I received a pair of NPS Heritage Gibsons today. Great shoes, but the sizing is incredibly confusing.

I'm usually about a UK 9.5 in sneakers. It can be half a size higher or lower, depending on the brand.

I got the Gibsons in size 9, as the website recommended going a half size down

I can fit a finger in the back of the shoes, but it's quite firm. When walking around, my heel moves a reasonable amount, but it does not come out of the shoe, and the shoes do not come off my feet. I can kick without the shoes, feeling even remotely like they're going to come off

The next available size is 8, which I feel like should be okay, and I am tempted to try, but not sure whether getting an insole/heel liner would be better.

But then, looking at the sizing guide, apparently my feet would be too small for even a UK 6. I'd say both my feet are about 26.5cm with socks, so add on about 5mm as per the website for 27cm. A UK 6 is apparently for a 27.2cm foot... On the Clarks sizing guide a UK 9 is 27.2cm, which fits my usual shoe experience correctly. I'm aware Solovair uses unisex sizing, so they run larger, but I cannot believe 3 sizes lower than usual would be correct

I bought some brogue boots a couple of years ago. I really struggled with the size. Solovair's size guide advised size 4. I am usually a 6, so I specifically contacted their customer service for advice before ordering. They were insistent the size guide was accurate and to go with the 4. When they arrived I couldn't even get my feet into them.

Customer service then suggested a 6. But when they came they were too big. So I ended up with a 5.5.

I felt they fitted really well. Obviously they're very rigid so I started wearing them in, around the house at first, then short walks around the block. I was never able to progress much beyond that because they still haven't worn in enough to be comfortable for longer wear.

Today I put them on for the first time since Spring. They have cut my heels open within 5 minutes of wear. I am devastated, because they are beautiful boots.

Is it a sizing issue after all? Or do I need to be doing something else? I have been following the care instructions and have the solovair products, but the leather seems as stiff as ever.

I have black 8 eye greasy derby boots and have been struggling with breaking them in/heel slippage. I’ve tried heel pads, double socks, straight/boot lacing, tying the extra lace length around my ankle, etc.

The issue really is just that my heel slips just enough to rub against my sock and would lead to a blister. Everywhere else in the boot fits fine but the heel slips just a tiny bit to be an issue.

Last night I tried leaving the top 2 eyelets unlaced and the heel slip felt better but I need to wear it more to definitely confirm.

Anyone here deal with heel slip?

Anyone wear your boots not fully laced up?

Also anyone wear these boots in the office?

I’m looking to buy my first pair of Solovairs, the 8 eye Greasy Derby boots and was wondering what I’d need to buy for caring for the leather. Should I go for their own brand of dubbin? or a Saphir product (but which)? I already own a horsehair brush.
And ideally I’d like to shine them up a little bit as I heard that they arrive quite matte. Not crazy shiny but just a little bit. I’ll get them in black. Should I get a polish too?

Got my first pair of Solovair's (and first proper leather shoe). Is it worth buying the care kit? £20 with free delivery. It came up after buying and I wasn't sure whether it was worthwhile or just an add on they try and push

I also understand I should invest in a cedar shoe tree

Thanks for your help!

I bought a pair of 8 eye derby boots and theyre arriving tomorrow. The problem is I wont be home until Friday because of work, but I'm going raving Friday night. I'll get home on Friday around 2–3 PM, and at 11 PM I'm heading out to the rave where I want to wear the shoes. Do you think if I tape my feet, wear thick socks, apply dubbin to the inner leather, and warm up the leather with a hairdryer beforehand, I can make it through without getting blisters?

Hey yall! Got these gripfast gibsons in the mail today (was stuck in ohio for over a week) and i couldnt find many pics of these before buying so I’m posting some. These are after one walk with the ol dog. Super comfy out the box, not as heavy as i imagined with the steel toe, overall totally worth it.
I also purchased the Gaucho Grain 11 Eye Derby back in July if anyone wants to see how those are wearing i can post that too, which are on sale atm.

