Brand New Skier... Tried on boots for the first time... extemely confused!!!

I am from MD, and I have been snowboarding for 13 years. I have shyed away from skiing because I wear a size 15 shoe and I have never been able to rent boots (and skis obviously) at any resorts that I've been to. I recently visited Seattle and had the opportunity to get fitted and actually try on a pair of boots. 

Here is where my confusion starts...

I was sized using the mondopoint sizing method and my foot measured between a 31 and a 32. They had a size 31 boot in stock... atomic hawx 100 I believe. The boots fit fairly well, my right foot is a little bigger than my left. left was perfect, right was a little tight. I was told that half sizes do not effect the shell size but only the liner size... just want to make sure I am correct with that... Now, since I have been back in MD I have been looking online for large sized boots and I came across a Lange boot on the EVO website in a size 31.5 mondopoint for a very reasonable price. Almost too reasonable to pass up. They have a sizing chart on the website and when I glanced at it it told me that a size 31.5 equated to a size 13.5 and a size 15 equated to a 33 or 33.5 or something like that.  HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE????? I am absolutely positive that I wear a size 15 shoe... I've been doing it for 15 years now...

i asked some skier friends of mine what size shoes they wear and what size boots they wear and so far their shoe and boot size matches up to the chart within a half size... Now if in my case the size chart was only off a half size I wouldn't worry about it but I found it strange that mine is off by a size and a half...

My friends keep saying that maybe the Atomic boots just run a little big and I can almost bye into that but when I put my foot on the sizing chart and stood up I was looking at between a 31 and a 32...

My friends also say I should just stick to snowboarding

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrownManRunnin 

I am from MD, and I have been snowboarding for 13 years. I have shyed away from skiing because I wear a size 15 shoe and I have never been able to rent boots (and skis obviously) at any resorts that I've been to. I recently visited Seattle and had the opportunity to get fitted and actually try on a pair of boots. 

 

Here is where my confusion starts...

 

I was sized using the mondopoint sizing method and my foot measured between a 31 and a 32. They had a size 31 boot in stock... atomic hawx 100 I believe. The boots fit fairly well, my right foot is a little bigger than my left. left was perfect, right was a little tight. I was told that half sizes do not effect the shell size but only the liner size... just want to make sure I am correct with that... Now, since I have been back in MD I have been looking online for large sized boots and I came across a Lange boot on the EVO website in a size 31.5 mondopoint for a very reasonable price. Almost too reasonable to pass up. They have a sizing chart on the website and when I glanced at it it told me that a size 31.5 equated to a size 13.5 and a size 15 equated to a 33 or 33.5 or something like that.  HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE????? I am absolutely positive that I wear a size 15 shoe... I've been doing it for 15 years now...

 

Welcome aboard!

I wear a US mens 17 shoe, and I believe my boot shells are 32 or 32.5.  So you're in the right range.  In general, I believe that most companies only manufacture "full size" shells, and do use different liners for the "half" sizes.  That may not be true for all boots, though.

I would be very, very cautious about buying boots online if you have not tried on that specific boot.  Boots that are nominally the "same" size can fit quite differently, even just different models from the same manufacturer.  Common variations include more or less room in the toebox, higher or lower volume around the arch/ankle, and different cuff height and angle.  If you're going to order something online, make sure you can send it back if it doesn't fit well.

Also, a good bootfitter can make physical adjustments to the shell, liner, or footbed to improve the fit of a boot.

Yeah.  I don't really know what to tell you there.  In general it's better to go by what fits than by "size", because it's not as standardized as normal shoes.  And I'm sure you've seen how consistent that sizing is...

Don't listen to those losers. 

Don't go by the chart, go by what fits.  Most people, including your friends probably, wear boots that are too big.  For example, I have a friend with large feet (street shoe of 13, but partially due to extra wide feet) who wears a 28.5.  The chart would put him at a 31.  Personally, the chart would put me at a 28.5 and I wear a 27.5.  So, pretty much ignore the chart is what I'm saying.

Also, don't just buy any boot you find 'cause it's a 31.5.  Mattias99 is right, different boots can fit *very* differently.

Thanks very much guys... I was hoping it was just as simple as that... By the way Matthias... sorry to hear about those 17's. I hate shopping for anything for my feet, always a headache...