Do you want them to be super snug or a little bit of wiggle room? My current pair is fairly snug, almost uncomfortable however I already went up two + sizes to a 13.  I wear a 10.5/11 wide, do I need wider boots or do I just need to bump it up another half size? I’m just worried if I go too much bigger they will be too long, my toes are already an inch + from the tip.

What kind of waders are you using with the boots? 

Get stocking foot waders and wear comfortable stream shoes that fit.

Tom 

i have boot-foot waders.  my boots are loose.   i didnt want to wrestle with donning and doffing.  (doffing?) my boots on a beach.  most wader failures i see are my friends pulling on the pant leg to pull their boots on.  it fails at that ankle weld.  

 

i dont mind a floppy boot.  i wear thicker socks.  

i have no experience with sock-foot waders.  i cant imagine you even consider your own foots size when buying boots.  i would wear my waders and try on boots.  

I err on the side of too big rather than too small. You should be able to use them all day and want to get up in the morning and do it again without worrying about foot pain.

Snug enough that your feet are just barely not sliding when you’re wearing the heaviest stuff you’re going to wear. For me that’s super heavy wool socks. If they are too tight it restricts circulation. Too loose and your feet will slide as you move around the stream. Depending on the neoprene bootie, the socks you’re wearing, and the cut/nomenclature from the maker you could be 3-4 sizes off your normal shoe. 

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Get stocking foot waders and wear comfortable stream shoes that fit.

Tom 

I think this is a very bad idea. Wading boots with good ankle support is very important. Wading in rocky streams, you are going to twist an ankle while walking on uneven rocks. Many times, unless the water is very clear, you can’t even see your feet. With good, solid boots, even if you step on the edge of a rock, they can save you from falling in or going limping home on a swollen ankle. 

The stocking foot wader goes inside the boot or wading shoe specifically designed for rocky slipper wet surfaces. 

I always used stocking foot water for decades because of better ankle support will. Shoe/boot that fits.

The rubber boot molded onto a wader provides little ankle support because it must be able to slip on/off.

Tom

 

Youre much better off going with a pair that has more room compared to a snug pair.  If you plan on duck hunting and are going to be walking through deep mud, then you need to be careful you dont go too big, as the suction from the mud can pull you're foot right out of the boot.  

Same goes for the fit of the waders around the inseam.  A snug fit puts far more pressure on the seams and welds when compared with a loose fit pair.  

Besides all the other advice given for boots not being snug one of the biggest is if they are snug or tight your feet will get colder faster as blood flow won't be as great.  You want them to be comfortable and if you need larger boots then get them, you won't be disappointed.

Wading boots should be snug but not tight, the ankle support is truly needed when wading.  A foot injury while in the water is not a good situation to be in and can very easily turn dangerous.  Wading a river presents lots of opportunities to roll an ankle; uneven bottom, substrate changing from gravel to soft sand, logs, rocks, etc.  Lastly, that god awful black muck which can really do a number on you if you aren't mindful of it, very easy to twist an ankle freeing yourself.  Good wading boots, like those made by Simms, Orvis, LL Bean, or Patagonia are typically as comfortable as a pair of hiking boots.  They will still remain comfortable even being snug.  Wear some thick wool or alpaca socks too, they add comfort and keep your feet from stinking.  When wading, comfort should take a back seat to safety.