I am looking at some new AT boots for this season and will probably buy online for the savings.

I normally wear a mondo 28 or 28.5 and want to know if it is typically easier to make a boot bigger or smaller. I will go to a professional fitter but should I get the 28 and possibly be a little too tight or the 28.5 and possibly be a little too big.

By all means smaller is better, There is nothing worse then stuffing all sorts of inserts and crap into a boot to fill space.

Start with a shell fit, You should be able to get 1-1 1/2 finger tips behind the heal of your foot and between the shell with no liner in the boot and your toes touching but not smooshed into the front of the boot.

So many ways to punch a boot in trouble spots and even mellow grinding will do. When your liner is formed or fit, should fill it out nice.

Stay away from the big boots.

Depending on the mfg'r, the shell is likely the same for the 28 and 28.5, the liner is what makes up the difference. Just go try them on somewhere and be up front about your intentions, who knows, maybe the shop will make you a deal.

Edit - didn't see the professional fitter part. In that case, why not call the fitter you intend to use?

One other point, depending on the shell material, you may not be able to punch or grind the boot much, if at all. I've read that Pebax can't be punched and is too thin to do any significant grinding.

You can blow the boot out but you can't shrink it.

Boot companies generally make the shell is the same size on the half increment. That being said, not all manufacturers follow the same convention so keep an eye out for that.

Most companies make the 28/28.5 the same sized shell (BD, Garmont, Dynafit)and the only difference between the two is the size of the liner (which will size up or down slightly when being thermo-molded).

Scarpa, on the other hand, rocks the boat and blows convention (and reason) by making their shells the same size on the 27.5/28 split.

Best way I've found to keep it straight is to go to Backcountry.com, look at a boot from a given brand, and click "Size?" right under the size drop-down. Scroll down in the sizing chart and you'll see the Boot Sole Length chart which shows how a given brand splits their shells:

Scarpa- www.backcountry.com/store/sizingchart.html?sizing_id=589&sku>>>

BD- www.backcountry.com/store/sizingchart.html?sizing_id=843&sku>>>

Dynafit - www.backcountry.com/store/sizingchart.html?sizing_id=1575&sk>>>

Garmont - www.backcountry.com/store/sizingchart.html?sizing_id=114&sku>>>

Wade,

I would honestly suggest going into a retailer to, at the very least, try the boots on and get their opinion. In the front range, shops such as The Wilderness Exchange, Edgeworks, and Bent Gate all have knowledgeable staff that can get you going in the right direction. Besides, nothing's going to make you more miserable than taking a boot into a fitter and being told it's not going to work for one or more reasons.

As Jonathan mentioned, all the companies have different ways of sizing their boots and regardless of the liners some are going to fit narrower or wider feet better. For example, the Scarpa Mobe and Maestrale's both use the intuition liners but the Maestrale's have a significantly narrower shell with a lower volume fit. Then other factors come in, like how stiff the boot is vs how well it tours, what degree of flex your ankle has in walk mode, the individual soles and the types of tech fittings if you want dynafit bindings.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Best of luck and enjoy the new boots!

you might want to look into last years BD factor's from REI too... I got mine for $340 and if they don't fit they'll take the return. I posted a thread here a week ago or so about it.

You may also find this tidbit of information somewhat helpful:

www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/137151-the-answer>>>