***The official Alden thread *** - Page 1998

We're going to hit 1000 pages today!!
 

Mentioned already, but Mike and Adele are in Europe this week, I'm sure he'll get back to you when he's back.





As much as I'd love to jump on the "a 700 shoe needs to be perfect," a few things I've come to get comfortable with:
1- When you pay $700 for Aldens, you are not necesarrily paying for the perfect shoe. You're paying for something rare, that doesn't come around all too often, and sells out damn near instantaneously.
2- They're shoes. We wear them on our feet, all over the ground that has god knows what on it and treats them like a cheap hooker's pimp.

Unless its a real construction issue (which I've had on my Whiskey and Ravello LWBs) where the shoe will fall apart if its not fixed, I've learned not to sweat over these things (like the missed punch holes...who the hell looks at shoes that closely anyway?). If it is a serious construction issue, like I've had, I've found Alden to be extremely helpful in repairing and sending me back the shoe, yes I was out the $30 to ship them to Mass, but again, that's part of owning Aldens. When you buy a classic car for $50k, do you complain that parts are too expensive when they go?

If you can accept these things then you'll learn to love and appreciate these shoes even more. if not, spend more on Carmina or Vass.

I have the Jumper, its an awesome boot. I wouldn't worry about the Trubalance being too bulbous. And if it is, the shoe will sell out damn near instantly, so I'm sure you'd find a buyer rather quickly to get your $$ back.

^ I think we should explore your reference to "cheap hookers" in a little more detail...

Teachers are always the shady ones

Do professors fit under that umbrella?

nice kicks!

That's an enviable boot selection! Very nice.

Worse!

Can't even hide behind the tweed/elbow patch coat.

even wider than the trubalance last ?

I'd go with the jcrew punch-captoe boots. the barrie last actually doesn't look all that bulbous with a 270 degree welt. I have a pair and they are hands down my favorite pair of boots.

That's a good question, and one that I can't definitively answer. I have plain toe boots on the Trubalance and they are pretty voluminous, but from what I can tell the Trubalance has a larger width differential between the ball and heel than the Barrie. Based on the pic below, and what I'm feeling on my feet, the Barrie has a wider heel relative to the ball than the Trubalance.



I've got a new pair of shell PTBs on the Barrie that feel great with thinner (i.e. certainly not thin) socks in the ball of the shoe but very loose side to side (not so much lengthwise) in the heel. With thicker socks (Wigwam hikers) the shoe feels decent overall, but the ball is just a bit on the tight side and the heel remains a tad loose.

Should I expect the shoe to conform better to my feet as the soles and the leather break in? I guess my next remedies will be some tongue pads and / or insoles. Any suggestions?

yep. the J.Crew boot, honest to god, looks like a sleek boot when compared to my Indy boot and the J.Crew plain-toe calfskin boot. I think the Barrie is a great last for the boot. Personally, I prefer speed hooks, and while pull tabs are nice, it's still not enough to sway me over. there's also the fact that the J.Crew boot is in stock, and I don't think the Jumper is. Are they restocking it soon?

 

They're waxed.  I have the boots.

What do you guys wear with tan suede chukkas?  I've only worn mine once 'cause I can't seem to figure out what would go well with them.