Hi Kurt,
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback about The Statesman Chelsea Boot - Oxford, and we sincerely apologize that the fit issues with the tightness and heel reinforcement have made them uncomfortable to wear despite being the correct size.
Your specific feedback about the difficulty getting them on even with a shoe helper, combined with the heel reinforcement causing discomfort while walking, is valuable information that we'll share directly with our footwear design and construction teams to review our sizing specifications and heel construction methods to ensure we're delivering the comfort and wearability that customers should expect from premium American-made boots.
Your insights about the break-in challenges help us understand where we need to improve our design to deliver boots that provide proper fit and comfort from day one without requiring extensive adjustment periods.