THE OFFICIAL ALDEN THREAD FOR 2020 - SHARE REVIEWS, SIZING, ADVICE, AND PHOTOS.

[dme2406]

Last night had one hell of a storm here, Cleaning up tree limbs and other debris all day. 5.75 inches of rain plus wind, so......Chicken on the grill and Natty AoC straight tips on 379x last, which is quickly becoming my favorite Alden boot last View attachment 1400568

Then try Brogue’s military boot (if you don’t already have it): you’ll like that boot, too!

 

[kbadgley84]

Cross post from the thrift thread
Alden Shell 990, $14

 

[PACostag]

thank you all for your more well seasoned opinions, being new to Alden I do appreciate it. I'll have a beer and deliberate about keeping them or not. The decision may be a function of how many beers are consumed...

 

[ScarsdaleVibe]

thank you all for your more well seasoned opinions, being new to Alden I do appreciate it. I'll have a beer and deliberate about keeping them or not. The decision may be a function of how many beers are consumed...

just keep em. The cap toes on my Navals are askew but I havent noticed in years.

 

[ironclad]

just keep em. The cap toes on my Navals are askew but I havent noticed in years.

That would also drive me crazy. ???‍♂️

 

[ryebreadiest]

thank you all for your more well seasoned opinions, being new to Alden I do appreciate it. I'll have a beer and deliberate about keeping them or not. The decision may be a function of how many beers are consumed...

Do you feel a compulsion or obligation to keep them? If you don’t like it, send it back. Only thing worse is to keep them and find yourself not wearing then because you can’t unsee the issue.

 

[PACostag]

Do you feel a compulsion or obligation to keep them? If you don’t like it, send it back. Only thing worse is to keep them and find yourself not wearing then because you can’t unsee the issue.

no obligation other than the fact that everything else about them is great and I do like the style of the 360 welt and brass. But the stitching issue seems like a biggie since you look down and see it. Had a pair of boots from another manufacturer with cross-eye cap toes, drove me nuts. After 3/4 of a beer I'm leaning towards returning. Time to refill my glass and see if that changes...

 

[audog]

The decision may be a function of how many beers are consumed...

I have found that is often the case......

 

[audog]

Then try Brogue’s military boot (if you don’t already have it): you’ll like that boot, too!

I don't have it, have been eyeing it, and I know Mack has it back in stock............

 

[Shawnc]

Sorry to hear about and see your boots. I’m generally a positive and upbeat guy, but those are a deal-breaker for me regardless of whether or not I could get an immediate replacement.

That obviously wonky and asymmetrical appearance would drive me crazy every time I look down at them.

People on the forum have heard me rant before about how terrible I think the hand-sewn Indy tends to appear in comparison to U-tips. I also believe they should revert to machine-sewn.

Somehow the wonderful and talented hand-stitch employees seem to make a proper mess of the cordovan Indys. Off-centered, oblong, skinny, wide, fore-shortened...it’s like they can’t make up their minds how to stitch them so they stitch each boot just different enough for it to look strange. Who knows - perhaps it’s not the hand-stitch employees and has more to do with how the uppers are aligned before they are attached to the soles.

I don’t mean to deliberately disparage the skilled workers at Alden. I truly don’t. They produce beautiful footwear that I greatly enjoy. I’m a huge Alden fan, a huge Indy fan, and a huge cordovan Indy fan, but I would never be able to unsee that.

Just one man’s humble and totally biased opinion. Your opinion is the one that matters most.

I'm with IC. As an owner of many boots and Indy's, I've never seen this. Ever. Additionally I'm generally pretty forgiving on imperfections but that is beyond what I would accept. If you're good with them keep them. But don't believe this is normal. In my experience, it is not.

 

[GGMac]

Last night had one hell of a storm here, Cleaning up tree limbs and other debris all day. 5.75 inches of rain plus wind, so......Chicken on the grill and Natty AoC straight tips on 379x last, which is quickly becoming my favorite Alden boot last View attachment 1400568

Just placed an order for my first boot on the 379X last. As a narrow heeled fellow with a long but moderate arch and mild pronation issues I’m looking forward to seeing how they fit. I ordered my Barrie size so hopefully that works!

 

[audog]

Just placed an order for my first boot on the 379X last. As a narrow heeled fellow with a long but moderate arch and mild pronation issues I’m looking forward to seeing how they fit. I ordered my Barrie size so hopefully that works!

That is the size I wear as well (Barrie) and I find them quite comfortable. Which boot did you go for?

 

[GGMac]

That is the size I wear as well (Barrie) and I find them quite comfortable. Which boot did you go for?

The Davie boot from our good friends at Ealdwine. Just landed at their shop.

 

[audog]

The Davie boot from our good friends at Ealdwine. Just landed at their shop.

View attachment 1400597

Funny, I'm waiting on the PP invoice from Matt and/or Jim for those myself.

 

[GGMac]

Funny, I'm waiting on the PP invoice from Matt and/or Jim for those myself.

They were delivered to their shop today. Jim was kind enough to snap this pic and send it to me this afternoon. You’ll get your invoice soon!