I'll try to be fairly comprehensive From a comfort perspective these are unrivaled for the price, similar to how I have heard Baudoin & Lange described. Stretched to become a bit too loose with heel slip note these are unlined, * **Yanko 915** 8UK, a bit loose at the heel, * **Zonkey Boot Classic** 8UK great fit but stiffeners are stiff, Brannock: 9D/E (on a printed paper brannock). So yes, you get more durable suede shoes higher up in the price ranges. 14.3 22.carmima uk6.5 carmina6.5 meermin/ 26.5 carmina . I beg to disagree. Many people have fallen in love with the Carminas because of how good-looking they are. But if the heel is good to start with, it doesnt matter so much if it can flex and adapt. Just make sure Trickers does not end up too chunky for you. I mean, things can go wrong, I see no problems with that, but then it has to be handled properly and fixed (Ive had a finished pair redone from two different makers, in one case it was since an error was made on one of the things modified on the lasts from the fitting shoe, on the other a small damage happened when the lasts was pulled. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'footslide_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_13',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-footslide_com-medrectangle-3-0');Let us see what Carmina shoes and Meermin shoes look like at first glance: One of the most elegant shoes out there today is the Carmina shoes. Will never purchase from that brand again. That may change in the future though, with the higher-end ones like Miyagi Kogyo trying to make it abroad. are priced above the equivalent Allen Edmonds, usually at an Alden equivalent price. Allen Edmonds 65: 10.5D - Okay fit. Much better quality than todays Allen Edmonds at comparable prices. AEs MacNeil is the epitome of wingtips imho. Oscar - 8 UK Carmina - Rain - 7.5 UK J. Fitzpatrick - TMG - 7.5 UK Meermin - Rui - 7.5 . For a reasonable upcharge, you can select any of their basic designs and pick your own choice of last, leather, and sole options. I've come to think of myself as a 10E. Great article I wonder what you think of the dilemma I currently find myself in?.. Custom ordered these with a combination last of 9.5E toe and 9.5D heel. Im looking forward to stopping by! Carminas guidance is down by half for shell or for unlined , in all lasts. Travel Shoes Poll: What shoes do you bring with you on short trips? Meermin Burgundy Oxford Shoe || Men's US 8 UK 7 E. $50.00 + $32.48 shipping. Among the many pairs I tried a pair of color 8 CXL beefrolls were the best fitting. Viberg 2020 8.5 GYW: Kinda snug, had to stretch out the instep, slightly smaller than the stitchdown version. Although, suede uppers would take a long time to wear out. I absolutely could not go a half-size down. !!! Guessing I'd need 9.5D or 9EE. I appreciate that there are differences, I just care more about some differences than others. I have owned shoes from most of the English brands, and 5-10 Spanish brands and 5-10 Italian brands, and its a quite clear difference (but again, there are exceptions in both directions. (Portuguese shoemaker) The EG just feel better than both ever did straight out of the box, but Im not sure how psychological that is! They last forever, but unfortunately they are even stiffer than Meermin shoes (really didnt like those), and take a year or two to wear in. I agree they provide an excellent service and are great ambassadors for the brand, which is why I think it is clever of them as a company not to be involved in the complexity of rents, leases, employees etc. Also worth noting, is that Ive never written about this on Shoegazing, it just came up in the discussion with Simon when we talked about differences. I cant imagine very people are going to buy a sports jacket or merino sweater there. Really good customer service is important to me and is one of the things that keeps me going back. The quality of the leather is identical. Thats a point worth emphasising. Some can only be purchased at high upcharge compared to what they cost in Europe, while some can be bought from European retailers with free shipping, VAT deducted and no customs charge (as long as below $800) so they come out 15-20% cheaper than they cost in Europe. How to measure your feet. Berwick has become very popular in recent years, particularly in Asia, Russia and elsewhere. They are extremely comfortable and very good value in my opinion. This was several years ago, so my recollection isnt as detailed. Ive a pair of Barker Grant that I must have worn 50/60/70 times and its only last week I had a topy (SVIG rubber) put on, the cobbler reckoned the rubber on the heel hadnt worn enough to warrant replacement. I think either would be fine. Great stitch density and overall construction for a GYW loafer that normally runs 160 euros. He was told they had changed, as you see seem to have observed as well. TLB also has a new line called Artista*, which is a higher level of quality than any in this article. Job done. Its actually something well touch on in our upcoming piece looking at budgets and capsule wardrobes. The close-channel stitching is also a plus, you know youre getting