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

[Papa Doble]



No problem.

I've made this mistake a couple of times myself. Get something less and either regret it or later go back and get what I really wanted and spend more than I should of to begin with.

+1

 

[CalceoAdamator]

NST Black shells today...

 

[Cold Iron]

Tankers fit a bit narrower in the toe

Perfect and thanks! With a chukka being not quite a shoe or a boot I wasn't sure how they fell in line. The only thing as bad as getting a shoe or boot you don't have the crosshairs set on is trying to make one fit that doesn't. My 9.5D chukka's are about as wide in the heel as I can go, but they do work. 9.5E would likely be too large. And there is enough room inside that I can wear heavy wool socks without being too tight so it sounds like a 9.5D would be my boot size in the Barrie also. Thank you once again.

 

[El Argentino]



Hey I just received these same boots from J Crew. I find that these look narrower and fit slimmer than my AF89's and Indy 403's. The site said it was on a Trubalance last, but it doesn't exactly feel like it. Are you having the same experience?

My impression was that it's a barrie boot, but I'd generally go by what the site says...

unless they have photos, or colors, or soles, or x wrong.

This is also coming from someone who engaged an SA about the merits of Alden boots, being told that Indys were on the "treblance" last...

 

[BeSpiffington]



NST Black shells today...

Can't say that I've seen, probably don't recall, black shell NST's. Really nice! They look great with your jeans, but in black I can see how they would work with a suit and tie.

 

[patrick_b]

My impression was that it's a barrie boot, but I'd generally go by what the site says...

unless they have photos, or colors, or soles, or x wrong.

This is also coming from someone who engaged an SA about the merits of Alden boots, being told that Indys were on the "treblance" last...

I had a SA at the J. Crew Ludlow shop in Copley Sq. Boston tell me (with all the assurance and certainty he could muster) that the B/D stamped inside the boot meant that it was on the Barrie last and D width.

 

[kwhitelaw]

welp, these suede chukkas from davidwood are tiiiiiight on my right foot..

can any stretch be anticipated with unlined chukkas?

 

[violethour1951]

I had a SA at the J. Crew Ludlow shop in Copley Sq. Boston tell me (with all the assurance and certainty he could muster) that the B/D stamped inside the boot meant that it was on the Barrie last and D width.

 

[Owlbass]



Yeah, Alden's grain and suedes are worth it. And I think calf is underrated on this thread, really. I love my J.Crew PT boots.

Hi,

I'm new and this is my first post. I was looking at either these Jcrew PT boots or the indy 403 or 405.

What's the difference in the leather between the Jcrew and Indy 405? I just read that someone thought they were more narrow then the Indys. Are there any other differences, besides the toe and heel stitching?

Thanks,
Owen

 

[kinetic758]

My impression was that it's a barrie boot, but I'd generally go by what the site says...

unless they have photos, or colors, or soles, or x wrong.

This is also coming from someone who engaged an SA about the merits of Alden boots, being told that Indys were on the "treblance" last...

I'm gonna have to agree with you that these seem more like a Barrie fit than a Trubalance... wouldn't be surprised if the J Crew web folks did a simple copy and paste from the Indy description. Either way, they're pretty nice... maybe slightly dainty looking compared to an Indy with a commando sole.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



I had a SA at the J. Crew Ludlow shop in Copley Sq. Boston tell me (with all the assurance and certainty he could muster) that the B/D stamped inside the boot meant that it was on the Barrie last and D width.

 

[Countingsheep]



My cigar indys are pretty beat up, i will try to get some pics up later

Gauntlet thrown. Challenge accepted... May the best (dirtiest?) man win

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



I'd love to get some whiskey Alden's, but man, nine hundred bones? I was also looking at the Leffot NST #8 Tanker pre-order. Does anyone have an opinion on this make-up?

My color 8 NST boots on the Plaza last from JGilbert may be my favorite boots. The NST design on a boot works great IMO.

 

[BeSpiffington]



My color 8 NST boots on the Plaza last from JGilbert may be my favorite boots. The NST design on a boot works great IMO.

Thanks Seven, I will take your good council under advisement.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



I totally agree and good point. I use bar on almost all my dress shoes and a few boots both odd and even eyelets. There are work arounds for odd numbered as pointed out recently and also on Ian's shoelace site. However for me I have found that having the laces come from under instead of out through the top of the last eyelets at the top is not a problem. They work just fine and no one is the wiser.
Personal opinion of course but I actually prefer speed hooks on boots and also a commando sole so they would be close to idea for me. And nothing wrong with #8 either. Not only is the 9.5D already gone but I just went back to check again just in case and 10.5D and 8.5D are also gone now. They are going quickly in the common sizes.

1. Thanks. I bar lace pretty much everything, even the eyelets portion of shell boots that have hooks. IMO, bar lacing provides a cleaner, less cluttered, presentation (which, I admit, may not be something everyone is going for). Reasonable minds can differ on bar lacing boots, or even some bluchers, but it seems almost a given that balmorals should be bar laced. But to each their own.

2. Commando soles on boots are great. Hooks are okay, but I would probably prefer all eyelets, at least for most boots.