The Official Alden Thread for 2021 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[adrs1157]

Do you mind posting pics?

 

[audog]

Do you mind posting pics?

+1 I've had very few, if any QC issues with Alden 1st's.

 

[scurvyfreedman]

+1 I've had very few, if any QC issues with Alden 1st's.

Same. I've bought 8 pairs of Aldens - 5 boots, 2 oxfords, one loafer. None of them have any issues. No missed stitches, loose eyelets, stains on leather, cuts or indents, squeaky shanks, etc. The only thing I've experienced is noisy tongues with my shell, but that's not QC.

 

[JSO1]

Why is it that my wife's 150 dollar Doc Martens have better quality control then my 575 dollar Alden boots? I am just very frustrated with Alden. I ordered a pair from The Shoe Mart (who have top notch customer service, really great people) and they were laughably bad. Never should have left Alden's factory like that, let alone left TSM's store. I asked for an exchange and they did it no questions asked and the exchanged boot, while better, still had QC issues. Is it too much to expect good QC from an almost 600 dollar product? Why can't Alden make things well? Are shoemakers quitting en masse and they have brand new people making shoes or something? I just don't understand. The QC issues with Alden are well documented as well, I can go on r/goodyearwelt and see countless examples.
I just don't understand what is going on with Alden. Allen Edmonds is the one that's supposed to have the QC issues but I have multiple pair of AEs that are great.

Pics? Alden makes mistakes too, but sometimes people have unrealistic expectations. Hard to know without seeing pics. I have $2k+ EGs which are not perfect, either. It’s a handmade product, so there is always going to be some variation.

 

[Thrift Couture]

If it’s not a glaring defect or something structural, I pretty much ignore it. I used to be very picky, but as I dove deeper down the rabbit hole I’ve learned no shoe at any price will be perfect. Hell they’re broken as soon as I get in the car and scrape my shoe on the gas pedal, or scuff them on a step. Lbvs! It’s all character now.

 

[Olof69]

Do you mind posting pics?

Not the OP, but I have had a few bad issues recently and they were not factory seconds.

Outsole trimmer, or stitcher, or both, gone berserk on 4011HC. There wasn't much welt left really and some stitches were stripped.



Awful clicking on 3912, leather was thin and brittle.

 

[adrs1157]

Not the OP, but I have had a few bad issues recently and they were not factory seconds.

Outsole trimmer, or stitcher, or both, gone berserk on 4011HC. There wasn't much welt left really and some stitches were stripped.

View attachment 1685785

Awful clicking on 3912, leather was thin and brittle.

View attachment 1685790

Yeesh, yep both of these are good examples of bad QC.

I have had only one pair with QC issues in my 7 or so years of owning Aldens. The nails holding the heel on were visible from the side of shoe in between the upper and welt (where a gap developed), indicating that the upper is torn in that section. Though it may or may not have left the factory that way.

Every other pair was flawless. I guess I'm just lucky.

 

[barutanseijin]

So what’s the best Alden in Burnished Tan calf?

 

[scurvyfreedman]

Not the OP, but I have had a few bad issues recently and they were not factory seconds.

Outsole trimmer, or stitcher, or both, gone berserk on 4011HC. There wasn't much welt left really and some stitches were stripped.

View attachment 1685785

Awful clicking on 3912, leather was thin and brittle.

View attachment 1685790

I think the shop should have rejected both pairs and not made them available for retail sale. I think you should have reject them too. I'm sorry if they were shipped to you as new shoes.

 

[audog]

So what’s the best Alden in Burnished Tan calf?

The pair I have on the B/S/T thread, of course

 

[barutanseijin]

The pair I have on the B/S/T thread, of course

They’re great but way too small for me. They did get me thinking about a pair in burnished tan, though.

 

[audog]

They’re great but way too small for me. They did get me thinking about a pair in burnished tan, though.

It is a great color, and ages beautifully. Takes on an almost glow.

 

[michaeliany]

New! And first wear today:
NST Tankers in brown scotch grain from Gentlemen’s Footwear:

Best welt joints ive ever had too.
Happy Friday, peeps!

 

[Sheepdog]

So what’s the best Alden in Burnished Tan calf?

I like my tan LHS a lot, but I sure do like how tan longwings look when someone posts a pair.

 

[Sheepdog]

Friday LHS - Brown calf for Harrison Limited.

Also a question: Dark or natural edges on shell LHS? (Edit: Color 8 shell)