Fit: When you put your shoes on the first time, pull them onto your bare feet. The fit should be snug, but not so tight they hurt. They will soon stretch around your step, and your footprint will sink into the moldable leather insole. After the first several hundred steps, they should be comfortable with regular socks. To hasten the molding of the leather to your feet, you may soak the shoes in warm water for a few minutes, then stand or walk in them barefoot for a while, and let dry. If you plan to wear them with really thick socks, tell us, and we will jump the sizing up some.

Care: When the leather we use is made at the tannery, extra oils and waxes are “hot-stuffed” into it, making the leather water resilient, so after repeated wettings the leather doesn’t stiffen and crack. Its natural open-grain surface is not lacquered to be shiny. A light application of any leather-care product will prolong leather life and improve appearance. For a shinier look, use a waxy shoe polish. We make our own leather conditioner from natural beeswax and vegetable oil. You can order that here.