Aaaargh in between sizes!!!!! - Western Mountaineering Expedition Gore Windstopper Booties

I love this item; can't wait to be out and about camping in the Rockies this winter with it.
I wear a 43 (because US sizes vary so much; I have completely skipped the whole ~am I a 8.5? 10? 9? 9.5? mess of variation); and just go with a 43. And usually with a Spenco insole for the cushion my 300,000 mile military retiree body enjoys.

My Lowa's are "8.5 UK, 42.5 EU, 9.5 US, and 274mm" all on the same tag (none of these line up vertically on the sizing chart; that says A LOT). They fit great with the three layer Spenco inside of them.

I also like the neoprene insole for the added insulation from the ground during winter. Brrrr. Cold from below! Seems to push the sizing I need to an additional 1/2 size.

Right now; the M fits great. No insole yet. A little room at the toes; and the heel is ok too.

Haven't put on the L that I also ordered; and yeah. No insole yet.

I can't think of a reason to buy any other model of the Booties. The added build quality from the heel cup; and the Gore product; and the gaitor-esque aspect of this model simply overwhelms any need or want to even try the other models. And I've had the regular booties for several years now.

Can't recommend this product enough. Oh; I'm not endorsed/sponsored/whatevered either. I pay for my stuff.

Only grip is that ultimately; once I do put in my Spencos (again, for the cushion and insulation value); I am pretty certain I am going to be at that Arrrgghhhhhhh!!!!!!! where the M is just a little little; and the L is going to have a bit more ~slide and glide~ than I would want for a bootie that will undoubtedly spend some time on already slippery snow/ice conditions.

Otherwise; I will again be using the WM booties for around the house, and inside/around the VW Westy. Yes I am a cold weather freak and I crave my once or four times a year single digit temperature excursions above 9,000 feet.

Keeping both the M and the L fwiw. Easier to gift the extra pair away rather than mess with sending it back.

Highly recommended; wish I had bought these to begin with instead of the regular booties (wonderful; but for the extra $20 or so; why not get a product that covers more of a range of applications).

Thanks!