Boot Stretching Experience

[oltom]

@northsouthdenimguy thanks very much for your response. I think you are right given how structured the combat boot is in the toe box.

[oltom]

[oltom]

Red indicates where I’m feeling the pinch.

[northsouthdenimguy]

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.

[daugustway]

@oltom you might just need a wider width boot

[northsouthdenimguy]

@daugustway

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.

[daugustway]

@northsouthdenimguy I totally agree. Some say go a full size down for Wesco boots but a half size down was perfect for me.

[northsouthdenimguy]

@daugustway

It works for some. I just can’t do it with my feet.

[NickD]

@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.

[oltom]

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!