My Balmoral Boots

[Ich_Dien]

His base last is a EG202 similar, is it not?

 

[Michael Ay329]

Originally Posted by Ich_Dien

His base last is a EG202 similar, is it not?

No...not similar at all. Different shape altogether and more roominess in the toe box area due to a higher toe box

 

[wilhelm]

I received my suede shoes from Cliff today, and love them:

They are made on a bespoke last from Spring Line of Northampton and fit my oddly shaped feet better than any other shoe I've worn. Cliff got all my requested details right, both with regards to fit and to style. Now I see no reason to order shoes from anyone else. (c:

 

[fox81]

great work

can you tell us how long it took to get the lasts and then for cliff to make the shoes?

you visited springline in person i imagine

 

[wilhelm]

Yes, I visited Spring Line in person, which was a nice experience. The last maker easily spotted the cause of why most shoes don't fit me particularly well, and suggested ways to avoid those problems. He also helped me choose a nice last shape in line with my preferences.

Cliff met me at Spring Line, showed me some of his excellent work and taught me a lot about how he makes his shoes before giving me a tour of Northampton and driving me to the train station. All in all, I had a very enjoyable day.

I can't remember the exact dates, but it took Spring Line a little over a month to finish the lasts, and Cliff a couple of months to finish the shoes. So you'll have to plan ahead a bit to get your shoes or boots ready for the intended season, but it's well worth the wait. These are my favourite shoes already.

 

[Michael Ay329]

Wilhelm....excellent update

I too have a Springline bespoke last in the works and hope my experience as to fit mirrors yours

Curious, did you try a mock sample shoe with Cliff in order to test the last?

 

[Slewfoot]

Very nice color on the suede. In terms of Springline's prices, is it still 190 sterling to get a bespoke last made up?

 

[wilhelm]

Originally Posted by Michael Ay329

Curious, did you try a mock sample shoe with Cliff in order to test the last?

No.

Originally Posted by Slewfoot

Very nice color on the suede. In terms of Springline's prices, is it still 190 sterling to get a bespoke last made up?

Yes, that's what I paid.

 

[Michael Ay329]

A Sprigline bespoke last cost me 228 pounds when I paid late last month in Dec.

 

[medtech_expat]

Originally Posted by wilhelm

I received my suede shoes from Cliff today, and love them:

They are made on a bespoke last from Spring Line of Northampton and fit my oddly shaped feet better than any other shoe I've worn. Cliff got all my requested details right, both with regards to fit and to style. Now I see no reason to order shoes from anyone else. (c:
Wilhelm, congratulations on a fine-looking pair of shoes! I've never gone the bespoke route with lasts or shoes, but your comments have me strongly considering. A few basis questions: 1) how many times did you visit Springline? Was it just for the initial measurements, or also when the lasts were finished? I make it to London a few times a year, but not sure I could always carve out time for multiple trips to Northampton. 2) once a last is finalized, does one then need to have multiple lasts commissioned in order to account for different styles (e.g. rounded, squared, squared & chiseled, etc.), or would Cliff use his guy to modify? 3) do differences in the last result in any visible differences between the right and left shoe? Congrats again!

 

[wilhelm]

Originally Posted by medtech_expat

1) how many times did you visit Springline? Was it just for the initial measurements, or also when the lasts were finished? I make it to London a few times a year, but not sure I could always carve out time for multiple trips to Northampton.

Just once. Cliff picked the lasts up at Spring Line when they were ready.

Originally Posted by medtech_expat

2) once a last is finalized, does one then need to have multiple lasts commissioned in order to account for different styles (e.g. rounded, squared, squared & chiseled, etc.), or would Cliff use his guy to modify?

Yes, as far as I've understood, if you want different styles you need different lasts. You can order multiple styles from Spring Line. These are less expensive than your first lasts.

Originally Posted by medtech_expat

3) do differences in the last result in any visible differences between the right and left shoe?

That depends on the shape of your feet. Mine are slightly different, but there is no noticeable difference between the shoes.

 

[medtech_expat]

Thanks, Wilhelm. Did you go with the lasted shoe trees as well? What was the damage?

 

[wilhelm]

Originally Posted by medtech_expat

Thanks, Wilhelm. Did you go with the lasted shoe trees as well? What was the damage?

I wanted to wait until I had checked if the shoes actually fit before ordering the lasted trees, so no, not yet. I can't remember how much they cost.

 

[wetnose]

Originally Posted by wilhelm

Yes, I visited Spring Line in person, which was a nice experience. The last maker easily spotted the cause of why most shoes don't fit me particularly well, and suggested ways to avoid those problems. He also helped me choose a nice last shape in line with my preferences.
I contacted Springline on Friday about an alternative to a physical visit: a plaster cast of my foot!

Here's how they do it....NEAT! Will update forum re: response. I don't see why they would reject it...as long as the cast is done right.

 

[ferguscan]

Originally Posted by wetnose

I contacted Springline on Friday about an alternative to a physical visit: a plaster cast of my foot!

Here's how they do it....NEAT!

Will update forum re: response. I don't see why they would reject it...as long as the cast is done right.

This is completely awesome. Please keep us updated.

For those who have already used Springline: do any of you wear orthotics? I use Orthaheel 3/4 orthotics in my dress shoes, and would like to do so even with bespoke shoes. I wonder how they would incorporate that into the last design.

Stuart