Carmina Shoes - Definitive Thread (reviews, advice, sizing, etc...) - official thread.

[Neville Southall]

Yeah, it is quite a sweeping statement to lump all Europeans into one category when Europe is literally dozens of countries.

But one point that I will not concede is that Americans are fatter.

Again, let's talk about the ACTUAL LAST PROPOSITION, trigger effects aside.

 

[miamidoc]

Despite my general “last designed by committee” contrarianism, I would say that a Forest EEE up front and a Forest D in heel would suit my feet well. Perhaps with a little less sprung or sineu-esque looking toe.

 

[miamidoc]

Again, let's talk about the ACTUAL LAST PROPOSITION, trigger effects aside.

My latest purchase of Llubi and Detroit boots disagrees respectfully with your aesthetic assessment of them. ?

 

[Encore]

somehow this randomly pops up to my browser:

Country	Height in Centimeters and Feet
Denmark	181.4, or 5 feet, 11.5 inches
Germany	179.9, or 5 feet, 11 inches
Norway	179.7, or 5 feet, 11 inches
France	179.7, or 5 feet, 11 inches
Australia	179.2, or 5 feet, 10.5 inches
Canada	178.1, or 5 feet, 10 inches
U.K.	177.5, or 5 feet, 10 inches
U.S.	177.1, or 5 feet, 9.5 inches
South Korea	174.9, or 5 feet, 9 inches
Brazil	173.6, or 5 feet, 8.5 inches
Singapore	172.6, or 5 feet, 8 inches
China	171.8, or 5 feet, 7.5 inches
Japan	170.8, or 5 feet, 7 inches
Kenya	169.6, or 5 feet, 7 inches
Mexico	169, or 5 feet, 6.5 inches
Sudan	166.6, or 5 feet, 5.5 inches
India	164.9, or 5 feet, 5 inches
Yemen	159.9, or 5 feet, 3 inches

 

[Betelgeuse]

My latest purchase of Llubi and Detroit boots disagrees respectfully with your aesthetic assessment of them. ?
View attachment 1480781

I remember when you posted these and thought they were Forest last. Then read they were on the Llubi and I too think they look great.

somehow this randomly pops up to my browser:

Country	Height in Centimeters and Feet
Denmark	181.4, or 5 feet, 11.5 inches
Germany	179.9, or 5 feet, 11 inches
Norway	179.7, or 5 feet, 11 inches
France	179.7, or 5 feet, 11 inches
Australia	179.2, or 5 feet, 10.5 inches
Canada	178.1, or 5 feet, 10 inches
U.K.	177.5, or 5 feet, 10 inches
U.S.	177.1, or 5 feet, 9.5 inches
South Korea	174.9, or 5 feet, 9 inches
Brazil	173.6, or 5 feet, 8.5 inches
Singapore	172.6, or 5 feet, 8 inches
China	171.8, or 5 feet, 7.5 inches
Japan	170.8, or 5 feet, 7 inches
Kenya	169.6, or 5 feet, 7 inches
Mexico	169, or 5 feet, 6.5 inches
Sudan	166.6, or 5 feet, 5.5 inches
India	164.9, or 5 feet, 5 inches
Yemen	159.9, or 5 feet, 3 inches

I'm happy to be well above the Mexican average.

 

[zag73]

somehow this randomly pops up to my browser:

Country	Height in Centimeters and Feet
Denmark	181.4, or 5 feet, 11.5 inches
Germany	179.9, or 5 feet, 11 inches
Norway	179.7, or 5 feet, 11 inches
France	179.7, or 5 feet, 11 inches
Australia	179.2, or 5 feet, 10.5 inches
Canada	178.1, or 5 feet, 10 inches
U.K.	177.5, or 5 feet, 10 inches
U.S.	177.1, or 5 feet, 9.5 inches
South Korea	174.9, or 5 feet, 9 inches
Brazil	173.6, or 5 feet, 8.5 inches
Singapore	172.6, or 5 feet, 8 inches
China	171.8, or 5 feet, 7.5 inches
Japan	170.8, or 5 feet, 7 inches
Kenya	169.6, or 5 feet, 7 inches
Mexico	169, or 5 feet, 6.5 inches
Sudan	166.6, or 5 feet, 5.5 inches
India	164.9, or 5 feet, 5 inches
Yemen	159.9, or 5 feet, 3 inches

Wtf! Yemen is inhabited by umpa lumpas ???

 

[stook1]

Wtf! Yemen is inhabited by umpa lumpas ???

I suspect this is highly correlated with poverty / nutrition levels. Yemen is a very poor country.

To be clear, I am sure there is also a genetic element.

 

[zag73]

I suspect this is highly correlated with poverty / nutrition levels. Yemen is a very poor country.

To be clear, I am sure there is also a genetic element.

Yep. Ageee.

 

[goalaso]

Maybe closer fitting heel too.

