To think I can't be the first generous footed woman to need walking boots

[Flatfootinneedofboots]

So I arrived in the Lake District yesterday for a few days holiday. Dug out my size 7 walking boots to find they are too tight. Google says I might have fallen arches.

I've been in several shops and they look aghast when I ask for size 8s!

DD is only 14 but loads of her pals are tall with - ahem - long feet!

Surely I'm not that much of a freak that a town full of walking boot shops can't help me.

I know this is AIBU but please be nice our I'll spend the rest of my holiday shuffling from cafe to cafe rather than walking and getting fit

Size 8 here too (feet unfortunately, not body).
And I got a decent pair of walking boots off eBay, but obviously this doesn't help you.
Shoe shopping is a pain but a lot of places have gotten better over the years, but still all the sale shoes are always a bloody size 6!!!

Just ask for narrow men's ones? My feet are bigger than yours and you can do a lot with good lacing to get men's boots to fit, you just need to try some on. Good luck and have fun on your walks!

Have you tried the mens' sections? I'm a 7, and get a much better selection there, even with narrow feet.

Surely they have men's size 8?
Boots are boots...

Look in the men’s section - I have size 9.5 feet and always do that. Bonus is that my boots never have pink trim

Size 8 is hardly unusual is it? Can you amazon prime to holiday home

Obviously the blokes’ section is your answer. Why are you even asking? Simple solution. I wear Ariat Terrain, very comfortable, waterproof. Blokes.

Are you steadfastly sticking to the women's range?

I wear size 8 and have had this issue occasionally (not routinely) with specialist running shoes and with walking boots. I just opt for the men's range in that case (I have men's running shoes at the moment - they look like the women's except they have a green contrast colour on the black rather than mauve / pink etc). My walking boots are now knackered so I slip on Ds' walking boots - again they look okay and not incongruous

I'm an 8. Nobody's ever looked aghast at me. It's a common enough size for women these days.

If you can't find a pair, go to the men's dept. Same thing anyway when we're in walking boot territory.

I'm a 9/9.5. I just go to the men's range

Oh God - why didn't I think to look in men's section? Thank you!

Has anyone else had their feet grow in middle age? I used to be a biggish 6.

I got a pair of 8’s last year from go outdoors at Penrith.

Size 43/44 here. I buy men's. My last pair of Merrells are in their 6th year and going strong. Comfiest boots ever.

bloke side. always buy kit made for men if you can. avoid the pink tax and get better stuff.

womens shoes over A size 7 are outlawed now but fortunately men wear walking boots too.

your feet may have grown - it is a problem in this house - but there is also some dicking about with sizes. I am now in a size 9 for trainers.

Surely the only major difference between men's and ladies boots is colour? Does it really matter what colour they are? Or were you in specific womenswear shops that genuinely didn't have any bigger boots. Can't think why a sales assistant wouldn't have suggested the men's range.

I wear men's size 9 in walking boots (am usually an 8) and had great service at Cunninghams in Ambleside. George Fisher in Keswick also very good and you can hire boots from them too if necessary. I bought some from them a few years ago but couldn't get on with them and took them back, they were a year old but in good condition, and they gave me back 50% of the original price.

Why are you even asking

Because it didn't bloody well occur to me!

I'm an 8 and have a pair of Salomon boots from Cotswold Outdoors, so there's at least one brand and retailer that should be able to help. Also, have you tried Gaynors in Ambleside? I find they're generally pretty good.

Watch out with bloke's boots, I tried a pair of men's Brashers and they were awful, far too wide and they made my feet bleed . Make sure you get a narrower fit!

I agree with people who are saying try men's boots. They go down to size 7 but have a wider fitting, so try a 7. It's better for your feet to have a wider boot the right length than to try to get the width by going to a longer length. If your boot is too long, there's the chance your feet will be sliding forward when you come downhill, so you'll be bouncing the ends of your toes on the front - you do not want bruised toenails.

A specialist shop may have a boot-stretching machine, and that might be enough to make your current boots fit.

Surely the only major difference between men's and ladies boots is colour

Well walking boots mostly all look the same, but I was genuninely under the impression that mens shoes were wider, especially in the heel area, and might also be 'deeper', which I would expect wouldn't fit my narrow feet, which is why I probably wouldn't look at men's boots.

Thanks for all your replies (God I hate shopping!). I can get to Ambleside or Keswick so will try shops mentioned.