Footwear to go with our jackets

Biff42 · May 31, 2026

gjchristy said:
Ok - Here is an interesting pair - Alden Shell Cordovan on a Role Club relast. They fit perfectly. Maybe a frank-in boot but truly a beautiful one of a kind. View attachment 789719 View attachment 789720 View attachment 789721 View attachment 789722 View attachment 789723

Nice resole. Are you sure that's shell cordovan?

canvas · Jun 1, 2026

cbez said:
Am i crazy for liking these
View attachment 789702

Those boots look awesome. Mind sharing the link to them?

Harris HTM · Jun 1, 2026

Biff42 said:
Nice resole. Are you sure that's shell cordovan?

I was about to post exactly the same. The creasing looks nothing like horween shell cordovan- but rather cxl.

Harris HTM · Jun 1, 2026

Alden boots in no8 shell

marker2037 · Jun 1, 2026

Harris HTM said:
I was about to post exactly the same. The creasing looks nothing like horween shell cordovan- but rather cxl.

Definitely chromexel, not shell.

Pandemic · Jun 1, 2026

if it weren’t for the lowered heel I might’ve been tempted:

https://whitesboots.com/products/the-james-dean

GreX · Jun 1, 2026

I feel slightly discouraged, like I mentioned I decided to pick up a pair of the Bright Shoemakers (had to pay those dang tariffs as well...), and while these fit great in terms of length, width, and instep - my small toe is pushing pretty hard on the outside of the boot. Is this something that is normal and will go away with wear? I understand that they won't get longer, that's not what I need, as my foot feels good there, just need the toebox to be slightly wider, but just on the outside. Maybe I'm just not meat for these types of boots with my hot dog feet..

Thoughts? Should I try and swap them for the next size up? Knowing it'll cost me another $80 each way for the tariffs + ~$60 for shipping..

Great looking boots though -

cbez · Jun 1, 2026

canvas said:
Those boots look awesome. Mind sharing the link to them?

they are from argo shoes japan

GreX said:
I feel slightly discouraged, like I mentioned I decided to pick up a pair of the Bright Shoemakers (had to pay those dang tariffs as well...), and while these fit great in terms of length, width, and instep - my small toe is pushing pretty hard on the outside of the boot. Is this something that is normal and will go away with wear? I understand that they won't get longer, that's not what I need, as my foot feels good there, just need the toebox to be slightly wider, but just on the outside. Maybe I'm just not meat for these types of boots with my hot dog feet..

Thoughts? Should I try and swap them for the next size up? Knowing it'll cost me another $80 each way for the tariffs + ~$60 for shipping..

Great looking boots though -

is that with your thinnest socks?

if its a full length insole, you could try removing and using a half insole to give yourself more room in the toe box

I have broken in some crazy small boots before I knew what I was doing. since there is no cap toe stitching in the front its possible you could get room. you could also try to have a cobbler stretch them.

GreX · Jun 1, 2026

cbez said:
they are from argo shoes japan

is that with your thinnest socks?

if its a full length insole, you could try removing and using a half insole to give yourself more room in the toe box

I have broken in some crazy small boots before I knew what I was doing. since there is no cap toe stitching in the front its possible you could get room. you could also try to have a cobbler stretch them.

This is with a medium thickness wool sock, so not thin but not super heavy either. These don't have an insole in them, just a sock liner in the heel area. After wearing them for about an hour at a standing desk, they do seem pretty painful on my little toe, but, they have almost no heel slip (maybe 1/4" at most) and are in the realm of "firm hand shake" throughout the instep.

Maybe I need to try a thinner sock, I guess I didn't think that'd make much of a difference. Will try that now, thanks for the suggestion. I just wish there was a guide, but I know everyone's foot/feet are different.

marker2037 · Jun 1, 2026

GreX said:
This is with a medium thickness wool sock, so not thin but not super heavy either. These don't have an insole in them, just a sock liner in the heel area. After wearing them for about an hour at a standing desk, they do seem pretty painful on my little toe, but, they have almost no heel slip (maybe 1/4" at most) and are in the realm of "firm hand shake" throughout the instep.

Maybe I need to try a thinner sock, I guess I didn't think that'd make much of a difference. Will try that now, thanks for the suggestion. I just wish there was a guide, but I know everyone's foot/feet are different.

Engineers and slip on boots in general can be tough for sizing. If it’s any consolation, my Lofgrens also feel tight in that area at first, but as I break them in they become more relaxed and comfortable. The footbed molds to my foot and gives more room and now they feel great.

