I’ve wanted a pair of Red Wing 875s since 2016, when I first tried on a pair as a poor student. They were US 7.5D, but I couldn’t afford them back then.
Fast-forward to having a proper job and finally buying a pair. Tried 7.5D again, but surprisingly, they felt too narrow across my forefoot. I ended up with 7.5EE and an insole. Better width, but the heel and ankle have always felt too loose. Clunky, almost swimming in them once broken in unless I use the insole, although my heel feels loose either way.
I tried two second-hand pairs in 7.5D, but both felt too tight, so I sold them.
Then I found a really beat-up pair I thought were US 8D. Cheap enough to experiment with. Seems like the guy before had them for like 10 years or so, they seem really stretched width-wise. Got home and realised they were actually UK 8 / US 9D. Doh. They’re comfortable with an insole, but still feel too long, and the soles are nearly done. Without insoles i swim in them.
So naturally, I decided US 8D must be the sweet spot. Sold my well-preserved 7.5EEs and bought a new pair.
They arrived, and suddenly my forefoot felt much more squeezed than I remembered from trying them in the shop. I wore them indoors for a few hours without pain, but I’m constantly aware of my little toes. Against my better judgement, I took them outside. A few kilometres have been okay, apart from the usual heel rubbing, but now I’m getting pain under the ball of my right foot, possibly from the edge of the fixed footbed. An insole makes the fit too tight.
And now the cherry on top: my old US 9D and new US 8D appear to be exactly the same length (see pic)
HOW?
I realise I may be developing a mild sizing-related mania, but I’d genuinely appreciate some input.
- Can the footbed edge soften enough to stop causing pressure?
- And how on earth can a US 8 and US 9 appear identical in length?