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

[BeSpiffington]



There is little to know difference in "build quality" between Alden and CJ. CJ finishes their shoes just slightly nicer in their bench grade (which the Darlton is). The handgrades are indeed "nicer" than Alden, though I have yet to love the aesthetic coming out of CJ. Too "sleek" for me.

I'll take cigar LWB over the Darlton all day every day.

If you love Alden but want to consider moving "on or up" from them, check out Carmina or Vass.

Thanks Roguls and everyone else who provided information and perspective about the C&J Marlow wingtips. They are an intriguing shoe. Alden's might appear a little "blobby", and sizing the damn things is a style forum in itself, but I can't see value for money in buying shoes from England, Spain, or Hungary when good shoes are made right here in Massachusetts.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]

Alden does not currently offer a shell SWB that I know of, much less one in Cigar.

So with the Marlow, Alden has no comparable model that is even offered. Buy the Marlow. Buy some Aldens. I don't see it as one against the other.

Alden's Cigar LWB (which I have) and the Marlow SWB (which I have) is an apples to oranges comparison. The model of shoe is totally different.

Someone mentioned that the Marlow is inbetween ravello and cigar in color. That may be the case for some, but mine is a true and rich dark brown, even darker than many - if not all - of my Alden cigar models.

 

[fitchottie]

If this has already been asked I apologize. How is the sizing for the Marlow Rl ..vs Barrie. I am 11.5d

 

[stanford88]



Eff. But at least we know the resolution, right? (Manually going in and changing it.)

Alden does not currently offer a shell SWB that I know of, much less one in Cigar.

So with the Marlow, Alden has no comparable model that is even offered. Buy the Marlow. Buy some Aldens. I don't see it as one against the other.

Alden's Cigar LWB (which I have) and the Marlow SWB (which I have) is an apples to oranges comparison. The model of shoe is totally different.

Someone mentioned that the Marlow is inbetween ravello and cigar in color. That may be the case for some, but mine is a true and rich dark brown, even darker than many - if not all - of my Alden cigar models.

Seven, respectfully, which models don't you have? would you post a picture of your sometime?

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



This.

Commando sole is over-rated. Just topy if you're that worried. I like to simply add toe taps. Leather soles, when broken in, give great traction.

I respectfully disagree. A commando soled boot/shoe is a completely different animal than a leather soled boot/shoe with a topy; and Dainite is a different animal as well. I won't make the case for any of the three over any of the others, but they are all totally different. I have all 3.

 

[dslonghorn4]



Alden x JGilbert #8 Captoes, Plaza, Commando.

Continuing to play w/ phone-based photo processing.

Argentino - haven't been interested in Color 8 previously, but this pic may change my mind! Great looking boots.

 

[dslonghorn4]



Alden does not currently offer a shell SWB that I know of, much less one in Cigar.

So with the Marlow, Alden has no comparable model that is even offered. Buy the Marlow. Buy some Aldens. I don't see it as one against the other.

Alden's Cigar LWB (which I have) and the Marlow SWB (which I have) is an apples to oranges comparison. The model of shoe is totally different.

Someone mentioned that the Marlow is inbetween ravello and cigar in color. That may be the case for some, but mine is a true and rich dark brown, even darker than many - if not all - of my Alden cigar models.

Isn't the Leffot Atom a SWB? Similar to yours, my Marlow shortwings are a dark rich brown and nowhere close to ravello.

 

[BeSpiffington]



Seven, respectfully, which models don't you have? would you post a picture of your sometime?

That's exactly why I come to this thread. There are people here who have actually walked a mile in the shoes that I'm interested in.

 

[BootSpell]

Alden x JGilbert #8 Captoes, Plaza, Commando.

Continuing to play w/ phone-based photo processing.

You're rockin' it, Argentino! I love the worn-in look of the #8's. Don't tell me those are the 702's with faded hems?

 

[stevent]



I see your point... it is just that the Carmina Fitzgerald is $825 and that price point will take some getting used to...at least for.

If you order from carmina directly or skoaktiebolaget.se your price is about $550-$700

 

[Hermitedge]



Go with Alden Plaza.

I have - or should I say had - both. My BB Peal captoe boots by C&J were returned by me as defective as the shell finish/dye/whatever was rubbing off. There were places on the boot where the coloring was becoming streaky. Weird. I was given a refund without incident. This is the second pair of said BB boots I have had in my possession that had this issue. The first pair was returned by me before I wore them outside - I just wasn't liking what I was seeing (I had laced them around the back of the boot and the same streakiness was present). A few months later I tried my hand at a second pair thinking that the first pair was an anomaly. No dice. So I went 0 for 2. And the first pair arrived with Dainite and the second pair arrived with double leather????? And I like C&J shell, and have other models I like just fine - Marlow, Bradford, etc.

But on top of the above experience, the Alden Plaza is more sleek and Alden's color 8, IMO, is a much better dark burgundy - much better - than C&J's burgundy shell.

I appreciate you sharing your experience(s) with the BB boot. I'm quite fond of both, but its the little things that I'm debating in my head atm. Eyelets vs none, reverse welt vs none, the shape of the toebox is slightly similar since the Plaza last is a bit narrower than other common Alden lasts. Maybe I'll deliberate till I change my mind completely.

 

[rydenfan]



You're rockin' it, Argentino!  I love the worn-in look of the #8's.  Don't tell me those are the 702's with faded hems?

They look more like Epaulet navy rivet chinos to me but hard to tell given the camera edits

 

[BootSpell]

I know we have some really knowledgeable posters about shoe construction who might help satisfy my curiosity, and it's really nothing but plain curiosity.

What causes some shoes/boots to be really loud when walking and others not so much? Like my chunky Alden boots are not that noisy at all (double-leather or water-lock soles and leather heels with dovetail rubber). But my AE Daltons and even my Strand shoes are incredibly noisy.

 

[SuitedDx]



Alden does not currently offer a shell SWB that I know of, much less one in Cigar. So with the Marlow, Alden has no comparable model that is even offered. Buy the Marlow. Buy some Aldens. I don't see it as one against the other. Alden's Cigar LWB (which I have) and the Marlow SWB (which I have) is an apples to oranges comparison. The model of shoe is totally different. Someone mentioned that the Marlow is inbetween ravello and cigar in color. That may be the case for some, but mine is a true and rich dark brown, even darker than many - if not all - of my Alden cigar models.

I think I showed this before but here is a side-by-side view of my Alden cigar LWB, C&J/RL dark brown Marlow, and Alfred Sargent cognac Miller

 

[SuitedDx]



I know we have some really knowledgeable posters about shoe construction who might help satisfy my curiosity, and it's really nothing but plain curiosity.

What causes some shoes/boots to be really loud when walking and others not so much?  Like my chunky Alden boots are not that noisy at all (double-leather or water-lock soles and leather heels with dovetail rubber).  But my AE Daltons and even my Strand shoes are incredibly noisy.

I would think the density of the leather used on the heel stack... but then again, I am one of the lesser knowledgeable members when it comes to construction.