I'm having a bad case of sizing angst over my Meermins. Wise minds of SF, please aid me.
The story so far:
I ordered and received my pair of Meermin dubmonks in size UK9 based on Jose's advice. Sadly, these where clearly too big, giving major slipping at the heel. I needed to wear 4 pairs of socks to get a comfortable fit in size 9 – in my mind that´s a little more then a half size too big.
Sent the shoes back to Spain using cheapest availible postal service, which still costs me close to 60 euros. Ouch.
Went to a store and tried on some of the Loakes on the Capital last (rounded cap-toes not dissimillar from Meermin Hiro last). Size 8UK felt snugg but comfy. 8.5 was slipping at the heel. Decided that 8 UK was my size (I´ve mostly been buying shoes in EU and Japanese sizes sizes which adds to my inexperience in picking the right UK size).
Then today I recieve a pair of Chukka boots in UK8 (from another maker) that are comfortable enough when I stand or sit, but clearly pinch my toes while walking (not enough to be painfull, at least not when walking indoors, but clearly uncomfortable). Picked up a pair of suede slippers with chukkas, also size UK8, they also pinch my toes.
The chukkas in question are Herring Strathclydes (Herring ”country” last, which Herring told me was simillar in lenght and toe fit to Loake Capital).
So, the question now is, do I exchange my Meermins for size 8 and run the risk of a pinchy toebox, or 8.5 and run the risk of a slippy heel?
Which of these problems are more likely to go away with use?
From what I´ve gathered here on SF, toe boxes are the hardest part of shoes to stretch or sucsesfully break in as they are heavily reinforced to keep shape (and cap-toes are even worse due to the double layer of leather). Slippery heels will improve as the sole becomes less stiff and the cork footbed molds to your heel. That suggets that I should go for 8.5 after all. But then agan, those size 9 shoes felt a little more then half a size too big.
For now I´ve decied to wear my size 8 chukkas indoors a few days and see if the toebox will give in a little.
If not, I guess I´ll exchange my Meermins for size 8.5, as I figure toe pinching is a more major discomfort then a little heel slipping. Really want to avoid paying another 60 euros for another exchange, but getting sizing nailed down with my duck-feet is so damn tricky.
