Boots
I ordered the HD boots last week. I had seen some reviews saying that they ran large, but most reviews said true to size, so I ordered a size 8. The size 8 came and was a bit too big; more than an inch of space in the toe. So I ordered a pair in 7.5 and they came today.
The 7.5 is very tight in the foot and the ankle. It actually feels an entire size smaller than the 8. There is also not a lot of room beyond my toes when I am standing. The 7.5 feels a lot more narrow than the 8, too.
The issue is really whether or not they will stretch. This is greasy leather so I suspect there will be some stretch, especially as many reviewers mention the shaft stretching out. If the size 8 stretch in the feet, they will be way too big for me. If the size 7.5 stretch in the feet, they will be perfect.
Actually I've been wearing them while I type this and it feels like they are already starting to stretch out a little. Hmm. I am going to rub on some shoe stretching fluid and wear them around the house for a few hours.
I think that I will have to have the shafts professionally stretched, as I can't get them zipped up all the way and the measurements on Zappos are clearly not accurate. But that's not a big deal: I would probably have to do it with ANY tall boots I bought that weren't lace-ups, just because of my enormous calves.
Next task: better arch supports.
The 7.5 is very tight in the foot and the ankle. It actually feels an entire size smaller than the 8. There is also not a lot of room beyond my toes when I am standing. The 7.5 feels a lot more narrow than the 8, too.
The issue is really whether or not they will stretch. This is greasy leather so I suspect there will be some stretch, especially as many reviewers mention the shaft stretching out. If the size 8 stretch in the feet, they will be way too big for me. If the size 7.5 stretch in the feet, they will be perfect.
Actually I've been wearing them while I type this and it feels like they are already starting to stretch out a little. Hmm. I am going to rub on some shoe stretching fluid and wear them around the house for a few hours.
I think that I will have to have the shafts professionally stretched, as I can't get them zipped up all the way and the measurements on Zappos are clearly not accurate. But that's not a big deal: I would probably have to do it with ANY tall boots I bought that weren't lace-ups, just because of my enormous calves.
Next task: better arch supports.