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

[audog]

I suspect the main benefit of the plastic trees is that they are very light weight relative to cedar. I recently came upon a pair of plastic ones as well and decided to keep them for this very reason. I don't think they are as good as cedar for the very reason you cited but for travel purposes they are ideal.

Exactly, for travel they reduce weight it's important to keep weight down when traveling. Cedar once return home.

 

[audog]

Waiting for the grill to heat up. Color 8 saddles, that BLOOM like crazy in their bags.

 

[Johnniegold]

 

[GGMac]

Inclement weather chukkas from Yenni. Rain and storms rolled through late this afternoon but looks to be a promising evening.

 

[scurvyfreedman]

Isn't one of the primary benefits of cedar for shoe trees its ability to pull moisture? Doubt plastic would be able to do that but could be wrong. Fwiw I've never had any issues getting cesar shoe trees through airport security.

Plastic trees weight nearly nothing. Carrying two pairs of shoes with trees in your luggage adds a ton of weight.

Also, I think the pulling moisture is a myth to a great degree. When your shoes get saturated with rain, they say put newspaper in your shoes, not your trees.

I'll add that if you have lasted shoe trees, that's probably the best option for maintaining the shape of the upper, but regular cedar may have very little benefit over plastic.

 

[BAK]

Does anybody know what last this makeup is on? Barrie?

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/alden-straight-tip-blucher-boot-men/5963750

It's on Barrie. The other two make-ups they have online are also Barrie.

 

[sterlingindigo]

Plastic trees weight nearly nothing. Carrying two pairs of shoes with trees in your luggage adds a ton of weight.

Also, I think the pulling moisture is a myth to a great degree. When your shoes get saturated with rain, they say put newspaper in your shoes, not your trees.

I'll add that if you have lasted shoe trees, that's probably the best option for maintaining the shape of the upper, but regular cedar may have very little benefit over plastic.

Cedar trees will pull the oil out of my reverse chamois boots, right through the leather liner. Anybody else experience this?

 

[Vocans]

Plastic trees weight nearly nothing. Carrying two pairs of shoes with trees in your luggage adds a ton of weight.

Also, I think the pulling moisture is a myth to a great degree. When your shoes get saturated with rain, they say put newspaper in your shoes, not your trees.

I'll add that if you have lasted shoe trees, that's probably the best option for maintaining the shape of the upper, but regular cedar may have very little benefit over plastic.

Shrug, in the days of roller luggage is that maybe 1 pound of weight difference honestly that noticeable? Cedar shoe trees (especially the smaller adjustable ones) aren't exactly bricks

 

[X_dSF]

View attachment 1606396

Lookin good. Is that third pair of eyelets original? Have only seen 2 pairs of eyelets on alden chukka makeups.

 

[X_dSF]

Shrug, in the days of roller luggage is that maybe 1 pound of weight difference honestly that noticeable? Cedar shoe trees (especially the smaller adjustable ones) aren't exactly bricks

I think the weight matters when it comes to checked bags...(unless for first/business class, or higher classed members). I personally always arranged a place/weight for cedar trees, yet have to double check the weight of luggage and airlines' policy beforehand.

 

[Johnniegold]

Lookin good. Is that third pair of eyelets original? Have only seen 2 pairs of eyelets on alden chukka makeups.

They were added when I first bought them. I wasn’t used to wearing a chukka and felt the third eyelet gave it a more secure fit.

As time went by and I became used to the fit, I found myself preferring the original design and no longer use the third eyelet.

 

[NYCTechNerd]

They were added when I first bought them. I wasn’t used to wearing a chukka and felt the third eyelet gave it a more secure fit.

As time went by and I became used to the fit, I found myself preferring the original design and no longer use the third eyelet.

Was it a heel slip issue that got better once the soles broke-in or something else? That has been my frustration with the 2 eyelet Chukka, too much heel slip no matter what size I try.

 

[stook1]

Shrug, in the days of roller luggage is that maybe 1 pound of weight difference honestly that noticeable? Cedar shoe trees (especially the smaller adjustable ones) aren't exactly bricks

For me, not really and usually travel with cedar trees as well. But there are occasions where I travel with a backpack only and the added weight is noticeable in that instance. To be honest with you in this circumstance shoe trees aren't really necessary anyway. A couple of days without shoe trees isnt a big deal in my opinion.

I think I mentioned earlier that I just happen to come by a plastic set on a vintage pair of shoes I bought. I debated tossing them but decided to use them for when I travel again in the future.

 

[Johnniegold]

Was it a heel slip issue that got better once the soles broke-in or something else? That has been my frustration with the 2 eyelet Chukka, too much heel slip no matter what size I try.

It wasn’t heel slippage so much as being used to my shoes being laced higher up on my in-step and tying them really tight for that secured feeling.

Not only have I moved away from using the third eyelet but have moved away from tying my shoes as tightly as I once did.

 

[denimondenimondenim]

spring shoes. have a good weekend everyone!