Boot Stretching Experience
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Others might say different, but you’re not really stretching the toe box in any meaningful way. That’s structured leather up front, not like the shaft you can loosen up a bit. If you actually need more room, you’re talking re-lasting, and that’s not cheap.
If it’s tight in the toe box, it’s usually one of two things. Boot’s too short, or your foot’s just wider with more toe splay than that last allows. That Lofgren combat last isn’t exactly forgiving up front, so if it’s already bothering you, it’s probably not gonna “break in” the way you’re hoping.
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If it’s where the structure of the toe sits, or forward of there then it’s not going to stretch much if at all.
If it’s a little back from there, across the widest part of the foot then yes, you can get a reasonable amount of stretch there using a boot stretcher - I’ve done so plenty of times.
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I have used a 4-way stretcher to build out length and width in my Red Wings and PF Flyers. Stretching didn't fundamentally reshape the toe box, but added 1/2 size to the overall length and width.
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@northsouthdenimguy thanks very much for your response. I think you are right given how structured the combat boot is in the toe box.
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Red indicates where I’m feeling the pinch.
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Do you know your Brannock? heel to ball, heel to toe and width? Typically John Lofgren is half down from Brannock but if you have a higher volume, wider foot, more squared off toes than tapered you might need to go true to size.
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I agree, but in my opinion figure out your Brannock first. Then if a maker has sizing guidance, compare it to that or crowd source it a bit.
Because let’s be real, sometimes these Stockists say go a full size down and for most people that’s just flat out wrong.
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@northsouthdenimguy I totally agree. Some say go a full size down for Wesco boots but a half size down was perfect for me.
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It works for some. I just can’t do it with my feet.
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@oltom they won't stretch on the red areas on the toecap, they will on the red midfoot areas, which will ease the big toe area.
@northsouthdenimguy may well be right, JL Combat boots are already an E width, you may just need to try a size size up. I wear a half size down from Brannock in those and find them one of my most comfortable pairs in the width - my JL engineers for comparison I had to stretch in the areas you're experiencing tightness, albeit only on the left foot.
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Thanks very much for all the helpful feedback. I’m a Brannock 9.5. I think if I had gone down a half size to a 9 the fit would be fine. Unfortunately, I went down a full size to an 8.5. I wish I could blame an online retailer but I tried them on in store. They felt snug but I thought that was part of the deal with these boots, ie. that you need to break them in.
Thanks fellas!
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Follow-up question for the boot stretch vets…..have you had any experience with vertically stretching to increase the volume of the toe box? I find that the top of my big toe nail is rubbing against the bottom of the toe cap in my Wesco Guildsman. Thanks!
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@oltom No, I couldn’t work out a way to do it, none of my stretchers go that far into the toe box - I sold both my pairs of Wescos due to exactly this issue. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear.
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You could try stuffing a wet rag(s)down in the toe box until the rags dry…may or may not be something you want do depending on the leather.
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Thanks fellas. This boot game is savage.
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I've had minimal luck with the toe box height by sending them back to wesco. They also stretched out the instep of the boot at the same time fyi which I didn't want.
If the toes aren't comfortable to start I do tend to agree they'll never be how you want and should continue looking for a different one.
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Worth trying some thinner socks before giving up on them though, that can make the difference between a pair fitting and not fitting, also worth taking the insoles out as that may give you the room.
Any yes, working out boot fitment is not easy, especially over the internet on boots you have to preorder!
