WESCO-MRLOU-BLK - Wesco® - 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black
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Heya folks, I come seeking help.
I picked up a pair of these from Baker's last year (IHUK was sold out in my size) and I love the look, but I just can't get past this pain in my big toe, just on the right foot.
I can wear them around the house without issue, but when I go walking around the neighborhood, the big toe on my right foot starts to hurt after maybe a quarter of a mile, sometimes less. I know that these require break-in, but I'm starting to think my toe's going to break before these
When I first got them last year, I wore them pretty much non-stop for several weeks around the house, to the office, the store, etc., so it's not like they haven't been worn. All-in-all, with my neighborhood walks in these things, they've probably seen 15 miles of action. I'm not sure if they're considered broken-in at this point.The left foot feels fine. I know no two feet are identical, but there's no noticeable difference between my left and right. I've stuck my hand in the boot to feel around, just to sense if anything's different on the right boot, but I haven't found anything.
I've tried different socks, I've tried a shorter stride (this actually helps!), but I'm about out of options.
Any thoughts or advice?
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There are shoe stretchers out there and a technique to do it. I believe reputable cobblers would be able to help you or you could try looking it up on the internet/YouTube.
My wife had a pair of cowboy boots stretched out using a stretcher and the technique. I can’t remember exactly how they did it and am hesitant to mention what I think the technique was.
It should be fairly easy to find.
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50/50 alcohol and water in a spray bottle works OK imo. If it's convenient, you can send them back to Wesco for them to do the stretching.
I gave up with the low height of the toe box and had them do this. Just be very clear on what you want stretched and dont want stretched. -
Another thing I remembered: It took them 3 days to stretch the boot by using the spray and slowly stretching. We went in 2 or 3 times over the period to see how much they stretched and where they needed to keep going.
I can’t imagine any of my Wesco’s failing, but some exotic skins or thinner leather’s may.
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Dang, you guys are FAST!
Thanks!Thanks for the recommendations! I'd rather try a local solution, first. I mean, if I had a Wesco near me and could just stop by, I would do that first. I just don't want to ship them off if I can help it.
@goosehd in your wife's case, was it both boots? It's just odd to me that only my right toe hurts. Gives me pause to stretch one over the other, but then again, I can't walk much in them now on account of the right foot.
@pechelman I think you nailed it...I think it's the low height of the toe box that's causing the problem for me.
I'm not even sure where I could take these locally...do I just look for a cobbler with good reviews on Google?
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Cue the banjo music… I cured my low height toe box by shoving a wrench in like shoe trees over night for about a week.
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@flannel-slut "The shoes still hurt like hell, but now I've got a place to put all my wrenches!"
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i tried the wrenches and sockets thing as well
It helped a little, very little. That's why I reached out to Wesco.Are you using the thin leather footbeds? Taking them out helps.
Unfortunately for me, it seems when they stretched the toe box they also stretched the instep, so now I need to use the insoles. And when I use the insoles I'm right back to having low toe height volume.... So I bought a piece of 2mm leather to make my own footbeds. Going to attempt making one with a cutout for my big toe or toes. -
it’s most use my wrenches have seen
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She stretched both boots, but one more than the other. Finding cobblers now is like finding buried treasure and it’s not going to be easy, but they are out there.
I do like the thoughts of using wrenches, until I can’t remember where I put it and start yelling at everyone for taking my tools…
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@pechelman said in Wesco
- 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black:Are you using the thin leather footbeds? Taking them out helps.
It looks like they came with some sort of insole. I'm not sure if it's removable, but I think I'd rather get a shoe tree/stretcher in there to get some toe box height before I remove that insole, mostly because it makes them comfy.
@pechelman said in Wesco
- 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black:So I bought a piece of 2mm leather to make my own footbeds. Going to attempt making one with a cutout for my big toe or toes.
Now that's a project I want to get updates on
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It's times like these when I really appreciate the forums
Thanks everyone for your input. I am leaning towards buying a shoe-tree/stretcher and leaving it in there for a week or something and checking again. My toe should heal by then
I'll report back. I think I'll look for a local cobbler if that doesn't work. I'm in southern California, I'm SURE there are some around here.Blanket-line all the things!!!
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@Autorotate used to live there and I think @seawolf is/was in California somewhere. They may have someone in mind. Good luck and keep us updated!
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it's pretty well discussed in most of the other wesco threads, iirc, that a lot of folks remove that flat leather footbed permanently.
so long as you're keeping the boots clean inside and giving them a chance to air dry / dry out it shouldnt be an issue. I think it was neph and oaktavia who commented that they've worn their wesco's w/o footbeds without issue.On the footbed project, I'll definitely post updates. I've got enough leather to also experiment with building up a bit of arch support to a new liner.
But if you're in SOCAL, I'd strongly recommend sending them back to Wesco. If you were overseas I'd understand the hesitation.
2 days shipping there for ~15$ and you'll get your boots back in ~2weeks. -
@pechelman said in Wesco
- 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black:it's pretty well discussed in most of the other wesco threads, iirc, that a lot of folks remove that flat leather footbed permanently.
so long as you're keeping the boots clean inside and giving them a chance to air dry / dry out it shouldnt be an issue. I think it was neph and oaktavia who commented that they've worn their wesco's w/o footbeds without issue.Oh, I'm sure it won't ruin them or anything like that. I just tried pulling on them and they're not very loose, though. I would rather keep them in and use a shoe stretcher to increase the toe box height WITH the insoles in, if possible.
But if you're in SOCAL, I'd strongly recommend sending them back to Wesco. If you were overseas I'd understand the hesitation.
2 days shipping there for ~15$ and you'll get your boots back in ~2weeks.If I can't find a good cobbler within driving distance, I'll do that. I'm hopeful that the shoe tree will fix it but sending it to Wesco might be a good idea as a couple of the stitches on the back of the boot have snapped/come-undone. It's not causing any problems yet, but I might as well get that fixed along with the stretching.
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@Paul9221 no SoCal cobbler recommendations… other than this… don’t judge a book by the cover. A Jedi knight cobbler could be hiding in the most humble of shops. And there are shops everywhere!
Take that leather insole out! That would be a great start I think. I can wear a 9E with the insole… and an 8.5E fits exactly the same without. It’s wild to think that such a thin piece of leather could make that much of a difference. I actually swap Wesco insoles into shoes that have always been annoyingly and just-so-slightly large with great success.
Good luck man!
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i'd consider checking for cowboy boot shops in the area and asking around there. Most good shops worth their salt have this service they offer to folks who buy boots from them. At least that's how Sheplers used to be in Denver. Unsure how it is these days since I think they got bought by Boot Barn.
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@Autorotate said in Wesco
- 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black:@Paul9221 no SoCal cobbler recommendations… other than this… don’t judge a book by the cover. A Jedi knight cobbler could be hiding in the most humble of shops. And there are shops everywhere!
I think I'd prefer a hole-in-the-wall run by a half blind 90-year old man who can cobble fully blind to a super hipster boot shop
Take that leather insole out! That would be a great start I think. I can wear a 9E with the insole… and an 8.5E fits exactly the same without. It’s wild to think that such a thin piece of leather could make that much of a difference. I actually swap Wesco insoles into shoes that have always been annoyingly and just-so-slightly large with great success.
Good luck man!
Are these things glued in there or something? I'm tugging on them but they're not coming out. Then again, I'm not using a lot of force.
