***The official Alden thread *** Share enthusiasm, reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[Joenobody0]

Originally Posted by slide13

has anyone experienced the crepe soles hardening over time? I bought my Roys last August and the soles were soft and cush. Wore them up until the snow started flying and cleaned them up and shelved them. Broke them out for the first time today and wore them to work and the crepe soles are much harder then they used to be and no longer have that soft rubbery feel to them. I loved the crepe when it was new but if it does this after less then a year maybe I need to rethink that.


I have experienced this. Just another reason why I hate Alden's crepe sole.

 

[eightdouble]

just picked up these straight tip bluchers on the bay. they are on the copley last (my other aldens are all barrie), and i have never worn that last, but for 70 bucks i thought i'd give a go. (these are C/E and i comfortably wear a B/D in barrie, so i am hoping that the width makes it fit well, we shall see)

the soles look to still have the alden mark on them, but they have seem to have picked up a new heel somewhere along the way.

 

[zippyh]

Originally Posted by joz411no

Anybody have an idea of what last these are made on?

http://www.orvis.com/store/product.a...ubcat_id=22499

Isn't that the George boot?
Probably Aberdeen.

 

[CTYGGG]

It is the George boot that's typically on the Aberdeen. Leffot just received a shipment in called the Westsider on the Plaza. http://blog.leffot.com/2011/03/16/alden-westsider-boot/

 

[phantomx48]

Originally Posted by Joenobody0

I have experienced this. Just another reason why I hate Alden's crepe sole.

While I love the crepe sole, I did buy a used pair of Alden NST with crepe and they were rock hard. Not just a little hard. . .LIKE A ROCK! Makes them unwearable. The seller claimed he had them in the closet for seven years, and they dried up. Waiting to get sent to Alden and have a new sole put in. I still love crepe though, because when its spongy, its fantastic!

 

[slide13]

I will say after wearing them for half a day they seem to have softened up a little. They were really hard this morning, such that I could hear my heel strike very clearly. Now they seem not quite as soft as I remember but not nearly as hard as they were this morning which makes me happy. Certainly comfortably wearable now which is good.

 

[Neilius]

I have a pair of those straight tip bluchers in brown. I wear 11.5 Barrie last and 12 Copley seems to fit fine. And the flex sole is nice. Thing is, that tumbled leather, or whatever it's called, doesn't take a shine very well. The best you'll get is a dull sheen, but they're still nice enough shoes. Discontinued, too, I think. I got them from the San Francisco Alden shop on sale.

 

[mediahound]

Folks,

Prepare for even higher prices in the near term. Horween has announced price increases today on their blog:

http://horween.wordpress.com/2011/03...of-the-market/

 

[rkusmant]

Shoemart has already increased their prices... Ravello boots for $700 now, Black Indy for $479

 

[CTYGGG]

Every year there is a price increase at Alden like clockwork. This year was 5% I believe it's nothing to be shocked by Tom will back me up on this one. Next year there will be another increase…

 

[ChrisGold]

New stock alert:

Sherman Brothers just received snuff suede and brown suede PTB on Barrie last. These are lined, I believe identical pattern to the 990. I've got my pair on hold, so time to let everyone else know.

 

[mcross4]

Hi guys. Quick question. I purchased a pair of pt bluchers in brown aniline pull-up from the Shoe Mart just two weeks ago and have worn them maybe 4 times. Today I noticed that the rubber lug sole is separating from the rest of the shoe. Not extreme, but definitely noticeable. This is happening in the toe area. It's not a huge deal, but it shouldn't be happening with any new shoes, let alone Aldens. It's the kind of thing I could fix with some Krazy glue, but the fact that this happened so quickly makes me concerned that it will just happen more.

Any advice on repair? Specifically, should I contact Shoe Mart or Alden about this? I know Alden has a restoration service, but this obviously doesn't call for that. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ChrisGold]

Originally Posted by mcross4

Hi guys. Quick question. I purchased a pair of pt bluchers in brown aniline pull-up from the Shoe Mart just two weeks ago and have worn them maybe 4 times. Today I noticed that the rubber lug sole is separating from the rest of the shoe. Not extreme, but definitely noticeable. This is happening in the toe area. It's not a huge deal, but it shouldn't be happening with any new shoes, let alone Aldens. It's the kind of thing I could fix with some Krazy glue, but the fact that this happened so quickly makes me concerned that it will just happen more.

Any advice on repair? Specifically, should I contact Shoe Mart or Alden about this? I know Alden has a restoration service, but this obviously doesn't call for that. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

I would send them back to Shoemart, who will probably then send them to Alden - for repairs, the turnaround is very quick.

 

[mcarthur]

Originally Posted by number9dream

One of the nicest pairs of shoes in this entire thread! Probably a special make up, right?

thank you
a very limited run according to the retailer

 

[mcarthur]

Originally Posted by ChrisGold

Mac,

Thank you for posting the ravello caps, really a beautiful shoe. Now I'm going back upstairs to grab a pair of ravellos for today.

thank you
always a good day for ravello