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[flylikeneagle]

Olive Shinki Shell Meermin first wear.
View attachment 1478807

Didn't want to ask on Carmina thread, so figured I'd find you here How do you find these in terms of comfort/break-in? I don't own any Meermin footwear, but I love their cherry, olive and cognac shell. What's held me back are comments stating Meermin can be uncomfortable out of the box. Wondering if JR soles would help with comfort.

 

[Crafty Cumbrian]

Didn't want to ask on Carmina thread, so figured I'd find you here How do you find these in terms of comfort/break-in? I don't own any Meermin footwear, but I love their cherry, olive and cognac shell. What's held me back are comments stating Meermin can be uncomfortable out of the box. Wondering if JR soles would help with comfort.

I like them. I find the Hok last suits me but the mto is on a different last although you can select width. They look quite dressy on, especially on JR. I find shell in general (I’m far from an authority) can vary batch to batch. I got the Olive on a captoe and it’s wildly different colour and flexibility wise. Beauty of a boot but a red/green like antiqued brass or copper. The NST is soft and comfortable out of the box. The MTO boots have leather heel counters as are made to Maestro standards.

fit and finish on my pairs were far superior than the price point. Yes, they were a month late but it’s not like I’m walking barefoot (as would you not!) in the mean time. I’m no schill for Meermin, I’ve a small percentage relative to the rest of the Crafty Towers mad house collection but can’t really fault any pairs I have.

 

[stephenaf2003]

Didn't want to ask on Carmina thread, so figured I'd find you here How do you find these in terms of comfort/break-in? I don't own any Meermin footwear, but I love their cherry, olive and cognac shell. What's held me back are comments stating Meermin can be uncomfortable out of the box. Wondering if JR soles would help with comfort.

You didn’t ask me, but why let that stop me I’ve heard this complaint many times before, concerning Meermin’s tough break in. In my experience, and I have a few pairs, the tough break in experience only happened with some of the shoes. Straight out of the box, I’ve never experienced it with the 6 pairs of boots I own. Some are on leather, most on Dainite. The double JR leather pair I have is just as smooth a ride as any other pair I own on double JR. The shoes that had the tough break in were brutal, so I understand why some have mentioned it.

 

[tonylumpkin]

Just picked up a pair of C&J Coniston (At a significant discount) and hope to wear them on a regular basis during he coming fall and winter. These are the first quality boots I‘ve bought with the intention of wearing them through the foul weather common to this part of the world. I’d appreciate any suggestions for treatment prior to introducing them to the rain, sleet and snow.

 

[flylikeneagle]

I like them. I find the Hok last suits me but the mto is on a different last although you can select width. They look quite dressy on, especially on JR. I find shell in general (I’m far from an authority) can vary batch to batch. I got the Olive on a captoe and it’s wildly different colour and flexibility wise. Beauty of a boot but a red/green like antiqued brass or copper. The NST is soft and comfortable out of the box. The MTO boots have leather heel counters as are made to Maestro standards.

fit and finish on my pairs were far superior than the price point. Yes, they were a month late but it’s not like I’m walking barefoot (as would you not!) in the mean time. I’m no schill for Meermin, I’ve a small percentage relative to the rest of the Crafty Towers mad house collection but can’t really fault any pairs I have.

You didn’t ask me, but why let that stop me I’ve heard this complaint many times before, concerning Meermin’s tough break in. In my experience, and I have a few pairs, the tough break in experience only happened with some of the shoes. Straight out of the box, I’ve never experienced it with the 6 pairs of boots I own. Some are on leather, most on Dainite. The double JR leather pair I have is just as smooth a ride as any other pair I own on double JR. The shoes that had the tough break in were brutal, so I understand why some have mentioned it.

Thank you both. Given difficulty level, I'm a little skeptical about Meermin's ability to pull off pie-crust apron stitch with cordovan. I think it's worth a shot though, worst case I'll end up with a boot unlike my other shell boots in a color I've admired for a long time.

 

[jayvee]

I have the meermin NST cognac shell boots. My ankles still have nightmares about the shafts but the rest is pretty comfortable.

 

[Schweino]

I have the meermin NST cognac shell boots. My ankles still have nightmares about the shafts but the rest is pretty comfortable. View attachment 1483885

That was exactly my experience with Meermin. Owned 4 pairs (2 Linea Maestro) and they all had this heel issue. I understand that Meermin uses celastic (plastic) heel counters which don't mold to your foot so that might explain it?

I sold all my pairs because they really ruined my heels.

 

[jayvee]

I haven’t had any heel problems tbf. It’s more that the leather in the shaft is very stiff.

 

[jayvee]

And the Lord sent rain atop the ice and snow and did say ‘ye who requested a storm welt and commando sole will be dry of foot and will not slip over’

 

[JUAN MANUEL]

Just picked up a pair of C&J Coniston (At a significant discount) and hope to wear them on a regular basis during he coming fall and winter. These are the first quality boots I‘ve bought with the intention of wearing them through the foul weather common to this part of the world. I’d appreciate any suggestions for treatment prior to introducing them to the rain, sleet and snow.

Hello, I am not a leather specialist but can share my experience. I find two options I use:

1.- The extreme one: When the boots just arrive I apply some dubbin, I have Grison Graise La Phoque but any quality dubbin will do the job. I works great but some kind of leather might look dull and the broguing might look untidy (use q-tips). I use this with my black boots to avoid a military Darth Vader look. Be carefull, less is more.
2.- The safer one: Using some Venetian Cream of Saphir Creme Universelle.

Try checking in the "Official Shoe Care Thread: Tutorials, Photos, ETC", you will find some great lads willing to help.

 

[flylikeneagle]

I have the meermin NST cognac shell boots. My ankles still have nightmares about the shafts but the rest is pretty comfortable. View attachment 1483885

Very nice. These look color 4ish. How long have you had this pair? I assume you've worn them quite a bit to help with the cordovan aging/evolution process?

 

[jayvee]

Very nice. These look color 4ish. How long have you had this pair? I assume you've worn them quite a bit to help with the cordovan aging/evolution process?

Actually I haven’t worn them that much, but they have changed quite dramatically to no.4 ish as you say. I am pretty tough on my boots tbh, I wear them in all conditions and never use trees - life is too short.

 

[Phoenician]

Put some new braided gray laces in the black Trickers Axton. Like the bit of contrast

 

[rob80bboots]

New cap toe black boots in boxcalf on Dainite. Big fan of this 4497 last!
View attachment 1464121

black Trickers Axton

Curious as to where you sourced these, not the lases but the boots , I noticed them from your Tricker's post and thought they'd be an nice alternative to the Grassmere I originally had in mind.
In the end I could not find an all black Tricker's rounded cap toe that was readily available and I ordered the Cheaney Trafalgars I mentioned previously.

............ mid November Covid birthday gift to myself just put in an early order for an a pair of their Trafalgar Toe Cap with Vibram "Vi-Lite soles"......
View attachment 1483077

 

[djdanniedee]

Rare day out to the mall. Took the opportunity to put on some proper footwear. Carmina CxL Frankenstitch boots.