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

[audog]

Thanks to Doc’s tutorial.. can do..

I now understand why my Dad didn’t want us kids to get him a computer.. pissed him off big time with us nudging.. was almost sport for us. ?

And I'm the 67 yr old guy who had to teach my kids how to use an actual computer, not a phone

 

[H. E. Pennypacker]

This is why I have been so frustrated lately trying to find shoes that fit.

I forgot where I read this, but sizing and fit isn’t so

This is why I have been so frustrated lately trying to find shoes that fit.

It definitely can be frustrating, but I see it as it’s part of the hobby. Sometimes you size’em perfectly, and oh man, is that a dream when it happens. Or...it doesn’t fit. I honestly don’t go by brannock, it makes things confusing for my feet. I’ve learned to use specific last for sizing, and getting to know your feet very well....yeah, it sounds weird. But it definitely helps to avoid sizing mistakes, it’ll definitely subside the occurrence.

 

[Commisar]

it's not that simple. FedEx and UPS have a difficult time finding drivers and their workforces are getting older every day. When a 22 year old graduates college with $250k in loans, they will never be able to pay that off working for FedEx or UPS. Americans have been told a lie for many years that everyone must go to college, social media has taken the keeping up with the Jones's to an entirely new level, and the middle class is disappearing as most honest factory jobs have been going off shore. The USPS is having the same issue in that older workers are aging and retiring and the USPS cannot hire new younger workers because the benefits are not as good anymore and Americans are no longer happy with a middle class lifestyle. So, saying that they can just figure it out is not understanding the actual problem.

Ask Mike Row because even he can't even give away money for people to attend trade school.

mikeroweWORKS Foundation

America is profoundly disconnected. We’re working to change that.

www.mikeroweworks.org

To bring this back to shoes, cost is not the only reason companies like AE move production offshore. When Alden started it was 1 of many New England shoe makers although now they stand alone. Who is going to make your MUSA Aldens if young people are not willing to learn a trade?

AE has moved their cheapest cemented shoes offshore to the Dominican Republic. I think they also do final assembly of a few makes of welted shoes there, thought they do say it in the product description and they have since 2006 if memory serves. They also have a small outpost in Italy that does handsewn stuff.

Plenty of young people would be happy to entered a trade they simply aren't exposed to them anymore. Remember Shop class.... The one where you learned how to machine things, woodworking, and create? Have fun finding those programs on 98% of highschools. Now you gotta go to trade school or technical school to even see that anymore.

 

[Vincent George]

This is why I have been so frustrated lately trying to find shoes that fit.

What do you mean? Fitting Alden is easy. 1) Get measured...
2) Spend $10,000 on shoes in the wrong sizes.
3) Eventually win!

 

[BAK]

To bring this back to shoes, cost is not the only reason companies like AE move production offshore. When Alden started it was 1 of many New England shoe makers although now they stand alone. Who is going to make your MUSA Aldens if young people are not willing to learn a trade?

Not saying that couldn't be a factor going forward, but to date cost is actually the only reason all those American companies went offshore. Or at least all the companies I'm thinking of. AE, Nike, New Balance, Timberland, Cole Haan, J&M, Florsheim, Bostonian the list goes on and on. There was no shortage of domestic labor. There were rising labor costs and a desire to keep retail prices as low as possible, typically in tandem with private, family owned companies being bought and going public. Then came the death spiral to offshore.

 

[zargoz]

honestly don’t go by brannock, it makes things confusing for my feet. I’ve learned to use specific last for sizing, and getting to know your feet very well....

Best advice anyone can give on the subject. The brannock device only measures two or three parameters of foot geometry and there is tremendous variation amongst individuals. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. I also have found that using feedback from others with respect to a particular reference last is far more useful and accurate than saying "true to size" or "half down" (FWIW the half down thing has never actually worked out for me with any last, ever).

 

[NYCTechNerd]

Not saying that couldn't be a factor going forward, but to date cost is actually the only reason all those American companies went offshore. Or at least all the companies I'm thinking of (including AE).

It is a vicious cycle started by Walmart, then Target, and now Amazon. Americans were trained to want cheaper goods. This caused/forced companies to offshore. America lost factory jobs. Now people need cheaper goods because they are in lower paying non-skilled jobs. Americans were then told everyone must go to college. So now nobody wants the few factory jobs that still exist because they only give you a middle class lifestyle. America further splits into wealthy and poor and the middle class is dwindling.

This is a massive oversimplification of a real problem. It is not a political statement. It is not a nationalist statement. It is a statement about how we no longer make anything so in the middle of a pandemic we are relying on China to provide the PPE we so desperately need and they want to keep for themselves. This is not a statement about China either. It is a statement of the USA is going into the toilet and everyone is too blame on some level.

So, we can all buy our fancy shoes at Alden or AE and be proud that they are made in 'Merica but until you start demanding that necessities are made in America and are willing to pay the higher prices for them, we are all doomed and the middle class is really screwed.

/rant over

 

[slows2k]

Happy Scotch grain Friday forum pals. (Yeah, I made that up. It’s not a thing.) Hampton last.

View attachment 1510005

Alden's scotch grain is low key one of my favorite leathers and is criminally underused.

 

[ProfilaBinding]

Love my 9501’s... such a nice makeup..

You should post a pic. I'm curious if yours are like mine.

 

[smfdoc]

Alden's scotch grain is low key one of my favorite leathers and is criminally underused.

I would have to agree. I have two pairs and I had to get on a make up list for both. Here are my LWBs in the same leather. I love how casual they are.

 

[smfdoc]

Happy Saturday forum pals. I'm staying at home, but nice boots are still required.

 

[audog]

Home with the granddaughter, just felt like another natty boot

 

[htimsdj]

Can anyone tell me where to get Alden brown boot laces? Not waxed. I just want the regular ones that come with the boots. TSM only lists the black ones on their website.

 

[scurvyfreedman]

Can anyone tell me where to get Alden brown boot laces? Not waxed. I just want the regular ones that come with the boots. TSM only lists the black ones on their website.

Call the Alden store in DC. They just threw in an extra pair of laces with my boots, so they must have plenty in stock.

 

[htimsdj]

thanks!

Call the Alden store in DC. They just threw in an extra pair of laces with my boots, so they must have plenty in stock.