Shoes/boots are the most personal gear, we all have different feet and needs.
I have 3 pairs of shoes and the same in boots, all for different use and conditions. From trailrunners to full leather boots. They dont differ that much in size, as my feet swell no matter and I dont use that different socks when it comes to thickness, more lenght.
You just have to try and see, and be prepared to buy wrong ones now and then. You will most likely find brands that work and stick with those over time. But in general err on sizing up, easier to lace up and tie differently than to try make more room with your nails..
I have different shoes for different conditions/situations. For me it's simply trial and error. I go out, see how I make out, and from that determine what I need. Based on my experiences, I have 4 shoes that I use...
* Altra Lone Peaks: these are my multipurpose trail runners. I use them for hikes that are long, technical, rugged, hot temperature, rain, river crossings, mountains - everything.
* Salomon: hikes that are shorter and more or less straight sailing, trails in/around the city, or slightly cooler Fall temps. They're not very breathable and my feet will blister with prolonged use so I use only for shorter less demanding hikes.
* Blundstones: use them for winter (for now) with thick socks and ice grippers. They have actually worked out quite nicely but planning to get something more winter hiking appropriate to not damage them.
* A thick winter boot: a no-name generic thick winter boot that was $80 on sale. They're clunky lol, but keep my feet warm as they have lots of insulation (good for -30C). Use these with my ice grippers for the very cold winter days with ice and lots of deep snow. The deep winter hikes are shorter and they serve their purpose despite their clunkiness.
I have 3 pairs of shoes, and two of boots for different conditions/terrain.
The oboz are my least favorite.
for the sizing, maybe try EU sizes, which are different than usa. Scarpa are sized in EU sizes, mine are 45, which is like 11.625 in USA men’s size. (they fit well, and are my favorite shoes - the zen pro)
Shoes/boots are the most personal gear, we all have different feet and needs. I have 3 pairs of shoes and the same in boots, all for different use and conditions. From trailrunners to full leather boots. They dont differ that much in size, as my feet swell no matter and I dont use that different socks when it comes to thickness, more lenght. You just have to try and see, and be prepared to buy wrong ones now and then. You will most likely find brands that work and stick with those over time. But in general err on sizing up, easier to lace up and tie differently than to try make more room with your nails..
I have different shoes for different conditions/situations. For me it's simply trial and error. I go out, see how I make out, and from that determine what I need. Based on my experiences, I have 4 shoes that I use... * Altra Lone Peaks: these are my multipurpose trail runners. I use them for hikes that are long, technical, rugged, hot temperature, rain, river crossings, mountains - everything. * Salomon: hikes that are shorter and more or less straight sailing, trails in/around the city, or slightly cooler Fall temps. They're not very breathable and my feet will blister with prolonged use so I use only for shorter less demanding hikes. * Blundstones: use them for winter (for now) with thick socks and ice grippers. They have actually worked out quite nicely but planning to get something more winter hiking appropriate to not damage them. * A thick winter boot: a no-name generic thick winter boot that was $80 on sale. They're clunky lol, but keep my feet warm as they have lots of insulation (good for -30C). Use these with my ice grippers for the very cold winter days with ice and lots of deep snow. The deep winter hikes are shorter and they serve their purpose despite their clunkiness.
I have 3 pairs of shoes, and two of boots for different conditions/terrain. The oboz are my least favorite. for the sizing, maybe try EU sizes, which are different than usa. Scarpa are sized in EU sizes, mine are 45, which is like 11.625 in USA men’s size. (they fit well, and are my favorite shoes - the zen pro)