About ready to give up on JGs

OK so a bit of a rant after frustration shopping for boots online.

I received my Workhorses in a US10 and 9.5. Overall the 9.5s feel like a better fit, though my toes are pretty near the front of the boot and they're not any roomier in width than my 9.5D Kenton Pacers. I've worn them for a few minutes here and there in the house to try and decide on if the fit is good and it's really hard to tell. Going up and down the stairs is near impossible because with any ankle flexion the leather tongue and laces dig into the front of my shin so it's hard to see these being a viable work/hiking boot unless they really soften up and become more flexible.

If I don't lace as high up or don't tighten the lacing as much I can get around it but then the collar at the back of my ankle is really open which I would think would just lead to stuff getting into the boots doing things outdoors.

Other than that the experience of trying to make JGs boots work for me has been incredibly long and stressful. I've tried ARs, Barefoot Troopers, meanders, workhorses in two different sizes. All have had their issues from heel slip, to painful rubbing on the side of my toes to just a bunch of struggle finding the right size.

If the issue with the workhorses isn't something I can work out then I think I'm through trying to make Jim Green work and just go to wearing Lems and Vivobarefoot which come comfortable and functional out of the box being that they're built like sneakers. Maybe it's time to save up for the grail that is the Russell Moccasin. I want to like Jim Green but trying to get a boot to fit right shopping online has been a months long nightmare.