I have difficult feet, so I always have to order. Plus, I've been fitted incorrectly and sold the wrong boots so many times that I don't trust salesman.
My method was to order a bunch of different boots, try them on in my home, and return the ones that weren't a perfect fit. Even with that method, finding the right boots took time. I ended up having to just eat the cost of a fair bit of boots, but I learned a lot about fitment along the way.
Here are some quick tips for fitting yourself ...
Boots and shoes should be comfortable out of the box with no issues, such as slippage, hot spots, pinching, rubbing, pressure, etc. They should be *good to go* right away. You'll still have to break them in, but there should be no initial discomfort. Break them in gradually with work around the house, followed by yard work, followed by light hikes. After one or two weeks, depending upon the boot, they should be broken-in. Some all-leather boots may take a bit longer.
Try boots on at the end of the day when your feet are most swollen, wearing the thickest socks you intend to use for hiking. Take the insoles out and stand on them shoulder width apart. Your feet should fit within the outlines of the insoles with no overhang or excess space. There should be ⅓ to ½ inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the insole. This will give you a good idea of the fit before you even try on the boots.
My first two pairs of boots I tried on in person. Third pair I had to buy online because of the pandemic lockdown. Fourth and most recent pair was bought online because they were the exact same as the 3rd (I liked them that much).
I just go through a process.
1. Research.
2. If store has it nearby, go and try out my top 2 choices.
3. Else, just buy online.
I rarely return. Funny enough, the only time I returned was when the store staff recommended buying a size up, which was not the way, so I returned to my actual size.
Always go in person, as I find different brands have different width, so I end up in different sizes depending on the brand. Also the store that I go to have a big rock that you can try your boots on. I find that very helpful as you can feel if / how your feet move in the boots for uphill and downhill.
I have difficult feet, so I always have to order. Plus, I've been fitted incorrectly and sold the wrong boots so many times that I don't trust salesman. My method was to order a bunch of different boots, try them on in my home, and return the ones that weren't a perfect fit. Even with that method, finding the right boots took time. I ended up having to just eat the cost of a fair bit of boots, but I learned a lot about fitment along the way. Here are some quick tips for fitting yourself ... Boots and shoes should be comfortable out of the box with no issues, such as slippage, hot spots, pinching, rubbing, pressure, etc. They should be *good to go* right away. You'll still have to break them in, but there should be no initial discomfort. Break them in gradually with work around the house, followed by yard work, followed by light hikes. After one or two weeks, depending upon the boot, they should be broken-in. Some all-leather boots may take a bit longer. Try boots on at the end of the day when your feet are most swollen, wearing the thickest socks you intend to use for hiking. Take the insoles out and stand on them shoulder width apart. Your feet should fit within the outlines of the insoles with no overhang or excess space. There should be ⅓ to ½ inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the insole. This will give you a good idea of the fit before you even try on the boots.
My first two pairs of boots I tried on in person. Third pair I had to buy online because of the pandemic lockdown. Fourth and most recent pair was bought online because they were the exact same as the 3rd (I liked them that much).
I just go through a process. 1. Research. 2. If store has it nearby, go and try out my top 2 choices. 3. Else, just buy online. I rarely return. Funny enough, the only time I returned was when the store staff recommended buying a size up, which was not the way, so I returned to my actual size.
Always go in person, as I find different brands have different width, so I end up in different sizes depending on the brand. Also the store that I go to have a big rock that you can try your boots on. I find that very helpful as you can feel if / how your feet move in the boots for uphill and downhill.
I always buy in-person unless I'm just getting another pair of the same thing I bought previously.