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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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    • 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
                                    • AtariHunterA
                                      AtariHunter
                                      Haraki san Prodigy
                                      @seawolf
                                      Joined:

                                      @seawolf

                                      I had the same problem with my boots, the instep (especially on the right boot) was so tight at the beginning that I almost gave up. The first time I tried them on it took me about 5 minutes (no joke!).

                                      Now, after about 2 months and stubbornly breaking in with the sole, I'm about 80-90% satisfied. I also had some discomfort on the instep and on the side (where the seam of the heel piece runs) at the beginning on both boots while wearing them. However, this has now been resolved.

                                      In the meantime, I have taken the soles out and have now got to the point where I put the soles in with thin socks and take them out with thick ones. I am confident that the boots will break in some more over the next few months so that it will be even easier to put them on and that I can put the soles back in again (also with thicker socks). But yes, those guys are tough!

                                      Good luck with stretching, I look forward to your report!

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

                                        @AtariHunter That's great to hear that you were able to get them how you like them!

                                        @thooy05 Yes! That's awesome.

                                        @Oaktavia I think I may have broken this wild horse. We'll see how they feel over a long period of time.

                                        The right boot feels so much better now. I may do another round at some point, but they're good enough for today.

                                        IMG_4326.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 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                                        • OaktaviaO
                                          Oaktavia
                                          見習いボス
                                          @seawolf
                                          Joined:

                                          @seawolf this is great news man it may be a problem solver for other folks in similar situations.

                                          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 0
                                          • seawolfS
                                            seawolf
                                            Mod Squad
                                            @Oaktavia
                                            Joined:

                                            @Oaktavia Definitely! But as others have already stated, the tightness on the instep is part of wearing new engineer boots until they break in, so I would caution against this practice for those that feel impatient. This is a last resort, and a way to make room for an unusually high instep on one freakin' foot! Both of my feet feel the same level of comfort now, thanks to the instep stretch on just one boot. Winner!

                                            “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 OaktaviaO 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
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