Just received my second set of Meermin's.
Antique Oak shearling-lined cap-toe boots.
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First shot is them in ambient overhead light,
Second is with the flash on:
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Frankly, fortunately they look a lot more like the former to me.
I normally wear a size 12. Haven't measured myself on a Brannock device since my feet stopped growing (some 30 years ago...) On advice gleaned here and elsewhere, ordered these Hiro-lasted jumpers in UK 11. 5. Fit like a glove! A little wiggle room at the toe, tight through the instep and arch, a little heel wiggle in the right boot. (None discernible in the left. But my left foot is ~ 1/4 to 1/2 size larger than my right.) Natural bend coincides very nicely with the ball of my foot, but the arches are just slightly rearward of my natural ones. Still closer than my year-old size 12 5th Ave's.
So, I did about 30 jumping jacks, ran 1/2 mile, and walked 2 miles in them upon receipt. Then I put my heaviest wool socks on some slightly-undersize CBT's and stuffed 'em in there for the night. I'll wear 'em all day tomorrow or the next day to get them well and truly broken in. Though it's about 50 locally in the evening, and I got stuck running an hour more errands than I had bargained for, my feet didn't get overly warm. And felt no hot spots or discomfort. It's supposed to start cooling down, and I'm being sent to the Midwest in early February where highs are supposed to hover around freezing. So, they'll be getting some use coming up.
I think the leather is a gorgeous medium brown, and though I never picked up such a belt, I have 3 different ones which are only off a shade which I can pair with 'em depending on the outfit and mood: Dress brown for suits, separates, or dark chinos; tan for smart jeans or light chinos; well-worn light brown for worn-in jeans. Perfect.
In addition to being a lovely color, the leather is quite a bit more supple than the Vintage Tobacco on my size 11 wholecuts on the Elton last. Even with about 10 (walking) miles in them (no jumping jacks) those have yet to conform to my high insteps, and the laces just don't pull closed the way I would like, and expect. Perhaps when I find the right slacks to complement them, and the weather warms up a tad, I'll get to breaking those in in earnest. But I digress.
Upon initial inspection, I detected no flaws whatsoever. But I'm no expert, and was anxious to get them on my feet. At the end of the night, I could see whoever did the welt may have been learning the process. And the cutline on each boot does not align perfectly, and is not dyed on the mating faces. They are also not perfectly symmetrical from boot to boot: one is just above the forward edge of the heel; the other is about an inch forward of there. Fortunately, both are on the inner side of the shoe, where anyone not inspecting will a fine-toothed comb will be hard-pressed to see it. I also noticed 2 scuffs on the toes which I know I put there, and a couple on the heels and shaft which were probably me, but I didn't look close enough at first to see.
At the price point and expected use, I'd give them full points for fit and finish, your mileage (and pickiness) may vary.
Some have mentioned the stiffness of Meermin's studded rubber sole. I have no experience with real Dainite, but I find the Meermin version a bit more supple, grippy and communicative than the Thursday Boots version. Which, until last night, was plenty good enough for me. (Wearing suede Scouts right now.) My 2 cents.
Anyway, even though it's the most I've ever spent on footwear (other than, maybe, ski boots) I LOVE the new boots, and thank you guys for directing me to Meermin.
Antique Oak shearling-lined cap-toe boots.
First shot is them in ambient overhead light,
Second is with the flash on:
Frankly, fortunately they look a lot more like the former to me.
I normally wear a size 12. Haven't measured myself on a Brannock device since my feet stopped growing (some 30 years ago...) On advice gleaned here and elsewhere, ordered these Hiro-lasted jumpers in UK 11. 5. Fit like a glove! A little wiggle room at the toe, tight through the instep and arch, a little heel wiggle in the right boot. (None discernible in the left. But my left foot is ~ 1/4 to 1/2 size larger than my right.) Natural bend coincides very nicely with the ball of my foot, but the arches are just slightly rearward of my natural ones. Still closer than my year-old size 12 5th Ave's.
So, I did about 30 jumping jacks, ran 1/2 mile, and walked 2 miles in them upon receipt. Then I put my heaviest wool socks on some slightly-undersize CBT's and stuffed 'em in there for the night. I'll wear 'em all day tomorrow or the next day to get them well and truly broken in. Though it's about 50 locally in the evening, and I got stuck running an hour more errands than I had bargained for, my feet didn't get overly warm. And felt no hot spots or discomfort. It's supposed to start cooling down, and I'm being sent to the Midwest in early February where highs are supposed to hover around freezing. So, they'll be getting some use coming up.
I think the leather is a gorgeous medium brown, and though I never picked up such a belt, I have 3 different ones which are only off a shade which I can pair with 'em depending on the outfit and mood: Dress brown for suits, separates, or dark chinos; tan for smart jeans or light chinos; well-worn light brown for worn-in jeans. Perfect.
In addition to being a lovely color, the leather is quite a bit more supple than the Vintage Tobacco on my size 11 wholecuts on the Elton last. Even with about 10 (walking) miles in them (no jumping jacks) those have yet to conform to my high insteps, and the laces just don't pull closed the way I would like, and expect. Perhaps when I find the right slacks to complement them, and the weather warms up a tad, I'll get to breaking those in in earnest. But I digress.
Upon initial inspection, I detected no flaws whatsoever. But I'm no expert, and was anxious to get them on my feet. At the end of the night, I could see whoever did the welt may have been learning the process. And the cutline on each boot does not align perfectly, and is not dyed on the mating faces. They are also not perfectly symmetrical from boot to boot: one is just above the forward edge of the heel; the other is about an inch forward of there. Fortunately, both are on the inner side of the shoe, where anyone not inspecting will a fine-toothed comb will be hard-pressed to see it. I also noticed 2 scuffs on the toes which I know I put there, and a couple on the heels and shaft which were probably me, but I didn't look close enough at first to see.
At the price point and expected use, I'd give them full points for fit and finish, your mileage (and pickiness) may vary.
Some have mentioned the stiffness of Meermin's studded rubber sole. I have no experience with real Dainite, but I find the Meermin version a bit more supple, grippy and communicative than the Thursday Boots version. Which, until last night, was plenty good enough for me. (Wearing suede Scouts right now.) My 2 cents.
Anyway, even though it's the most I've ever spent on footwear (other than, maybe, ski boots) I LOVE the new boots, and thank you guys for directing me to Meermin.
