Recommendation for next shoe (I have very narrow feet!)

Ramon said:
I have narrow feet, and my experience with Adidas is a bit more favorable than yours. I usually found Adidas length to be true to size except for the Barricade 8/8+ which was very short. The Barricade 7 was actually slightly long. Width was usually on the narrow side of medium, so while I usually needed to add an insole or wear 2 pairs of socks, the fit was more acceptable than most other brands (including the NB 604 B width, which I definitely think is closer to a D than a B). Right now I'm experiencing some rubbing and pinching on the Barricade 2015 Boost, so I'm not a total fan of it, but I'd say Adidas has been one of the better tennis shoe manufacturers for me.
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I must admit I haven't much luck with German shoe brands on a whole and especially adidas that gave me toe jamming even on football (read: not handegg) shoes. The way the shoe fit doesn't work for me; I wish for a EU45.5 but most time they go straight from 45 to 46 with no half-size in between. It's hard to convey with US sizes because adidas' 45 is 11.5 and 46 is 12; to give you an example, Lotto's 45 is 11.5 but 45.5 is 12 while 46 is 12.5. Now I just know that I need my shoes to be listed at 29.5cm... :D The 8/8+ was just a damn wide boat and indeed quite short. I also found the old Propulses before the BPM to fit very short; no idea about how the BPM is.
My experience with the "German" fitting HEAD Revolt was more favourable: reminded me of the Barricade 7s but with less toe jamming (and a very tight heel; still wished it had an extra hole for a heel lock around my ankle!). I guess I prefer a more "Italian" fit.
 
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I just bought a pair of the Yonex Pro Cushion Eclipsion shoes in a 11.5 size. Heard they have a narrow fit and are better for a narrow heel. Crossing my fingers.
 
Brett said:
Thanks but it didn't really help.

Currently, I am still holding on to just the size 12 pair of Lotto Stratosphere and shipped everything else back. Just don't know if I should keep them or not or what other shoes to look for.

Any other ideas would be great, getting real frustrated.
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Sounds like you didn't try the Lotto Raptor Evo though? I've got a medium-narrow foot (narrower in the heel which puts me in the heel-slippage camp) and I think the Raptor Evos are quite narrow in the forefoot and locked my heel in pretty snugly... I got my usual size, same as my prior Lotto Raptors, Gel Resolution 5's, and Gel Solution Speed 2's.
 
Lukhas said:
I must admit I haven't much luck with German shoe brands on a whole and especially adidas that gave me toe jamming even on football (read: not handegg) shoes. The way the shoe fit doesn't work for me; I wish for a EU45.5 but most time they go straight from 45 to 46 with no half-size in between. It's hard to convey with US sizes because adidas' 45 is 11.5 and 46 is 12; to give you an example, Lotto's 45 is 11.5 but 45.5 is 12 while 46 is 12.5. Now I just know that I need my shoes to be listed at 29.5cm... :D The 8/8+ was just a damn wide boat and indeed quite short. I also found the old Propulses before the BPM to fit very short; no idea about how the BPM is.
My experience with the "German" fitting HEAD Revolt was more favourable: reminded me of the Barricade 7s but with less toe jamming (and a very tight heel; still wished it had an extra hole for a heel lock around my ankle!). I guess I prefer a more "Italian" fit.
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That reminds me, even here in the us I try to go by EU shoe sizes for European brands when ordering blind. They seem to be closer than their US conversion.

What's next, am I going to start stringing in kilos?
 
Cyclone, I was told the Lotto Raptor EVO was not as narrow of a fit as the Stratosphere so I didn't even try them.
 
If you try the Nike Lunar Ballistecs you may never look at a different shoe for hardcourts.
On clay I can put up with Asics Resolution 5 and 6.
 
Finft, thank you but again I had the Nike Air Court Ballistics 4.3 and couldn't stand them. They felt way too heavy/wide for my narrow/skinny heel foot.
 
