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.
