Your foot should fit your boot like a glove with socks on. Make sure you are wearing the same thickness of socks in those boots at all times. Otherwise, you'll get blisters. Your foot should feel completely stable with no room for give. You can and should probably get individualized boots that have special padding in them around certain areas of your foot, stretching the boots in the right place. You should walk at least 100 miles in them and bring them back to get fitted again before setting out on an expedition. In this way, whoever is helping you with your boots can see where your feet bend and slack. They should feel like the best pair of shoes you've ever worn. I just got a pair of backpacking boots and I don't even want to take THEM off when I get home they're so comfortable. Heck, I even wear them to work sometimes with my khakis. :) Anyway, good luck. I need to get a nice pair too sometime soon here.