Brett said:
I am 6'1, 165 lbs. Currently I have been using the Nike Air Court Ballistec 4.3 and I can't stand them. They feel much too heavy on my feet (16.1 ounces) and I have such narrow feet that I have to tie the laces so hard and they still feel too wide on my feet.

Do you have a good recommendation for me? Maybe to help more, I can let you know for running shoes I have been using Nike Air Pegasus in a narrow size 12 and they work pretty well. I understand tennis shoes don't really come in narrows though.

Any help from others who also have narrow feet and like a lighter shoe that can recommend a popular choice?

Thanks!
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I can tell that you that you wont' be disappointed in two different offerings. I have narrow feet as well and typically could only wear vapor tours and like the fit. The two best offerings in my opinion right now are the 1) Babolat Jet(run 1.5 size small in my opinion) 2) Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion

Both are great offerings. The Jets feel lighter to me, but the Yonex feel a little more stable and feel like they may last a little longer on a hardcourt due to sole pattern.

Can't go wrong with either!
 
Brett said:
Finft, thank you but again I had the Nike Air Court Ballistics 4.3 and couldn't stand them. They felt way too heavy/wide for my narrow/skinny heel foot.
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For what its worth I tried on the Lunar Ballistic 1.5 last night and the heel feels narrower and more cupped than my vapor or barricade. The toe box is also narrower. I really cranked down on the laces and they felt to be a pretty close fit on the heel and balls of my feet even with single socks.

The downside was the arch was a little low for me and on the low side of my midfoot they felt like they cupped to the upper while my foot would have liked slightly more width there. It felt like I was standing on the edge, but only in the midfoot.

I think I read somewhere the Nike Cage is more similar to the Court Ballistics than the Lunar Ballistic but I or whoever wrote that could be wrong. I wouldn't buy them, I don't have time to hunt for deals on markdowns on 6-month shoes that are said to have traction, heat, and durability issues.
 
Which shoe is more narrow overall and more narrow in the heel? The Babolat Jet or Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion?
 
Brett said:
Cyclone, I was told the Lotto Raptor EVO was not as narrow of a fit as the Stratosphere so I didn't even try them.
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Perhaps, though the EVO is very likely not as soft as the Strat, so might actually work better. However, I will say that socks can play an important part. Buy mostly cotton socks, or try the new Nike tennis socks; they're pricey, but fit well and have thick heels.
 
Got the Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion in tonight and tried them on. But they also slipped on my heels. Overall they felt good narrow wise even though they are wide in the forefoot. I have now tried Asics Gel Solution Speed 3, Lotto Stratosphere and now this one. Don't know what else to do. I hate my feet.
 
Brett said:
Got the Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion in tonight and tried them on. But they also slipped on my heels. Overall they felt good narrow wise even though they are wide in the forefoot. I have now tried Asics Gel Solution Speed 3, Lotto Stratosphere and now this one. Don't know what else to do. I hate my feet.
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Ever use heel grips? May solve your problem. Saw them at DollarTree for a buck tonight.
p306739b.jpg
 
Brett said:
Got the Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion in tonight and tried them on. But they also slipped on my heels. Overall they felt good narrow wise even though they are wide in the forefoot. I have now tried Asics Gel Solution Speed 3, Lotto Stratosphere and now this one. Don't know what else to do. I hate my feet.
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To be clear your heels slipping means when you roll onto your forefoot and raise your heel you are getting a vertical gap, like a less extreme version of wearing flip flops?

With some running and tennis shoes the rear collar is heavily padded and my foot doesn't settle to the back well. When I'm tightening the laces I stomp my heel with the sole at a 45 degree angle until the lower back of my heel feels firmly in place, then continue locking down the laces.

Have you tried insoles or different socks yet? REI has some superfeet demos if you are near one and their shoe people may have some ideas since they deal with hikers. You could also try a local running store that deals with marathon runners. They will usually have a treadmill to examine peoples stride and are more knowledgable about solving problems.
 
