Mark,
Bee's right on. Bad boots are bad boots. Bite the bullet and get some that are comfy. If you get toe banging on downhills and are properly/tightly laced in, they're just the wrong boot and size may have nothing to do with it. REI has a limited supply of good boots in the store, but you can get pretty much what you want online...and just like Sears in the "olden days" you can take them back after you've used them if they hurt your tootsies. Take them up to Portugeuse Bend and do some of the smaller/steeper trails (after the snakes pack it up for winter) and test them out.
My vote: Treat yourself to some new boots. Life's too short to have sore dogs. Your neighbor,
