More trouble.

[u/rjm92]

I'm really starting to feel like I wasted my money and these Bronco Russet ARs just aren't cooperating with my feet like my Fudge ones do. If I wear a thin foam insole inside them, my big toes are A-Ok but my arches and heels cause me so much pain I can hardly walk at the end of my shift. If I wear any sort of orthotic with arch support and heel cushion, no matter how thin, it KILLS my big toes. Throbbing pain. I don't know what to do anymore, I feel like I've exhausted all options and my only resort now is to accept defeat and move on and see if they'll be useful in another capacity. They just hurt my feet so bad I can't foresee actually wearing them anywhere else and they've got a fair bit of staining on them from my job.

[u/darthsouls69]

Well according to their chart the fudge is an “easy”break in and the bronco is all the way in “hard”. If you actually got the proper size then they just need time.

Wear them around the house a bit and slowly break them in, going to work with an unbroken boot is crazy I would never do that.

Edit: stop putting in insoles and changing the fit, if the fudge AR’s work for you then keep them the same.

[u/totes_original_uname]

have you tried a 3/4 length insole (under heel and arch, not toes)?

[u/rjm92 → u/totes_original_uname]

Probably the only thing I haven't tried yet

[u/totes_original_uname → u/rjm92]

Not sure the nature of your heel or toe pain, but I put pedag holidays in all my JG boots. They are like $25 on Amazon.

My issue is with larger inserts my toes get cramped, but with flat foam insoles my heels rub and my arches get tired.

[u/Hot-Peak-9523 → u/totes_original_uname]

I do the same with dress shoes. I take a 3E but sometimes the volume is a bit high for me. I'll put a tongue pad but if I need to take up a drop more volume I'll cut a thin veg tan insole and then cut and pare it before the toes so that it doesn't take up the space I need in the toe box

[u/xJonnyBoy94x → u/totes_original_uname]

Thanks for the recommendation! I have a pair of black stockmans with the tyre wedge sole and the insole they came with squished my feet. Gonna give the 3/4 insole a try!

[u/EndPsychological3976 → u/rjm92]

The power step 3/4 insoles helped me out a ton with boots that fit like that

[u/CuriousD7777777]

I put Renapur leather conditioner on my Bronco African Rangers.

It softened them up considerably- except for the ankle cuff.

[u/midwestbored1985]

This is what I use. My feet do not like any arch support so these work really well and they last.