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

[mediahound]

Excellent video as usual. I'd be very interested to hear about the camcorder you use in these videos, which always look great.

Thanks. I've shot some of these with a point and shoot believe it or not. It's all about good lighting. That said, this one was shot with the Canon XA10.

 

[Hill]

Here you go:

Thanks for posting this. Is the bottom of the sole painted/stained that color or is it on the flex welt? The latter would explain the color.

 

[mediahound]

Thanks for posting this. Is the bottom of the sole painted/stained that color or is it on the flex welt? The latter would explain the color.

Stained double leather sole, AFAIK. Reminds me of the sole on my RL Marlows.

 

[NAMOR]

Took the bus into the city from the airport and saw a gentlemen wearing an Alden NST. Thought they may have been Carmina as I'm in Barcelona but the two look identical. Was too slow with the camera however.

 

[Cold Iron]

Quote:
Yes I have the Alden chukka in Ravello and all 5 shell colors of shell in the Dundee. Side by side you would be hard pressed to tell the difference with the exception of the 2 eyes vs. 3. The #1 last of the Dundee is slightly sleeker but not as much as I would have thought. Dropping down a half size from my TTS on the Barrie they fit similar, but of course with a lot more room in the heels of the Alden's. Slight heel lift but acceptable. Welt, heel and shape is very similar. Except the dovetail in the heel of the Alden looks like it was hand cut by a third grader and there is a large gap in it on the exposed edge of the heel. I plan on replacing the soles on them with commando and vibram heel anyhow so not a big deal to me.

 

[stmaier]

+1 on the J Crew boots. I'm also a big fan. When hunting for shell availability is a key factor when making a decision.

Thanks for the input. It looks like J Crew has another order of the cap toe boot in with Alden. The website is showing all sizes available with an anticipated delivery of August 2013.

 

[patrick_b]

quick question about the J Crew perf captoe boot, do you guys size the same as other Barrie boots or different? I thought I saw some discussion around this recently.

Same.

1/2 size up from barrie shoes i.e., TTS. I think it's rare but a few of us commented that the J. Crew PCT required sizing up from other barrie shoes. Good thing is that you can try on in store if you are have a J. Crew that carries Alden (Boston or NYC IIRC) or order both and return at any J. Crew store.

 

[mediahound]

1/2 size up from barrie shoes i.e., TTS. I think it's rare but a few of us commented that the J. Crew PCT required sizing up from other barrie shoes. Good thing is that you can try on in store if you are have a J. Crew that carries Alden (Boston or NYC IIRC) or order both and return at any J. Crew store.

He's asking about 'other barrie boots', not barrie shoes. Do the J Crew boots really fit different than other Barrie boots?

 

[patrick_b]

He's asking about 'other barrie boots', not barrie shoes. Do the J Crew boots really fit different than other Barrie boots?

Different than shell barrie chukka boots, yes.

 

[CalceoAdamator]



I have the same shoe in whiskey.  It is on the Tremont last, and I have a good amount more creasing (similar to your pic) than I would like.  I do not believe it is because of the shoe being too large, at least in my case.  The length and width are perfect, but there is an area above my foot, an inch or so beyond where the shoelaces begin (not sure what this part of the shoe anatomy is called), throat or vamp... anyways, this region is roomy inside and may cause more creasing.  I'm not sure a more narrow size would work for me though.  I think the Tremont is just a less desirable last.  Still love this particular shoe.  I have learned to embrace the creasing as Shawnw suggested.

Yes, I have the same issue... Kinda-sorta... My guess is that with the abundant perforated trimming, which is more ridged as a double layer of shell, there's not that much area to relieve the compression of the fold on the shoe, so the shell flexes more in the open area between between the wingtip perf trim and the perf trim around the base of the laces... My kinda-sorta comes from the left shoe actually having a nice wrinkle more akin to what you would be accustomed to seeing, and my right looking like it was in a bar room brawl... Nonetheless a beautiful shoe, and it is on the tremont last...

 

[El Argentino]

Really kicking myself for not picking up the Cadet captoe from teh Crew while it was cheap. The more I dwell on that one, the bigger a miss I feel.

 

[mediahound]

Different than shell barrie chukka boots, yes.

Okay, thanks. I did not know that. I suspect though that the J Crew Barrie boot fits like any other Barrie boot except a Barrie Chukka. But this may be difficult to verify since other Barrie boots are not too common.

 

[rydenfan]

I have a Barrie #8 wingtip boot and a Ravello chukka on the Barrie and I plan on ordering the J Crew captoe so I will give my perspective once I receive it

 

[mediahound]

Really kicking myself for not picking up the Cadet captoe from teh Crew while it was cheap. The more I dwell on that one, the bigger a miss I feel.

I wonder how 'limited' they really are and if the initial pricing was really an error? Maybe they did that on purpose to generate some intial buzz for the product or something?

At any rate, they are neat Aldens, even at retail price.

 

[tsekh]



Yes I have the Alden chukka in Ravello and all 5 shell colors of shell in the Dundee. Side by side you would be hard pressed to tell the difference with the exception of the 2 eyes vs. 3. The #1 last of the Dundee is slightly sleeker but not as much as I would have thought. Dropping down a half size from my TTS on the Barrie they fit similar, but of course with a lot more room in the heels of the Alden's. Slight heel lift but acceptable. Welt, heel and shape is very similar. Except the dovetail in the heel of the Alden looks like it was hand cut by a third grader and there is a large gap in it on the exposed edge of the heel. I plan on replacing the soles on them with commando and vibram heel anyhow so not a big deal to me.

Thanks. That's very helpful.

quick question about the J Crew perf captoe boot, do you guys size the same as other Barrie boots or different? I thought I saw some discussion around this recently.

I'm not sure about how it compares to other Barrie boots, but I just got my JCrew captoe boots half size down my TTS and they fit very nicely.

For your reference, I had my feet measured at an Allen Edmonds store to be 10D. But I wear AE Park Avenue in 9.5D and Dalton in 10D. I also have a pair of Alden last unlined chukka (Leydon last) in 9.5E. Both 10D and 9.5E fit my feet very well, but the unlined chukka has a really thin and soft upper I opted for the 9.5E.