[Odradek]

I've just received my new black Allen Edmonds Quintons. Not brand new, but they are as good as new, maybe worn once or twice briefly. The soles are unmarked. There a "W" inside,which I gather means worn, so perhaps these are store returns or something.
Can't complain on that front as I got them for $69, which is quite a savings.

Anyway, I tried them on last night for about 2 hours walking round the house and they felt fine, with quite a snug fit.
Wore them out this morning and immediately thought they were too narrow, not so much around the toes as across the instep, where they feel tight.
Was mostly walking to and from the car with one brief trip round the supermarket.

After lunch I took them off and put my beefiest shoe trees in them.

Looking at them compared to other shoes I have, they do look long and narrow.
They are made on the AE number 8 last.

Can I expect them to loosen up to any extent?

 

[Shaver]

I've just received my new black Allen Edmonds Quintons. Not brand new, but they are as good as new, maybe worn once or twice briefly. The soles are unmarked. There a "W" inside,which I gather means worn, so perhaps these are store returns or something.
Can't complain on that front as I got them for $69, which is quite a savings.

Anyway, I tried them on last night for about 2 hours walking round the house and they felt fine, with quite a snug fit.
Wore them out this morning and immediately thought they were too narrow, not so much around the toes as across the instep, where they feel tight.
Was mostly walking to and from the car with one brief trip round the supermarket.

After lunch I took them off and put my beefiest shoe trees in them.

Looking at them compared to other shoes I have, they do look long and narrow.
They are made on the AE number 8 last.

Can I expect them to loosen up to any extent?

Possibly. A sometimes really easy solution is to look to the gauge of sock you are wearing, this can make a tangible difference as to how tight the shoe may feel. Thinner socks, obviously, will reduce any sensation of pinching. Opinions are divided as to whether a shoe can be usefully stretched or not but I have found from experience a shoe can relax when worn and eventually more comfortably fit your foot.

Those are very smart shoes by the way. :icon_smile:

 

[Odradek]

Thanks.
They are rather nice. I like the six eyelets.
A rubber soled version of the McClain, now discontinued.
If the weather keeps on the way it has been all year, they'll see some use this winter.

 

[Leighton]

My experience is yes & no.

My AE's with a slight pinch at my little toe have broken in nicely and I no longer notice any pinch or discomfort. Me and the AE store also stuck them on shoe stretchers for prolonged periods of time.

My Malvern never worked out though.

 

[Bassist]

I had the same problem with my first AE shoes- I was measured for and tried on a pair of 10D Strands- they seemed to fit perfectly at the store, but the first time I tried to wear them they were too tight in the width- and all of my dress socks are the same size and thickness. I went round and round with trying in lots of shoes and taking them home- I finally ended up going a half size up to a 10 1/2D- problem solved.

Joe

 

[Orsini]

Not very much.

 

[eagle2250]

The experts say you can have shoes/boots stretched sufficiently to provide an additional size in width (for example, a "D" to an "E" width). Should you wish to attempt such a process at home, don't forget to liberally apply the stretching spray to the shoes, before inserting the stretcher(s)! Also, as mentioned by member Shaver and depending on the degree of tightness you are experiencing, many times simply wearing the shoes will resolve the problem. Good luck in the effort!

 

[Fred G. Unn]

My Malvern never worked out though.

Interesting that you had that experience too! I have the brown suede Malverns and wear them often, especially in the fall. Last fall I decided to get the brown grain Malverns too, so I just ordered the same size (10E) as my suede shoes. The brown grain Malverns were very tight in the front of my feet and were actually painful to wear for any length of time. I tried some oversized trees, then tried having them stretched, all to no avail. I ended up consigning them at a local thrift shop. The brown suede Malverns are still great and I wore them a couple of days ago. Go figure ...

 

[Orsini]

My experience is yes & no.

My AE's with a slight pinch at my little toe have broken in nicely and I no longer notice any pinch or discomfort. Me and the AE store also stuck them on shoe stretchers for prolonged periods of time.

My Malvern never worked out though.

Too bad about those Malverns. What happened?

My Malverns are snug up front, but they are OK for a full day at the office. They haven't had any stretching sessions

I wish I had had as good a result as described by some of you. I have several pairs that have been on "the rack" both at Costa Mesa and at my cobbler's, along with plenty of shoe stretch and, while there has been improvement, they are still a problem by the afternoon.

 

[Leighton]

The Malvern's last just wasn't right for my feet. Passed them on to a new owner. Sad really. Loved how they looked.

 

[Orsini]

The Malvern's last just wasn't right for my feet. Passed them on to a new owner. Sad really. Loved how they looked.

That's too bad.

It's a heavy, solid, shoe with good looking leather and a great aroma. That toe looks so good, the pebble is great for Friday, and the dainite is good for weather. When you look at this shoe, you don't pine for the good old days because it is flawless.

If I got another pair, I would want E width, suede, and VIP sole.

I just sent Nate an email...

 

[Odradek]

The experts say you can have shoes/boots stretched sufficiently to provide an additional size in width (for example, a "D" to an "E" width). Should you wish to attempt such a process at home, don't forget to liberally apply the stretching spray to the shoes, before inserting the stretcher(s)! Also, as mentioned by member Shaver and depending on the degree of tightness you are experiencing, many times simply wearing the shoes will resolve the problem. Good luck in the effort!

Thanks. I currently have my widest shoe trees in them and will leave them like that and try them again over the weekend. Must get some stretching spray.
The shoes are 8D and I think 8E would be what I should look for when buying American in future.

 

[Avers]

I had similar problem with one pair of AEs.

I took them to a shoe repair place and they stretched the shoes, they fit perfectly now. The cost was $5 per shoe.

 

[Odradek]

Thanks.
I popped into the local shoe repair guy this morning and asked about stretching. He can stretch them for width and the cost would be £5 for the pair, but he has quite a few shoes in for stretching and says I wouldn't get them back for at least a month !

 

[Leighton]

You can buy your own stretcher (buy the quality one) for $25. The stuff they squirt in the shoe is just 50/50 alcohol distilled water.

 

[Odradek]

The stuff they squirt in the shoe is just 50/50 alcohol distilled water.

Serious question.... Would whisky work?
I just happen to have a bottle of really bad scotch someone gave me.
I'm sure the smell would be an issue.

 

[eagle2250]

^^
LOL. In addition to granting your shoes an interesting nose, there is a possibility that spraying your shoes with "cheap scotch" could also result in some level of discoloration/staining. Were it me, I would spend the few dollars on stretching spray and do the deed! Given the initial cost of those new shoes, at least use the 'good stuff' if for the stretching fluid, booze it must be!

 

[Bjorn]

Serious question.... Would whisky work?
I just happen to have a bottle of really bad scotch someone gave me.
I'm sure the smell would be an issue.

There's an address in Sweden where you send your whiskey to. Then your shoes magically become wider. Promise...

 

[Odradek]

There's an address in Sweden where you send your whiskey to. Then your shoes magically become wider. Promise...

No. You don't want this one. It's Glenfiddich, but it sure doesn't taste like Glenfiddich. I was given a box of assorted unopened bottles by an elderly neighbour. Theoretically spirits should stay good for years in sealed bottles, but some of this stuff looked very old. Brands of gin I've never heard of. Gave a few away, but tried the Glenfiddich. Something not right about it. Not even good for fixing shoes.