First things first, pics of the drip: https://imgur.com/a/57YUBMr
Very happy with these, just got them in today. They're MET048NR-C9 if anyone stumbles across this post looking for them. Size 9 US men's, ordered a size 42.
These are by far my most expensive shoes (even the ones I bought on the company dime were less...), and I'd like to take good care of them and make sure they last (especially having heard quality has gone downhill).
First I'm curious, what do you all do to keep them in good condition? Cleaning and leather conditioner I assume, but with any particular frequency? Any way to keep the metal hardware looking nice? Seems to me that chrome finish is unlikely to last on the heel.
Second, what do you all do about insoles? I took them to a boot shop today to try to get some insoles, but the sales guy was pretty insistent that I should "Never put insoles in boots without removing the ones already in there, it'll just make it worse" - but of course New Rock glues them in. They aren't particularly comfortable and I'm open to changing them. I feel like my feet are most supported at the bottom and sloping down toward the toe if that makes sense, no arch support nor toe support really it's all in the heel. I got some cheap ones from a drug store, cut those to fit and they're pretty good although a bit more snug than I'd like.
Any recommendations on lower-profile insoles? Particularly I'd like something low-profile at the heel, but with support at the arch/toes given how these fit.
Would you recommend removing the existing soles entirely as the store recommended? They offered to tear them out but sounded very unsure (and I wasn't really about to let them do that to my nearly $400 new boots). My partner knows a cobbler I can take them to that said they could probably do it, would that be worth it? My thoughts are that removing that insole means it won't wear down, but also if I'm covering it with an insert forever it may not matter.
Probably overthinking things, but these are $400 shoes so I need them to last and look great as hell. Any thoughts or experience is appreciated!!