Allen Edmonds Cambridge Recrafting

I just had a pair of Allen Edmonds Cambridge shoes redrafted that I purchased online. Here are the results.

[@steventrosiek2623]

Absolutely beautiful shoes. Thanks for sharing.i just sent a pair of AE captoe oxfords in for recrafting. I'm excited.

[@RichGann]

Mine took just under a month in January. Not bad and almost just as comfortable as when they left. Just a couple wears and back to normal.

[@w9gb]

Rich, I had this problem (narrowing of width) when I re-crafted my Wilberts in late 2016. The AE Oakbrook store placed the pair in their show stretcher over a weekend ... and that somewhat resolved the issue. I have not used AE re-crafting since that experience. Allen Edmonds was sold for $255 million on December 2016 to the Brown Shoe Company of St. Louis (Buster Brown). Brown changed their name to Caleres. There have been Internet complaints about declining quality of the brand, since Calares. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleres

[@aarondelacruz]

So did recrafting make the shoes a little narrower? I recently purchased a used pair of Park Avenues and they do not feel the same as my other pair of AE in the same size

[@RichGann]

Yes, that did 'tighten' up a little bit. But keep in mind leather stretches. So, I am sure the previous owner had wider feet than me. They are a bit roomie now. But I just wear nice wool light weight socks and they fit ok.

[@rameylewis7730]

I just tried on my recrafted cordovan cambridge shoes and they did not tighten up any. The shoe is in great shape 9 out of 10 and the new sole is awesome. I guess you're looking at a 50/50 chance that they will tighten up from reading other people's comments. The $125 price is a fair price. Alden charges $175 for the same work.

[@tenantrep]

How have they held up? If my math was right you paid $270 all in. How much of a savings is that? Seems not a big difference from new.

[@RichGann]

Yeah roughly $100 for the shotes and $150 for the recraft. They are perfect, however, I do not wear black that much. Maybe 2-3 times a month. I a more of a brown shoe wearer. I got these mainly for when I decide to wear black and I know as long as I clean and polish them, I'll get 10 years before they need any work. New are $600. So, about 60% off new.