more handwork for the soles. TLB Artista full review here A very nice pair of black cap toes on the Eton last but far to hard to break in. AE is placed well below C&J and Carmina, lacklusterly portrayed together with cheaper brands, and tied with Loake. I'll update this list as I get new stuff in too. 9.5D heel to toe. If I may add to this discussion, i recently purchased a pair of burgundy penny loafers from morjas. This helped me understand why sizing as 10D was actually very bad advice and never worked out well. I own a pair of JL Lopez loafers (995) and a pair of Cheaney Lewisham (380) and with the exception of the fact that JL claim a hand stitched apron, I cant see any qualitative difference whatsoever. Nobody wants a bad fitting pair of strides but at least they wont cause you physical pain. I would agree that some change has happened since Stollenwerk sold the company to an investment fund, they seem to have gone into the greed and certainly for some cost cutting somewhere to make up for the handicap of making in the US. Additionally the soles of Cheaney arent as hard wearing either, I have needed more frequent resoles. There are some great savings on offer and often the defects are either unnoticeable or very minor. HOK 9: Acceptable fit. The only issue is that the classic range is very stiff, and hard to break in. Matty: Late reply, but noticed your comment just now. The only running shoes for me. 240 Last 9.5: Bad fit. The sort of thing that Septieme Largeur really excel in . 55 last 9.5E: Excellent fit with thick or thin socks, this is what boot heaven feels like! Because of the great leather material of the Carminas, youll get yourself a pair of shoes that are bound to stand you out in the positive way.CARMINA LEATHER, Meermins, on the other hand, are made with premium leather materials ranging from hybrid calfskin leather materials to even Shell Cordovan leather.MEERMIN LEATHER. Carmina vs Meermin: First glance Reply below with your sizing in any lasts you own/have experience with. Yanko 915 3 eyelet derby 9.5UK: Probably more form fitting and snug than tlb or carmina (probably due to sizing down) but near perfect in shape. I cant really comment Im afraid Sebastian, having never owned any. Ive since moved on to other brands because I wanted higher quality. Kyle from Baker's later told me that my instep width is more like EE/EEE, which is what causes many of my fit issues around the mid-foot. Meermin offers loafers in simple colours of black, brown, copper, tan, and navy. Carminas just dont break down easily. Chunky, comfortable, and with nice make but the suede itself is nothing special, certainly worse than Crownhill in the same price range. In particular, if you're interested in this price bracket, check out, https://shoegazing.com/2016/08/12/review-crownhill-shoes-the-stewart/, https://shoegazing.com/2015/09/06/review-carlos-santos-7201-braga-cognac/, https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/berwick-1707-penny-loafer-9628-dark-brown-suede?variant=19309209288766&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5ZCblaOs6gIVdBPTCh32aAttEAEYASABEgKcGvD_BwE, https://www.carminashoemaker.com/penny-loafers-brown-suede-80113, https://britishshoecompany.co.uk/collections/berwick-1707/products/berwick-mens-derby-leather-lace-up-shoes-5768-k6, https://it.velasca.com/collections/francesine-goodyear. One of the biggest such sites in the world, it receives up to 500,000 page views a month. Their last is made for the Japanese feet, which are flatter in general with a smaller heel. My C&J 337 is a bit loose in 10UK but too tight in 9.5UK; my Carmina Simpson Oxford is comfortably snug in 10UK (which is how I like my shoes to fit.) And you could choose a more rounded last, if that was your preference. Even so, I do believe that the Meermins are the best value-for-money among the shoes mentioned. For example, I dont really care about super fine handwork on a shirt. Last month, Swedish shoe brand Myrqvist (above) sent me a pair of their loafers to try. Ive purchased two pairs over the past 10 months from brands in this article. In India there is Bridlen (below), which makes a very solid, classic-looking shoe. Start-up brands are often good on marketing, on styling and photography. Brilliant article I really enjoyed that . Meermin shoes are affordable but also very sturdy and premium-grade. I find the shoe discussion to be an interesting one. It will be creeping in going forward too, whenever it makes sense. To put JC on the same shelf as JL, EG, STC and the like is certainly a stretch. JavaScript is disabled. They are both leather lined with a full leather insole and both have a Goodyear welted single leather sole. Alden Aberdeen 9.5D: Great fit. My 20 year old AS are still in great shape as are my relatively newer C&J In addition they come in some very handsome styles. Check Availability Meermin Wingtips Review I even got a pair of Lobb Chapels for 245 in 2009. The Hand-Welting construction of these shoes makes them be very good dress shoes that can fit into any wardrobe quite easily. Worth asking. Definitely wish Viberg made more boots on this last. 8UK was much too loose. Red Wing Postman: 10D, wore