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

[Hisheirness23]

@slows2k , @Hisheirness23 , and @JTMD have all made good points making me consider a pair of Indy’s in shell. I’ve found a pair in C width that looks nice but it is a 9 eyelet, no speed hooks. If any of you (or anyone else) has experience with both Alden’s speed hooks boots and 9 eyelet ones, how much of a hassle is it to put on and take off the 9 eyelet ones vs speed hooks boots?

Not much of a hassle. I prefer the look of all eyelets as the facings typically stay straight and don't have any unflattering ankle creases.

She'll also has the waxed laces, so that could be easier to keep the laces flat and not twisted when passing through the eyelets. If you don't like the eyelets, any cobbler can swap out for speed hooks. But to go from hooks to eyes, the spacing may be off.

 

[Markintosh]

Not really a matter of experts judging you versus someone just putting things in order I suppose. A bit like saying a black cap toe Oxford is more formal than a burgundy semi brogue. I have some lovely G&G full brogues in burgundy that I love rocking with a suit...but I'm still breaking out the black cap toes when it's time to hit a funeral or other event that usually calls for a more formal black shoe. Some folks will toss bluchers with a suit. I don't. Sure it's a "rule"...but I just happen to agree that oxfords flow much better with my sleek tailored suits.

Of course a part of it comes down to personal collection. The vast majority of my shells are bluchers/derbies whereas the vast majority of my Oxfords are in calf. And they are from G&G and EG for the most part. So when I wear a suit (which isn't often nowadays) I tend to want to put my sleek English lasted shoes to use..and for daily use...well... you see me here about daily versus the rare posting on the EG thread. What you have in your closet is apt to be different and of course we're not accounting for personal taste ("a businessman matches his socks to his trousers, a gentleman to his mood" type of thing). Perhaps you have some sleeker lasted shells than I have...and that's not accounting for formality levels in suits either (If I'm wearing black cap toe oxfords I'm most likely wearing a single breasted charcoal suit and not a double breasted windowpane) 😅

I enjoy pairing these Carmina double monks in burgundy shell with suits. Think it gives a nice sporty look and can be paired down with jeans just as easily. At least in my opinion...and in a world of gym shoes and corrected grain glued boots, that's the only one I really care about (wife has veto power of course) 😅 .
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A bit more of a bulky casual lasting on these but they've still been worn with a suit on occasion..

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Not sure if you were familiar with RogerP? He used to be quite an active member. Really great guy. Ended up meeting up with him in Toronto when all I had were these shell tassle loafers to pair with a suit (luckily I had already bought a suit the same trip )...These things are more my travel shoes than something I'd pair with a suit but they did the job I needed them to do..and no one threw rocks at me for doing so either (they were much newer when we met 9 years ago than in this photo...but still) ...

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Love the pics, always so good...the background of the tree trunk is very cool!

 

[barutanseijin]

@slows2k , @Hisheirness23 , and @JTMD have all made good points making me consider a pair of Indy’s in shell. I’ve found a pair in C width that looks nice but it is a 9 eyelet, no speed hooks. If any of you (or anyone else) has experience with both Alden’s speed hooks boots and 9 eyelet ones, how much of a hassle is it to put on and take off the 9 eyelet ones vs speed hooks boots?

Hate hate hate all eyelets. I had all eyelet boots from other makers, and the hassle was a reason they’re with someone else now. Good riddance. Never again.

 

[JTMD]

@slows2k , @Hisheirness23 , and @JTMD have all made good points making me consider a pair of Indy’s in shell. I’ve found a pair in C width that looks nice but it is a 9 eyelet, no speed hooks. If any of you (or anyone else) has experience with both Alden’s speed hooks boots and 9 eyelet ones, how much of a hassle is it to put on and take off the 9 eyelet ones vs speed hooks boots?

I prefer boots with speed hooks. I can get them on while standing. All eyelets means I'm probably taking a seat to get the job done. As Hisheirness23 mentioned, they are a bit more "put together" looking but not sure it makes a huge difference with blucher boots versus a more formal Balmoral boot. I have several boots done up both ways..and as mentioned..speed hooks win.

Hisheirness23 also mentioned that a cobbler could switch them out...but my cobbler didn't want to claiming there was no need to weaken the leather just to avoid an extra minute of work getting them laced. I suppose he has a point and haven't looked elsewhere to get it done..but also wonder how traumatic the change would really be (my guy is a bit on the opinionated side).

 

[JTMD]

Love the pics, always so good...the background of the tree trunk is very cool!

Well thanks...even with a medium sized collection posting gets a bit repetitive so I try to change up the backgrounds a bit and do more than just take the same from above shot...but...I suppose posting the same shoes 10-15 times a year is still repetitive no matter how you dress it up ...

 

[Mghart]

I may be the odd man out, but I actually prefer all eyelets as opposed to speed hooks on boots. Yes, they do take slightly longer to put on, but I've also had speed hooks catch on the hem of trousers, laces slip out the hooks, or hooks not being clamped/seated that they could have torn the leather if not taken care of. My last shell boot that actually happened and I had them converted from hooks to eyelets before it got worse.

I still have boots with both styles, and I don't mind it. But a boot with all eyelets would not deter me from purchasing if I liked the make up enough.

 

[TokyoStroll]

Thanks for your opinions on eyelets vs speed hooks. On a 9 eyelet Alden, do you need to fully take the laces out or a couple eyelets to get them on, or just loosen them up?

 

[Mghart]

Thanks for your opinions on eyelets vs speed hooks. On a 9 eyelet Alden, do you need to fully take the laces out or a couple eyelets to get them on, or just loosen them up?

It’ll depend on your instep I think, but I can get away with just loosening them up, or at most just undoing the very top eyelets.

 

[jellyroller]

975 Tuesday

 

[smfdoc]

There is still some snow in the yard, but a trip to the dentist today seems to require something dressier than boots. I have not worn these blue CXL LWBs in a month of Sundays so I will avoid any snow and hit the town.

 

[classicalthunde]

Finally time for a re-sole/restoration on my 2nd hand BB Color 8 Tassels now that the cork is showing.

Is the general consensus still to send back to Alden or has that changed over the past couple of years? Or should I just send to someone like Aram for a general sole replacement and polish...

I effectively want them to come back as close to looking like new as possible, don't particularly care about patina...

 

[SailingIvy]

Which Flanell are those Trousers? Fox Brothers?

975 Tuesday View attachment 2329981

 

[SailingIvy]

Finally time for a re-sole/restoration on my 2nd hand BB Color 8 Tassels now that the cork is showing.

Is the general consensus still to send back to Alden or has that changed over the past couple of years? Or should I just send to someone like Aram for a general sole replacement and polish...

I effectively want them to come back as close to looking like new as possible, don't particularly care about patina...

If you want them to get the factory color finish your only option will be Alden. They do it very well from what I have seen on the internet

 

[ctmike]

Snuff PTBs on a snowy Tuesday.

 

[jellyroller]

Which Flanell are those Trousers? Fox Brothers?

I’m not sure of the cloth maker. I bought them from Peter Christian years ago.