***The official Alden thread *** Share enthusiasm, reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[tropics]



Color 8 chukkas ordered from J. Crew last night for 25% off. I'm not necessarily a chukka guy, but it's a great price for a new boot. And I never thought that I would believe spending $468 on a boot was a good deal.... Thanks SF!

uh, wow how did you get it down to 468? would have instakopped.

 

[Marcellionheart]

Alden 405s in Algonquin Provincial Park. Resoled to English commando soles by Bnelson. They took a lot of mud and rain, but held up just fine. A couple more scratches after washing and brushing back in the city, but no big deal.

 

[Pinhas]

I am about to purchase my first pair of Alden's; Indy's 403 Chromexel and I have 2 questions:

1) Is it possible to find them anywhere for lower then the retail $435?

2) How will they last in a NYC winter? I wont be wearing them on bad snow days or during days when salt is on the streets, but on a regular cold windy rainy day? Also, I will be weather-proofing them with SnoSeal. Any special recommendations on the best way to WP them?

 

[REguy]



I am about to purchase my first pair of Alden's; Indy's 403 Chromexel and I have 2 questions:
1) Is it possible to find them anywhere for lower then the retail $435?
2) How will they last in a NYC winter? I wont be wearing them on bad snow days or during days when salt is on the streets, but on a regular cold windy rainy day? Also, I will be weather-proofing them with SnoSeal. Any special recommendations on the best way to WP them?

I'd cruise eBay or B&S for a deal on them.

Chromexcel is a very durable leather which doesn't need to be babied. It's understandable that you don't want to abuse a $400 pair of shoes, but they're work boots after all. I have a pair of CXL shoes that I've absolutely put through the ringer over the years. When they start looking rough, I wipe them down, use some Renovateur and brown polish, and they glow like new.

 

[unclesam099]



uh, wow how did you get it down to 468? would have instakopped.

Coupon LOVEFALL (25% off; free ship orders over $150) expired last night 23:59

$625 - ($625 * 0.25) = $468.75

 

[randomkoreandude]

if i wasnt on preorder for leather soul's jumper boots in #8 i would have grabbed those. great deal bro

 

[mcarthur]



How long have you been collecting Aldens, Mac?

i assume you mean how long have I been wearing shell- a very long time-39+

 

[mcarthur]



ye it actually doesn't look shoddy

use the procedure and the shell will last a life time

 

[mcarthur]



Fantastic Uncle. Do you use the "deer polishing bone" that I've seen on Will's website by any chance?

i do not

 

[unclesam099]

That's how I got my #8 captoe that I'm wearing today, albeit 20% off and had to pay for shipping. The price for the boot was $20 less in January, though

 

[Chien]

i got recieved my Jcrew #8 cordovan captoe boots a few days back. they are an absolute joy to wear.

Just wondering, do i need shoe trees for cordovan shoes? and if my boots are a size 8D in barrie last.. what size shoe trees should i be getting? S or M?

 

[randomkoreandude]

yes you should ... do not buy from jcrew though. they are 5 more than typical retail for the alden ones

 

[Profligate47]

Hey guys, a quick question here about resoling:
I don't know if anybody remembers, but I made a post in this thread a while ago about the tip of my shoes getting roughed up significantly whenever I wore them around.

Spoiler

I just want to confirm that this part of the shoe can be resoled. Putting on a topy of toe taps aren't really an option for me in my neck of the woods, so I was just thinking of just wearing them hard like they were meant to be worn, and sending them in to be resoled once I've worn through the sole. I've heard B. Nelson tossed around in this thread a few times.
Apologies if this is a stupid question. I don't really know any of the terminology that you guys sling around in here.

I have this problem also and have had B. Nelson (Nick) install steel tips. They work well, and save the toe from wearing prematurely. You can send your shoes to B. Nelson...

 

[makewayhomer]



I am about to purchase my first pair of Alden's; Indy's 403 Chromexel and I have 2 questions:
1) Is it possible to find them anywhere for lower then the retail $435?
2) How will they last in a NYC winter? I wont be wearing them on bad snow days or during days when salt is on the streets, but on a regular cold windy rainy day? Also, I will be weather-proofing them with SnoSeal. Any special recommendations on the best way to WP them?

my experience is that any smooth soled shoe is far from ideal for winter winter wear - they are very slippery. I have not tried the standard Indy boot in the winter, but I did have a pair of smooth (rubber) soled RM Williams boots that were so bad that I couldn't wear them in the Boston winter. meaning, the whole winter/any day there was any snow or ice on the ground, not just days it was snowing. they were far worse than any standard leather sole that I had topied

I think you really want an Indy boot with a full lug or commando sole.

 

[Profligate47]

Color 8 LHS unlined Alden for Brooks Brothers