Last but not least Shoe molds — or lasts — are critical to creating a wellfitting show. Christian van Asten of Lake shoes explains.
M
aking the best fitting cycling shoes
a narrow foot. With each design decision, the
requires a combination of three distinct
last potentially fits fewer and fewer feet.
variables: materials, pattern design and
Most shoe brands use various materials and
last shape. If you change any one of those
have multiple designs that are changed
variables, you change the way a shoe fits’
seasonally but are still built on the same last
However, the last shape provides the most
shape, which helps them to keep their costs.
constraints to achieving a universal fit.
Similar to creating molds for carbon frames,
WHAT IS A LAST?
there can be significant cost in the making of
A last is the foot-shaped mold that a shoe is
the last, so making multiple models of shoe
made around. Too pointed in the toe box and it
from the same mold can help keep costs down.
doesn’t fit squarer feet; too narrow and it won’t
There is a train of thought that models at all
work for a wider foot; too wide and it won’t support
price points should fit consistently, which is often used as an argument for using the same
