ALDEN or non-Alden Indy Boots

LooknGr8 · Mar 31, 2012

So, my f-i-l is into the whole Indy thing. Like, he buys replica shirts, etc.

He bought Alden Indy Boots. He wears them every day, every minute. 2-3 years on his first pair. They blew out (i.e. stitches on upper ripped out) and Alden did a restoration for free earlier this year.

They blew out again about 5min ago, he is outside warranty. And he's pissed.

Anyone have advice dealing with Alden or have a recommendation for an alternate shoe co. for Indy boots? Money is no problem here, he just wants good shoes that are more reliable.

THanks. all

Grayland · Mar 31, 2012

Well, if he really wore them every day for 3+ years, I'd say he got his money's worth. Red Wing makes an Indy-look boot, although I'm not sure how easy it is to find or if they will take that type of wear.

http://www.burien.redwingshoestore.com/product/09030

cbbuff · Mar 31, 2012

LooknGr8 said:
He bought Alden Indy Boots. He wears them every day, every minute. 2-3 years on his first pair.

Either buy multiple pair and rotate, or buy a new pair every 2-3 years. Your choice.

Either way he needs to be realistic. No other shoe would have held up to this either.

tim_horton · Mar 31, 2012

Daily for 3 years is a decent length of time.

MyOtherLife · Mar 31, 2012

+1 to all responses.

LooknGr8 · Mar 31, 2012

thanks guys; he's following this thread, I'm sure he's got his answer. Like a lot of SF'ers, i have many pairs of shoes and I never wear the same pair within a week, so I guess the "they wear out" theory never occurred to me.

mandorix · Mar 31, 2012

Okay, I have to join in.

LooknGr8 overstated the case a little, and not in my favor. I haven't worn the boots all the time every day. Most days, when we're home and I'm at work, I wear just socks. (I own a fountain pen business, and the repair shop is a converted bedroom.) When we go out, I decide whether the boots would be appropriate and choose footwear accordingly. (E.g., when I sing in the choir at church, I wear a pair of cordovan Allen Edmonds tassel loafers to go with our burgundy cassocks.)

I would guess that on average the boots have gotten maybe 20 hours a week of wear since the first time they blew out (about a year and a half ago), if that much. Before the first blowout (within two years after purchase) , they got less than 10 hours a week.

Judging from the very slight wear on the heels, I think these boots have failed long, long before their time. Am I crazy?

jerrybrowne · Mar 31, 2012

mandorix said:
Okay, I have to join in.

LooknGr8 overstated the case a little, and not in my favor. I haven't worn the boots all the time every day. Most days, when we're home and I'm at work, I wear just socks. (I own a fountain pen business, and the repair shop is a converted bedroom.) When we go out, I decide whether the boots would be appropriate and choose footwear accordingly. (E.g., when I sing in the choir at church, I wear a pair of cordovan Allen Edmonds tassel loafers to go with our burgundy cassocks.)

I would guess that on average the boots have gotten maybe 20 hours a week of wear since the first time they blew out (about a year and a half ago), if that much. Before the first blowout (within two years after purchase) , they got less than 10 hours a week.

Judging from the very slight wear on the heels, I think these boots have failed long, long before their time. Am I crazy?

Pics?

MyOtherLife · Apr 1, 2012

jerrybrowne said:
Pics?

+1 Please post photos.

mandorix · Apr 1, 2012

I will produce pics as soon as possible. FWIW, I have heard from other sources that the Alden 405s have this blowout problem.

In the meantime, I'm looking at a Red Wing boot, called the Beckman:

http://www.burien.redwingshoestore.com/product/09030

Does anybody have opinions on Red Wing?

cbbuff · Apr 1, 2012

When I bought my Indy boots, the other pair I considered was the Wolverine 1000 mile boots. They are well regarded, and can take a lot of abuse. There are several styles, but these are the Original.

http://www.wolverine.com/US/1000mile/#

mandorix · Apr 1, 2012

Quote:

cbbuff said:
When I bought my Indy boots, the other pair I considered was the Wolverine 1000 mile boots.

The problem faced by a not-quite OCD stickler for accuracy, such as I sometimes am, is that the Wolverines don't have moc style uppers.

Dbear · Apr 1, 2012

What are you doing in your boots? Just walking?

Seems a bit early, quite early.

I've had mine for about a year and a half and with heavy wear they have only gotten better with time. Hey are the 403s, i expect these to last at least 3-4 more years and would be unpleasantly surprised if they "blew out" anytime soon

mandorix · Apr 1, 2012

Photos. First, for entertainment, the current blowout. The leather is torn along the stitching line, it's not simply a matter of the stitching's having failed.

Next, the boots from slightly below, with lighting to show how far the heel wear extends along the under surface.

Last, one boot from the rear to show how deeply the heel is worn.

Am I wrong to think that this amount of wear is insufficient to be an excuse for the repeated blowout?

mandorix · Apr 1, 2012

Duplicate post, redacted.

ALDEN or non-Alden Indy Boots

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Member

Distinguished Member

Member

Distinguished Member

Member

Member

Classic Menswear Featured products

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: