Carmina Shoes - Definitive Thread (reviews, advice, sizing, etc...) - official thread.

[armedferret]

Even when it's finally a win....it also kind of isn't.

I'd love to post a photo wearing my new boots finally but....I can't. I can only put one on. Because the tree won't come out of one of them, as it wasn't machined properly and the heel end won't swing high enough to allow removal. I have to find a file and remove wood from the tree while it's still in the boot. The other one inserts and removes fine, and swings up substantially further than the stuck one. No idea how they got it in there to begin with. Or rather i prefer not to think about it.

Always an adventure.

 

[hollandn]

Even when it's finally a win....it also kind of isn't.

I'd love to post a photo wearing my new boots finally but....I can't. I can only put one on. Because the tree won't come out of one of them, as it wasn't machined properly and the heel end won't swing high enough to allow removal. I have to find a file and remove wood from the tree while it's still in the boot. The other one inserts and removes fine, and swings up substantially further than the stuck one. No idea how they got it in there to begin with. Or rather i prefer not to think about it.

Always an adventure.

View attachment 2136823

That's a pain. Still like to see the actual boots though!!!
Not sure how carmina shoe trees are made but do the steel pins have springs at all so you push against the front part to give more wiggle room? Maybe the spring bit is a bit stiff/stuck.

 

[armedferret]

That's a pain. Still like to see the actual boots though!!!
Not sure how carmina shoe trees are made but do the steel pins have springs at all so you push against the front part to give more wiggle room? Maybe the spring bit is a bit stiff/stuck.

They are sprung, the spring works fine, the hinge the bars rotate on will not allow rotation any further upward to allow removal. The heel portion is only about halfway up to the opening on the boot. The left side tree swings a good portion higher than the right one. Something is off for sure.


ETA: Got it. Took a significant amount of wiggling and a few non-workplace words but i got it out. And just so we all know I'm not (entirely) crazy.....

Right tree is foreground, left tree background. Both are swung as far up as they will go. The wood was just very poorly machined.

I am over the moon with the boots. Let's make that point very clear. I fully intend to purchase more carminas in the future--although not likely any exotics, shell and calf only probably.

But they really need better QC on the tree assembly, that much is quite obvious.

Close enough to going-home time I'll get proper shots without cammyjammies once I arrive. a desktop shot for now.

 

[Crafty Cumbrian]

They are sprung, the spring works fine, the hinge the bars rotate on will not allow rotation any further upward to allow removal. The heel portion is only about halfway up to the opening on the boot. The left side tree swings a good portion higher than the right one. Something is off for sure.


ETA: Got it. Took a significant amount of wiggling and a few non-workplace words but i got it out. And just so we all know I'm not (entirely) crazy.....

View attachment 2136833

Right tree is foreground, left tree background. Both are swung as far up as they will go. The wood was just very poorly machined.

I am over the moon with the boots. Let's make that point very clear. I fully intend to purchase more carminas in the future--although not likely any exotics, shell and calf only probably.

But they really need better QC on the tree assembly, that much is quite obvious.

Close enough to going-home time I'll get proper shots without cammyjammies once I arrive. a desktop shot for now.

View attachment 2136835

Green croc bros before…

 

[bpt7594]

I'm in the market for horsebit loafers. I was/am considering the Gucci 1953 horsebit loafers, but also interested in the Carmina HORSEBIT LOAFERS 80746 XIM (https://www.carminashoemaker.com/horsebit-loafers-brown-funchal-80746).

Does anyone have these? What's your experience? How does the XIM last compare to the Uetam last?

Is it worth the extra cost to upgrade to the Cordovan one? (it's 295 to 550 EUR) Given these are blake stitched, they would have to be binned after the soles worn out, so not sure it's worth the investment in Cordovan.

If anyone has photos of them in real life lighting conditions, I'd love to see them too.

You can resole a Blake stitch shoe. Any good cobbler can do this. Not too many times though since you're punching holes into the upper.

I have 3 pairs (probably too much) in 7.5, they fit OK, I don't think that I can size down to 7. I wear Uetam in 7 without much problem. The 80746 is quite high cut so it holds better. I'd suggest taking the same size as Uetam.

I just hate that Carmina only has the Funchal black with leather soles. I had mine MTO to put a York sole on it so that I don't need to resole too soon.

 

[bpt7594]

They are sprung, the spring works fine, the hinge the bars rotate on will not allow rotation any further upward to allow removal. The heel portion is only about halfway up to the opening on the boot. The left side tree swings a good portion higher than the right one. Something is off for sure.


ETA: Got it. Took a significant amount of wiggling and a few non-workplace words but i got it out. And just so we all know I'm not (entirely) crazy.....

View attachment 2136833

Right tree is foreground, left tree background. Both are swung as far up as they will go. The wood was just very poorly machined.

I am over the moon with the boots. Let's make that point very clear. I fully intend to purchase more carminas in the future--although not likely any exotics, shell and calf only probably.

But they really need better QC on the tree assembly, that much is quite obvious.

Close enough to going-home time I'll get proper shots without cammyjammies once I arrive. a desktop shot for now.

View attachment 2136835

Jhc that's gorgeous...

 

[armedferret]

Thanks gents. The boots are spectacular. Truly. The experience was certainly a sour one, lesson learned, and life will continue to go onwards and upwards. Quite stylishly now I might add.

Green croc bros before…

Shoe-tree machining garden implments?


Also it's raining so.....please hold fast until we have proper sun to show these bad boys off the way they deserve.

 

[Watchman1]

Rain Last Oxford Boots

Cheers!

 

[Aurdelon]

I was always heel dragger and I always needed to change heel lifts 3 times before there was any need for resole. With Carmina I went for the first time with Redenbach soles and didn't even think about putting any kind of toe taps. After 3 months (~20 wears) toes are worn down a lot and are almost at midsole. What are my options now? Is it too late for toe taps? Would I need to resole after such a small number of wears? I expectedI will change heel lifts several times before actual resole as I need with rubber soles...

 

[othertravel]

View attachment 2138789

Rain Last Oxford Boots

Cheers!

You might want to consider the Simpson last. Some wrinkling on the instep.

 

[Watchman1]

You might want to consider the Simpson last. Some wrinkling on the instep.

Yes, sadly nearly every pair I have, from Alden to Edward Green do this…some worse than others…

 

[Moostyle]

Hi all. Is there a Carmina last which fits similar to the C&J 365 (Islay)... wide in the toe box and slim in the heel and instep?

 

[LA Guy]

I know that most of you know already, but a PSA for those who don't:

www.carminashoemaker.com -

Over 50 MTOs available in all colours, MTO-fee waived.

From the 6th to the 12th of March we have activated all finished MTOs in Cordovan leather.

All MTOs this Cordovan Week feature:
- Vast colour selection of Horween's exclusive Shell Cordovan
- Shoe Trees Included
- Free Shipping

 

[scb]

I'm selling my green shell frankenstitch boots on eBay. someone asked me if I knew what tannery the shell came from. Does Carmina have multiple sources or is everything from one?

 

[jischwar]

I'm selling my green shell frankenstitch boots on eBay. someone asked me if I knew what tannery the shell came from. Does Carmina have multiple sources or is everything from one?

Pretty sure it's all Horween