I didn't suggest a new last since I didn't even think that possible, but otherwise I'd agree with each of the comments so far:
-a closer fitting heel than Llubi
-more toe room than Oscar, but not as wide or chunky as Llubi
-keep the round toe
-if the way to combine the above 3 is to make it somewhat asymmetrical and slightly more "orthopedic" without sacrificing aesthetics too much (as I think Viberg 2020 last manages to do, even if Alden's Modified doesn't), then I'm OK with that, as it feels like it would address the "American" gap in Carmina lasts. I'm always told that Detroit is that last, but it doesn't seem so aesthetically for SF. To simplify, something like Oscar in the back, Llubi space in the front would be great. Might be an impossible task

 

[serbarristan]

Oh - THIS is cool. Here's my vote for the "perfect last": Forest EEE shape everywhere (i.e., instep, toe box, ball-width), but with a waist and heel that more closely resemble that on the Sineu last. My input and supporting explanation, for whatever it's worth, written hereunder. * TRIGGER WARNING *

Carmina has a wide range of lasts, but nothing in the wide-but-sophisticated category. We need that. Why? Most of your SF readers/participants are based in the USA. We're not European. We're taller, heavier, broader, chunkier, drink beer, eat steak, wrestled in high school, and our feet have evolved to support that general build. While chisel-toed, narrow, elongated, elf-looking lasts are popular among Euro circles where men mostly look like some sort of half-grown offspring of Timothy Chalamet and Eddie Redmayne, that just doesn't work here. So, where does that leave us in terms of last options?

We need a last that's wide enough to fit our broad feet, but without the chunkiness of the lasts that typically correspond (e.g., literally everything Alden makes, and that's why they're horrible). We need a last that's generous fitting, but not block-box looking (e.g., Llubi and Detroit are atrocious looking, but very comfortable). We need a last that's versatile, meaning that it can adapt to formal and casual scenarios, without compromising on comfort and tailored fitting - a last that's roomy enough to wiggle your toes in, but not voluminous in the arch and heel cup to the point where you feel like it might slip off. Imagine a last that is wide enough where it matters, but tapered in the waist to provide close-fitting arch support and tailored in the heel to provide a secure heel cup.

In my opinion, and after trying on several lasts on more than twenty Carminas that I own and love, an adaptation of the Forest EEE with the tapered waist and closer, more sculpted heel cup of the Sineu last would easily meet the criteria described above. Forest EEE is wide enough and roomy enough to feel like you're wearing sneakers, but the extended width also applies to the waist and heel cup, making both less tailored. If @Carmina could just modify the Forest EEE last to correct the extended volume in the waist and heel cup area, then we're in business. That's what we need (or at least what most Americans need).

Thoughts?

So business in the back, party in the front, if you will? I think you're on to something. I have a low instep, but the Sineu seems to make that a nonissue with the waist and grippy heel cup. It would be nice to have the toe room with some added refinement.

 

[Trakl]

From what I understood, something chunkier than the llubí last?

Personally, I would love the option of a chunkier, wider last than Llubi, for really sturdy and military type boots, as in my opinion that is where there is a gap in the Carmina last selection.
Here are two examples of chunky boots built on the same extra wide (in the forepart) last.

At the same time I second the opinion that the heel and waist should be kept tight, and not at all as wide as they generally are on the EEE width lasts.
So basically I would like to see what could be called a combination last, with a lot of toe space, but with a narrow heel and waist.


Also, whatever happened to the New York and Tebas lasts?

 

[Neville Southall]

So business in the back, party in the front, if you will? I think you're on to something. I have a low instep, but the Sineu seems to make that a nonissue with the waist and grippy heel cup. It would be nice to have the toe room with some added refinement.

Exactly.

 

[zag73]

Personally, I would love the option of a chunkier, wider last than Llubi, for really sturdy and military type boots, as in my opinion that is where there is a gap in the Carmina last selection.
Here are two examples of chunky boots built on the same extra wide (in the forepart) last.
View attachment 1480837 View attachment 1480838
At the same time I second the opinion that the heel and waist should be kept tight, and not at all as wide as they generally are on the EEE width lasts.
So basically I would like to see what could be called a combination last, with a lot of toe space, but with a narrow heel and waist.


Also, whatever happened to the New York and Tebas lasts?

Oh! Monkey boots. Would be good if @Carmina offered monkey boots.

 

[goalaso]

I think everyone is echoing the business in back, party in front aesthetic, or more of a combination last as @Trakl put it, with a wide and comfortable forefoot but a more narrow heel. Whatever the specific last reference is for this idea (Forest, Llubi, Oscar, Sineu), this feels like the general idea I think

 

[Crafty Cumbrian]

Whoever thought organising a new last on THIS sub needs help, serious help!
That said, good luck and I await with enthusiasm the outcome of this (which looks to favour my foot type..) and the proposed mto.