JDubbs
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- Jul 23, 2013
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I know there's plenty of threads about loafer fit, but I would like to have some fresh opinions here.
Several posts I read talked about a tight fit preference, which seems to contradict the following:
"It is incredibly important that when shopping for men's loafers, you get a pair that fits just perfectly. This is so they won't fall off while you wear them and so they're easy to slip and easy to take off. Loafers that are too large will be difficult to wear. While you can slip your feet into them easily, you'll worry with each step you take that they'll fall off, and may have to walk differently to ensure your loafers don't come off."
http://www.ask.com/explore/shopping-mens-loafers
I had some confusion around uk/us sizing, or the website instructions were bad, and I ended up ordering an 11US loafer when I was aiming for a 12US. Everything indicated prior that the shoe would have the UK size on it, but it had "11" on the sole and it was a true battle just to get my foot into it. Brought it to the store and the sales guy agreed it was far too tight. He advised to go at least up half a size to an 11.5, but then in his system it only showed whole sizes, and he had nothing available in a 12. Through this experience I learned the shoe actually is branded with a US size and not UK. FWIW, most days I wear sneakers, Adidas Y3 I am always a size 12, dress shoes usually 11.5 or 12.
Anyways, the first ones got returned and I ordered a very similar shoe direct from the manufacturer, same brand just slightly different model, in a Size 12 (no half sizes available higher than 9.5, and I'm unwilling to wait and see if they might eventually make more). The sizing almost got messed up again but I told them I wanted a US 12 and they managed to confirm that it was indeed the size being shipped, 12D in fact, and this sounded fine. So I now have this new pair that say 12D on the sole, my foot slides into them without a big fight, but I still use a shoe horn, can't put them on like slippers or anything. Although I might be able to carefully wiggle into them without using my hands, I can't see any good reason to try it. I have a sideways thumb's width in front of my big toe, and there's some degree of heel slippage in the back, enough that it led to blisters (not severe, I didn't walk a lot, but far more than I planned with the new loafers on day 1; got dragged into a trek unexpectedly, couldn't leave to change my shoes). I know they are new, and they should break in and have less slippage, that is of course assuming they are not too big. If I push my foot to the front of them I can jam my index finger behind the heel, not easily but not tough to do either. My heel does not fall out of them when I walk. If I really try I can get my heels out without using my hands, but it takes a lot of intentional effort to do that. Lastly, loafer socks seem to increase the slippage, was wearing them on day 1 when I got pulled into walking, blisters, etc.
Last night I bought the Band-Aid anti-friction foot stuff for my heel, basically a mini-deodorant stick. It seems to really do the trick, or the heel is indeed breaking in, or it's because I skipped the loafer socks; I don't know what it is but they feel better. I do have tongue pads in the mail coming to me, and there is a good chance I will still use them. The blisters I got are because I had too much slippage, but it seems like this might not be a long-term issue as the shoes already feel better, and I'm almost certain the tongue pads will tighten it up just the tiny bit that I want. However, if these shoes stretch a lot I might be screwed, hopefully they don't.
So the 12 definitely works for me, at least according to the definition in the quoted link above, but the minor slippage leaves me thinking half a size down would be the way to go, or at least worth a shot on the next pair... Speaking of my next pair, here's where I have a dilemma: I found the other pair that I returned (and still want to own) in both an 11.5 and 12, and I am thinking although 12 "works" that the 11.5 will probably be a better fit. These are my first lace-less (non-sandal) without any type of elastic, the 11 was painful and almost impossible to get on, the 12 feels like it "works" as defined, but the 11.5 sounds like the snug fit recommended by reading other style forum posts. Hoping someone can chime in with some thoughts. One last thing, based on the 11 and the 12 I am guessing the 11.5 I will absolutely 'need' a shoehorn to get them on, at least until they break in. I always use horns anyways, but there's a difference between my preference and the actual functional requirement. Also, pretty sure the 11.5 will leave me some room in the toe, on the 11 I was touching the end, and 12 I have a full thumb width.
