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Shows with wider toe boxes

musicguy

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My father is looking to buy a relatively good pair of shoes (around AE quality). He went to an AE store and none of the lasts fit him well.

He needs a very large toe box, but his feet are very narrow. Can anyone recommend a last/maker that makes shoes like this?
 

jrd617

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Crockett and Jones 317 last.
 

MyOtherLife

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Budapesters have a higher toe box but I am having a mental block suggesting a make/model.
 

fritzl

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Originally Posted by Man Of Lint
Budapesters have a higher toe box but I am having a mental block suggesting a make/model.

good suggestion, but i fear, he will not be able to try them on and they are more expensive than i.e. AE.
 

ManofKent

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Originally Posted by musicguy
My father is looking to buy a relatively good pair of shoes (around AE quality). He went to an AE store and none of the lasts fit him well.

He needs a very large toe box, but his feet are very narrow. Can anyone recommend a last/maker that makes shoes like this?


Narrow in the heel and ball but wide at the toes?
 

Wes Bourne

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Imo, the Loake Capital last fits this description. The toebox is quite roomy, yet the heel/ankle area is narrower than what I've had from other UK makers. Convert 1 full size US/UK.

Alternately, shoes made on true combination lasts might work for him, i.e. Alden. No experience with their lasts, so I can't comment further.
 

Dewey

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Alden. Barrie last. Van last. Visit an Alden retailer to be fitted.
 

musicguy

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Thank you all for the input!

Originally Posted by ManofKent
Narrow in the heel and ball but wide at the toes?

Yes.

Originally Posted by jrd617
Crockett and Jones 317 last.

Might be a bit expensive, but I'll recommend it.

Originally Posted by fritzl
good suggestion, but i fear, he will not be able to try them on and they are more expensive than i.e. AE.

Right.

Originally Posted by Wes Bourne
Imo, the Loake Capital last fits this description. The toebox is quite roomy, yet the heel/ankle area is narrower than what I've had from other UK makers. Convert 1 full size US/UK.

Alternately, shoes made on true combination lasts might work for him, i.e. Alden. No experience with their lasts, so I can't comment further.


Originally Posted by Dewey
Alden. Barrie last. Van last. Visit an Alden retailer to be fitted.

Thanks, I've recommended he try Alden. I'll look into Loake for him.
 

mjc

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The toe box can often be stretched a lot, too.

- Mike
 

comrade

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Originally Posted by Dewey
Alden. Barrie last. Van last. Visit an Alden retailer to be fitted.

Not narrow in the heel, are they?
 

musicguy

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Originally Posted by comrade
Not narrow in the heel, are they?

Yeah I just saw them at the local shoe store (Sherman Brothers). They're very blobby and not narrow in the heel. The SA mentioned that the AE SAs probably dind't fit him correctly, since they have so many lasts. I think he might be right. Any experiences with 4 last?

Originally Posted by mjc
The toe box can often be stretched a lot, too.

- Mike


Do you or anyone else have experience stretching shoes?


EDIT: Just spoke with him. His problem is that his little toe on his feet is the problem, not the ball. Interesting...
 

MarcellHUN

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Originally Posted by Man Of Lint
Budapesters have a higher toe box but I am having a mental block suggesting a make/model.

+1 This what I would suggest also.
 

musicguy

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Wow... the Vass in the Budapest last (this is what you're referring to, right?) seems to have the widest toe box I've ever seen. Good idea. Alas, it's a lot more expensive than AE though. With his salary, he can afford it, but I doubt he'll opt for it. It's around 1k retail, right?
 

upnorth

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Alden Tru-Balance last is great for those who have wider feet in front but no so much in the heel.

While the idea and indeed practice of having shoes stretched is very commonplace, I do not like it one bit. Logic tells you that the shoemaker has optimized the pressure and stretch on the the uppers and stitches during lasting and attempts to make pull it further after the shoe has already been constructed is likely to weaken the structure of the construction or the leather.

That is also why manufacturers of sports equipment tell you not to over-inflate soccer and rugby balls and to release air pressure when storing them for any length of time so as not to stress the stitches or seams.
 

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