for a year but sold due to low volume toebox. I'm looking at a cobbler union in a 312 last they recommended 1.5 down from brannock. Using these focus points, lets get into the comparison of these two shoe brands: Also, the materials of the Meermin shoes are flexible and stretchable enough to accommodate most feet. I found a pair on sale for about $100 more than those, however, so I figured I'd give them a try. TLB (above) is a good example of how much more dynamic the Spanish shoe market is than the English. Ive around 20 pairs of Carmina, 2 of C&J mainline and a dozen of C&J hangrade. Renav Goods Co A-1 Unstructured 42: Good fit for summer, but maxes out at Chup sock thickness. Cork/insole filling will also compress. Barrie 9.5D: Bad fit. Im trying to decide between the following two options: 1) Myrqvist Molle Loafers @ 151 per pair, 2) Trickers Elton Loafers @ 225 per pair (on sale). Id not have worn them in wet conditions though. Please use the following format to facilitate readability and searchability: This is an example of what a good comment looks like. 2. These boots make me want to convert my entire boot collection to White's. That would be much less possible for me at higher price points. Trickers appears to have a wider breadth to me, especially in country shoes and boots in lots of leathers and colours. Stitchdown boots you will get more lateral give across the width of the boot, and with welted products you'll get more . NF Bootmaker 43.5: Had these modified for a wider waist as the 44 was a bit long. 10 Best Ortholite Replacement Insoles (Reviewed in 2022), 11 Best Water Shoes for Water Parks | Footslide, Highly-Durable Shoe Construction and Design, Meermins dont last as long as Carmina shoes, You can get most Carminas for cost prices between 341 and 407, You can buy Meermin shoes for prices between $160 and $210. #EasyLifeESMenBoots #DopeBoots #Meermin #CarminaBoots #ShellCordovanBoots #EasyLifeES #CasualMenBoots #MereminPlumMuseumCalf #Meerminbelts---ALL UB playlist-. Still tapered in in waist and heel for a comfortable lock in, but with more room in the toe box and at the ball. I suspect the 1035 in 9.5 would fit me perfectly. Is it enough to justify the extra 75 quid per pair? Former Affiliate Vendor Threads; a Locked Forum. It hails from Meermin's Classic Collection, which is the less expensive of the two lines, at 160euro/pair (or roughly $205). I cant comment as to what anything is like higher up the scale but they are both the best looking and most comfortable shoes I own (more than my hiking boots or running shoes). Carmina shoes are better than Meermin shoes. These are all a pretty similar level of make, though you lose a little in the raw-material quality among the cheaper ones, such as Septieme Largeur." So I have never needed to seek an alternative, and have been fortunate never to need to spend more than 500 on a pair of shoes. Why not economical or cost effective or something else which has more neutral/positive connotation unlike cheap. Rock Your Socks- show your sock, shoe & pant combos, *DROP 3/1* NWT $240 Ralph Lauren Purple Label Italian Made Navy Linen & Mulberry Silk Twill Neck Tie, * DROP 3/1 * NWT $225 Ralph Lauren Purple Label Italian Made Square Knit Solid Black Silk Neck Tie, R.M.Williams Comfort Craftsman Tobacco Suede UK 8.5 H. OGIO Golf Travel Bags The Royal Experience! Bought before I understood my size. DESCRIPTION VIEW MODELS Forest is Carmina's most archetypal and early last. First impressions tell us most of what we need to know about certain products. You may learn more here. At C&Js benchgrade level, you can choose from black or chestnut calf (both with a leather sole), or brown suede with a rubber sole and youre limited to their 348 last. But have you ever disclosed your so called financial situation regarding your reviews you dont pay full price if any price for all these garments you have made for yourself, correct? Simon's books and product collaborations are available to buy through the Permanent Style shop. I have Meermin boots and happy with the quality. My girlfriend values their classic oxfords because they are not Goodyear and have soft insoles making them very comfy. Can you please comment on the poor quality of English soles mentioned. Morjas uses corrected-grain leather, despite their claims to the contrary. Alden Barrie (lined shell): 10D, a little snug at the big toe but great in the ball and very supportive overall. Also Barkers at the 1880 price point are made in the UK. The C&J hangrade, however, is another story. It's a reasonably generous last. Though, unsure of sizing, thanks. The same is true for the tailors and the small number of shops I use for RTW clothing. I have been tempted for a while to try a pair of bespoke shoes to see if it truly is a large step up in comfort. Its a long time since Ive worn shoes at that price level, and I simply have no frame of reference. Both of my pinky toes stick slightly out, sometimes I say I have splayed toes, but it's really just the pinky toe on each foot likes a bit of room. Id like to add a little comment on the Vietnam shoe makers here. The fact is that Cheaney have one flagship store and the vast bulk of their business is on line whilst JL are paying for expensive locations and staff explains all at the end of the day its not so complicated. CARMINA belvtor.by - CARMINA 100% 10016 U www.clinicarinologica.com - 6.5 CARMINA ecovitaconstrutora.com.br 17,500 . 