Club Obi Wan

This is NOT your typical post about sizing.
My problem is this. When i stand up straight, my entire small toe is over the welt of the shoe, as in, its resting on it.

What IS the proper sizing? should my foot be flesh to the welt? Meaning, should i be able to put my thumb on the welt, with no push from my toe in the way?

Adam

That definitely sounds like you need at least a half size bigger. Your big toe should be about half an inch away from the welt

Nibs

Nah, I'm talking about my width.
Length is perfect.

Oh ok, I misunderstood. It sounds like you would need maybe a EE?

Nibs

Schmidty is quite an expert when it comes to fitting these boots. You may want to give him a call. You can find his contact information in this thread - viewtopic.php?t=28293&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Many people have a tendency to forget that there are at least TWO sizes you need for proper fitting footwear. One is the obvious length, and the second is the width. Using a professional measuring device (a Brannock device) is the best way to estimate your proper size, but since everyone's feet are slightly different, use it as a guide to trying on the pair of shoes or boots before you buy, if you are able to. Different lasts (the form used to make the footwear) for different lines of shoes, even from the same manufacturer, can fit your foot differently.

Feet can change size as you age, so be sure to get checked for your size from time to time.

At the cost of a pair of Aldens, I went in and not only had my feet measured, but I tried on a few pairs too.

thatttsss GGGGreat! (as Tony the Tiger would say in my youthful days) My local Aldens retail shop (a men's clothing store that carried Aldens, at least) did not stock the 405, so I went my my experience with my dress shoes that I've had for years. (That clerk in the men's store also mis-measured me and came up with a width that I knew was way off by 2 or 3 widths). In some styles with the same manufacturer, I took one width, and in others, made on different lasts, the next one down. I ended up with both widths to try on, but by the time I got around to affording the second one, I had inadvertently worn the first pair outside, so it wasn't returnable. The second, more narrow one actually fit better, but I can wear the first pair all day with no problems, too.

If you've only worn the pair that doesn't fit so well on carpeted surfaces to check the fit, they should be returnable for the next size wider. A good shoe salesperson can also check the fit while you are wearing them to double check before you try to exchange them. Maybe the shop where you tried them on first could do that for you.

Schmidty offers a great price and terrific customer service, I would second the motion above to contact him about the issue.

Actually there is one more measurement that is critical and that is arch length. The Alden 405 is an orthopedic shoe. Your arch has to line up correctly or it will not be comfortable. I know this from experience. I have an 11D sitting in my closet I can't wear anymore.

The best option is to go to an Alden shoe store and have your width, foot length and arch length measured with a brannock device and use that as a starting point. If you order over the internet, still try to get these measurements before you order recognizing you may have to return the boot for a different size.

Feathers73 is ABSOLUTELY correct. The arch length measurement is vital to a properly fitting pair of shoes or boots. The easiest way I can explain this, is if your arch length measures longer than your toe length, buy a shoe based on the arch length. If you don't, the ball (widest part) of your foot will be sitting too far forward in the shoe, and your toes will be jammed down at the end. When a shoe is made, it is designed for the "ideal" foot. That is to say, the arch length and the toe length match. Not everybody's feet are built that way however. So, if your arch measures longer, go with the arch length.

As an example, I had a gentleman in the store the other night, who was wearing an 11 1/2 D in a Johnston and Murphy loafer. His toes were bleeding because his toes were hitting the end of the shoe. I measured his feet. His TOE length did in fact measure an 11 1/2. His ARCH length measured a 13, and his width was a B. So, I explained to him what I just explained above, and went down and got him a 13 B Cole-Haan loafer. It fit beautifully. His heel didn't slip or anything. My goal is to educate everyone here at COW on the way to measure your feet, so you can go into Foot Locker or Shoe Carnival, and teach the kid who is "measuring" your feet a thing or two!!

Schmidty

well,

my question is this. The pair I own are size 10 1/2 D. I've had them since I was a freshman in highschool. My feet have NOT grown width or length. I'm sure it has to do with the arch. I never really felt like they fit correctly.

I'm 100% positive i wear 10 1/2 E. My toes are in the correct spot to the end, but my small toe is getting shoved into the side of the boot wall. If i stand up straight I can't see the welt at all on the side of the shoe.

I've been wearing rock port oxfords for the past 4 months, because they are the only shoes that I've ever owned I can wear without any pain. They are sized extra wide, and my outside toe is still bowing onto the welt. I think this has a lot to do with the way I walk.

I was just going to forget about the aldens, and move on to some other shoe, sad i know, but I picked up my old pair the other day, and couldn't believe how strong they felt. They felt like an M1 Abrams tank compared to the rockports. Funny how i thought they felt weak when i was wearing them.....

Any advice schmidty? I'm really hoping I can finally get the perfect pair before I go away to college this coming year. I guess its also possible though, that my feet just don't work with shoes that have a shank in them. I've never owned a pair of shoes with a steel shank.

Thanks,
Adam

Thank you both, Feathers73 and Schmidty. I knew there was one more measurement, but I couldn't think of how to describe it. You both did a great job. I was trying to relate the fit of the different lasts from the same manufacturer, but you did it better.

Schmidty, if there is someone competent reading the Brannock device, how is the arch measured? I have been wearing Allen Edmonds dress shoes for years and only knew that some lasts fit me better than others that were in the same size and width. I am leery of the Aldens dealer I went to, as he said I would fit a C width, when in fact the AA in the 405 fits just fine.