Heel Grips like the one pictured unfortunately don't work because they fall out and don't stay gripped on.

I was already trying these on with 2 pairs of socks...

I'm getting so frustrated.
 
The Lotto Stratosphere felt more like a normal shoe to me. But I noticed they seemed to be lower to the ground and my left ankle seems to be riding on the top of the top due to it feeling low which causes some pain for me. Not sure if this would go away over time but it's something I noticed. I feel like with the Stratosphere it would be easy to roll an ankle?

The Eclipsion feels narrow but a very different feel than a normal shoe. Almost like a contour shape on the bottom of my foot, not that it's a bad thing. It feels ankle supported and comfortable but the back area of my foot was swimming around in it more than it was with the Stratosphere. Again, I tried the heel lock method but this just causes more tightness and pain around my ankles.

I have just ordered the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost but I don't expect this to solve my problems either. Not sure what I am going to do if this one doesn't work either.
 
Sorry don't understand your question? My last shoe was a Nike Air Court Ballistic 4.3 but it's too heavy and bulky feeling. Too wide for my feet too.
 
Brett said:
Sorry don't understand your question? My last shoe was a Nike Air Court Ballistic 4.3 but it's too heavy and bulky feeling. Too wide for my feet too.
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I think he's asking what the shoe you like measures, which would be Nike Air Pegasus in a narrow size 12.

I'd be curious to hear if you went to a shoe store that had one of those metal measurement devices what width you measured. I think width is measured at the forefoot not the heel which seems to be your concern.

Here is a strange idea, only because I considered the same. From what I understand women's shoes are supposed to be narrower overall and particularly in the heel. The part that works against you would be I understand their sizes are smaller, so if you need a 12 you'd probably need to find a 13.5 or so. I already wear a 12.5 so I gave up pursuing it when I realized I'd need around a 14.

If you read a description of how shoes differ by gender, narrower overall, narrower heel and wider forefoot proportion. That all sounds worth a try. Here is some more info which probably applies to tennis shoes as well - http://www.livestrong.com/article/269999-what-is-the-difference-between-womens-mens-running-shoes/
 
BITD had to purchase shoes in a AAA width for someone with narrow feet. Not sure if such a narrow shoe is still available but a running shoe shop may be able to at least measure your feet. Or go to a shoe repair shop that modifies shoes.
 
Brett said:
I am 6'1, 165 lbs. Currently I have been using the Nike Air Court Ballistec 4.3 and I can't stand them. They feel much too heavy on my feet (16.1 ounces) and I have such narrow feet that I have to tie the laces so hard and they still feel too wide on my feet.

Do you have a good recommendation for me? Maybe to help more, I can let you know for running shoes I have been using Nike Air Pegasus in a narrow size 12 and they work pretty well. I understand tennis shoes don't really come in narrows though.

Any help from others who also have narrow feet and like a lighter shoe that can recommend a popular choice?

Thanks!
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Did you try any of the K-SWISS line?
They're supposed to be very good for narrow feet.
 
I actually already know my width from a running store because I run a lot too! He said I was actually closer to an "A".

Simon...but that's what people said about the Lotto line too and it didn't work out for me with the Stratosphere?
 
Brett said:
I actually already know my width from a running store because I run a lot too! He said I was actually closer to an "A".

Simon...but that's what people said about the Lotto line too and it didn't work out for me with the Stratosphere?
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Which running shoe do you wear?
 
Always worn a Nike Pegasus, lately in a narrow fit since they sell those now. Currently on the Nike Pegasus 32.
 
So I got the Adidas Barricade Boost 2016 in with my 11.5 size pair. Off the bat, they still slip in the heels/ankles but seemingly not as bad as the Lotto Stratosphere or Yonex Cushion Eclipsion. They felt really tight on my feet and my toes were about at the end of the shoe so I don't know if that means I would be better for a size 12 but then that would also make the heel slip even more.

