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

[Beatlegeuse]

Not Alden, but I got caught in a torrential downpour the first time I wore my C&J for RL shell Lindricks. I got completely soaked but there was no evidence of any water spots on my boots.

 

[budapest12]

Go

Sage advice there. They are shoes...that's what they are intended for right? I should probably take this advice as well.

Got to respectfully disagree - if it is really wet out, you want to care for your expensive shoes. Why be reckless if you can be safe? I recommend checking out SWIMS, though they are a bit odd looking and even downright silly on some shoes. You also need to have the foresight to take them with you - not always possible, esp where/when weather changes unexpectedly. I dress business casual most of the time and so I've come to favor adding more commando/vibram/Dainite soled shoes to my rotation. I will wear shell and leather soled shoes in milder wet conditions, but otherwise I'm careful. Why? Confession - I once pretty well ruined a very nice pair of Testonis by wearing in heavy downpours and otherwise not caring for them properly. Was likely more the latter than the former, but I've learned something and stay cautious.

 

[b-ewing]



Man up and just wear them.

Yeah, I invited this response. Seriously tho, should I treat them with any weather dressing or just follow the standard rules of regular wear followed by the post-wear treatment (trees, cloth cleaning, heaving brushing)?

 

[tifosi]

I definitely do not want to purposely destroy my shell shoes. Dont get me wrong. But I also don't want to shelf them for the season i bought them for, either. I just want a solution for to and from my car going to work, basically. Not looking to shovel snow in my shell, leather sole boots.

 

[Nakedsnake]

I have a little bit of an unrelated question here, but hopefully some of you guys with boots can help me out.

I am wondering what you do when a model of boots has speed hooks instead of eyelets? I really like the alden for J crew cap toe boot, but I don't really like speed hooks. Replacing them from, say, B. Nelson, is expensive ,and also just doesn't look as good. So, do you just live with them? Learn to love them? Or wait until a make up comes around that has everything you totally love? I don't seem Alden changing this make up for J.Crew any time soon...

 

[CarolinaMan]

I wear Alden shells with leather soles outside when it is raining all the time. No ill effects on the shoes. Watermarks, if any, go away when dried or polished. My concern is the effect on the sole more so than the uppers.

 

[b-ewing]



I have a little bit of an unrelated question here, but hopefully some of you guys with boots can help me out.

I am wondering what you do when a model of boots has speed hooks instead of eyelets? I really like the alden for J crew cap toe boot, but I don't really like speed hooks. Replacing them from, say, B. Nelson, is expensive ,and also just doesn't look as good. So, do you just live with them? Learn to love them? Or wait until a make up comes around that has everything you totally love? I don't seem Alden changing this make up for J.Crew any time soon...

Was in the same boat. And honestly I would still prefer them with all eyelets, but that aside they're damn near close to my favorite Alden boot build so I said "screw it" and bought em. I say do the same

 

[trunks206]



Yeah, I invited this response. Seriously tho, should I treat them with any weather dressing or just follow the standard rules of regular wear followed by the post-wear treatment (trees, cloth cleaning, heaving brushing)?

Just buy another pair of cordovan Aldens to use as your rain boots......duh.



But seriously as a fellow Alden loving PNWer you need to pick up some of this to prevent water spots.

http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/shoes/AldenForJCrew/PRDOVR~93963/93963.jsp

Enjoy your new boots!

 

[tifosi]



I have a little bit of an unrelated question here, but hopefully some of you guys with boots can help me out.

I am wondering what you do when a model of boots has speed hooks instead of eyelets? I really like the alden for J crew cap toe boot, but I don't really like speed hooks. Replacing them from, say, B. Nelson, is expensive ,and also just doesn't look as good. So, do you just live with them? Learn to love them? Or wait until a make up comes around that has everything you totally love? I don't seem Alden changing this make up for J.Crew any time soon...

Unless you have to have a perferated cap toe, I would look at TheShoeMart's "bootmaker edition" cap toe boot. All eyelets and on Grant instead of Barrie(if that is a positive for you or not I don't know).

 

[b-ewing]



Just buy another pair of cordovan Aldens to use as your rain boots......duh.



But seriously as a fellow Alden loving PNWer you need to pick up some of this to prevent water spots.

http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/shoes/AldenForJCrew/PRDOVR~93963/93963.jsp

Enjoy your new boots!

Good looking out! Go Dawgs!!

 

[tifosi]



Just buy another pair of cordovan Aldens to use as your rain boots......duh.



But seriously as a fellow Alden loving PNWer you need to pick up some of this to prevent water spots.

http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/shoes/AldenForJCrew/PRDOVR~93963/93963.jsp

Enjoy your new boots!

I can't think of a better way to get around the rain issue.
I'll have to pick up some of that spray.

 

[patrick_b]

Thanks. I'm in MA so we now have warm days and cool nights....

It was so nice waking up these past two mornings to sub 60 degree temps! I haven't worn these in July or August but this morning was the perfect morning for shell boots!

 

[Don L]

The Alden Defender works great

 

[tifosi]



The Alden Defender works great

Good to know. I'll have to pick some up.

 

[Nakedsnake]

Unless you have to have a perferated cap toe, I would look at TheShoeMart's "bootmaker edition" cap toe boot. All eyelets and on Grant instead of Barrie(if that is a positive for you or not I don't know).

I'm on the fence. I have looked at this model before, and I really really like it too. Really splitting hairs. And then to make it worse, I just saw the Leffot Naval boot in #8. I think the real solution is just get another job or two haha.

And as far a lasts go, I don't have any experience with any of the Alden lasts yet. The 1-511 last (dalton boot) from AE fits me perfectly in a 12D. So i'm assuming I would be 11.5D on barrie and 12D on grant, based on what i've read. But again, don't know the real differences of them well enough. Ordering from Canada only makes the problem worse haha