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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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    • 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
                                        • OaktaviaO
                                          Oaktavia
                                          見習いボス
                                          @seawolf
                                          Joined:

                                          @seawolf ah yes that is a good point. Glad it worked our for you.

                                          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 Dude, same. I'm so relieved. I've been wearing these boots hard for the last year, and depending on the weather or my body, that one boot was sometimes kind of brutal to wear.

                                            “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
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