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

[P. Bateman]



Gunboat Monday!

What jeans are these and are they tapered? I feel my straight leg jeans look funny and chunky with non-boot Aldens.

 

[furo]



Mark McNairy:

^ I like the one on the right... if Alden did that on the Grant in #8 or Cigar, I'd be all over that

 

[Renalan]



Really fantastic. Deets on denim? (Is that a pink inseam stitch I spy?)

It is indeed a pink inseam stitch, NFxMomotaro 2 Collabs.

What a great shade of #8 !! How old are these???

About 6 months old only, very light wear.

Those are sweet.  Is that cigar?

EDIT:  I'm partially colorblind.  Definitely #8, right?  It just seems so light.

It's the wonder of natural lighting and shell.

What jeans are these and are they tapered? I feel my straight leg jeans look funny and chunky with non-boot Aldens.

The jeans are tapered, NFxMomotaro 2 Collabs, Weird Guy fit.

 

[VRaivio]

...so what's the story with Alden's weird habit of adding a leather strip onto their crepe soles? I've never understood it and never will, but I'm eager to learn more.

 

[furo]



...so what's the story with Alden's weird habit of adding a leather strip onto their crepe soles? I've never understood it and never will, but I'm eager to learn more.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

No idea but it is rather annoying if you ask me. The part of the sole that gets the most wear from many is the least reinforced....

 

[VRaivio]



No idea but it is rather annoying if you ask me. The part of the sole that gets the most wear from many is the least reinforced....

Spot on. This idiosyncrasy seems more like plain idiotism. Crepe should guarantee great traction and no-nonsense walking in all conditions, but this leather pach will wear through quickly.

 

[SuitedDx]



Spot on. This idiosyncrasy seems more like plain idiotism. Crepe should guarantee great traction and no-nonsense walking in all conditions, but this leather pach will wear through quickly.

Just a guess since I do not have any of the crepe soles) but maybe the crepe sole wears out faster than leather hence the leather portion? Maybe it is the lesser of two evils having he leather vs. all crepe.

 

[zazaza]

I thought it had something to do with the fact crepe is sticky and the leather toe is to lessen the likelihood of dragging/catching your toe when worn on carpet.

as for wear; the toe can be replaced without replacing the rest of the sole if it wears down quickly.

Just a guess since I do not have any of the crepe soles) but maybe the crepe sole wears out faster than leather hence the leather portion? Maybe it is the lesser of two evils having he leather vs. all crepe.

 

[zippyh]

wish they made that on the Grant... has anyone done a LW boot on the Grant?

Alden doesn't do a long wing boot.

Not sure if "longwing boot" was a typo or not, but there was a thread a while back on "longwing boot".

http://www.styleforum.net/t/153992/longwing-boots

The basic conclusion was that, indeed, Alden does not do a longwing boot.

Unfortunate, because I would really like a mid-height (i.e. chukka height) longwing faux desert boot in tan suede w/ plantation crepe soles. Anybody else? There a few non-Alden makers doing longwing boots in full and mid-height, Trickers, Mark McNairy, and Mihara Yasuhiro......And Ron Rider had expressed interest in the thread cited above.

I've got a few pairs of Tricker's LW boots.

They also make a stubby Stow. Seems worth asking if you're looking for a stubby LW boot.

I seem to recall the purpose of the leather tip on the crepe sole is to help prevent catching your toe on carpet.

 

[beowolf]

As much as I love my Cordovan longwings, I am going to have to sell them. I have had them for a few months, but they are just too tight. They are size 11.5 and I will be adding to B&S soon as I take some pictures.

 

[kippy]



Just a guess since I do not have any of the crepe soles) but maybe the crepe sole wears out faster than leather hence the leather portion? Maybe it is the lesser of two evils having he leather vs. all crepe.

I wish it were true. My leather tip has worn out faster than the crepe sole

 

[furo]



I wish it were true. My leather tip has worn out faster than the crepe sole

Yes this is what I would expect as well, and it's why I haven't bought any like this yet.

 

[SuitedDx]



I wish it were true. My leather tip has worn out faster than the crepe sole

Yeah, I have avoided the crepe since it makes the shoes less formal. I guess you can always have toe taps installed

 

[Alcibiades]

I have no clue what the purpose of the leather tip on the crepe sole is, but I will endorse the crepe sole in general as very comfortable (my milkshake Indy boots are my most comfortable Alden boots) and functional (the sole provides good grip in rain). The leather tip doesn't detract anything from the sole, so you can just ignore it if you want

Crepe soles work best on these types of more casual models, IMO











And the only cordovan models I've seen it really work in are:

 

[100 yrs]

winn perry really had some smart alden make ups. too bad they're no longer around.