Engineer Boots Crisis!

[Justhandguns]

Ok, I am waiting for my pair to be delivered from Simon. Let's see what happens. I ordered 7.5, which is similar to most leather shoes that I own. Will keep you lads updated.

 

[Jkohl]

I've emailed Attraction, very tempting although I do prefer a round toe and they look on the less round side of engineers. Perhaps a pair of Chippewa or Redwing is the best way forward for me.
@Cocker I contacted Simon yesterday, he suggested sticking a pair of insoles from my trainers in there which I tried today but no joy.
I'll have to write to him again about sending back.

 

[Jkohl]

Ok, I am waiting for my pair to be delivered from Simon. Let's see what happens. I ordered 7.5, which is similar to most leather shoes that I own. Will keep you lads updated.

Please do, I'm interested to know if this is a boot fault or just a foot thing!

 

[willyto]

Some boots or shoes just aren't a good fit for some feet. Everyone has their own feet shape, instep, heel and it's very very difficult to make shoes that fit everyone but that doesn't mean you have to go the bespoke or custom route. If you live in London just go to Red Wing or American Classics and I'm sure they'll have some engineer boots and they will be able to measure your feet and advise what's the best size for you. On the other hand some shoes or boots need breaking in, that is a thing I've always noticed, and believe me, I own a lot of shoes and boots.

For example when I bought a pair of Red Wing Foreman Chukka boots at Denim Heads in Prague when I was there on holidays I felt they were too tight, they advised me to pick that size because the leather would stretch. I had to wear them at home with thin socks first, then thick socks and even left them in the bathroom when I was showering so the steam would make the leather less stiff. I put shoe trees on them and now they fit perfectly, they aren't tight and half a size or one size bigger would have been a bad choice after breaking them in resulting in a loose fit around the feet and ankle (Which is key in a 3 eyelets boot)

I'm not telling you to break them in, no way but just warning you that some shoes require break in in order to fit right and that's how it works, same as with jackets, the more you wear them the best they fit.

STYLE NO. 9216 : FOREMAN CHUKKA

A new pair of Red Wing Heritage boots should fit comfortably tight on your foot, with enough room to freely wiggle your toes. Over time the full grain leather upper, leather footboard and cork midsole mold to your feet, creating an enduring and customized fit over time with each wear.

Even Red Wing advises for a tight fit because they know the boots will stretch and adapt to your foot.

If you're not happy with them just ask Simon to send them back for a refund. Being theses your first pair of Engineers boots it must be very tricky to get the size or style right the first time specially with a new design that hasn't been around like the ones from SJC.

 

[Fanch]

Some heel slip (lift) is normal and if not present to some degree will result in major heel blisters. Weight should be distributed evenly throughout the arch and not on the ball of the foot. If your toes are hitting the front end of the toe box, either the boot is too short or your foot is sliding down the insole. I suppose the latter problem would be the result of lack of arch support or lack of compression at the instep, maybe a combination of both? I feel your pain as I've been there before.

 

[Fanch]

For the record, I'm in the same position with my Engineers and the 'feel too big and too small at the same time' issue.

@Sloan1874, are your boots too short, or are your feet simply sliding down and crunching your toes? Can you feel the presence of arch support? If not, I wonder if there might be a problem with the design of the last?

 

[Jkohl]

@Gav, what's your sizing like in attractions?
I'm thinking of ordering a size 7 (uk 6.5) this is what they have suggested and is pretty true to size for me.

 

[Jkohl]

Update - Simon has asked that I return the boots to him to send back to the factory to try and sort out the issue.

 

[navetsea]

I have a cheap combat boots that was a size too small for me, and was so painful on my toes the first few weeks, but thick socks and time have changed it into a well fitting boots, I won't suggest this torture to anyone though.

 

[wdw]

All these stories we often hear about long and painful breaking-ins surely just mean the shoe/boot is too small. I tend to err on the side of a bit too large rather than a bit too small and only once have had a problem.

That was on a new pair of vintage DMs which came in smaller than same size standard DMs. I stupidly stuck with them through the pain, then just sold them as I didn't want to compromise any more.

I often read about painful breaking-ins of RW IRs, but that's a boot most people buy up to a full size down. I just bought my normal size and added an insole for comfort as there's no padding whatsoever and never had any issues.

As for the OP, I think he's waited 8 months or so for his boots, and it sounds like they're simply too wide for the length, so unless he gets a complete rebuild, taking who knows how long, his only options are all sorts of padding or a refund.

If the refund's available, that's the route I'd go, and just buy something off the shelf next time after trying them on, assuming a relatively expensive custom Wesco or Brian isn't an option .

 

[Gav]

I have a size 10 in attractions. I'm a uk 9 generally. us 9.5e in Alden trubalance and Barrie lasts. us9.5e in red wings. In vans I wear a us10.5.

I have a high instep which may have stopped me fitting the 9.5 attractions. I literally couldn't get my foot into it at the store and we tried for a while. Perhaps if the shaft were a touch wider they would have fit me even better than the 10 b The 10 fits me very well, is on the longer side of my sizing spectrum but I'm completely happy with the fit.
I may not be a good example of how to fit attractions, others have said size down half from whites, wesco, redwing sizing although I had to go up a half.

 

[Jkohl]

I bit the bullet today and ordered a size 7 Attractions, lot.269. If they don't fit they'll exchange them for a size that does.

 

[Sloan1874]

Have you asked Simon for a refund, Jkohl?

 

[wdw]

I thought you guys were both returning them for a rebuild, according to the SJC site. How long will that take? Will you then get a refund if it doesn't work?

How much for the Attractions, @Jkohl, how long for delivery and where from?

 

[Jkohl]

I've sent the boots back to him to send back to the factory. I don't know what the next step will be. Let's see if they can correct them. If not, I'll ask for a refund or I'll sell them on. Yourself? @Sloan1874

 

[Sloan1874]

They go back tomorrow. I'm still mulling my options, though i'm very unhappy about this. My impression is that this is a manufacturing issue, so I'm not convinced it can be fixed easily.

 

[Jkohl]

@wdw I didn't get a time line from SJC. He'll get my boots back by tomorrow / Monday and well go from there. We haven't discussed refunds yet, he just asked me to send the boots back which is a start. Ordered the attractions straight from the site. They were pricey, £600 inc delivery. I believe they'll arrive in 2 working days! I've waited since February for the engineers, and been thinking about investing in a pair for much longer, and given how disappointed I was i thought I'd cheer myself up with these. Having read lengthily about the amount of love these boots were getting I caved in!

 

[wdw]

@Jkohl, you have the patience of a saint. Be sure and show us the new Attractions when they come. The comparison with the other ones will be interesting.

 

[yakima]

If you do

I've sent the boots back to him to send back to the factory. I don't know what the next step will be. Let's see if they can correct them. If not, I'll ask for a refund or I'll sell them on. Yourself? @Sloan1874

If you don't ask for a refund within seven days of when you received the boots, you lose the right to a refund. You need to ask for a refund asap.

 

[Jkohl]

They go back tomorrow. I'm still mulling my options, though i'm very unhappy about this. My impression is that this is a manufacturing issue, so I'm not convinced it can be fixed easily.

I believe so too. I'll be interested to see responses from others when they receive theirs. I actually saw a pair of the SJC acorn engineers up for sale on here today, so guessing there's a few unhappy folk. I'm just glad to know that their is actually a problem with them and it wasn't just in my head / foot!