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

[mr chorizo]



crosspost from Epaulet:




Oh my god. Oh lord.
So before this, I had 2 pairs of Aldens, both Barrie, but one pair is the chukkas, and the other is a size and a half too large (don't ask). Well, you know the "Barrie chukkas are not like other Barrie shoes" story? *******'s true. I didn't think it could possibly be as drastic a difference, but it is. It's like a different last, comparing the chukkas to these. All the problems I thought I had with the Barrie last are...gone. The heel doesn't feel as big; the toe box feels, actually, a little wider. Exactly what I needed. This is beautiful. I feel like the world has opened up a little. Relatedly, this is terrible, terrible news for my bank account.
Oh, and they smell like the nectar of the gods. Thanks, Epaulet.
(I'd take better pictures of the shoes, but it's raining outside right now. Soon enough.)

bravo. these look great!

 

[mediahound]



You should call Leather Soul.  They apparently have a few in stock.  Whoever got the 10D before I could call today, congrats.  I'm jealous, big-time!  May just have to settle for the LWB...

Nope:

http://leathersoulhawaii.com/2012/05/08/alden-shoe-ravello-shortwing-restock-lsw/

 

[stevent]



Nope:
http://leathersoulhawaii.com/2012/05/08/alden-shoe-ravello-shortwing-restock-lsw/

Thankfully they are gone, otherwise I would have probably bought them as well

 

[mcarthur]



Thankfully they are gone, otherwise I would have probably bought them as well

shells are very addictive

 

[ghdvfddzgzdzg]



bravo. these look great!

Look? You should see how they smell.

 

[Gauss17]

I pose a question to those with experience stretching shell cordovan:

I currently have an 11D Alden 990 and while the width in the ball of the foot is excellent, the heel is too large. My heel is still slipping significantly after ~1 year of wear. I measure an 11D/E on the brannock and this seems to work well for me in most shoes, however, with 11E's the heel is typically too large still. 11D is much better, but the ball of the foot is then too small. Most people now agree that you can stretch a shoe "one width" before the leather suffers and in fact I have had AE's stretched in the past with good results. Now here is the question, what exactly do they mean by "one width"? 3/18"? If I compare an 11D alden to a 10.5E in the same shoe, the ball of the foot measurement is smaller by 3/18". However, in AE shoes, the 10.5E is actually larger in the ball of the foot than the 11D, so their formula must be different. I suppose my real question is: If I purchase a 10.5D Alden, can it be stretched to the same width as an 11D? Based on what I have read, this would be 1/3" (i.e. 3/18 * 2).

Or would perhaps a better approach be a 10EEE?

 

[PhiPsi32]

Have you tried an 11C?

 

[Gauss17]



Have you tried an 11C?

I had not, but it is probably worth a shot. The only reason I think that may not be the route to go is that I was under the impression that as you go down in size, the distance from tongue to heelback decreases, where as if you go up in width, the heel cup is wider. So if I go to an 11C, it will make is narrowed, but the distance from tongue to heelback is the same, leaving me with heel slippage. Is that correct or am I wrong?

 

[PhiPsi32]

Not exactly, no. Going down in width will also decrease the girth or volume of the shoe. It's like putting a tongue pad in the 11D, the decreased width will push tour foot back into a smaller heel cup and give you a tighter fit. But if the toe box is too narrow, it will squeeze your foot; so be careful. I have also had success by going up a half width in size and down in width, in your case an 11.5C. I'd try going down to an 11C first.

Best of luck, and let us know how you make out.

 

[MarioImpemba]

Hoping this is the appropriate place to ask, but can someone please tell me how one could obtain shell Tankers? It seems like they're only produced in small runs for botiques, or possibly MTO through shoe-mart? Dying for a pair. Thanks.

 

[PhiPsi32]

Try J Gilbert

http://www.jgilbertfootwear.com/?q=Alden_Exclusive_Shoes

Otherwise, email Leather Soul, they did some shell tankers in '09. They may have a restock coming

http://leathersoulhawaii.com/contact/

 

[srivats]



I see. Do they come in wider than E?

Not that I know of -- from what I know, the widest alden makes in the leydon last on this model is 'E' width. I bought my pair 1/2 size too long and it was not comfortable to wear. I should really go down 1/2 size and one up in width (basically your size 9 C/E) but I am concerned that the heel width would be too much for my narrow heels. I practically gave up on the barrie last for the very same reason.

How's the fit on your pair?

 

[PhiPsi32]

I'm sorry to hear that. The Barrie has been the best fit I've had in shoe so far.

 

[NOBD]



Not that I know of -- from what I know, the widest alden makes in the leydon last on this model is 'E' width. I bought my pair 1/2 size too long and it was not comfortable to wear. I should really go down 1/2 size and one up in width (basically your size 9 C/E) but I am concerned that the heel width would be too much for my narrow heels. I practically gave up on the barrie last for the very same reason.
How's the fit on your pair?

Erm... Same story as yours: 1/2 size up (I think, since I don't have any other Alden shoes). I hope I'll be allright...

 

[cold war painter]



I finally snapped some pics of the Alden x LS Ravello Shortwings.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Very very nice. I recently had some #8 shortwings lost in the mail, presumably they are now in a dead letter office somewhere or possibly on the feet of an unscrupulous postman.

Hoping this is the appropriate place to ask, but can someone please tell me how one could obtain shell Tankers?

Otherwise, email Leather Soul,  they did some shell tankers in '09.  They may have a restock coming

I believe there are some #8 tankers due to arrive at LS in July; I'm not sure whether it's still possible to get on the list for those but it's certainly worth asking.