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Alden Suede Chukka fit question

jojo1

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Just ordered a pair, and while they appear to fit generally, the toe box is quite snug (particularly over the tops of my toes). I've read that these shoes, on the Leydon last, tend to be narrow in the toe box, but this quite snug. Question is should I expect these shoes (which are unlined) to stretch quite a bit even in the toe box (or can I effectively stretch them out just by using shoe trees for awhile), or is folks' experience with these that tight in the toe box from the beginning (even with an unlined shoe) really doesn't improve over time. Trying to decide whether to keep or ship back.
 

Tremont 974

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Originally Posted by jojo1
Just ordered a pair, and while they appear to fit generally, the toe box is quite snug (particularly over the tops of my toes). I've read that these shoes, on the Leydon last, tend to be narrow in the toe box, but this quite snug. Question is should I expect these shoes (which are unlined) to stretch quite a bit even in the toe box (or can I effectively stretch them out just by using shoe trees for awhile), or is folks' experience with these that tight in the toe box from the beginning (even with an unlined shoe) really doesn't improve over time. Trying to decide whether to keep or ship back.

I'm having the same experience with the unlined suede chukkas being tight on the tops of my toes. If they were lined shoes, I would have returned them, but I have other unlined suede shoes (non-Alden) that have stretched quite a bit, so I kept them. I have worn the Aldens approximately 10 times and they are indeed stretching and becoming more comfortable, but not as rapidly as I would like. I now only notice the tightness on the tops of my toes at the end of a full day of wearing them. I expect they will stretch a bit more, but it will take several more wearings.
 

JohnnyLaw

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At the NY Alden shop, they recommend going down 1/2 size in length and getting one size wider. Worked for me.
 

AlanC

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Going up a width worked for me on the unlined flex-welt.

My usual size is 9.5B, Alden flex-welt is 9.5C, Alden chukka (Barrie) is 9B.
 

scnupe7

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Thought I would bump an old post, as I am having the same problem as the OP had. Particularly with my big toe, despite having slightly more than a thumb's width between my big toe and the end of the boot. Anyone else had any experience with the toe box stretching?
 

Soylent Green

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Giving this thread a bump because I, too, am having this issue. I have nearly a thumb of space between my toe and the end of the shoe, but it still feels "tight" around my big toe. Kinda weird. I have lots of room in a barrie last 8.5 D, but on the suede chukka in 9D it's a snug fit.
 

goalaso

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Ditto, same exact issue, tight in the toe box, ok everywhere else. Can anyone else who's previously posted chime in on whether the toe box stretched out to their liking or not?
 

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