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The Official Alden Thread for 2025 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

Markintosh

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WineAndShoes

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The great thing about three eyelet styles is that they seem to crease in the same spot and it looks natural. I have a pair of three eyelet wingtips from Heinrich Dinkelacher and they’ve creased in the same spot that yours did - great pick up and they look fantastic! Congrats!!!!!
Thanks! I find I have a difficult time even trying on chukkas without creasing them, and chukka creases can definitely go a bit wild. So far, I am happy with the way these are developing, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that they settle into nice, tight, symmetric bands.
 

Swell

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Recently acquired my first pair of Alden and this is my already my most comfortable shoe. I have had 10+ pairs of C&J (driven by great availability in EU), but with none of the lasts I’ve found a perfect fit. Wearable for office days, but not comfortable for longer walks.

I’ve bought the Alden mocc toe blucher and they are just so comfy. It’s this version https://aldenmadison.com/products/mocc-toe-blucher-br-snuff-suede-br-702

Nicely moulded around the ankle and sufficient space in the front. A tad more widt in the toe box could be useful to spread them fully, but I’ve already done 2hr walks without any pain or issues.

C&J hasn’t been that comfy because of my feet’s shape. I have a wide forefoot, and unfortunately also a bad case of claw toes. So I always need a high toe box, for comfort but also to prevent knuckles peeking through the leather.

These MTBs have a high walled toebox so that does help. Any suggestions on other Aldens that have a particularly high walled toebox box? Perhaps LHS in Barrie last, although pictures do not suggest a very high toebox tbh?
 

mr_scratchy_esq

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Got my first pair of Alden boots. Reverse Tobacco Chamois Indy 4015 HC from Milworks - 9D. I'm a 9D in the Barrie last (have 4 pairs of various derbies) and this is my first in Trubalance last. I probably could have sized down even more, but as I wanted these for "winter" boots they def. fit better with thicker socks. I'm still trying to break these in but I think they'll feel more comfortable when the ankles soften up a little. The only other dressier boots I have are C&J and I think they all fit me a little better tbh. The commando soles are pretty underwhelming in the snow - I don't know why I expected them to be like my Vibram soled shoes but at least they are better than the Danite soles on my C&J boots.

On the plus side, I really like how these look with denim and cords. The proportions are more pleasing than I expected. I thought they may look a little too rounded and chunky. I also really like the texture and shade of the leather.

One question is the darker spot on the right shoe just part of the natural variances in this type of leather? I'm thinking it is but wondering - it is more noticeable in the pics but doesn't especially bother me with this type of shoe
 

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WineAndShoes

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I'm still trying to break these in but I think they'll feel more comfortable when the ankles soften up a little.

I recently bought the Reverse Chamois Pisgah boots from Ealdwine, which are similar but on Barrie instead of Trubalence, and I had the same problem with the ankles being too stiff at first --- the first time I tried wearing them with thin instead of thick socks, they rubbed though the skin over my ankle bones. One suggestion that I picked up from an earlier post in this group is to try some aggressive hand flexing of the leather around the ankles. I folded, twisted, and rolled the leather in every direction I could manage, and it seemed to help a lot without affecting the appearance of the reverse chamois at all.

As for a darker spot on the right shoe, I can't really pick anything out in your pictures. Reverse chamois will definitely look different depending on how the nap is oriented. Have you tried brushing with a boar bristle brush?
 

mr_scratchy_esq

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I folded, twisted, and rolled the leather in every direction I could manage, and it seemed to help a lot without affecting the appearance of the reverse chamois at all.
thx - I just did this and it did start to feel a little softer around the ankle.

I think the uneven nature of this suede allows for some areas to absorb more oils than other parts causing the color variations
 

CLH03

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Recently acquired my first pair of Alden and this is my already my most comfortable shoe. I have had 10+ pairs of C&J (driven by great availability in EU), but with none of the lasts I’ve found a perfect fit. Wearable for office days, but not comfortable for longer walks.

I’ve bought the Alden mocc toe blucher and they are just so comfy. It’s this version https://aldenmadison.com/products/mocc-toe-blucher-br-snuff-suede-br-702

Nicely moulded around the ankle and sufficient space in the front. A tad more widt in the toe box could be useful to spread them fully, but I’ve already done 2hr walks without any pain or issues.

C&J hasn’t been that comfy because of my feet’s shape. I have a wide forefoot, and unfortunately also a bad case of claw toes. So I always need a high toe box, for comfort but also to prevent knuckles peeking through the leather.

These MTBs have a high walled toebox so that does help. Any suggestions on other Aldens that have a particularly high walled toebox box? Perhaps LHS in Barrie last, although pictures do not suggest a very high toebox tbh?
Hampton is a little narrower than Orleans, which is what those 702 are on, but Hampton is definitely a last with a high toebox. I wear the same size in both lasts.
 

eric_61

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I'm not sure if anybody here has a wide midfoot ... but if so, I'd love to get some sizing/fit advice. Barrie, Van and TruBalance all work pretty well for me in 10.5D -- Van barefoot or in very thin socks; Barrie and TruBalance in thin or mid-weight socks.

I need some Oxfords, and don't have anywhere I can really try them on. Would Hampton in 11D be a safe bet? Or am I probably going to find the midfoot too narrow, if the others are borderline as it is? Would another last be a better starting point?
 

Markintosh

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Got my first pair of Alden boots. Reverse Tobacco Chamois Indy 4015 HC from Milworks - 9D. I'm a 9D in the Barrie last (have 4 pairs of various derbies) and this is my first in Trubalance last. I probably could have sized down even more, but as I wanted these for "winter" boots they def. fit better with thicker socks. I'm still trying to break these in but I think they'll feel more comfortable when the ankles soften up a little. The only other dressier boots I have are C&J and I think they all fit me a little better tbh. The commando soles are pretty underwhelming in the snow - I don't know why I expected them to be like my Vibram soled shoes but at least they are better than the Danite soles on my C&J boots.

On the plus side, I really like how these look with denim and cords. The proportions are more pleasing than I expected. I thought they may look a little too rounded and chunky. I also really like the texture and shade of the leather.

One question is the darker spot on the right shoe just part of the natural variances in this type of leather? I'm thinking it is but wondering - it is more noticeable in the pics but doesn't especially bother me with this type of shoe
I see the dark spot - did you spray them with saphir protection? I had a pair of light tan Ferragamo’s that did the same thing not long after wearing them for the first time. They just developed a darkness over on the vamp. I think if you’re wearing them out in the snow eventually overtime they’re just gonna patina and wear beautifully. I wouldn’t worry about it.
 

Swell

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Hampton is a little narrower than Orleans, which is what those 702 are on, but Hampton is definitely a last with a high toebox. I wear the same size in both lasts.
That is a very useful suggestion, thanks! Nice last for more formal shoes suitable for a typical business suit.

Any guidance whether the Barrie last also has a high walled toebox? Those LHS loafers look beautiful but in my experience with other brands the toebox of loafers is typically rather low to the point it’s unwearable for me.
 

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