Do Allen Edmonds break in?

Originally Posted by JLibourel

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I probably have more A-Es than most members of this forum. I have always bought only those that fit so well in the store that I felt I could walk out of there and keep going for three or four miles with no discomfort. I have never noticed any appreciable amount of stretching. I hope for the O.P.'s sake they do "break in." If not, as others have suggested, a cobbler may be able to stretch them to a comfortable fit.

I have never been a believer in buying shoes that don't fit well from the get-go on the premise that they will "break in." I am told, however, that some of the finest English shoes like John Lobb St. James are made to fit very tight initially and do require considerable breaking in.

How is the pair that A-E sent you?

Originally Posted by RJmanbearpig

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How is the pair that A-E sent you?



I find that AEs are extraordinarily comfortable once broken in. I also find that when they fit, they start out comfortable.

Originally Posted by RJmanbearpig

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How is the pair that A-E sent you?

Nice try. I doubt we'll ever see them. Iirc, weren't they basically Broadstreet specs?

Originally Posted by porcelain monkey

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Two things:
If I have the story right, you tried these on at a trunk show and the ones you got delivered did not fit the same way. This is not your problem it is theirs. Life is far too short for ill fitting shoes.

You are correct. I tried on the exact same size and style of shoe before ordering this pair. I don't know way the pair I tried on was so much more comfortable. I couldn't agree with you more that that shoes should be comfortable and that it is their problem if the shoes don't fit. That's specifically why I purchased from a legitimate B&M retailer vs a heavily discounted pair via the internet.

I've worn the shoes around my house for a few hours. They have loosed up a fair amount. They now feel like a lot more like they fit and are just tighter than I'm used to. I don't know that they will ever reach slipper soft feel of shoes that I get from thin, baby soft Zegna leather or a pair of cheap, generously cut Rockport's, but they will probably improve enough to wear.

AE's seem to be a fairly full D but I think I'll find a retailer with E's in stock before I buy another pair.

Hmmm. I guess I should go back to rubber soled shoes. I like my leather shoes well enough but if I'm going to walk more than the 2 miles a day I already do with them, I'll wear sneakers. Sadly, none of the 20+ pairs of english shoes I have are nearly as comfortable as the $39.99 pair of Rockport DressSports that I never wear anymore. I like my leather shoes so I will just deal with it.

Originally Posted by smoothie

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tell more of the OTC shoe stretch liquid

Basically I put some of my "liquid" on your shoes and they stretch. Easy!

Originally Posted by billiebob

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Sadly, none of the 20+ pairs of english shoes I have are nearly as comfortable as the $39.99 pair of Rockport DressSports that I never wear anymore. I like my leather shoes so I will just deal with it.

I feel your pain. Cheap Rockport's are hard to beat for pure comfort.

Originally Posted by otc

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Basically I put some of my "liquid" on your shoes and they stretch. Easy!

ya, but make your own, that stuff in shoes stores is so overprices its basically water afterall. and if you don't to risk isopropyl alcohol on your shoes, you can just use water alone, it works just as well. i can attest to that.

Originally Posted by otc

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Basically I put some of my "liquid" on your shoes and they stretch. Easy!


I'll have nothing of the sort. Keep your "liquid" to your self chap!

Usually the fit of the AE welted shoes is pretty consistent, but the handsewns are a whole different ballgame. However, once in awhile the welted shoes can be lasted a bit tight. Generally the shoe should fit perfectly out of the box, but all shoes need to be broken in a bit and there is a difference between a snug fit here and a tight fit. Tight is bad. A bit snug will normally loosen up over time.

the pair of AEs that i got softened up quite a bit after a week or two of wearing. i don't know if they stretched any.

Originally Posted by Loose On The Lead

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At the ball of your foot, in a battle between the foot and the leather, the foot will win. I feel confident about that. I don't feel as confident about a battle between your toes and the leather, because your toes "give" pretty readily. On the other hand, depending on specifically where the tightness is, you may be able to solve the problem by stretching the shoe. That's what I had to do with one of my Lamberts. With my Delrays, the original fit was similar to what you describe, but the tightness around the toes was so borderline that I didn't bother with the stretching, and the shoes are comfortable now.
How much do Allen Edmonds shoes stretch width-wise?

Just got a pair of dark brown Allen Edmonds 5th Avenues in 9.5 C (same last 5 as the popular Park Avenue). All the proportions are great except my toes on my left foot seem to be a touch wider so the shoes pinch a bit against my toes (the balls of my feet fit nicely)

Is this a deal breaker, or can I expect the shoe to stretch and widen or break in more comfortably over a short period of time? I don't have much experience with how AEs break in.

If it's going to be a bad fit, any suggestions on similar shoes that would be narrow enough overall (come in C-width, etc), but might have a wider, more accomodating toebox?

Originally Posted by uiriamu

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How much do Allen Edmonds shoes stretch width-wise?

Just got a pair of dark brown Allen Edmonds 5th Avenues in 9.5 C (same last 5 as the popular Park Avenue). All the proportions are great except my toes on my left foot seem to be a touch wider so the shoes pinch a bit against my toes (the balls of my feet fit nicely)

Is this a deal breaker, or can I expect the shoe to stretch and widen or break in more comfortably over a short period of time? I don't have much experience with how AEs break in.

If it's going to be a bad fit, any suggestions on similar shoes that would be narrow enough overall (come in C-width, etc), but might have a wider, more accomodating toebox?

Why not move up to the D width? I have a pair of fifth aves in 10.5 E and they are a smidge snug on the right shoe from a width standpoint, only just got them and actually had to return them as they were ripped on the inside, waiting for my replacement pair in the mail as the shop was out of stock.

I am debating getting a pair of PA's from the shoebank as I like the style but I have a wide flat foot, emailed AE about this since the 5 last isnt supposed to be good for that style to which they said that the 5/PA/FA is a very popular shoe and is good for any foot depending on if the size is right.

I would think that it will stretch a bit in that area as you will be flexing around there...if your toes hit the front of the shoe or if the sides were super tight then that is something else, but just slightly tight on the sides of the toes IMHO isn't that bad...but it all depends on your own comfort level.

My problem is I can never find shoes that stay put in the heels, my feet always slip enough to cause blisters until they break in which sucks.

Originally Posted by iroh

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Yes, AE's do stretch.

To accelerate the process you can stretch them by spraying them lightly with a solution made of 3 parts water and 1 parts isopropyl alcohol and walking around in them for a couple of minutes.

Will this method work on suede too?

Originally Posted by uiriamu

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How much do Allen Edmonds shoes stretch width-wise? Just got a pair of dark brown Allen Edmonds 5th Avenues in 9.5 C (same last 5 as the popular Park Avenue). All the proportions are great except my toes on my left foot seem to be a touch wider so the shoes pinch a bit against my toes (the balls of my feet fit nicely) Is this a deal breaker, or can I expect the shoe to stretch and widen or break in more comfortably over a short period of time? I don't have much experience with how AEs break in. If it's going to be a bad fit, any suggestions on similar shoes that would be narrow enough overall (come in C-width, etc), but might have a wider, more accomodating toebox?
This same issue -- tightness at the toes on one foot -- keeps me away from most AEs. I tried a pair and thought they'd break in, but the leather was too thick and unforgiving. Even tried stretch fluid and no luck. Maybe I could have worn them in, eventually, but I have enough shoes that I wasn't going to punish my feet. I finally decided I'd be better off with a different brand with a more forgiving toebox, or at least with more supple leather.