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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Live Reveal - Thursday 12th of June at 1700BST

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

    WESCO - West Coast Shoe Company
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    • seawolfS
      seawolf
      Mod Squad
      @goosehd
      Joined:

      @goosehd Oh shit. I need to do this. I bought a boot stretcher, but it's not quite hitting the right spot, and I need some more help. Thank you for this!

      “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 goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • goosehdG
        goosehd
        Mod Squad
        @seawolf
        Joined:

        @seawolf They also sprayed the leather (I think with an isopropyl alcohol/mixture) to aide in the stretching of the leather. Took it very slow to not damage the leather fibres.

        "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 goosehd seawolfS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • seawolfS
          seawolf
          Mod Squad
          @goosehd
          Joined:

          @goosehd That sounds great. I should call around and find a cobbler that can do this. My right instep is a bit more pronounced than normal and it's painful sometimes when I wear my non-custom Wescos.

          “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 goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • goosehdG
            goosehd
            Mod Squad
            @seawolf
            Joined:

            @seawolf Also, the stretcher they used looked like this, which really helped with problem areas:

            IMG_1226.webp

            "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 seawolfS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • pechelmanP
              pechelman
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              Talk to Wesco about stretching. They can do this for you and they didn't charge me anything. Not sure if it's the same these days or not.

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

                @goosehd Oh no. That's what I have. FML. It doesn't quite hit the right spot. I need one that stretches up and down, not side to side. I'll go google that and see if it's a thing.

                “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 goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • goosehdG
                  goosehd
                  Mod Squad
                  @seawolf
                  Joined:

                  @seawolf There are stretchers in all planes. I just put that one up there as an example.

                  "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 seawolfS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • seawolfS
                    seawolf
                    Mod Squad
                    @goosehd
                    Joined:

                    @goosehd I just found this, which is what I need. Thanks for the nudge. Image 12-17-24 at 4.42 PM.jpeg

                    “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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • seawolfS
                      seawolf
                      Mod Squad
                      Joined:

                      Really the issue was not knowing what that specific type of stretcher was called.

                      “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 seawolf 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • injunjackI
                        injunjack
                        見習いボス
                        Joined:

                        OR you pee in your boot and wear it till it dryes. If you have problem peeing in your own boots, ask a friend to do it. 😋 (or byu urea at pharmacy or where-ever you get in your neck of the woods)
                        urea has been used ages for softening leather... once your boot is wet, it'll stretch and mold to your feet.
                        Also riding a motorcycle in rain gives boots a nice soak, and using them while wet damp does the trick as well....

                        last edited by injunjack seawolfS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • seawolfS
                          seawolf
                          Mod Squad
                          @injunjack
                          Joined:

                          @injunjack I may have to move this to Unpopular Opinions. 😉

                          “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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • seawolfS
                            seawolf
                            Mod Squad
                            Joined:

                            Stretching my instep to make room for my weird right foot. I used a 2:1 solution of water:isopropyl alcohol to loosen the fibers, and I'll leave it overnight and report back.

                            IMG_4307.jpeg
                            IMG_4305.jpeg

                            “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 OaktaviaO T 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • OaktaviaO
                              Oaktavia
                              見習いボス
                              @seawolf
                              Joined:

                              @seawolf This is cool I am curious if this works.

                              IG: electricindigowizard

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

                              WTB: IHJ-72- XL/XXL

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

                                @Oaktavia Me too! I think it will. I got a nice wooden instep stretcher and cranked it open.

                                “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 OaktaviaO 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • OaktaviaO
                                  Oaktavia
                                  見習いボス
                                  @seawolf
                                  Joined:

                                  @seawolf yeah I think it will too. I should have typed it was curious to see how this works. Where are you stretching? Just below the lower buckle? That is where mine pushed on my instep.

                                  IG: electricindigowizard

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

                                  WTB: IHJ-72- XL/XXL

                                  last edited by Oaktavia 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • seawolfS
                                    seawolf
                                    Mod Squad
                                    Joined:

                                    @Oaktavia That’s exactly right. That spot is always rough for me with new engineer boots but usually it mellows out. This pair is different, and after a year of regular wear, it’s time to take some action. My right foot has a really high instep and I normally get custom fit Wescos, but I couldn’t pass up the Maryam release last year, and this is my penance for skipping the custom build.

                                    “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 OaktaviaO AtariHunterA 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • OaktaviaO
                                      Oaktavia
                                      見習いボス
                                      @seawolf
                                      Joined:

                                      @seawolf the Maryam is really tough and unforgiving. It took me over a year before mine finally stopped being so stubborn. It's such a strong beast. I was worried my instep wouldn't get better but it finally did.

                                      IG: electricindigowizard

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

                                      WTB: IHJ-72- XL/XXL

                                      last edited by Oaktavia seawolfS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • seawolfS
                                        seawolf
                                        Mod Squad
                                        @Oaktavia
                                        Joined:

                                        @Oaktavia if I didn’t have a freakishly high instep on my right foot, I’d probably wait it out. My left boot feels amazing!

                                        “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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • T
                                          thooy05
                                          Raw and Unwashed
                                          @seawolf
                                          Joined:

                                          @seawolf i did same process on mine work great!IMG_6615.jpeg

                                          last edited by thooy05 seawolfS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                          • seawolfS
                                            seawolf
                                            Mod Squad
                                            @thooy05
                                            Joined:

                                            @thooy05 Heck yeah! I'm going to check mine soon. Thank you 🙂

                                            “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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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