I learned something today. I visited a very reputable shoe store today. For years I have been wearing size 11D shoes and boots. Well, today, I had a professional measure my feet for shoes and found out my optimum shoe size is a 14 B. Well, I tried on a bunch of shoes and settled on a13 B, probably because I am used to having my toes smashed into shorter, wider, shoes. He said better than 90% of men that come through his store are wearing the wrong size shoes and it leads to hip/back and knee problems. You need to fit the arch of your foot, not the length. The vast majority of men should be wearing longer, narrower shoes/boots. I guess, I'm buying what he's selling.

I got custom JK boots made to fit my feet about three years ago definitely one of best investments I have made

I have been a 14EEEE or a 15EE depending on brand since I was 16

beyond getting the length and width right

heal width
ball width
arch width
where the arch falls
I wish there was a better way to actually map out sizing that let you measure all these things then select the right shoe.

when I travel I always take extra shoes with , always because if a pair breaks or gets soaked there isn't a pace to go get a pair my size easily

I only bother going to the Shoe Box in Black Earth WI anything else has just been frustration

before Black Earth I went to Stan's Bootery in MKE

I save my mostly worn out shoes and stuff a pair of socks in them and put them under the seat of my trucks , better to have a mostly worn out shoe that fits than try and find my size any where.

If you walk on concrete alot, good shoes/ boots are VERY important.

I wear custom orthotics in my workbooks. My running shoes are stability or motion control asics. Arch is built in. I over pronate naturally. If I wear a regular shoe or natural gate shoe, my knees will hurt in a couple of days. Footwear absolutely matters.