The Official Alden Thread for 2021 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[Profligate47]

Impulse buy from this week just showed up. Absolutely love these.

New Old Stock. RTC plain toe boots on Trubalance with a natural 270 storm welt and neocork soles. Absolutely amazing!

What triggered my impulse buy was the contrast between the natural storm welt and RTC.

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Nice denim. Maker?

 

[stook1]

Fellas looking for opinions. Same boot, but can't decide on edge color, which would you pick? I plan on wearing them with jeans and a tucked-in oxford/polo


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Versatility be damned, I prefer the antique edge myself. ?

 

[lcdx22]

Nice denim. Maker?

Naked & Famous 11oz Stretch Selvedge

 

[Thrift Couture]

Fellas looking for opinions. Same boot, but can't decide on edge color, which would you pick? I plan on wearing them with jeans and a tucked-in oxford/polo


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Casually, Antique for the win. I’ve been trying to get some Mahogany sole edge into the collection, but I haven't quite converted to the “Dark Side”.

 

[Shawnc]

Fellas looking for opinions. Same boot, but can't decide on edge color, which would you pick? I plan on wearing them with jeans and a tucked-in oxford/polo


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Versatility be damned, I prefer the antique edge myself. ?

I have generally moved away from antique on 8 but there are 2 things that make me agree with @stook1. First, I'm ok with antique on commando as the color seems to blend better. Lastly, your stated use just screams of antique. I do agree with those indicating the dark is more versatile but versatility doesn't seem to be your objective.

 

[Vocans]

On modern color 8 I almost exclusively do antique (only dark welt 8 I have are my BB unlined and even then I'd prefer them wirh antique). Modern Alden color 8 is just so dark that with dark edges they almost look black in some lights. I personally find that antique helps the color to pop from the shell

 

[Ancestral Star]

I'm very much in the minority here, but I never cared for antique edges on color 8 shell. Too fussy for my taste and I prefer the tonal look. I wish more retailers offered color 8 make-ups with dark/mahogany edges, but c'est la vie…my wallet is certainly thankful.

 

[denimondenimondenim]

Likewise agree with @jischwar but would add that you might consider doing toe plates now. If the balls of sole are still solid and you are just prone to toe drag you can probably get a ton more mileage out of the original soles this way. Probably about $80, give or take, for toe plates and new heel toplifts so call it roughly 50-60% of the price of a good resole (you still have the some life on the heels but probably best to do the toe plates sooner so that the wear doesn't need to be built up by the cobbler).

thanks! i think this is the move tbh. the balls look good @audog twss

 

[barutanseijin]

Day 2 of the quest for the most comfy Aldens: ye olde 975s

 

[Vocans]

I'm very much in the minority here, but I never cared for antique edges on color 8 shell. Too fussy for my taste and I prefer the tonal look. I wish more retailers offered color 8 make-ups with dark/mahogany edges, but c'est la vie…my wallet is certainly thankful.

Fairly straightforward to turn an antique edge to mahogany, much harder to do the reverse

 

[Thrift Couture]

Day 2 of the quest for the most comfy Aldens: ye olde 975s

And what a noble quest it is.

 

[shahtirthak]

3 classics in the picture today!
Alden 401 + Levi's 501 + Seiko SBBN025

 

[Hisheirness23]

Fellas looking for opinions. Same boot, but can't decide on edge color, which would you pick? I plan on wearing them with jeans and a tucked-in oxford/polo


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Adding my opinion to the pot...antique edges are very striking when viewed in person. I prefer it for all my Color 8 boots since I wear them in a casual environment with denim or chinos. For a more formal look, Color 8 with dark edges look phenomenal!

Here's a photo of my Color 8 WTB with some chinos. The antique welt dresses them down a tad (along with the reverse welt).

 

[Ancestral Star]

 

[Darkishhaddock]

3 classics in the picture today!
Alden 401 + Levi's 501 + Seiko SBBN025

Great minds and all that…