Question:
I just bought a pair of Edward Green captoes based on the 202 last. They look great and felt ok in the store but there was of pressure above the big toe of my left foot every time I took a step. I figured the leather might give a little more so I went ahead and bought them.
Now I've got a red blister on my big toe.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to make the shoe comfortable? My right shoe is fine. I noticed the same problem with a pair of captoe JM Westons I was looking at too. I think what happens is as I step, the leather behind the cap bunches up and pushes into my toe, but this is natural of all captoe shoes no?
Answer:
try a tonque pad which prevents the foot from sliding forward and keeps the foot further back in the heel pocket
Answer:
This is where I buy tongue pads:
http://www.feetrelief.com/feetrelief...ccessories.htm
..Mark
Answer:
I think a tongue pad is a good first try. Another possibility is to rip out the heel pad (under the sock liner), so your foot sits a bit lower (and therefore also further back). Finally, take them to a cobbler and have them stretched.
All that said, I would first try toughing it out a bit longer to see if the shoe stretches to accommodate you. That always seems better than monkeying with the fit with add ons or other adjustments.
BTW, I am no expert, but I have never heard of cap-toes presenting a special problem. I do recall that in the Vass Handmade Shoes book, Laszlo Vass notes that some shoe aficionados prefer plain toes, thinking that cap toes or wingtips can cause pressure at the join but that their concerns are unfounded.
Answer:
Does this happen always on your left foot? Are your feet identical? Is the EG shoe creasing differently on the left one?
Answer:
yfyf.org
If I had your shoe in my hand I would probably have used the backside of a rounded hammer shaft and pressed at the area from the inside. But it all depends on how much, too tight, they are. That is one trick anyway.
Answer:
I've always wondered why dress shoes are not constructed with a performance, mold-to-your-foot insole like ski boots.
I suppose the cork inner layer does that, just over a longer period of time. Has any dress shoe maker ever attempted to use an inner sole that molds more than cork does?
As to your left big toe... I've never experienced that with cap toes shoes or any shoe. Sorry to hear that. Is your left foot sliding forward when you walk? If so, the shoe is either too large overall, or the shoe's opening is too big for your foot. It is quite common for one foot to be a half size larger in length and width than the other. A tongue pad is a partial solution I suppose, but I would suggest getting at the root cause so that when you next try on a pair of RTW shoes, you know what exactly to look for (deeper shoe? smaller closure area?), etc.
Answer:
because your feet do not move inside ski boots
Answer:
I am not an expert either, but I do think that there is something to the notion that cap toes can present special problems for certain feet.
Answer:
Thanks folks. I guess I'll give the shoes a little more time and try and stretch them a little. EGs can be dunked in water for stretching apparently?
Tony G summarized it best as: "I mentioned my problem to Tony G., and he suggested that the long toe box had too much leather bunching up against the cap seam running across the toe."