I give up. Don't know what else to order.
 
Brett said:
So I got the Adidas Barricade Boost 2016 in with my 11.5 size pair. Off the bat, they still slip in the heels/ankles but seemingly not as bad as the Lotto Stratosphere or Yonex Cushion Eclipsion. They felt really tight on my feet and my toes were about at the end of the shoe so I don't know if that means I would be better for a size 12 but then that would also make the heel slip even more.

I give up. Don't know what else to order.
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Ever use a heel cup?
 
Brett said:
So I got the Adidas Barricade Boost 2016 in with my 11.5 size pair. Off the bat, they still slip in the heels/ankles but seemingly not as bad as the Lotto Stratosphere or Yonex Cushion Eclipsion. They felt really tight on my feet and my toes were about at the end of the shoe so I don't know if that means I would be better for a size 12 but then that would also make the heel slip even more.

I give up. Don't know what else to order.
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Honestly Brett, I feel your pain. Foot movement and heel slippage in my shoe can be incredibly frustrating. At the end of the day though, you need to play in something. I'd say choose whichever shoe was the least offensive, wear two pairs of new cotton socks (UA charged cotton) and go for it. You might need to adjust during play, you might need to stop and tie your shoes, but you gotta make the best of it. Also, keep in mind that new shoes can actually slip more than broken-in shoes, since they're stiffer and less compliant.
 
Brett said:
I actually already know my width from a running store because I run a lot too! He said I was actually closer to an "A".

Simon...but that's what people said about the Lotto line too and it didn't work out for me with the Stratosphere?
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I'd at least give it a try.
They're nice shoes.
 
NickShot said:
I second the Babolat Jet. Fit me pretty well and I have narrow feet and heel.
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Thanks! But from what I have heard it isn't necessarily a shoe for narrow feet? Your thoughts?

Also did you stay your normal size or go up a 1/2 size?

So just to keep everyone posted, I just ordered a size 12 in the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost (went up 1/2 size from the 11.5 I originally ordered. The 11.5 size still slipped in the heel some but not as much as the Yonex or Lotto shoes. But I did notice my toes were at the end of the shoe and the top of the shoe felt tight on my feet so maybe that meant I should go up a 1/2 size? But now I'm sure my heels will still be slipping even more).

Also ordered a size 11.5 of the Adidas Ubersonic and a size 12 of the Babolat Jet.

Not expecting it to solve anything but wish me luck....This is like my 6th pair of shoes to try.
 
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The Barricade 2016 Boost is the best of all 7 but still not liking it because only my left heel is slipping on both the 11.5 and 12 size. My right foot isn't slipping as much. I tried the Ubersonics but immediately didn't like them because of the laces and they felt like they didnt have much cushion at all. The Babolat Jet look amazing and feel great but they feel really loose in my ankles and slip more so than the Barricade 2016 Boost. I'm also concerned about the durability of the Babolat Jet.

Out of all the 7-8 pairs of shoes I have tried, the Barricade 2016 Boost seem to slip the least amount in the heel. Can't decide on what size though...I'm either an 11.5 or 12...I have both pairs. In my previous Nike Air Court Ballistic 4.3 I had both 11.5 and size 12 because I couldn't decide either. In my usual running shoes which are Nike Air Pegasus 32 (narrow) I wear a size 12.

But don't know if I should just keep looking for other shoes still.
 
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Brett said:
The Barricade 2016 Boost is the best of all 7 but still not liking it because only my left heel is slipping on both the 11.5 and 12 size. My right foot isn't slipping as much. I tried the Ubersonics but immediately didn't like them because of the laces and they felt like they didnt have much cushion at all. The Babolat Jet look amazing and feel great but they feel really loose in my ankles and slip more so than the Barricade 2016 Boost. I'm also concerned about the durability of the Babolat Jet.

