[Anthony Charton]

So, I come back from Naples today to my first pair of Meermins (double monks, 10, Hiro last). They forgot to add my Saphir to the order, but that was only the first of disappointments: the shoes are killing me. They're tight more than they are short (for reference, I have large-ish feet and a Loake in 10 on a Capital last is a perfect fit).

I've emailed CS about both issues (and I'll most likely play swaps for another pair) but I thought I'd make enquiries here too- should I consider sizing up half a size? Or go with another last entirely (as far as I know the only last broader than the Hiro is the Rui and they don't seem to be doing much on it these days. Plus, I'm really fond of their monks). Thoughts much appreciated, gentlemen!

(Also, yes, I did get a couple of jackets with camicia spalla in Naples. Fantastic.)

 

[Anthony Charton]

From what I've read so far, most customers seem to go up half a size when ordering shoes on the Hiro last compared to the Loake Capital.

That's interesting. My research instructed me that Hiros run pretty rue to size' (in the words of the guy who writes The Nordic Fit) and Loake are the truest-to-size brand I know. I'm actually determined to figure this out- which Meermin size and last I shold go for- so I'll keep you posted on my findings.

meanoldmanning- thanks for weighing in. I've heard Rui is huge in comparison to other lasts. Do you get any heel slippage on your 10.5 boots?

winghus- yes, though most of the wider lasts on your picture aren't being produced right now. It seems that they keep introducing slimmer lasts, now even in distinction with the Hiro ('We are now doing this shoe in an X last, which is sleeker than our Hiro'- type thing), which is thereby slipping toward the 'wide' side of their sizing spectrum.

 

[Anthony Charton]

A couple of updates: many thanks to all for chiming in, namely when it comes to Loake lasts. It turns out that, on trying out the shoes again, they were nowhere near as bad as I first felt. It's mainly in the toebox. A sliver of extra length would help immensely- they fit me pretty much the way my father's shoes fit me, in a brand from which we both own a few pairs; his shoes half a size below mine. That, and Meermin's CS, led me to believe-or gamble- that a 10.5 is the way to go. I'll let you know how I get on.

Finally, and this is a pleasant policy I stumbled on along the way: Meermin apparently covers shipping costs for exchanges, so if all goes as planned, I'll only have spent 20 extra euro as an investment to determine my Meermin size.

Anthony, my dear fellow, I am surprised at you. Commencing a sentence with a coordinating conjunction.....

Here is a little light reading: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...le-3132195/SO-wrong-John-Humphrys-rage-little-word-invades-everyday-speech.html

I should say I'm equally surprised at your resorting to a Daily Mail article to call me on grammatical heresy (seriously, I typed this in a hurry and conversationally- I do believe conjunctions of coordination have their place at the onset of sentences, indeed paragraphs, if not in mine- if you haven't read Hemingway's A Moveable Feast, do. It's got my favourite English-language opening. 'And then there was the bad weather'.)

 

[Anthony Charton]

All right. Now I would not care for death. One thing I have always dreaded was Hemingway.

Fair enough, though I thought of you today, reading a paragraph opening by Marcel Proust... starting with 'But' !

 

[Anthony Charton]

An update (and happy conclusion): the new pair has arrived. As I inferred from their website, Meermin paid for shipping, which was much appreciated. CS was generally very much on point (they actually reduplicated my original order and added a can of Zephyr Rénovateur at no extra cost).

Re: sizing (especially for Veblen): the 10.5 are a much better fit. I don't suppose heel slippage wil be an issue, but I don't feel painfully constrained by the toabox anymore. They'll take some wear to be properly broken into- as opposed to any Loakes I have on the Capital, which were an immediate perfect fit. Hiro is most likely a tad tighter than Capital (albeit it approximates the same length), but I'll have to see how the structure adapts o my foot. Nonetheless I have a feeling that Meermin will be shipping a few pairs my way in the next few months.

All right. Now I would not care for death. One thing I have always dreaded was Hemingway.

Ha! I see it now. Well played.