A variation of the McKay shoe and one that once enjoyed substantial volume is the McKay Welt shoe. The shoe progresses through the lasting operations in identical sequence to the regular McKay. Thereafter,a midsole is temporarily held to the shoe bottom by means of staples or adhesive. The last is then removed and this midsole is McKay sewn to the shoe bottom.

The same last or a similar one, called a "follower", is inserted in the shoe and an outsole placed on the midsole and temporarily held in place with staples or cement. The edges of this combination are then shaped on the rough rounding machine as in the Goodyear Welt process. Thereafter the outsole is attached permanently with the standard lockstitch seam and all subsequent operations follow the Goodyear Welt process.