Out of all the 7-8 pairs of shoes I have tried, the Barricade 2016 Boost seem to slip the least amount in the heel. Can't decide on what size though...I'm either an 11.5 or 12...I have both pairs. In my previous Nike Air Court Ballistic 4.3 I had both 11.5 and size 12 because I couldn't decide either. In my usual running shoes which are Nike Air Pegasus 32 (narrow) I wear a size 12.

But don't know if I should just keep looking for other shoes still.
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Try the K-SWISS. They're not bad at all, trust me. I know D1 prospects that use them.
 
Did you send the übersonic back yet? I think they fit length and width very close to the barricade. You could base size off that.
 
I sent back the Ubersonics. Currently have only the 11.5 and 12 size of the Barricade Boost 2016 in my possession. Don't know what size would be better for me or if I should try another shoe.

Can anyone help with sizing? I had both a 11.5 and a 12 size for my Nike Air Court Ballistic 4.3 so I don't know what my true size is. I know my actually foot length measures 11 inches using a ruler.

But I wear a size 12 for my running shoe which is a Nike Pegasus 32 (Narrow width).
 
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tnguy133 said:
I also recommend Asics gel solution speed and since you have a narrow foot try the speed 3s rather than the speed 2s. The speed 3s are a narrower fit than the 2s and the Asics gel solution speed line is very light weight. I have the speed 2s and from personal experience they are very light, fairly durable, and traction is pretty good.
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Agree...
The SS2 Clay version is my favorite shoe ever! My next hard court shoe will most likely be the SS3.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Thanks all, I am pretty sure the 11.5 size fits me better than the 12 on the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost.

But I'm still just not sure the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost are narrow enough for my feet...I still have a ton of extra material on the 11.5 size because my feet are so narrow...And I still have some slippage (more than I would like).

Are the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost shoes overall more narrow than my previous shoes I've worn of the Nike Air Court Ballistic 3.3 and 4.3? Are the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost one of the most narrow men shoes on the market? Where are they on the scale of narrowness compared to others?

Do you have another suggestion of a narrow shoe I should try?
 
Brett said:
Thanks all, I am pretty sure the 11.5 size fits me better than the 12 on the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost.

But I'm still just not sure the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost are narrow enough for my feet...I still have a ton of extra material on the 11.5 size because my feet are so narrow...And I still have some slippage (more than I would like).

Are the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost shoes overall more narrow than my previous shoes I've worn of the Nike Air Court Ballistic 3.3 and 4.3? Are the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost one of the most narrow men shoes on the market? Where are they on the scale of narrowness compared to others?

Do you have another suggestion of a narrow shoe I should try?
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I think you've tried almost every premium narrow tennis shoe on the market. I say get a pair of insoles (ie. Superfeet Greens), put them on top of the factory insoles, and call it a day. If you do that, the shoe WILL be tight.
 
Brett said:
If so....which specific ones? http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/sea...&opt_page=1&opt_sort=alphaAtoZ&opt_perpage=20

How is the Adidas Barricade 2016 Boost in narrowness overall compared to all other tennis shoes? Like where specifically does it rank?
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I think you should start with Superfeet Greens because they have lots of support and they are the right volume to either use as a replacement insole or try it on top of the existing one. But everyone has their own opinions, and I'm sure you'll get differing ones.

Your Barricades are certainly in the top 20% of "narrowness", although it's tough to be specific as to where they land. I think you've tried nearly all of them that would fit into that category. The narrowest tennis shoe I ever tried was actually one of those Adidas Rally models from about 5 years ago. I tried it on at the store but I thought it was too soft. It was kind of like a cross trainer you can use for tennis, but it's discontinued now. It probably would have been fine for your heel because soft shoes don't resist movement as much when you lift your heel. That's probably why you don't get slippage with your Pegasus. All of the shoes you've tried are premium tennis shoes with a stiff shank for stability.
 
Have you not been playing at all during this time? I wonder if you should just pick the barricade boost 2016's and get out and play, it seems like a shame spending all this time searching for the "perfect" shoe that very likely does not exist.
 
