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

Just received my Alden Indy Officer boots from Epaulet.

Originally Posted by Alias

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Just received my Context tankers today. They're pretty nice, although the price is a bit steep. Sucks to read about problems people are having with their Aldens, but I'll keep a close eye on mine as I wear them in.

I'm a perfect 7D US and contrary to suggestions ordered my boots in size 7. The boots fit very well. I feel if I had ordered a 6.5 they would be unbearably snug. But that's just me.

Nice choice, I'm actually wearing my Context Tankers today. I have had a little bit of the edges of the commando sole coming unglued slightly but only on the sides a little which is probably from me dragging it on the carpet as I sit at my desk at work. I don't think it's anything that would cause any issues long term. Overall these boots have broken in beautifully, I'm sure you'll enjoy them.

Those are awesome. The site says they only made 12 units?

Thanks Trapp . Yes they only made twelve, though Mike tells me they're probably the most popular boot he's ever had, so I'm sure they will be releasing more in the future.

As requested, more pics of the Cigar Indys:

Originally Posted by Alias

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Just received my Context tankers today. They're pretty nice, although the price is a bit steep. Sucks to read about problems people are having with their Aldens, but I'll keep a close eye on mine as I wear them in.

The back tab on my tankers broke the second time I wore them. They don't seem to be as good of quality as my other Alden boots. Context has been great in accommodating me (offered to send them to Alden for repair or reimburse me for local repair). But, sending them back to Alden will take about a month and I would rather have Alden to it than anyone local. It sucks because I had to wait over a month to get them in the first place.

Recommendation: don't use the tab to pull the boots on. They are not reinforced enough for that. Kind-of disappointing since they are a 'tanker'.

Originally Posted by WatchGuy

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The back tab on my tankers broke the second time I wore them. They don't seem to be as good of quality as my other Alden boots. Context has been great in accommodating me (offered to send them to Alden for repair or reimburse me for local repair). But, sending them back to Alden will take about a month and I would rather have Alden to it than anyone local. It sucks because I had to wait over a month to get them in the first place.

Recommendation: don't use the tab to pull the boots on. They are not reinforced enough for that. Kind-of disappointing since they are a 'tanker'.


Jesus. This type of stuff should not be happening with $600-$700 boots. So basically, the pull tab on the tankers is non-fuctional and just for appearances.

The cigars look superb. WatchGuy, can you confirm what last those are on? People are wondering.

Disappointing to hear all these little quality complaints which should never happen with shoes of this caliber.

I use the pull tabs on my Tankers and mine are just fine, though I have heard the same complaint about some of the LSH Jump boots that did the same thing so I guess it does happen.


Overall Alden quality has always been a little spotty in my experience but overall the boots are nice and the small issues can often be overlooked or easily corrected. My current Tankers and Indy boots are pretty good, but I've seen and handled some that have had their problems. I once sent back two pair of Indy boots for pretty bad quality issues and that turned me off Alden for a solid year or so before I finally gave them another try and then only because I was able to buy them in person and inspect them first.

Still, other than White's Semi-Dress, no other boot visually appeals to be as much as Alden so I'll keep buying them with the knowledge that every now and again a small quality issue is likely to pop up. From what I hear if you send them back to Alden they are very good about taking care of any issues.

Originally Posted by Arizor

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Just received my Alden Indy Officer boots from Epaulet.


These are very nice.

Originally Posted by slide13

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From what I hear if you send them back to Alden they are very good about taking care of any issues.

I've always heard great things about Alden's customer service, so props in that department.

I guess I just don't understand why the same types of issues keep coming up. Some loose stitching here or there is to be expected. But if the pull tabs on the jumpers and tankers break with enough consistency (for at least one person on the second wear?), then why doesn't Alden address this with some re-design? Re-inforce the pull tabs. If that doesn't solve it, stop offering boots with shoddy tabs (just leave them off.) I think it's crap to have pull tabs that break with apparent consistency.

Same thing with the commando sole. Either do it right or stop offering that feature.

Alden makes great shoes and boots, which is the only reason why I care. I just think these issues are things I'd expect in a boot that retails for $75 - $200, not at Alden's price-point.

I've had the Indy's for two years and never had a problem.

Did they have commando soles and a pull tab?

Yeah, sorry about that. He says that they should glue their soles well, and not even bother stitching them, as the glue will hold better than a single stitching around the edge. There is no problem with their being stitched as well, but a bad glue job with stitching means you have to pull off the commando sole well before it is actually worn out if it starts to pull away from the sole, which apparently it does pretty regularly. As far as I can tell, it is a standard leather sole underneath the commando, and when it wears or pulls away you could just remove it, but I'm not sure and both my pairs are currently at the cobbler. I'll look when they come back tomorrow. Edit: It's true that on my monks, the commando sole appears to be stitched/glued over a regular leather sole, but that is not the case with the Ultimate Indys from Leathersoul. The toe of the commando actually goes back under the leather at the toe, which keeps the toe from peeling away from the sole if you catch it on a carpet or something. It can't just peel off, it can only be removed in order to be replaced with another of the same type of sole. I'd forgotten that while I didn't have the boot right in front of me. They came back from the cobbler today and they look great. I'd rather have a $20 repair than have them back at Alden for a month.

Originally Posted by Trapp

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^Thanks for the input. It's pretty disappointing considering the cost of these shoes. Are the commando soles simply added to their standard leather outsole? I'm wondering if the commando's can be pulled off, leaving a functional leather sole beneath (and saving the cost of a re-sole). I obviously wouldn't do it unless they become a problem, but in the event that they do start behaving as your's are, I'll want to consider options. What about Aldens does your cobbler complains about? You didn't finish the thought. Anyone else have problems with the commando soles? I seem to remember seeing a lot of praise for them a while back, and I also remember the Alden Shop in SF pushing them for the chukkas.

Originally Posted by WatchGuy

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Those are beautiful boots.