Hi friends!
As the LegsLikeMine design and fit team, work with our footwear manufacturer, suppliers, and fit measurements, we continue to learn a lot about what design will work with our lipedema ladies’ feet, ankles and calves. We are putting the final touches on what materials will go for sampling and even selected the first soles and our fit model yesterday. I wanted to try a boot with a different design than LLM, and I’ve bought a pair of Jileon’s for my mom (smaller foot/leg than me) with good success.
Frankly, I was determined that the Jileon design would be close to perfect with a change in the length of the gussets on the side and maybe removing the inner features (our legs rub together anyway – we don’t need that kind of drama in our lives). (First of all, why? would I try to outthink professional footwear designers, anyway…) So I bought a pair and tried them on. And I wore them around my carpeted rooms for a bit until my legs hurt so bad that I knew why the footwear designer was right.
First, I was amazed that I got any boots on. I did have to remove my socks to squeeze into their largest size (not a surprise, ever). But what I learned is in total agreement with what our fit technician has been trying to explain to me with data. It’s the joint of the foot, the ankle and the lower leg that’s the problem, not the calf.
So, this boot was designed for calves up to 23″. Mine are 26″ and the upper part of the calf had ample room for expansion. However, the joint of the foot was tight, the ankle and very lower leg were tight. Then right above that there was an odd bunch of extra boot material that was pushing into my leg. It was a gift from the devil himself and the reason I’m returning these because they simply are too painful to wear for more than a few minutes with my leg shape. Also, as predicted, the buckles and gussets and any features on the inner leg rubbed together and caught when I moved – that’s a deal breaker. I’m a little trippy anyway and don’t need encouragement to take a nosedive!
After trying the Jileon, I believe our LLM design is right: ample ankles, adjustable lower calves and an adequate but not crazy calf measurement. It’s all about getting the foot molds right to fit all the way down including joint, instep, and ankle, not just a bigger calf.
So, I want to applaud the Jileon company because they are innovating and probably solving a problem for many people. They’re on to something and I want to take it a step further now with different designs for daily wear boots, learning from the foundation they’ve already bult upon in a wellie.
If you’d like to try the Jileon boots, they’re on amazon. And if you wear smaller than a 13, they come in fun prints and colors as well. Who knows, they might work for you if your legs are slightly slimmer than my 26-inch calves!
Thanks for following along!
PS: Someone will ask – my dress is from Kohls clearance rack. I don’t think it’s available any longer in plus sizes.
Susan
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