Shoe sizing - better a little bit too big or little bit too small?

[blahman]

I am looking to buy a pair of these Herring Baris:

And as it's an online purchase I risk getting a pair of shoes that won't fit as well as I like.
I tend to wear size 41EU or 7.5 Australian normally and according to conversion charts, it is either a 7 or a 7 1/2 UK depending on where I get my information from. According to Herring, however it is a 7UK.

So should I risk purchasing a 7 or a 7.5? And normally how much difference is there between half sizes?

 

[pebblegrain]

Originally Posted by blahman

how much difference is there between half sizes?

.5 size, usually

 

[bringusingoodale]

Gawd. I am going to offer practical, experiential advice before all the other equally acceptable but sometimes unpractical, fastidious advice about lasts and how trying on the shoes blah blah blah.

Sizing up is the safest option. Worst case, stick in some of those gel comfort inserts and you are good to go. Sometimes just wearing thicker socks will do.

Sizing down: worst case you can only wear the shoes with the thinnest of socks for less than 400 steps or less than an hour without

Best case, just stick in some bigger shoe trees and keep them conditioned and they will be wearable.

I'd size up is the bottom line if you have no other options or are willing to have shoes that fit half size top big but are wearable.

 

[blahman]

Thanks gentlemen, 7.5 it is. If it's too big guess I can get some tongu padding or insoles I guess.