Several posts I read talked about a tight fit preference, which seems to contradict the following:
"It is incredibly important that when shopping for men's loafers, you get a pair that fits just perfectly. This is so they won't fall off while you wear them and so they're easy to slip and easy to take off. Loafers that are too large will be difficult to wear. While you can slip your feet into them easily, you'll worry with each step you take that they'll fall off, and may have to walk differently to ensure your loafers don't come off."
http://www.ask.com/explore/shopping-mens-loafers
I had some confusion around uk/us sizing, or the website instructions were bad, and I ended up ordering an 11US loafer when I was aiming for a 12US. Everything indicated prior that the shoe would have the UK size on it, but it had "11" on the sole and it was a true battle just to get my foot into it. Brought it to the store and the sales guy agreed it was far too tight. He advised to go at least up half a size to an 11.5, but then in his system it only showed whole sizes, and he had nothing available in a 12. Through this experience I learned the shoe actually is branded with a US size and not UK. FWIW, most days I wear sneakers, Adidas Y3 I am always a size 12, dress shoes usually 11.5 or 12.
Anyways, the first ones got returned and I ordered a very similar shoe direct from the manufacturer, same brand just slightly different model, in a Size 12 (no half sizes available higher than 9.5, and I'm unwilling to wait and see if they might eventually make more). The sizing almost got messed up again but I told them I wanted a US 12 and they managed to confirm that it was indeed the size being shipped, 12D in fact, and this sounded fine. So I now have this new pair that say 12D on the sole, my foot slides into them without a big fight, but I still use a shoe horn, can't put them on like slippers or anything. Although I might be able to carefully wiggle into them without using my hands, I can't see any good reason to try it. I have a sideways thumb's width in front of my big toe, and there's some degree of heel slippage in the back, enough that it led to blisters (not severe, I didn't walk a lot, but far more than I planned with the new loafers on day 1; got dragged into a trek unexpectedly, couldn't leave to change my shoes). I know they are new, and they should break in and have less slippage, that is of course assuming they are not too big. If I push my foot to the front of them I can jam my index finger behind the heel, not easily but not tough to do either. My heel does not fall out of them when I walk. If I really try I can get my heels out without using my hands, but it takes a lot of intentional effort to do that. Lastly, loafer socks seem to increase the slippage, was wearing them on day 1 when I got pulled into walking, blisters, etc.
Last night I bought the Band-Aid anti-friction foot stuff for my heel, basically a mini-deodorant stick. It seems to really do the trick, or the heel is indeed breaking in, or it's because I skipped the loafer socks; I don't know what it is but they feel better. I do have tongue pads in the mail coming to me, and there is a good chance I will still use them. The blisters I got are because I had too much slippage, but it seems like this might not be a long-term issue as the shoes already feel better, and I'm almost certain the tongue pads will tighten it up just the tiny bit that I want. However, if these shoes stretch a lot I might be screwed, hopefully they don't.
So the 12 definitely works for me, at least according to the definition in the quoted link above, but the minor slippage leaves me thinking half a size down would be the way to go, or at least worth a shot on the next pair... Speaking of my next pair, here's where I have a dilemma: I found the other pair that I returned (and still want to own) in both an 11.5 and 12, and I am thinking although 12 "works" that the 11.5 will probably be a better fit. These are my first lace-less (non-sandal) without any type of elastic, the 11 was painful and almost impossible to get on, the 12 feels like it "works" as defined, but the 11.5 sounds like the snug fit recommended by reading other style forum posts. Hoping someone can chime in with some thoughts. One last thing, based on the 11 and the 12 I am guessing the 11.5 I will absolutely 'need' a shoehorn to get them on, at least until they break in. I always use horns anyways, but there's a difference between my preference and the actual functional requirement. Also, pretty sure the 11.5 will leave me some room in the toe, on the 11 I was touching the end, and 12 I have a full thumb width.
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