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

[CharlieAngel]



Do you find the tongue sliding off to the side to be uncomfortable?

AGGGGHHH!! TWISTED LACES AND SLIDING TONGUE! AAAAGGGHHHHH! /ocd again.



(seriously, both are just.. pet peeves of mine. I get over the strings after awhile, but the tongue always bothers me. Nothing worse than having to stop and adjust your shoe/boot tongue every so often.)

 

[randomkoreandude]

anyone with experience hiking with alden indys with a commando sole? was it alright?

 

[humeee]

I'm hoping for some input with a perplexing sizing puzzle. I have a pair of J.Crew longwings in 10D that are about 1/2 size too large. I wanted to upgrade to shell, so I ordered a pair of #8 longwings in 9.5D, thinking they would be perfect. But, if anything, they're even larger than the 10D! The exterior of the two pairs seems exactly the same size, and the shell shoes seem a little larger inside. Am I losing my mind? Is there a chance one of these pairs is mislabeled? Are there systematic size differences between shell and non-shell shoes? What's going on? Here are some photos (sorry for bad quality) that hopefully illustrate my puzzlement.

I think this pair has got to be returned, but the question is what do I replace it with? Same thing in size 9? Same model different pair in size 9.5? I'd appreciate any advice from veteran Alden owners.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 

[trunks206]



Yeah, these turned out to be winners. Actually, I've had first quality pairs that were WAY worse than this pair. If these get dumped in the seconds pile, this could bode well for the future of Alden quality control. Fingers crossed.
Also, after having them on my feet, I'm hopping on the moar-Grant-less-Barrie bandwagon

Welcome to the club Jason we are getting more members day by day.
Sweet boots I love that Unionmade make-up with the commando soles. Enjoy them my man.


Porter and RKD: Pure sex. USPS needs to hurry up!

NAMOR: Well done man. Plaza last?

 

[zippyh]

I have one pair of Barrie last shoes which definitely feel larger than my others. Maybe 1/4 of a size larger.
Of course that one big pair is calf CXL and not shell.
There's no systematic size difference and it seems to just be more of the Alden "charm".

If the 9.5s really do feel bigger than the 10s, I'd go with mismarked and try another 9.5.

BTW, the exterior sole measure is an almost useless in comparing shoes.

 

[HorseHide]



I have one pair of Barrie last shoes which definitely feel larger than my others. Maybe 1/4 of a size larger.
Of course that one big pair is calf CXL and not shell.
There's no systematic size difference and it seems to just be more of the Alden "charm".
If the 9.5s really do feel bigger than the 10s, I'd go with mismarked and try another 9.5.
BTW, the exterior sole measure is an almost useless in comparing shoes.

I think that the shell Barries generally run bigger than the suede and calf Barries - as it was explained to me, it is tougher to stretch the shell around the last so you end up a slightly looser (read bigger) upper. The calf and suede and can be stretched/manipulated better and you end up with a tighter upper.

 

[scottcw]

Yet another Barrie and Tru-balance last question...

I have a pair of these cordovan #8 on the Barrie last, size 10D



And these Indy boots in Chamois Oiled Nubuck on the Tru-balance last in 9.5D



Both boots fit about the same. Does anyone else find that their Tru-balance size is 1/2 down from Barrie? If it helps, I wear size 10 in Converse All Stars and Red Wing boots, 9.5 in Thorogood boots.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NAMOR]



Namor- you have really got that sizing down a width thing down; your shoes boots/ always look incredibly long and sleek.
Also, WHERE IS MAC?! No pics in a while.

thanks man. Just a matter of trial and error.

+1 to Mac. Perhaps he is on vacay?

 

[joz411no]

This is common. I own 2 pair of cap toes on the Hampton last. I have a black, perf. cap toe in calf and a cap toe in #8 burgundy shell. The #8 shells definitely fit looser (enough for thicker socks). I also own 2 pair of Jump Boots from Leather Soul. One pair is Chromexcel and the other #8. Again, the shell fits looser even compared to the soft Chromexcel.

 

[randomkoreandude]



anyone with experience hiking with alden indys with a commando sole? was it alright?

anyone?

 

[Dinosarti]

Whiskey LWB.....

 

[NAMOR]



anyone with experience hiking with alden indys with a commando sole? was it alright?

Friday at Work: Hiking on Saturday: Indy in Tobacco Chamois

YOU TAKE ALDENS HIKING?! Swag

Those look right at home in that environment. I really like the patina that's developed on them from usage.

Have you used anything on them in the way of oil or sealant? And did you do anything to the sole? It seems less black around the base than the Shoemart tobacco chamois offering.

Great photo, thanks for sharing.

~PO

a few more pics of the Tobacco Indy's from the hiking trip: the "mment" you see came from the word "comment." had to take screen shots of my friends facebook album

RKD, I took my tobacco chamois indys hiking and they performed admirably. I dont think I ever slipped. Commando sole held up very well

 

[NAMOR]



Whiskey LWB.....

mmm, looking sharp. I love the crease on your pants

 

[randomkoreandude]



RKD, I took my tobacco chamois indys hiking and they performed admirably. I dont think I ever slipped. Commando sole held up very well

awesome you always come through for me my friend

 

[Dinosarti]

Thank you, Namor!