Dr Martens sizing advice

[needlesandhaystacks]

Bought my first DM's, 2976 Chelsea boot.
Since pregnancy my feet have grown from an 8 to a 9, can sometimes get away with an 8/8.5 but I'd say my go to is a 9.

Bought sizes 8.5 and 9 to try on. 8.5 were a bugga to get on but I managed, 9s looser around ankles and feel much roomier.

Wondering if the 8.5s are likely to loosen when breaking them in. They feel ok once I got them on. A snugger fit and look better on the foot. I worry the 9s are always going to feel like they are slightly too big.

Currently have a size form each pair on with tights as that's what I'll probably wear with them the most.

Any advice from seasoned DM wearers?

Just realised they are an 8 not an 8.5

Try the bigger ones with insoles .

I imagine different leathers do different things, but would you really want to suffer through the months of wear it would take for then to stretch? I have three versions of softer leather dms and they've not stretched at all.

If they feel ok when on then Stick with the smaller ones ( wiggle room for the toes even after a long day on your feet )

They won't give much

Do you have a shoe horn to make getting in easier ?

Thanks all. Off to buy some insoles to see how they feel.

Even the soft leather boots are tough to break in, invest in some good blister plasters and go for the tighter boots not the looser ones. All the advice you'll see online for breaking in boots (including from squaddies) is loose boots = worse blisters. You want a snug but not squeezing shoe.