Yeah, buddy.
I went ahead and ordered a pair of the Jim Green African Ranger boots back then.
Yeah thats a bugger when that happen, In all of Baffin extreme cold boots I take a 12 so I also ordered a pair of their baffin Trapper wellington boots and they are like Boats even with 2 pairs of heavy socks and their baffin Titan -148*f/-100*c wellington Boots because of all the insulation they come up a bit narrow, yet their Snow boots I always have to go up a size,
I've noticed that odd over-sizing thing. I wonder if maybe modern buyers expect comfort immediately, either not willing or don't know about breaking in a set of boots?
I think that also it's that consumers these days are heavier and they're making things to fit fat people.
I've read the same thing is occurring with clothing sizes. I'm about 10 lbs heavier than my high school graduation weight and have gone from XL (I have long arms) to L to now almost always medium as first pick. But we guys are lucky that we can buy by the number. A 32x34 trouser in 1989 is still a 32x34 in 2022. Although the cut is a bit more roomy, which is fine. I'm no hipster anyway.
The other challenge is that there is no standard size scale - an 8 in one country is a 7-1/2 in another, and a 40 in another, etc... As we buy more and more online this can create problems.
And even those vary with no rhyme or reason. A 48 from one company might fit fine but from another company is too small. Even two shoes from the same company in the same size often fit differently.
...and stocking stores fewer bricks... : )
People on hand crews hike A LOT, in often very rough terrain, and the ultimate hand crew boot is the White's Smokejumper.
