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

[BAK]

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

Not a pull up leather like CXL although they share a couple properties otherwise regarding how they wear after some beating up. Here's a post I did last week for those curious about what to expect.

 

[Cruzin56]

Happy Saturday. Color 8 wingtips boots from Yenni.

 

[Hisheirness23]

Not a pull up leather like CXL although they share a couple properties otherwise regarding how they wear after some beating up. Here's a post I did last week for those curious about what to expect.

Following you on IG, now! Thanks, Brett, for sharing this post! Can't wait for my Arabica Lux plain toe boots from Louie to arrive!

 

[DG123]

Happy Saturday. Color 8 wingtips boots from Yenni.
View attachment 1690993

Good looking and sturdy pair of footwear !

 

[audog]

Not a pull up leather like CXL although they share a couple properties otherwise regarding how they wear after some beating up. Here's a post I did last week for those curious about what to expect.

Thanks @BAK ! You are THE MAN!

 

[audog]

Not a pull up leather like CXL although they share a couple properties otherwise regarding how they wear after some beating up. Here's a post I did last week for those curious about what to expect.

New Biker jacket.....good analogy.

 

[audog]

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.

It's funny how different materials can impact the fit. I have a couple pair of 405's, the old Pumpkin color and the "new" brown, both fit well, but the newer pair feels "softer" than the older pair, even though the older pair has significantly more wears. Just me, but I find the fit to be about the same across the Indy boot TB lasted family, same lace gap, same general feel.

 

[DG123]

It's funny how different materials can impact the fit. I have a couple pair of 405's, the old Pumpkin color and the "new" brown, both fit well, but the newer pair feels "softer" than the older pair, even though the older pair has significantly more wears. Just me, but I find the fit to be about the same across the Indy boot TB lasted family, same lace gap, same general feel.

I concur; my 9 year old pumpkin 405 definitely has a firmer/harder leather touch-feel than my one year old pair of "new brown" 405's.

 

[DG123]

Not a pull up leather like CXL although they share a couple properties otherwise regarding how they wear after some beating up. Here's a post I did last week for those curious about what to expect.

My intention is not to bash any footwear brand or footwear industry material supplier, but I do believe the trend of additives-to-leather is a way to utilize lesser quality grade leather material, yet still charge premium leather prices.

 

[audog]

My intention is not to bash any footwear brand or footwear industry material supplier, but I do believe the trend of additives-to-leather is a way to utilize lesser quality grade leather material, yet still charge premium leather prices.

CXL is not exactly a new trend.......

 

[Crizzlelovesyou]

My intention is not to bash any footwear brand or footwear industry material supplier, but I do believe the trend of additives-to-leather is a way to utilize lesser quality grade leather material, yet still charge premium leather prices.

What do you mean by additives?

 

[chipshot]

Is that like STP to your oil?

 

[DG123]

What do you mean by additives?

Oils, waxes etc...

 

[galileo]

Getting hot again…

 

[audog]

Is that like STP to your oil?

STP still made?