9.5D heel to ball, just a smidge under 9.5D on heel to toe. I'm trying to suss out sizing for several models: I don't know if I can help, but I will give it a go - do bear in mind, of course, that everyone's feet are different. You basically double your costs from stock carry. If you can spend that extra 100-150 I sincerely recommend buying a pair of shoes from Carmina or TLB Artista. I will refrain from commenting on fit unless people think it will be helpful. I was about to replace my decades old AE McAllisters with a new one, but upon inspection, the newer shoe (same model) had wonky stitching and sloppy finishing. So my true size is an 11.5, in most American boots I'm an 11, and all my boots with European sizing (like Tricker's) are a 10.5. While not terribly drastic, this feature requires a bit more toe box space. Interesting ! Viberg 2030E 8.5: Good to great fit, but depends on the year and the run. Guess it goes to show how individual it all is. It is still quite hard to fathom the yearly price increases on EG shoes given their pitiful customer service. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Jesper thinks Skolyx (above) is better in this regard than the others, though he is biased*. Truman P-79 9D: Nice fit. This goes for Allen Edmonds now as well, where they will routinely reach 700 if bought directly from the manufacturer shipped out to Canada. Thanks Simon, great work as always. . Im not sure what you have to back up that this wouldnt be the case? As mentioned in the top comment, we were focusing on shoes under 300. and a pair of natural CXL beefrolls were very loose I could slide right out of them. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Besides, one isnt going to do something athletic in dress shoes so a relatively poor fit is not noticed most of the time. My favorite last for standing long periods. Since that was my advice in your survey, I can only but congratulate. My personal experience I can unreservedly recommend Allen Edmonds (the Strand in particular). For the price of a brand new AE Id rather get a pair of C&J or Carminas for a little more. Im looking to acquire a couple of pairs of tassel loafers (one dark brown suede and one black calf). In contrast, Ive always found EGs service excellent but my interactions (outside of lockdown) are entirely based on the Jermyn Street store and I cant say Ive asked for anything unusual. For someone who was a first time buyer of Northampton shoes, that process was indispensable. I have had a very different experience with EG service. Although Meermins have great shoe soles, the truth is that Carminas are just much better.MEERMIN SHOE SOLES. The difference between, for example, C&J and EG is the same as the difference between them and the cheaper shoes. second chance thread), Carmina Green Shell Cordovan Frankenstitch Captoe Jumper Boot 10.5eee(uk) detroit last, RM Williams Comfort Craftsman or Carmina (Rain Last) Chelsea, *SOLD* Carmina Bourbon Shell Cordovan NST boot 8UK Forest last, Alden Color 4 Shell Cordovan Chukkas - Barrie last size 10 D, Alden x Leffot Saddle Shoe - Unglazed Cigar Shell Cordovan and Snuff Suede - 8D Barrie Last. Edward Green does for example. Below that, there are smaller differences created by new entrants to the market. Update: had to take the leather insert out, just couldn't deal with how shallow the toe box is. Certainly if I looked at them close up I could tell, and I could also tell if I was wearing them. Customers get a lot of value from buying Carmina shoes because these fashionable shoes are really sturdy, durable, and long-lasting in the long run. Andres Sendra: I have a pair of wholecuts. Onderhound New Buteo 41.5: Volume is a little high, but the width and arch length are bang on. The quality of the leather on my particular pair isnt as good as the Loake 1880 (or any of the other brands) but overall these are a well constructed pair of shoes. But now I can confidently say this was the right choice and it is worth breaking that arch in to get fit and support of this level. JF main line would definitely be in Spain 1. Carmina Rain: UK 11 (best fitting Carmina last for me) Carmina Inca: UK 11 (too tight across instep) Carmina Forest: UK 11.5 (snug instep) Carmina Simpson: my feet are too wide for this last. More disclosure is called for before putting a disclaimer on others situation. A couple of years ago, I returned two pairs of Oxfords that needed resoling after less than ten wears each. Giro bike shoes: 45.5 EU - Great fit. They use plastic heel stiffeners, and the make is solid and English - not that refined. There's a tiny bit more room at the ball too now. Jason: Thats a real shame. Im a long term Crockett and Jones customer I buy main line and handgrade (I prefer the handgrade for the softness of the leather and the whole leather inner, which feels lovely). However to their credit, Loakes customer service was excellent. They initially repaired