Buying boots online

Most online retailers of any note have a size calculator on the site that you can follow with a tape measure. Different brands can be different so even then its not perfect and you take a chance. Only boots Ive bought online were snowboard boots from torpedo7 and they fitted perfectly. They were cheap though and the finish is cheap but they lasted ok

Buying online can be fraught with risks. You can't really tell from a photo if the boot has a narrow toe box. Kiwis have wide feet as a rule so many of the European boots are not well suited. Unless you have owned a boot and want to replace it with exactly the same model (or cheekily tried it instore with no intention to buy), I wouldn't risk it. I own several boots for different seasons/uses. The best by far are my Scarpa Mythos (bought from Macpac on sale). Fitted right out of the box. Gun City online have Tibets for an eye-watering $700! There's a branch in Wellington if you still wanted to try them on... http://www.guncity.com/lowa-tibet-pro-gtx-wide-width-boots-choose-size-242313

i wouldnt buy footwear online that i hadnt used before, its not just about size , its about the shape of the boots. brands vary in shape, european brands can be chronic for being narrow in the front, some brands are borderline for me i can only wear with thin socks, other brands are too narrow to wear at all

Bivouac was willing to send me several pairs of boots at once so I could try them on for fit, then I would return the unwanted boots for a refund. Torpedo7 also has a very easy return policy, Sometimes I order two sizes of clothing then return the size which does not fit. Don't know if they like it, but I do it. Internationally it is not so easy due to the higher freight costs.