TrekSport toe mod?

[stinkycheezmonky]

Good morning all. Great forum you have here, really nice to see so many people interested in the shoes and activities

Onto the question. I just picked up a pair of TrekSports (KSO upper, Trek sole) and have one toe that is a little long for the size (44). Unfortunately, it is one of my big toes, despite my careful measuring prior to ordering. I don't want to exchange them, as everything else fits perfectly, and my little toes and next-to-little toes have extra room as it is. Looking at the Morton toe mod, that seems like it'd work. However, I didn't see anyone who tried it on a Trek sole in my browsing. Comparing them to my old Sprints, there is a significant difference in the construction and material, and I'm wondering if it would be safe to try heating them up for a stretch. Thoughts/opinions?

[kuo34]

My first instinct would be to exchange for the next size up, but I'm assuming you are in a situation where that involves a lot of shipping.  The second option would be to find a relatively close retailer that may have trek sport in the next size up to just try on in person.  That may or may not be feasible.  In my experience retailers tend to have the larger sizes in stock more often, so your chances of trying them on at a stocking store are high.

As for the morton toe mod, I think someone did it on a Bikila (though I didn't look at the thread as I've no Bikilas anymore).  I'd imagine the thicker sole will still stretch when heated, but I'd be concerned about how the glue will react.  Also, I'm not sure how much the toe with the TPU and the materials used will stretch as compared to a standard stretchy fabric VFF.

[Yeti]

Hi, I had to stretch all toe boxes in a pair of speeds as they are size 47, no 48 available, and found out late the sizing of those run smaller than other models.

It was really difficult to stretch the big toes, and I did not get as much stretch as with the smaller ones.

I think the mod would be difficult on the treks, specially the big toe; you got 4mm vibram + 4mm midsole, this is a lot of material. Maybe if you try heating the thinner strip at the toebox base where it articulates, you could success, but I agree it might be dangerous.

I would consider sizing up; My first pair of KSO was size 47, big toe tight, a bit of space in fourth and pinky. When I got the KSO 48, the bit toe was OK and there was a bit more of free space on 3rd, 4th and pinky toe, but if feels much more comfortable.

This of course depends on how tight it is your "thumb": just touching (no problem), disturbing after a while, or painful.