• Home
    • Recent
    • Calendar
    • Register
    • Login
    Iron Heart Forum
    Iron Heart Forum

    Important Information: US Tariff Import Changes

    WESCO-MRLOU-BLK - Wesco® - 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black

    WESCO - West Coast Shoe Company
    83
    519
    122.0k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • pechelmanP
      pechelman
      啓蒙家
      Joined:

      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.

      last edited by Paul9221P OaktaviaO 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • Paul9221P
        Paul9221
        啓蒙家
        @pechelman
        Joined:

        @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.

        Blanket-line all the things!!!

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • A
          Autorotate
          Joined:

          @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!

          last edited by Paul9221P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
          • pechelmanP
            pechelman
            啓蒙家
            Joined:

            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.

            last edited by Paul9221P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
            • Paul9221P
              Paul9221
              啓蒙家
              @Autorotate
              Joined:

              @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.

              Blanket-line all the things!!!

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Paul9221P
                Paul9221
                啓蒙家
                @pechelman
                Joined:

                @pechelman said in Wesco® - 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black:

                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.

                Oh, shoot, that's a great idea! We used to have boot barns around here. I'm sure there's one near by. I'm going to look.

                Blanket-line all the things!!!

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • goosehdG
                  goosehd
                  Mod Squad
                  Joined:

                  I’m just going to throw it out there that I too love this stuff. You guys have been on with the recommendations and help!! Good stuff…no great stuff!!!

                  "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                  • A
                    Autorotate
                    Joined:

                    @Paul9221 Shouldn’t be glued. Should pull right out.

                    last edited by pechelmanP goosehdG 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
                    • pechelmanP
                      pechelman
                      啓蒙家
                      @Autorotate
                      Joined:

                      @Autorotate said in Wesco® - 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black:

                      @Paul9221 Shouldn’t be glued. Should pull right out.

                      my experience as well. just slides right out

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • goosehdG
                        goosehd
                        Mod Squad
                        @Autorotate
                        Joined:

                        @Autorotate said in Wesco® - 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black:

                        @Paul9221 Shouldn’t be glued. Should pull right out.

                        Seconded! Also agree with the blind cobbler 🙂

                        "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • A
                          Autorotate
                          Joined:

                          @Paul9221 try getting a fingernail under the highest part of the arch. The insole is usually so perfectly cut, that you actually have to pry it out, especially when new. Just tried this with my brand new Brown CXL Mr Lou’s (brag alert).

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • A
                            Autorotate
                            Joined:

                            IMG_2799.jpeg

                            last edited by goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • goosehdG
                              goosehd
                              Mod Squad
                              @Autorotate
                              Joined:

                              @Autorotate Those look like crap and will be extremely uncomfortable. I’m going to pm you my address so that you can send them to me so I can dispose of them…

                              F’n nice boots and I like them….a lot 🙂

                              "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • Paul9221P
                                Paul9221
                                啓蒙家
                                Joined:

                                You guys are hilarious!

                                I just got the insoles out! I'll give them a test-walk tomorrow. My big toe needs some recovery time LOL

                                Blanket-line all the things!!!

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                • A
                                  Autorotate
                                  Joined:

                                  @goosehd might/might not send boots to your house, but don’t be mad if I show up in a trench coat in the rain, holding a boombox over my head blaring “Your Eyes” by Perter Gabriel.

                                  last edited by goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                  • goosehdG
                                    goosehd
                                    Mod Squad
                                    @Autorotate
                                    Joined:

                                    @Autorotate You sir, made me laugh. Thank you!!

                                    "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                    • seawolfS
                                      seawolf
                                      Mod Squad
                                      @Paul9221
                                      Joined:

                                      @Paul9221 @goosehd

                                      I am indeed in San Diego. Where are you located?

                                      “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                      @zeebeeleather

                                      last edited by Paul9221P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                      • Paul9221P
                                        Paul9221
                                        啓蒙家
                                        @seawolf
                                        Joined:

                                        @seawolf said in Wesco® - 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black:

                                        @Paul9221 @goosehd

                                        I am indeed in San Diego. Where are you located?

                                        I'm in Garden Grove (Orange County). Bit of a drive down to your area, but given the right incentive, I could make a day out of it 😁

                                        Blanket-line all the things!!!

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • Paul9221P
                                          Paul9221
                                          啓蒙家
                                          Joined:

                                          WOW! Even though my toe was still hurtin', I couldn't wait to try the boots with the insoles out. I walked a whole mile in them, big strides, just like in my sneakers. It's like 95% better! I should have hit the forums earlier!

                                          My foot definitely slides around more with the insoles out but it's not too bad. That said, if I can stretch the toe box a bit with the shoe-tree, I'd like to put the insoles back in eventually. I'll report back on how that works out.

                                          In the meantime, thanks again for your recommendations! I can't believe how big a difference removing that ~2mm piece of rubber and fabric made to the feel of the boot.

                                          I'll keep y'alls posted.

                                          Blanket-line all the things!!!

                                          last edited by Paul9221 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                          • OaktaviaO
                                            Oaktavia
                                            見習いボス
                                            @pechelman
                                            Joined:

                                            @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.

                                            I was just about to chime in- with both my brown CXL and these horsehide, I immediately removed my insoles due to instep issues, it was very tight on the ridge of my foot. I bought the CXL in december 2021 and the black horsehide about a year ago last month. Wearing the CXL at my desk right now. Both boots took a lot of work to get them to where they are today, but they are both comfortable and broken in beautifully.

                                            I understand the idea @Paul9221 that the leather insoles make them more comfortable if they fit properly, but I still have both pairs of insoles in my closet somewhere. I tried putting them back in every other month or so just to see, because again, it would make sense that walking on cushy leather would be more comfortable than not, but I honestly do not feel discomfort at all. Maybe try walking around your neighborhood with the insoles out and see how your toe bone feels. Couldn't hurt and might save you the hassle of stretching them. @neph93 do you still have your insoles out?

                                            Edit: I did not read past the post I quoted but glad to hear you feel better with the insoles out buddy!

                                            IG: electricindigowizard

                                            "Possibly splitting hairs, but I consider @Oaktavia to be the beardy, dank High Magus of this denim game…" @neph93

                                            WTB: IH-526V-XHS - XL/XXL
                                            IHJ-32 - XL/XXL

                                            last edited by Oaktavia 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright Iron Heart 2025.