Boots that do it all without crushing my toes
October 27, 2022 9:24 AM   Subscribe

I spent a week in a "camping festival" setting wearing 10-inch Wolverine Wellington-style boots and walking a lot, over varied terrain. I got terrible blisters on my 4th toes; I figure the boots have too narrow of a toe box for me. I was otherwise happy with them, with no foot or knee pain other than the toe blisters. What's a good pair of replacement boots? Requirements: brown leather with a plain-looking toe, tall enough that I can step into mud without fear (8"-12"), and with a toe box that doesn't want to crush my poor toes.

Bonus info: I don't normally wear "wide" sizes. This might just be because of ignorance, though; perhaps I'd be happier if all my shoes were wide.

Also, the camping festival was medieval re-enactment (SCA), which is what's behind my desire for a plain brown leather toe. It's a matter of etiquette that no one would ever remark upon another person's inauthentic shoes at such an event; it would be as rude as remarking on someone's modern assistive device being inauthentic. That said, I prefer to at least nod in that direction with a pair of plain brown boots.

I'll be putting my preferred Dr. Scholl's insoles in these in any case, so an inadequate stock insole is no concern.
posted by 4th number to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (7 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: I had a similar problem with a pair of fairly-new boots I took on an overseas trip, so wore often and for extended periods. I also ended up with blisters on both 4th toes. When I got home I unearthed wooden shoe trees from a box in my basement I had a dim memory of having had foisted on me after a family member moved cross-country, adjusted them to an aggressive tension, then left them in the boots for a couple of weeks. I had slim hope of success, but to my surprise the shoe trees absolutely stretched the toe boxes, and the boots are now supremely comfortable.

If you don't have shoe trees, I think some shoe repair places (if you can still find one) also can stretch a boot's toe box. Worth a try since they otherwise suit you.
posted by citygirl at 10:17 AM on October 27, 2022 [7 favorites]


Seconding stretching them. Some shoes and boots just run narrow. You're otherwise happy with the Wolverines; if a trip to the cobbler doesn't fix this, try the wide version at your link.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:32 AM on October 27, 2022


Best answer: I wear red wing iron rangers and they have an almost bulbous toe box. Comfy once you get them broken in as well.
posted by Ferreous at 1:01 PM on October 27, 2022


Response by poster: I own some shoe trees; cedar ones from Nordstrom. They're not (apparently) adjustable, but I'm jammed 'em in there and they seem to be putting some pressure on the outer part of the toe box.
posted by 4th number at 1:54 PM on October 27, 2022


I concur with the others about the possibility of making your current boots work.

Here are more options for shoe stretching.

Also, is there any chance that the blisters were due to a poor sock boot interaction? (E.g. perhaps the boots rubbed a seam on your socks?) Regardless, I would put in a plug for wearing wool (hiking) socks with boots since the more your feet can breathe -> the less sweaty they are -> less likely for blisters to be a problem.
posted by oceano at 2:23 PM on October 27, 2022


I’d call that style rigger boots, not Wellies; this might help you refine your search.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 3:48 PM on October 27, 2022


Best answer: Red Wing has a line of boots with a large toe box called King Toe. Here's an 8" water-proof pair. They're not completely plain, but they will be comfortable
posted by lamp at 4:52 PM on October 27, 2022


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