New shoes, how tight is too tight?

[JRB]

Jeez, sorry, this seems like such a childish question, but it's really bugging me.

So as I mentioned in another thread, I purchased a pair of Allen Edmonds Lexingtons, size 8.5D. They are tight. I wore them yesterday afternoon (about 3 hours) and today (about 9-10 hours) and my feet are dying! In the store I tried on a 9 and my feet slipped a bit in them, not so much that the heel slipped, but they felt just a tad to big. So it would seem that I'm between a 8.5 and a 9. These being my first quality shoe purchase, are they going to break in to be comfortable? If so, how long do I give them? Or should I try and exchange for the 9?

 

[essej]

You may be an 8.5 wide.

 

[HalfCanvas]

This doesn't sound too unusual to me. Where are "your feet dying"? Do you have a blister on your heel or somewhere else?

 

[Jangofett]

I think when you are literally in pain when wearing them.
Thats the time to give up the ghost.

 

[pvrhye]

See that D? Make it an E and try again.

 

[IronRock]

Depends where they are tight. They will not stretch at any of the stitching points. They will stretch to some degree everywhere else.

If you've been wearing light weight leisure shoes for the past million years then your feet are gonna take a while to break in too.

 

[Jim Barns]

I think it all depends on how your feet feels inside the shoes. How do they pain?

One can't really tell if they will give in eventually except one really knows what or how you feel the pain you feel when you put them on.

 

[phxlawstudent]

When it hurts to walk. If its pinching your toes, its too narrow. If the heel slips, well, that's just the price you pay for the shoe not pinching your toes. Try another last, manufacturer, or use heel pads (I think thats the name).

If its pinching on top of your toes, that could just be the leather breaking in and pressing down on your toes. I take no position on that problem. Theoretically, this problem will dissipate with shoe cream and breaking in.

 

[Jim Barns]

Originally Posted by phxlawstudent

When it hurts to walk. If its pinching your toes, its too narrow. If the heel slips, well, that's just the price you pay for the shoe not pinching your toes. Try another last, manufacturer, or use heel pads (I think thats the name).

If its pinching on top of your toes, that could just be the leather breaking in and pressing down on your toes. I take no position on that problem. Theoretically, this problem will dissipate with shoe cream and breaking in.

+1
Great response

 

[onix]

When in doubt, go up half a size or a width, so either 9D, or 8.5E. After several hours of walking/standing, our feet actually get bigger/bloat-up. So a tight shoes will be a huge pain. Also, thick socks are always an option.

 

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by phxlawstudent

When it hurts to walk. If its pinching your toes, its too narrow. If the heel slips, well, that's just the price you pay for the shoe not pinching your toes. Try another last, manufacturer, or use heel pads (I think thats the name).

If its pinching on top of your toes, that could just be the leather breaking in and pressing down on your toes. I take no position on that problem. Theoretically, this problem will dissipate with shoe cream and breaking in.

I would have to agree with this.

I recently bought a pair of shoes. I was stuck between a tight toe area, or my heel slipping out. The sales man told me that the toe are will stretch out, so I made the decision to buy it. Well, after my first wear, I had blister on my ankles. I just placed a band-aid on each ankle... after the third wear, the shoes just fit right!

Break em in I say!

 

[Star]

I had a pear of loakes that brought tears to my eyes and increased my blood pressure. After much pain and coming close to throwing them away, they now fit beautifully.

 

[Fred H.]

Originally Posted by pvrhye

See that D? Make it an E and try again.

Yep. Sadly, I have learned that lesson recently. Went and had my feet measured again. Ones borderline D/E other is pretty clearly an E. Oh well, now I know.

 

[mcbrown]

Originally Posted by JRB

...my feet are dying!...

More information is needed to give you meaningful advice. Is the pain primarily on the surface of your skin (rawness, blistering, etc.), in your joints (toe or ankles), on the soles of your feet, horizontal compression in the toes, etc.? Depending the specifics, the prescription could range from more break-in time, to insoles, to getting a different size.

 

[JRB]

They're hurting on the side of my big toe and the side of the base of my pinky toe. I don't really feel that the toes are squished in there, so maybe it is a width problem. It's a cap toe shoe, so the stitching is pretty much right across where it hurts, plus they're double soled. I may take them over to a shoe repair shop and get them stretched.

I put the shoe trees in them last night, going to let it rest for today and I'll try them again tonight with some thicker socks.