RM Williams Boots - Everything You Wanted to Know - Page 10

Custom orders take ages - up to about 8 weeks. Shipping to the US can add another 2 weeks onto the order too.

Great post.

In other words to get a fit like your PAs you've had to go up in size and drop down in width. If I showed a pic of Sz 8D PAs vs Sz 7G (standard width) Craftsmans you would see that the AE was longer but the RMW was a bit wider.

It just confirms a couple of things:

1. RMWs run short and wide (RMW standard width is like an AE E fit)
2. PAs on the Nr 5 last are made on an elongated last (though even then RMWs run shorter and wider than AEs made on other lasts).
3. US size minus 1 in standard width is a rough formula that really accounts poorly for width
4. Conversion with: US size (in D width) minus 0.5 + dropping down two RMW widths often works better than the quick and dirty formula of US size minus 1 in a standard width.

I find this to be the case for me as well. But I avoided recommending it up front because it is so complicated. However, I am beginning to wonder if I should rewrite my post to recommend doing it more strongly. The other problem is that there is only one last you can drop down 2 widths in - and the chisel toe last for the Craftsman isn't one of them. If you wear EEE width shoes already, it is easier to do however.

I might have to recommend different conversion formulae for different lasts and models. Tricky!

I am pretty certain everything will be OK. You've chosen the safest option and there is a 96% chance things will work out well. I know more about how AEs fit than Steve or any other RMW seller in Australia will ever know. I spent a long time thinking about how to convert AE sizes to RMW.

The extra width in the toe box compensates for the shorter length. That's why the US AE size minus one in standard width usually works. In fact you'll probably notice that your RMWs feel a bit looser than your AEs. Part of the reason is that French veal calf is quite thin and soft, whereas the standard leathers from AE are a bit thicker and harder.

I wear 8D or 8.5C in a Park Avenue and I find a RMW 7G to have a looser fit. However, RMW 7.5E (extra narrow) fits me more like an AE 8.5C - a snugger fit. But fiddling around with lengths and widths like this to get an obsessively perfect fit is really quite hard.

Actually if I did have a worry it is that the boots will be slight touch on the loose side.

I am trying to tweak my recommendations so that people get a proper snug fit. I think boots should be worn snug.

Actually this is almost my experience exactly!!! To get the same snug fit I do on AE PAs what you have to do this: AE PA size minus 0.5 but drop down on 2 widths down from your usual width ie if you wear AE EEE width you should wear RMW H width (2 widths down from usual*). This means that if you are an AE 11.5EEE you should wear RMW 11H In summary then: If you wear AE 11.5EEE your best RMW size is 11H If you wear AE 11.5E = RMW 11F If you wear AE 11.5D = RMW 11E If you wear AE 11.5C = RMW 11D In my case I wear AE PA 8D so my best RMW size is 7.5E. There is one last which comes in D, E, F, G, H and I widths. I have a pair of 7.5Es on order now. The result is an amazingly snug fit, especially around the ankle but also a much sleeker look. Problem is that the Crafstman comes on a last for which they only have F,G, and H fits. So this won't work for everyone wanting boots on the chisel toe last but it works well in cases where you wear wide fit shoes to start with. For example if your AE PA size was 10EE then you could order RMW 9.5F * By usual width I mean if that AE D width is normal width and RMW G is normal width. 2 widths down from normal width is E in the RMW system. If your normal AE width is EEE then the equivalent RMW width is H - but only if you use the AE size minus 0.5 formula.

If you like the Craftsman on the chisel toed last and due to its limited range of widths you can't use the AE size minus 0.5 formula, this is the alternative: AE PA size minus one - but drop down just one width AE PA size 11.5EE = RMW 10.5H AE PA size 11.5E = RMW 10.5G AE PA size 11.5D = RMW 10.5F If you wear AE C widths or AE EEE widths then: AE PA size 11.5EEE = RMW 11H (assumes you can also fit an AE PA 12EE) AE PA size 11.5C = RMW 10.5F (assumes you can also fit an AE PA 10D) The results are more satisfying if you use the first forumula of AE PA size minus 0.5 & drop 2 widths - but this is pretty good too. If you are happy with the rounded toe lasts where a wider range of widths are available then you can do this: AE PA size 11.5EEE = RMW 10.5I AE PA size 11.5C = RMW 10.5E