Some more thoughts on the 808s 10 days in
They take a loooong time to break in, it's a serious shoe.
After stretching (with stretchers and spray) every night, wearing 2x puffy sucks and lacing tight/wearing them as 'house shoes', a week or so of errands, 5+ times at the gym and 3 skate sessions, they are finally broken in. Last session they were good to skate but I felt restricted in them still, for skating they need a bit more time to break in it seems.
Sole is thick AF, too thick for me, I cannot feel my tail to save my life, I spend more time looking at foot placement than I ever have. Can't even feel the pocket (yet). Very grippy,
They're still too snug for me above my big toe (I blame my toe and that little extra design/flair over the big toe area), it doesn't allow me to wiggle around and I feel restricted. The rest of the shoe is totally fine, width, length and no heel slip; though my foot does end up pushed forward and I find I need to bang my heel on the ground to shift my foot back into the 'locked in' position.
I'm going to give them some more time but I don't think the snug feeling will go away anytime soon.
Barring the snug fit it is easily the most comfy skate shoe I've tried; will def try on a mesh pair.
They also make every other footwear I own feel big.