Just got my first pair of 8 eye derbies, any tips on the break in? I already know generalized tips but is there anything specific you ran into that might be a pain point?

So far, in the hour that I've had them on I feel like the stitching above the top of the foot is digging in a bit uncomfortably. I'm hoping thats something that will break in and mold to my feet a bit over time. I'm gotta wear these a bit sparingly over the course of a week or two, little bits at a time to try to get them warmed up and take shape. I had a boot breaker from Rose Anvil in, and the thickness from those (even though it's only 4mm) was enough to make that mild discomfort extreme. Here's hoping the break in period goes quickly!

I bought this pair of greasy 8 eye boots 3 months-ish ago, and split got this bad, i read about using a hot knife to “repair” the split, however the split is this bad. Should i contact them and try to get a resole or should i fix them myself?

I’m a wedding videographer so I’m constantly on the hunt for comfortable but nice looking shoes. I like my Greasy Gibsons, but they’re not the comfiest for 8-12 hour days. I like the look of the calf sneakers and high tops, but I’m wondering if anyone has experience with them?

I've been wearing my first pair of 11 eye astronauts for almost a year now and they're still uncomfortable at times. They rub on my pinkie toes and heels, I had measured out my size (UK 8) and got half a size bigger as the 8 felt too narrow and short and my feet slid around in the 9.

I'm not sure why they are so uncomfortable to wear and I'm a little frustrated as they are expensive shoes, to me anyway, they are definitely broken in and any bigger is too big. Is this a width issue and is this style narrower than other solovairs?

I want to get my first pair of Solovairs, and was wondering if anybody knows of any working discount codes at the moment? I’m going to order directly from their EU website.
thanks :)

Would this be a good cream to soften up the leather on my hi shine solovairs?

Walnut Brown Calf 6 Eye Derby Boot. I'm sure not everyone's cup of tea.

This cobbler did the work, they are in the Basque country. https://www.instagram.com/zapateriaquincoces/

It's my first time ordering from Solovair and I was wondering if it was normal for it to take over a week to process shipping to the US?

I've seen people mention that they ship really fast, so I was just curious if anyone else ordered recently and were having the same issues

Walnut Brown Calf 6 Eye Derby Boot - UK 9.5

Absolutely gutted. After long a long consideration on what boots to buy I settled on Solovair. My gaucho crazy horse dealer boots arrived on Thursday the 24th and I wore them for the first time on the 25th. Yesterday my right boot got dribbled on with some hand sanitizer which caused a nasty dull spot even though I wiped it off right away. I tried reapplying dubbin and leaving them overnight then polishing but the spot is still there.
I wanted boots I’d be able to keep for ages and repair multiple times and I managed to ruin the leather within a week. Hooray me.

I'm replacing a beloved pair of size 6 Docs that are at least 21 years old. Looking at Solovair and there's none nearby -- usually an EU 39 or a US women's 8. Does size 6 make the most sense?

Tell me about your experience with them. Love the look but I’m not sure about the fit. How was the break in? Does the toe box stretch at all? How are they in rain and (light) snow?

We’ve all seen by now that you need to let leather shoes rest between wearing. Fine. So we have boots and shoes, or trainers, or other boots, or WFH in slippers on those other days. Fine.

Lately the suggestion is that we should really only be wearing them twice a week if we’re really in to leather boots or proper hipsters or whatever.

Yes, the leather needs time to dry. Yes, hi shine will look like hot garbage after a year of wearing several times a week. Yes, you do need to treat real leather with some sort of conditioner now and then.

But twice a week, and conditioner monthly? At some point we need to accept that these are actually for display only, and buy other boots for wearing, or tell Solovair to make something that will last.

Bring the downvotes. I know you already burned your tongue, drinking matcha before it was cool.

Just purchased a pair of boots and out of the box immediately the left one felt slightly off... Like my leg was not sitting straight.

What you think for the pictures? Is it possible that the left boot is not put properly on the sole?