Blocking out shoes

[J.S. Groot]

My feet are... strong as my physiotherapist so gently puts it, meaning that I'm best at home in wider fitting shoes.

This poses a slight problem for me. Footwear is an area were it's possible to save a nickel or two by means of using eBay or the likes, where you can often quality shoes (Lobb, Tricker's, Church, Edward Green, C&J etc.) that are unworn or only slightly worn quite inexpensively. However, wide fits are quite rare. This brings me to my question: The practise of blocking out shoes is quite commonly employed on cheaper shoes (where I come from at least). Is this an absolute no-no when it comes to good, quality shoes? In other words, will it strain the leather too much, thus shortening the shoes' lifespan?

[Costi]

I'd say buying any shoes remotely, without trying them on (or worn shoes) is a no-no; anything arising from this is a non-issue. If you wish to save, don't do it with shoes, you will regret it - if not immediately, certainly in time, when your feet and spine start rebelling against inadequate footwear.

[couch]

Costi is right as a principle, but slight adjustments by stretching can be made on good quality shoes as on lesser shoes. I would not count on this to change a standard fitting to a wide one, however. I have had it done successfully to relieve slight pinching at the ball of one shoe in a pair, for instance.

I have the opposite problem from yours--I have a narrow foot through the arch, but in some lasts a narrow fitting lacks adequate room through the ball and toes for me.