Meermin Mallorca Shoes

Some sizing experience:

I was advised to take UK9 of the Hiro last for my 27.3 cm long feet - the shoes turned out to be pretty huge at 29.2 cm (!)

Combined with the rather shallow heel (5.5 cm deep) I´m experiencing some very serious heel slipping even with both buckles fastened as tightly as possible.

Currently awaiting return and exchange instructions. On the upside, mail response was lightning fast as always (9 min!)

I suppose there is a faint chance that some of the heel slipping will go away as the shoe is walked in and the cork at the heel becomes more compressed making the shoe deeper, but I´m afraid even to walk more then a few steps on the carpet in order to not render the shoes UN-returnable.

This brings me to my question: What is a safe difference between foot length and shoe length? (I realize this depends on the of the shoe model, a dubmonk in this case)

One of my best fitting shoes is a derby measuring only 4mm longer then my foot, it´s snug but never uncomfortable. To get that length on my Meermins I would have to size down to 7 or 7.5, which seems like a really scary prospect (and I doubt that their sizing advice could be two full sizes wrong). Hiro is hardly an exceptionally wide last either, nor are my feet (10cm at the ball) particularly narrow.

Was I given funky sizing advice, or is it simply my feet that are funky?

Shoe sizing is very difficult to do by measuring your foot because there are so many factors. I wouldn't buy shoes based on length measurements.

Yes, I´m starting to experiece that.
First-time buyer of shoe over the internet, so I realize it´ll take some learning.



Gosroth said:

Yes, I´m starting to experiece that. 

First-time buyer of shoe over the internet, so I realize it´ll take some learning. 

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If you're in Tokyo, why don't you go try them on? Isetan Shinjuku supposedly has Meermin.

Are a pair of Church's worth 100 euros more then Meermin?



Gosroth said:

[COLOR=000000][SIZE=9pt]Good idea. I would, but I´m currently back in Europe till the end of august when I return to Tokyo. Wanted to pick up some good European shoes before then, so I don´t have to pay Tokyo prices or get slammed with the ridiculous 65% import tariff on leather shoes if you order from Europe to Japan.[/SIZE][/COLOR]​

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65%? damn that's some serious tariff.

Now I feel bad for complaining about Norway's VAT.

tv2177 said:

65%? damn that's some serious tariff.

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To be precise, 60% of it is tariff, 5% is VAT, however shippments with a value below 10.000 (about 95 euro) are not subject to it. Buying from shady E-bayers willing to write down the value (esp. if it's used shoes) is still a possibility.



Gosroth said:

Some sizing experience: 
 

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

I was advised to take UK9 of the Hiro last for my 27.3 cm long feet - the shoes turned out to be pretty huge at 29.2 cm (!)

Combined with the rather shallow heel (5.5 cm deep) I´m experiencing some very serious heel slipping even with both buckles fastened as tightly as possible.

Currently awaiting return and exchange instructions. On the upside, mail response was lightning fast as always (9 min!)

I suppose there is a faint chance that some of the heel slipping will go away as the shoe is walked in and the cork at the heel becomes more compressed making the shoe deeper, but I´m afraid even to walk more then a few steps on the carpet in order to not render the shoes UN-returnable.

This brings me to my question: What is a safe difference between foot length and shoe length? (I realize this depends on the of the shoe model, a dubmonk in this case)

One of my best fitting shoes is a derby measuring only 4mm longer then my foot, it´s snug but never uncomfortable. To get that length on my Meermins I would have to size down to 7 or 7.5, which seems like a really scary prospect (and I doubt that their sizing advice could be two full sizes wrong). Hiro is hardly an exceptionally wide last either, nor are my feet (10cm at the ball) particularly narrow.

Was I given funky sizing advice, or is it simply my feet that are funky?

Click to expand...

For the dubmunks on the Hiro last, I suggest you take your usual UK size, or US size -1, i.e. US9 = UK8 on the Hiro last. That worked for me and I find it fits quite tts that way. A couple of members have taken Pepe's advice to convert only ½ size between US and UK size, i.e. US9 = UK8.5 and have found their shoes to be too big...

Fwiw, Meermin can give you complete measurements, including last length and width, as well as recommended foot length. Last length won't be very useful, but you can compare your own measurements against the last width and recommended foot length.

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I got the last measurements for the 8-9 sizes as follows.[/FONT]

Quote:


[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]Going to ask about recommended foot length.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, sans-serif]This suggest sthat UK8 would be right for me (albeit 1mm tighter), provided that last length is about equal to inside sole length.[/FONT]


It appears that Meermin covers return shipping for the new pairs if you decide to change sizes, so exchanging for smaller pairs should not be too costly. Only thing that has me worried is that I´ve walked 10 or less steps in the shoes (on a soft carpet) in the shoes, and their terms & conditions state that returned items need to be in "unworn" condition, and despite walking carefully, there is indeed some very faint signs of creasing.

I´m a first time buyer of shoes over the net and really not sure what the typical shoe manufactures policy is here. But surely this cannot be enough to disqualify them for a return?

The length of the last is not a good indicator of how a shoe will fit, so you should stop focusing on that. Some lasts are known to be long, yet fit very tts.

See below for complete measurements for UK8 and UK8.5, incl. recommended foot length.

Wes Bourne said:

Some sizing info for the Hiro last, sizes UK8 and UK8.5:
L 298mm shoe sole 8UK. - L 301mm shoe sole 8,5UK.
W 105mm shoe sole 8UK. - W 108mm shoe sole 8,5UK.
L 281mm last 8UK. - L 285mm last 8,5UK.
W 101mm last 8UK. - W 103mm last 8,5UK.
Feet 26,3 cm 8UK - Feet 26,9 cm 8,5UK

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And fwiw, my experience has generally been EUR42 = UK8 = US9



2ghouls said:

Just got my Meermins in on the Olfe last.  I wear 11.5 D US (e.g. on the AE 5 last) and ordered the 10.5. So I went down one full size from my US size. They fit a bit snug, but in a good way. The toe box is perfect for my foot. The sizing was on Jose's suggestion after sending him measurements of my foot, based on a pencil drawing.
Pics:


This is the 12153-Y style in dark brown suede.  The color is more accurate on their website.
Like most everyone else, I think these are great quality for the price.  And the customer service was superb.

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How to contact Jose?? I'm trying the get the wholecut in navy suede.

Thanks,

mr monty said:

How to contact Jose??
Thanks,

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Just use the contact form on their site, that'll put you in contact with José.

Wes Bourne said:

The length of the last is not a good indicator of how a shoe will fit, so you should stop focusing on that. Some lasts are known to be long, yet fit very tts.
See below for complete measurements for UK8 and UK8.5, incl. recommended foot length.
And fwiw, my experience has generally been EUR42 = UK8 = US9

Click to expand...