WESCO-MRLOU-BLK - Wesco® - 10" Horsehide Pull-On "Mister Lou" Engineer Boot - Black
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@injunjack I may have to move this to Unpopular Opinions.
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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.
“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
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@Oaktavia Me too! I think it will. I got a nice wooden instep stretcher and cranked it open.
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@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
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@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.
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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!
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@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.
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@seawolf this is great news man it may be a problem solver for other folks in similar situations.
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@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!
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@jaysomethin We do have all the Mr.Lous on order, although it's probably about another year before they come in
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Can I get a sense check on sizing?
I have a pair in 9E from The Shop Vancouver in olive petrolio horsehide (left). The first time I put them on they slipped on without any issues, were comfortable from the get go, but with the insole and thick socks, they feel roomy after a month of wear. I have a decent amount of heel slip, but I dont feel like the boots are just going to come off.
Wanted to get the same boots in black CXL (right) but could only find 8.5E in stock. They were absolutely hellish getting on the first time, and even though its only half a size smaller, the boot feels significantly tighter to the point that I had to take the insole out. I can wiggle my toes, and have maybe a thumbs width between my big toe and the tip of the boot, but I feel my big toe pressing against the top of the boot when I walk in a way that I dont with the petrolio pair.
They aren't uncomfortable per say (I've worn them one full day so far- 13 hours including standing for 3 hours at a concert), so Im trying to figure out if I'd be ok keeping this size despite the tight fit and letting it break in (and how much better I can expect them to feel with break in), or if Im better off cutting my loss while they're still in great condition and flipping them.
For additional reference I'm about a 9.25 on the brannock and at their widest, my feet sit just between the D and E widths.
