Altering shoe width?

[Beatlegeuse]

Is it possible to alter the width of a shoe? Let's say, to take it from a D width to maybe a B or C? I just recently starting buying some "nicer" shoes than I used to, unfortunately I got a little ahead of myself and didn't properly measure my foot before I started purchasing online. I'm now realizing that a narrower width fits me much better than a standard width. The shoes I have fit OK if I put some inserts in there, so I don't need to throw any of them away, but I would really love it if there was some way a cobbler could make a D width shoe a little skinnier to fit my narrow foot. Possible or not?

 

[Joenobody0]

Originally Posted by Beatlegeuse

Is it possible to alter the width of a shoe? Let's say, to take it from a D width to maybe a B or C? I just recently starting buying some "nicer" shoes than I used to, unfortunately I got a little ahead of myself and didn't properly measure my foot before I started purchasing online. I'm now realizing that a narrower width fits me much better than a standard width. The shoes I have fit OK if I put some inserts in there, so I don't need to throw any of them away, but I would really love it if there was some way a cobbler could make a D width shoe a little skinnier to fit my narrow foot. Possible or not?

It's somewhat possible. You won't be able to go from a D to a B. You might be able to go from a D to C. You can for sure got from a D to a "C and a half". There have been a number of long threads on this topic in the past.

You can find my posts in those threads for more information.

 

[bengal-stripe]

You can't make a shoe narrower, unless you totally take the shoe apart, re-last it over a narrower last and then re-make it (put a new, narrower sole on). It will be totally uneconomical.

All you can do use inlay soles to reduce the volume somehow. Once the shoe needs re-crafting, some, but very few, factories are willing to re-last over a narrower fitting. (Even then there are potential problems, as the pattern might not fit anymore.)

 

[phxlawstudent]

Where is the shoe too loose? Heels can be fixed by using heel cups. Pieces of leather that take up a little of the room in the heel. Toes... not so much.

 

[Bentley]

Is it possible to stretch a shoe's width to a larger size?

What about length? Can you stretch a 9.5 to a 10?

 

[phxlawstudent]

Originally Posted by Bentley

Is it possible to stretch a shoe's width to a larger size?

What about length? Can you stretch a 9.5 to a 10?

No. You can't expand the soles.



Unless you can... But if you can, I don't know how to do it.

 

[Beatlegeuse]

Originally Posted by bengal-stripe

You can't make a shoe narrower, unless you totally take the shoe apart, re-last it over a narrower last and then re-make it (put a new, narrower sole on). It will be totally uneconomical.

All you can do use inlay soles to reduce the volume somehow. Once the shoe needs re-crafting, some, but very few, factories are willing to re-last over a narrower fitting. (Even then there are potential problems, as the pattern might not fit anymore.)

Sounds like it probably wouldn't be worth it for me then, I'll just stick to the extra insoles for now. Good thing I didn't spend too much yet...the most expensive shoes I bought were some Peal suede captoes from BB at 65% off. I really wish they fit better, but with the insole they're still wearable.

Originally Posted by phxlawstudent

Where is the shoe too loose? Heels can be fixed by using heel cups. Pieces of leather that take up a little of the room in the heel. Toes... not so much.

The shoes are mainly too loose right in the middle, where the laces are. If I lace them as tight as possible, I can still feel my feet moving around a little bit inside the shoe.

 

[phxlawstudent]

Originally Posted by Beatlegeuse

The shoes are mainly too loose right in the middle, where the laces are. If I lace them as tight as possible, I can still feel my feet moving around a little bit inside the shoe.

Side to side, or up and down?

If up and down, you can try a tongue pad, they're really cheap. Free at some places. Its a piece of felt with adhesive on the other side, just stick it to the shoe tongue.

 

[Beatlegeuse]

Originally Posted by phxlawstudent

Side to side, or up and down?

If up and down, you can try a tongue pad, they're really cheap. Free at some places. Its a piece of felt with adhesive on the other side, just stick it to the shoe tongue.

It's a little too big side-to-side. I actually just used one of those foot measuring things at a shoe store, and it definitely looks like my foot is really on the narrow end of the spectrum. But I can try out the tongue pad as well...if it holds my foot in place it will probably help a little bit.

 

[Salsalocust]

Originally Posted by Dr. Demento

Just buy the shoes in person and stop trying to save a few dollars with this stupid online buying of shoes esp. on junk markets like ebay.


An immature post.... but as it is about your tenth 'narky' post today, I assume you are only here to troll.

Have fun