Actually, with many pairs of boots I go for what I consider true to size. I started my journey with a pair of red wing iron rangers in the classic amber harness, second hand off eBay, and a brand new pair of matte black presidents from Thursday boot company. Reading a lot of sizing info and reviews from Nick at Stridewise, I always heard half size down, but 12.5 is a bit more rare to see. I wear 13s in my Chuck Taylor’s, which fit pretty well if not a touch snug at the toes, so I took a wild stab in the dark with those first two pairs and by golly I was right to do so. Immediately I felt like they were my correct size. And from there I experimented with other brands like oak street, going with their advice of true to size and getting a perfect fit in a 13D. With whites and vibergs the normal conversion made it a 12E, which again proved correct. I just had to trust my gut and it worked out!