Ramon said:
I think you should start with Superfeet Greens because they have lots of support and they are the right volume to either use as a replacement insole or try it on top of the existing one. But everyone has their own opinions, and I'm sure you'll get differing ones.

Your Barricades are certainly in the top 20% of "narrowness", although it's tough to be specific as to where they land. I think you've tried nearly all of them that would fit into that category. The narrowest tennis shoe I ever tried was actually one of those Adidas Rally models from about 5 years ago. I tried it on at the store but I thought it was too soft. It was kind of like a cross trainer you can use for tennis, but it's discontinued now. It probably would have been fine for your heel because soft shoes don't resist movement as much when you lift your heel. That's probably why you don't get slippage with your Pegasus. All of the shoes you've tried are premium tennis shoes with a stiff shank for stability.
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But I looked at the SuperFeet Greens and they got awful reviews? Your thoughts?

Cyclone said:
Have you not been playing at all during this time? I wonder if you should just pick the barricade boost 2016's and get out and play, it seems like a shame spending all this time searching for the "perfect" shoe that very likely does not exist.
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I have been playing in my old shoes.
 
Brett said:
But I looked at the SuperFeet Greens and they got awful reviews? Your thoughts?
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You have to take reviews with a grain of salt. Even the best products get a few bad reviews from time to time, sometimes from ill informed users, and those are usually the loudest. I've tried lots of insoles. I tried SofSole Airr Orthotics, SofSole Stable Trac, SofSole Graphite Orthotics, SolSole FIT (both low and neutral), New Balance 420 (aka. Lynco 420), Powerstep Pinnacle Max, and probably a couple more I forgot to mention. The Superfeet Greens are my favorite. I have a few SofSole FITs laying around, and I use them in some shoes so I don't have to spend more money on Superfeets. I use insoles for support, not cushioning, so if you want cushioning get something else, but believe me the Barricade 2015 Boost does not need extra cushioning. The only thing more cushioning will do is make it feel mushy, which is so un-Barricade-like.
 
Thanks guys! So I now have a pair of both size 11 and size 11.5 of the Adidas Barricade Boost 2016 but can't decide which is the better fit. The size 11 that I just got in was very hard to put on and my toes were almost at the very end of the shoe. But oddly enough...I didn't feel jamming just moving around and they weren't super uncomfortable. There was less extra shoe material on the top of the shoe. But on the 11.5 it was a little easier to get into but a little more slipping. There was extra shoe material on the top of the shoe (like it's too wide) but I had a little more toe room. So which is the better fit in your recommendation?

Or should I look at another shoe...The Lotto Raptor EVO? But I tried the Lotto Stratosphere and it didn't feel right because it slipped too much and kind of hurt my ankle because it felt extremely low to the ground...so in that case would the Raptor EVO not be any better of a fit? I have a medium-high arch.
 
For you, if it doesn't jam your toes, it's not too short. You do have to be a little careful because some shoes tend to jam your toes more after they loosen up. It's happened to me before, but that's ok, I'll get a bigger size or another model next time.
 
Ramon, so your toes jammed a little on the Adidas Barricade 2016 because you got them a little shorter? So you think I should go with 11.5?

Between the size 11 and 11.5 of the Adidas Barricade Boost 2016...is there a good judgment call though? Like with foot swelling etc. on what I should lean towards? Like if there is more extra material on the top of the shoe with the 11.5 does that mean I should lean towards the 11? Just need general guidelines that are good to stick with to make the decision easier. I have to tie the size 11.5 really tight like I did my Nike Air Court Ballistic 4.3 because of my narrow foot...not so much on the size 11 but I notice just wearing them around the house that the size 11 cuts into the ankle a little bit. But other than that not a super ton of pain?

I'm not sure it is the right shoe for sure because it still slips and the issue with having to tie it real tight just on the 11.5. Should I keep looking? Any other suggestions? Maybe need to keep trying.
 
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