free of charge and when the heels came loose again they replaced for a shoe from their 1880 range. Probably also worth mentioning the Carlos Santos brand from Portugal in this price bracket. Its a solid fit. Brands like Cheaney, Churchs, Trickers and Grenson dont feature here? Interesting to hear you sized up for Simpson when based on your description above you Could probably have stayed on an 8. I guess I was just wondering whether some of those extra things were actually noticeable in terms of comfort, durability, etc, especially because a number of mid-range shoes now have some of the things you mentioned: closed channels, oak-bark soles (or if not, that is always something you can get on the resole), a wide range of leathers, etc. However, they are less fashionable than Carmina shoes because of the quality of their finishing. Please take a look. P-79 last 10D: Excellent fit right out of the box with thick or thin socks. Lofgren 110: Im aware that its not polite anymore to cherish them, but the Steadfast Chukka in 9.5 is my best fitting shoe ever. When I complained I was told The second pair is always better ! Carmina Shoes - Definitive Thread (reviews, advice, sizing, etc) - official thread. Carmina shoes are more comfortable, flexible, and relaxing than the Meermins. Will post more fit notes when they arrive. Viberg 2040 8.5: No variable widths for this last. Initially I tried 9E because many people recommend 1/2 size down and 1 width up for this last. Some of it is differences in leather and lined vs unlined, but a lot of it is lasting differences. Avoid if you have a low instep or wide feet. There arent many industries where youre so often buying direct from the maker, and having little additional costs along the way. Red Wing Iron Rangers (Last 8): 10D, forefoot stretched to be very comfortable. Nice to hear your journey Joshua. The only major disadvantage compared to Goodyear is that the stitches come through on the inside of the shoe. The shoe soles of the Carminas are truly some of the best in the market today. What struck a cord for me is consistency of (most) english manufacturers. These are two of the best known shoe brands internationally, with Crocketts a British mainstay and Carmina (above) coming to prominence in the past 10 years. Carmina shoes are well-fitting shoes that grip your feet firmly on the go so that you get more balance and stability in your motions. 5. Try Saphir Shoe-Eze, it actually works. Hi Peter yes its something weve talked about regularly, and theres a dedicated page on it here. A very useful piece for me as Im slowly getting into the joys of proper shoes. Although the vast majority of my formal clothes over the last 40+ years have been bespoke, I have never seen or felt the need to go bespoke on shoes. Generally, more expensive suedes are the softer stuff, so it seems to me that theyd actually wear faster. Its why Ive avoided buying from them. I made the same experience with Bobbies shoes which ended in an oddyssey of sending shoes back and forth. It was snug, but not tight, and I could tell that they would fit perfectly once the sole settles. Either as a good value buy for one who is unwilling or unable spend more, or, as a gateway purchase into the world of fine mens shoes. Perhaps more time and break in on the stiff leather sole would make it work. Theres so many men who more or less only buy bespoke tailoring, and who can spend enormous amount of money on watches etc. Out of the two shoe brands, however, Carmina shoes come forth as the best shoes in this discourse. Way too narrow and painful all around, last too tapered for my taste. I have a pair of MacNeil long wings made in 1977, two years before I was born, that I acquired used and had resoled. Overall, Meermins are not as good as Carminas because the Meermin shoes seem to be poorly finished when they are compared to the Carminas. Its a good time to be a consumer in this area.. I have had great buys from Tricker none were country shoes, but one pair had channeled soles, which even at full price would have been a bargain. The former is made in Spain, the latter in Portugal. I think I could also safely do this last in in 9.5, but I'm not trying to wear my boots as tight as possible. The alternative is leather board read the rest of the article and youll see it. I returned this pair. He also claims that Barker use corrected grain leather on some of their shoes I asked them and the is not true. If you wanted something sleeker, and dont mind it being slightly more delicate then JM Weston. The leather feels like a glove and is truly unlined (to the extent that the uppers almost collapse under their own weight), unlike Carminas unlined shoes which dont feel all that different from normal lined shoes. Edward Green)? And nice finishing and detailing as you mentioned. Red Wing 8 last 9D: Decent fit at first, fairly comfortable once broken in. Still fine for the price point, as this piece suggests, but the quality control is miserable. Looking to buy (a much much cheaper alternative to aldens ) the Berwick plain toe derbyhttps://britishshoecompany.co.uk/collections/berwick-1707/products/berwick-mens-derby-leather-lace-up-shoes-5768-k6.