The Dos and Don'ts of Foot Tracings

If you know anything about our shoes, or about full grain leather for that matter, then you know that it's all about creating a custom fit.  We spring for the top grade leather because it performs like nothing else can.  When sized properly, our shoes mold to their wearers' feet like a glove and become incredibly comfortable.  It's all great, except...

We're basing all of our fit measurements on tracings that people send in.  It sounds like a simple task - trace your feet and we'll make you a pair of shoes that will fit you like no other.  And it really is simple, but only if the tracings are a true reflection of your actual foot size.

go to the source here

The Dos and Don'ts of Foot Tracings

Do:

• stand flat footed on an even surface
• use a standard width pen or pencil - bic pen, standard #2 pencil.  The resulting tracing should be slightly larger than your actual footprint by the width of the pen or pencil you use.
• ask a friend to help so that the pencil maintains a straight angle all the way around
• trace both feet (they are almost never exactly the same)

Don't:

•  prop your feet up, thinking that it will be easier.  Well, it will be easier, it just won't be accurate!
• use a thick marker, pen, or otherwise wide writing utensil (the extra width can make a huge difference in your perceived measurements).
• angle the pen or pencil inward or outward - this seems obvious, but it's easy to do and it makes a big difference.

A Note on Scanned Images

In our digitized age, it's sometimes frustrating to have to deal with paper and postage when computers make the world run faster.  We're often asked if tracings can be scanned and emailed, and trust me, we get it.    Dave has spent a lot of time thinking about how to accommodate this desire and here's his answer to the long standing question, Can I just send you a scan?

The problem with scanned & faxed images is that they can be stretched or skewed, so we don’t always get perfect measurements.  We prefer to receive them in the mail.

If you can’t get them in the mail, then we'll need you to follow a couple of extra instructions when you scan or fax your tracings to us:

1.  Be extra careful to follow the tracing guidelines closely – use a regular width pencil or pen & hold it straight up & down.

2.  After taking the tracing, draw a straight line from the bottom of your heel to the tip of your furthest reaching toe.  Measure the distance & record it on the tracing (to the closest 1/8 inch or 1mm).  Do the same for the widest point of your foot.  This will allow us to re-size your tracings after they have been stretched/skewed by the scanning/printing process.

3.  If you plan on sending a fax, let us know ahead of time so we can turn our fax machine on.