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

[audog]

Granddaughter soccer "tournament" this morning, 46 degrees F out there, flannel lined jeans, turtleneck sweater and jacket and it was still cold. Arabica Lux boots got the call

 

[ac106]

Granddaughter soccer "tournament" this morning, 46 degrees F out there, flannel lined jeans, turtleneck sweater and jacket and it was still cold. Arabica Lux boots got the call

Are you from Texas?

 

[lcdx22]

Maiden voyage

 

[Hisheirness23]

Granddaughter soccer "tournament" this morning, 46 degrees F out there, flannel lined jeans, turtleneck sweater and jacket and it was still cold. Arabica Lux boots got the call View attachment 1690803

Is this your first wear for those Arabica Lux boots? How do they age? They have similar pull-up properties like CXL?

 

[audog]

Are you from Texas?

Nope, just the older I get, the colder I get. 30 yrs, wouldn't have bothered me in jeans and a long sleeve shirt, but now, just sitting in a lawn chair for a few hours....brrrrrrrrr. Even my wife, who is the person who doesn't wear a coat in winter, said "It's kind of chilly out here"

 

[audog]

Is this your first wear for those Arabica Lux boots? How do they age? They have similar pull-up properties like CXL?

Probably 5th wear, so far aging very nicely. I have heard they are similar in properties to CXL, certainly the grain is evident. I'm kind of liking the leather for a casual boot.

 

[James1051]

Choco suede Saturday. Enjoy your weekend guys

 

[DG123]

I've worn Alden model 405 for about nine years and this past week received my first pair of model 401:

 

[sterlingindigo]

Probably 5th wear, so far aging very nicely. I have heard they are similar in properties to CXL, certainly the grain is evident. I'm kind of liking the leather for a casual boot.

How does it compare to the rusticalf?

 

[chipshot]

Day late on Fullstrap Friday.. these are the best color 8 shade I own. Circ. ‘16
Enjoy the games.. heading up to 8500 ft. to trout fish next week

 

[audog]

How does it compare to the rusticalf?

Similar to Rusticalf in my opinion.

 

[audog]

I've worn Alden model 405 for about nine years and this past week received my first pair of model 401:

View attachment 1690908

Have a pair of 401's that I like, but they are loose grain monsters. Probably should have qualified as seconds, as they came looking like the cow they are made from had a rough life. Good boots however.

 

[DG123]

Have a pair of 401's that I like, but they are loose grain monsters. Probably should have qualified as seconds, as they came looking like the cow they are made from had a rough life. Good boots however.

My understanding is that 405's are produced using a work boot leather named "Mahogany Legacy". 403's are produced using CXL. 401's are also CXL, but it may be a bit different CXL than what is used for model 403 production. I do not own a pair of 403's but my new pair of 401's are a softer to the touch-feel-on-the-foot leather than my pairs of model 405.

 

[audog]

My understanding is that 405's are produced using a work boot leather named "Mahogany Legacy". 403's are produced using CXL. 401's are also CXL, but it may be a bit different CXL than what is used for model 403 production. I do not own a pair of 403's but my new pair of 401's are a softer to the touch-feel-on-the-foot leather than my pairs of model 405.

Agree, my 401 and 403 are a softer feel than the 405's. I think that is the nature of CXL, especially after being worn a few times.

 

[DG123]

Agree, my 401 and 403 are a softer feel than the 405's. I think that is the nature of CXL, especially after being worn a few times.

I very much like the firm feel of the 405 leather. However, my selection of available Alden footwear that would provide me a proper fit is very limited. The 405 last , upper pattern, and leather material for me is the best fit I've found, truly perfect.. I expect the 401 , due to the softer leather, will over time result in a looser fit. But it's still probably better than the fit I could get with any other Alden shoe/boot model.
I am 12.5 B in the Indy boot. In other Alden styles I've tried 12C and 13B, but not achieved a proper fit.
Going forward I've had on order for more than 6 months a pair of the 404 Kudu leather Indy boot. Hopefully the fit will be good for me, but I've never tried on a pair of that model. Also I've considered ordering from the regular special make-up runs of Color 8 Indy boots w/neocork sole but am not sure how the shell fits compared to 405 Mahogany leather, so I've not yet ordered a pair of those.
The 405 size 12.5B fit for me is perfect length, snug at the ball width and across the forefoot, and when laced there still remains a gap between the eyelet stays. If the leather used is too soft then the ball width fit loses its snugness and when laced the eyelet stays come together, touching each other. So that's my concern/question about Indy boots produced with CXL, or, Kudu, or shell.