Over 10 years ago, I purchased a pair of Loake Burfords. I loved the brogue style in a lace-up boot. The colour is good for navy, tan and grey suits to jeans and casual wear. They have the Goodyear welted soles (original) and the heel rubbers have never been changed...because there's a good reason. And just to make a point, the shoes did fit.
I could only wear them for short periods of time. I just could not break these things in to be comfortable for a whole day. I tried boot stretchers, spray stretch, shoe trees wrapped in 3 pairs of socks and jammed into the shoes to try and make the leather supple...Nope. It got to a point where I could wear them to out dinner or any short duration event that didn't require a lot of walking. These are not cheap shoes, they're made in England and Loake has a very good reputation. Even so, they tended to stay at home.
I really like shoes and have indulged myself perhaps a bit more than I should. My wife agrees I have over done it.
So one day I was looking at these shoes and thought "Ima gonna do something with these things...again" I remember reading about soaking shoes/boots to get a comfortable fit to form. I mean WTH, I wasn't wearing them so I decided to let them take the plunge.
I soaked them overnight and prepared myself to wear them all day. I took extra socks to work to change out when they got too wet. I walked to work so it was a nice warm spring day when I put on my wet boots and went to work. I noticed that I was able to get to work without any of the usual pain and rubbing...hmm. As the day wore on, they dried out and I was really getting quite pleased with them as they weren't hurting any longer. I decided that when I got home I would treat them to a good leather conditioner to help the leather remain supple. Did that for a few days and they are now a comfortable and hard- wearing pair of shoes. It only took me 10 or so years to figure out.
I could only wear them for short periods of time. I just could not break these things in to be comfortable for a whole day. I tried boot stretchers, spray stretch, shoe trees wrapped in 3 pairs of socks and jammed into the shoes to try and make the leather supple...Nope. It got to a point where I could wear them to out dinner or any short duration event that didn't require a lot of walking. These are not cheap shoes, they're made in England and Loake has a very good reputation. Even so, they tended to stay at home.
I really like shoes and have indulged myself perhaps a bit more than I should. My wife agrees I have over done it.
So one day I was looking at these shoes and thought "Ima gonna do something with these things...again" I remember reading about soaking shoes/boots to get a comfortable fit to form. I mean WTH, I wasn't wearing them so I decided to let them take the plunge.
I soaked them overnight and prepared myself to wear them all day. I took extra socks to work to change out when they got too wet. I walked to work so it was a nice warm spring day when I put on my wet boots and went to work. I noticed that I was able to get to work without any of the usual pain and rubbing...hmm. As the day wore on, they dried out and I was really getting quite pleased with them as they weren't hurting any longer. I decided that when I got home I would treat them to a good leather conditioner to help the leather remain supple. Did that for a few days and they are now a comfortable and hard- wearing pair of shoes. It only took me 10 or so years to figure out.