Beautiful shoes...

[Chareth]

Really? I presume some of the very highest QC on AEs, based solely on the high praise and stellar reviews that I've seen. But I certainly appreciate your input, as you said you've owned quite a few pairs.

To be precise, I suspect it is a combination of how they construct their shoes and an idiosyncracy of the 5 last that makes it a common enough fault that AE makes a concious decision to let these defects go out as firsts. I don't see any way that AE doesn't know that this is a common occurence.

[Vicious49]

I can say for certain that if I had any sort of arch, the problem would me minimized, if not totally eliminated. I purposefully arched my foot way up, unnaturally, and the gaps disappeared. So it's me. The shoes are sweet! ... for people with arches, apparently.

Maybe that's why none of the ones I own on the 5 last bow on me. I have a pretty decent arch. Then again I mainly wear the mactavish and brown strands. Haven't worn the walnuts strands or the park aves as much.

[yoyorobbo]

I think the problem with bowing is due to sizing. I find that the Park Aves and the Kenilworths feel pretty differently on my foot. I think if I had bought the Kenilworths first, and then the Park Aves, I may have sized down on the Park Aves and ended up with the bowing problem...

Yeah, the Kenilworths did feel a bit more generous in the toe box. I think I've read that they run a little big hear, either in these forums or on the main Dappered page.

[yoyorobbo]

maybe you can size up to make room for an insert?

I can say for certain that if I had any sort of arch, the problem would me minimized, if not totally eliminated. I purposefully arched my foot way up, unnaturally, and the gaps disappeared. So it's me. The shoes are sweet! ... for people with arches, apparently.

[yoyorobbo]

In my experience, the bowing is due to bad quality control. I've tried on some pairs have the bowing and some pairs not (on the same size), even different per shoe on the same pair.

Really? I presume some of the very highest QC on AEs, based solely on the high praise and stellar reviews that I've seen. But I certainly appreciate your input, as you said you've owned quite a few pairs.

Oh, and I tried on a pair of Fairfax(es) at Nordstrom Rack - which IIRC are on the 5 last too - and those did *not* bow out as badly as these others. Also noted that it didn't matter between the open-laced blucher style 3-hole of the Kenilworth or the tighter closed-laced oxford 6-hole of the Park Ave/Strand. The salesman at Nords expected the Parks to NOT bow out, after seeing the Kenilworths do it when I tried them on first, based on the extra lace holes/longer ??? - oh what the heck is it called?... vamp? Regardless, all three of these bowed out in the same spots, to the same degree.

[Chareth]

I think the problem with bowing is due to sizing. I find that the Park Aves and the Kenilworths feel pretty differently on my foot. I think if I had bought the Kenilworths first, and then the Park Aves, I may have sized down on the Park Aves and ended up with the bowing problem...

In my experience, the bowing is due to bad quality control. I've tried on some pairs have the bowing and some pairs not (on the same size), even different per shoe on the same pair.

[Chareth]

LOL - Yeah, I should be more discreet. Wouldn't want it to go to their heads, eh?

Nice lineup there, though, right? What a shame that they felt so *wrong* on me.

Yeah, for sure. I love the 5 last. I've had 7 pairs at one point or another over the years.

[MikeAD91]

I think the problem with bowing is due to sizing. I find that the Park Aves and the Kenilworths feel pretty differently on my foot. I think if I had bought the Kenilworths first, and then the Park Aves, I may have sized down on the Park Aves and ended up with the bowing problem...

[javadave]

those 3 really like they could really be the basis for a minimalist wardrobe.

maybe you can size up to make room for an insert?

i have 2 ae's and so far no ankle bowing so far. maybe lack of shoe trees for those experiencing the ankle bowing?

[yoyorobbo]

I think this is probably the first time I've ever seen the AE 5 last be described as "beautiful".

LOL - Yeah, I should be more discreet. Wouldn't want it to go to their heads, eh?

Nice lineup there, though, right? What a shame that they felt so *wrong* on me.

[yoyorobbo]

Sigh. I need have 4 pairs of AE but I'm missing the Kenilworth and Strand, and sorely want them both. Was there a sale going on?

Lucky! No sale; just stopped in on my way to BR. I wanted to get a feel for these three, as I *thought* they would make a real nice BIG 3 to plan for. I guess I need to keep looking. I should hit the actual AE store across the street from Nords/BR, and have a specialist fit me up in the best last. Then I could at least go back to the (futuristic) drawing board.

[yoyorobbo]

AEs? I've read many times that ankle bowing is a widespread problem among AE shoes, regardless of foot shapes.

Yep, AEs (Kenilworth, Park Ave, Strand). So it's fairly common? I thought it was primarily my VERY flat (never seen any flatter) feet. The McClain (8 last?) fits better, but still has the ankle gaps. The Cortland (4?) also seemed to fit me better in general, and I don't recall experiencing the gaps with those. Not positive on that though.

[Chareth]

I think this is probably the first time I've ever seen the AE 5 last be described as "beautiful".

[LosRockets]

Sigh. I need have 4 pairs of AE but I'm missing the Kenilworth and Strand, and sorely want them both. Was there a sale going on?

[trash]

AEs? I've read many times that ankle bowing is a widespread problem among AE shoes, regardless of foot shapes.