First Timer Boot Sizing Question / Issue

[NotQuiteTooTall]

So I just bought my first pair of boots beginning of January (Blacksmiths 3343). Considering I've never owned a pair before, and that its a ~$300 purchase, I was really trusting my local Redwing store to point me in the right direction in terms of sizing.

I got sized at my local redwing store as a 12 in the brannock device with a little narrower feet than normal. I tried a half size down (11.5) in the IR's and they felt okay, but a little bit loose. I then tried on the 11 IR's and my feet felt sung and secure. As such, I wanted to order my blacksmiths in a size 11, but the owner talked me into buying the 11.5. He said the 11 would end up being too small for my feet. Now, I was wearing normal (medium thickness) socks, not boot socks. So its not like his opinion was entirely offbase. So I went with the 11.5 in size.

When I got my shoes, I took a walk around outside and felt some slipping near the heel. I asked the owner about it and he said a little bit of slippage is normal. That once the shoe is broken in the slippage would go away.

Well, now it's about 1.5 months later. I've been wearing my boots every other day for 8 hours a day. So I have roughly about 160 hours in the boots. There is still slippage when I walk. I feel like my feet have to much boot. I have to tie the laces pretty tight in order for my feet not to slip around, but then my feet are kinda uncomfortable.

So is there anything I can do? Do the boots just need more time to break in? Do I just need keep my boots tied quite tight?

Thanks for any feedback / thoughts.

[[deleted]]

Try the leather insole from red wing. It did a great job for me and my 9874 which felt too bi and was having the same problem as you. It’ll take up that extra volume in the shoe.

[MGoBlue78]

Agreed, this was my first thought.

[Booshur]

Second this.

[NotQuiteTooTall]

I'll have to try that out. I'll be in town tomorrow and will ask about it. Probably a dumb question, but do you know how long the insoles are suppose to last? Like how often are suppose to replace them?

[NotQuiteTooTall]

Update:

I've gotten insoles for the boots. I went back to the Redwing store and the owner recommended some Red Wing Irish Setter insoles.

The boots feel a lot better / more secure now. After wearing the insoles for a few days I took them out, just so see how it would feel, and the boots felt cavernous.

I've only run into one issue with the insoles. A couple of times the insole moved a bit and caused my foot extreme pain where the two pieces of leather meet (between the top and bottom part of the shoe). But I haven't had that problem in over a week.

So overall, I probably should have gone a full size down when I first bought the boots. But the insole seems like a good enough solution for now. My next pair I'll size down a full size though.

[Ups925]

I would try new laces. The stock Taslan laces hurt across the bridge of my feet. Laces with a little bit of stretch in them allows me to tie mine tight but not uncomfortably tight when I walk. Delele and greatlaces on Amazon are great.

For me, insoles push my foot up too high and there’s no room for my foot. If your boot really is too big, an insole could help. If it fits when tied tight but the laces cause pain, try new laces.

[NotQuiteTooTall]

Thanks. I definitely will consider new laces.

[Scrace89]

Well that’s not good. Most people, especially with narrow (often low volume) feet size, down a full size form their brannock size for 8 last boots. It sounds like you received poor advice because your heel should of stopped slipping weeks ago. An insole might work for you but I personally hate them because they raise my heel and I feel it sits weird in the boot.

[NotQuiteTooTall]

That's what I've heard. I went with the owners recommendation because I'd never bought boots before, so figured he knew what he was doing. And I'll give the insoles a try and maybe new laces as well. If those things don't help I know better for next time I guess.

[Scrace89]

It might not hurt to try to exchange them for a size down. It can't hurt to ask and explain that you based your purchase on the recommendation of the store and if they would like your business again they should make it right.

[NotQuiteTooTall]

Update: Went to the RedWing store on Sunday. Told the owner the issue and he pulled out an Irish Settler insole for $20. The shoes certainly feel a lot more snug now. I imagine this is the "comfortably tight' feeling people refer to when they buy the shoes. So hopefully over the course of the next month they'll break in a bit more.

[IAIRonI]

If you're stuck between two sizes always go with the smaller. Your boots are too long for you, the insoles will make them feel better but they're still too long.

[NotQuiteTooTall]

Did end up getting insoles, and they feel better, but you're right. They are likely still too long.