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I actually have one of those stretchers, but have never had success with it. The 9.5E and D both had significant heel slippage and the 9E had the ball of my foot back a bit from the widest part of the shoe. Oddly, I think 8.5 is correct. It's most likely my feet aren't perfectly suited for the 5 last - but all the best styles are on that last!I know all about pinky knuckle pain. Broadly as well as specific to the 5 last. IMO, if you're a 9.5D on a Brannock, here's what you should have done: Bought the shoe in 9.5E, since the 5 last runs a little narrow. Then purchased one of these:
The black plastic pieces come in different sizes/shapes and go into the holes in the wooden body of the stretcher. Find one about the size and shape of your pinky toe and put it into the hole nearest where your pinky toe would make contact with the shoe, then insert the stretcher into the shoe and crank the ever living **** out of it. Let it sit overnight. Then enjoy your shoes.
The reality is if you have a hammer toe or something else that causes your pinky toe to jut out, then going up a width or two or three is just going to leave you with a shoe that is loose everywhere except where you need it to be. Spot stretching solves this problem.
The Kirks are looking great. They definately run longer than the Sea Island. By the way, I received the olive Sea Island from NR and the color looks great. They look to be firsts (I couldn't find anything) and come with the shoe bags. Unfortunately, I didn't look where they were made.Super casual Friday with Kirks and light denim. For those keeping score at home, these (and their sister Maritime) are the same size as my 5-last - though I have at least one pair where I dropped down from D to B, in attempt to control volume. Both the Kirks and Maris are slightly longer and wider than the DR-made Sea Islands (I would have had to size up); still waiting on the, hopefully US-made, pair coming from Nordy's.
Have you played with different widths in 8?Here's a couple of pictures of how the Strands in 8.5EEE are fitting. The left feels pretty good, I'm a little concerned that the right lacing is fully closed right out of the box. The pencil shows where my toe and ball are sitting in the shoe. I really want to make these work! I tried a PA in 8.5E and my 3 smallest toes touched the edge of the toe box, maybe 8.5EE would be the sweet spot? [COLOR=A74345] [/COLOR] [COLOR=A74345] [/COLOR] [COLOR=A74345] [/COLOR]
Here's a couple of pictures of how the Strands in 8.5EEE are fitting.
The left feels pretty good, I'm a little concerned that the right lacing is fully closed right out of the box. The pencil shows where my toe and ball are sitting in the shoe.
I really want to make these work! I tried a PA in 8.5E and my 3 smallest toes touched the edge of the toe box, maybe 8.5EE would be the sweet spot?
My feet is very similar to urs,Here's a couple of pictures of how the Strands in 8.5EEE are fitting.
The left feels pretty good, I'm a little concerned that the right lacing is fully closed right out of the box. The pencil shows where my toe and ball are sitting in the shoe.
I really want to make these work! I tried a PA in 8.5E and my 3 smallest toes touched the edge of the toe box, maybe 8.5EE would be the sweet spot?
I like these more every time I see them!Super casual Friday with Kirks and light denim. For those keeping score at home, these (and their sister Maritime) are the same size as my 5-last - though I have at least one pair where I dropped down from D to B, in attempt to control volume. Both the Kirks and Maris are slightly longer and wider than the DR-made Sea Islands (I would have had to size up); still waiting on the, hopefully US-made, pair coming from Nordy's.
The Kirks are looking great. They definately run longer than the Sea Island. By the way, I received the olive Sea Island from NR and the color looks great. They look to be firsts (I couldn't find anything) and come with the shoe bags. Unfortunately, I didn't look where they were made.
They're giving me some grief over trying to return the defective McAllisters. They want me to pay shipping both ways.....which completely removes anything I saved in the sale. Which is exactly why I asked them to look them over before shipping them out. That eyelet gouge is pretty obvious!
The Kirks are looking great. They definately run longer than the Sea Island. By the way, I received the olive Sea Island from NR and the color looks great. They look to be firsts (I couldn't find anything) and come with the shoe bags. Unfortunately, I didn't look where they were made.
You don't need to talk to anyone before returning AE shoes, nor do you pay for shipping. In the receipt they emailed you there should be a link for returns. Click it. It will take you to a website where you print out a prepaid UPS return shipping label and a form that asks you why you're returning them (wrong size, defect, etc,) and whether you want a refund or exchange. Stick the form inside the box, slap the label on the box, and either drop it off at UPS or have UPS pick it up. Easy peasy.They're giving me some grief over trying to return the defective McAllisters. They want me to pay shipping both ways.....which completely removes anything I saved in the sale. Which is exactly why I asked them to look them over before shipping them out. That eyelet gouge is pretty obvious!
Have you played with different widths in 8?
I tried a PA in 8EEE and my smallest 3 toes were touching the edge of the toebox, I think that would be a problem over time.
You don't need to talk to anyone before returning AE shoes, nor do you pay for shipping. In the receipt they emailed you there should be a link for returns. Click it. It will take you to a website where you print out a prepaid UPS return shipping label and a form that asks you why you're returning them (wrong size, defect, etc,) and whether you want a refund or exchange. Stick the form inside the box, slap the label on the box, and either drop it off at UPS or have UPS pick it up. Easy peasy.
"Dem ain't shell... but its off the hook."
On a serious note, I was set on burnished brown, but these have me considering black calf