mph on local streets.

Even when I lived in Northern Westchester (NY) which on a map looks like it's not too far out in the country, I was still a solid half-hour from any significant store... not 75 miles though!

 

[BoomerD]

Seriously I love being out in the country BUT it's also really easy to take for granted having many LOCAL options to get stuff... and by local I mean 5-7 minutes at 20-25 mph on local streets.

Even when I lived in Northern Westchester (NY) which on a map looks like it's not too far out in the country, I was still a solid half-hour from any significant store... not 75 miles though!

We're about 25 miles from Aberdeen, WA...which has no "shoe" stores at all. Walmart and Ace Hardware both sell shoes and boots...but only in standard "easy to fit" sizes...mostly medium width, but some "wide" width...which won't come close to fitting my Flintstone Feet.
I have a few more options in Olympia, (state capitol...75 miles) but really, for a decent boot store, I have to drive to Tacoma...which is 100 miles.

 

[Captante]

We're about 25 miles from Aberdeen, WA...which has no "shoe" stores at all. Walmart and Ace Hardware both sell shoes and boots...but only in standard "easy to fit" sizes...mostly medium width, but some "wide" width...which won't come close to fitting my Flintstone Feet.
I have a few more options in Olympia, (state capitol) but really, for a decent boot store, I have to drive to Tacoma...which is 100 miles.

That sucks ... and mail-order for shoes is one of those things that only works if you have cookie-cutter feet.

Over-sized hobbits need not apply!

 

[BoomerD]

That sucks ... and mail-order for shoes is one of those things that only works if you have cookie-cutter feet.

Over-sized hobbits need not apply!

no shit. Zappo's and Orthofeet have LOST money trying to sell me shoes and boots...

 

[BarkingGhostar]

What disappoints me about places like Zappo's is that for a particular category like men's boot they'll have hundreds of offerings. And then when I pop my size/width in it drops to like 3.

 

[BoomerD]

What disappoints me about places like Zappo's is that for a particular category like men's boot they'll have hundreds of offerings. And then when I pop my size/width in it drops to like 3.

Welcome to my life.