It’s hard to diagnose an issue over a forum though and you’re the only one who truly can tell whether the next size up is best for you.

GreX · Jun 1, 2026

marker2037 said:
Engineers and slip on boots in general can be tough for sizing. If it’s any consolation, my Lofgrens also feel tight in that area at first, but as I break them in they become more relaxed and comfortable. The footbed molds to my foot and gives more room and now they feel great.

It’s hard to diagnose an issue over a forum though and you’re the only one who truly can tell whether the next size up is best for you.

Good to know that this may be normal, at least for a few of us. I feel like every pair of boots has some type of strange characteristic that just doesn't feel great, I was hoping that given this feels like "a firm handshake" that maybe I found a pair of boots that simply worked with my feet.. I know break in can be a major pain, it took a long time for the Iron Rangers to feel "good", and even then they are somewhat uncomfortable, which seems to be similar to these Bright's. So, maybe they'll break in?

I will say that going to a thinner pair of socks, does seem to help the toe discomfort a bit, but I then had to pull the instep strap to it's tightest hole (I know I can punch more in there, but don't want to do that if these aren't going to work for me). Again, I wish there was a guide, if it fits like x, then its good and will break in, but if it fits like y, then get a different pair - lol

Harris HTM · Jun 1, 2026

GreX said:
Maybe I need to try a thinner sock

My experience is that wearing thin socks with heavy and stiff boots, especially slip-ons (no laces) where some slip/ movement is unavoidable is nothing but an invitation for trouble

GreX · Jun 1, 2026

Harris HTM said:
My experience is that wearing thin socks with heavy and stiff boots, especially slip-ons (no laces) where some slip/ movement is unavoidable is nothing but an invitation for trouble

Yeah, everything I've ever read or seen about boot break in, says to use your thickest wool socks to get the best break in with the fewest issues/discomfort. But it was a question above, that I decided to lean into/try.

Leathergato · Jun 2, 2026

Truman Tobacco Snakebite Upland

Bfd70 · Jun 2, 2026

GreX said:
I feel slightly discouraged, like I mentioned I decided to pick up a pair of the Bright Shoemakers (had to pay those dang tariffs as well...), and while these fit great in terms of length, width, and instep - my small toe is pushing pretty hard on the outside of the boot. Is this something that is normal and will go away with wear? I understand that they won't get longer, that's not what I need, as my foot feels good there, just need the toebox to be slightly wider, but just on the outside. Maybe I'm just not meat for these types of boots with my hot dog feet..

Thoughts? Should I try and swap them for the next size up? Knowing it'll cost me another $80 each way for the tariffs + ~$60 for shipping..

Great looking boots though -

Probably need to return them. You’ll lose more than $220 on a resale if you wear them a few months. A size up sounds like it will just add instep and heel problems. 1 shot is that 1/2 sizes may jist be wider but not longer. Perhaps ask about that?

GreX · Jun 2, 2026

Bfd70 said:
Probably need to return them. You’ll lose more than $220 on a resale if you wear them a few months. A size up sounds like it will just add instep and heel problems. 1 shot is that 1/2 sizes may jist be wider but not longer. Perhaps ask about that?

I've reached out to the shop, there are very few of these boots around, and from what I can tell, they only offered them in European sizes - I ended up getting a 44, so hopefully we can work something out to get the 45 over to me - otherwise, I may just keep them and try to have them stretched, given another $200+ would have put me into a custom pair from Nicks or Whites...

Bfd70 · Jun 2, 2026

Unsung. 1 year.

marker2037 · Jun 2, 2026

GreX said:
Yeah, everything I've ever read or seen about boot break in, says to use your thickest wool socks to get the best break in with the fewest issues/discomfort. But it was a question above, that I decided to lean into/try.

I would stick to medium and heavy socks as that will stretch them more. Work them hard for a short time, take them off to let yourself and the boots ease. If you haven’t felt they are fitting better after 3-5 days they may not be right for you.

Herrvallmo · Jun 7, 2026

cbez said:
Am i crazy for liking these
View attachment 789702

Those "front flaps" reminds me a bit to much of welding boots for me wanting to take out the wallet personally, but the boots looks well made and I do like the sleek design from what I can se.

My 2 cents hehe

@Bfd70 Bravo mate, bravo(also, has it already been a year, holy ****e the times flow fast these days haha)!

Harris HTM · Jun 8, 2026

Carmina cap toe boots

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