The Official Alden Thread for 2024 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[tuna roll]

my cobbler is a bit of an opinionated prima dona "artisan" though...with prices to match. 😅

hahaha loved this

 

[acconrad]

Do you own other boots? I can’t see how this is an Indy issue as opposed to a boot issue. Nine eyes/hooks seem to be pretty standard for boots.

It does take me a little longer but certainly doesn’t add so much time to rise to the level of being a PITA. Maybe I’ve just gotten used to the extra 30-45 seconds.

I do and maybe its the number of eyelets (I have chukkas with fewer eyelets which are easier) or maybe its the stiffness of the cordovan that makes it tough for them to get in and out of but its such a pain for what amounts to a walk to/from a restaurant/holiday party/outing. For long walks outdoors I'm just going to wear either my hiking sneakers or my Bean Boots.

 

[Shawnc]

@Hisheirness23, will be curious on what you decide on the Grant splits. For me, I make no distinction between Alden ‘rates’ and flat welt splits. They are equally hard to find.

I do and maybe its the number of eyelets (I have chukkas with fewer eyelets which are easier) or maybe its the stiffness of the cordovan that makes it tough for them to get in and out of but its such a pain for what amounts to a walk to/from a restaurant/holiday party/outing. For long walks outdoors I'm just going to wear either my hiking sneakers or my Bean Boots.

Yeah this makes sense. I think I took the mention of Indy’s far too literally. For me, while I do love shell boots, I would not go back to all eyes and flat laces as they only add to the hassle. Hooks and round laces work well for me. If that’s not worth the effort, I absolutely agree that chukka’s are a nice alternative.

Speaking of splits, welts and laces, Cigar splits for me today. Outdoor, indoor, and a shot that shows how I like my boots to look……..




And lastly, my 9D 379x shoes from Leffot landed today. Definitely could not have comfortably gone with my Barrie 8.5D. They have a little room but should be good with medium weight socks…….


I’ve been wanting Yenni’s flat welt Dovers for some time and these will fit the bill just fine. Not unlined but I like the 6 exposed eyes. Quite pleased.

 

[schraiber]

When I leave the house for a walk with my lady-friend, she jams her feet into an always-tied pair of sneakers and is out the door in 5 seconds. Meanwhile I'll be taking 5 minutes to get on my boots. Loosen the laces to get my feet in, tighten them back up, hook the speed hooks, start all over again because the lace ends are different lengths... I just got my first pair of chelsea boots (Chelsea VIII's from C&J) and I definitely see the appeal. They're not something I'd want to walk long distance in, but for a quick step out they're the cat's meow.

I am famous among everyone I know for taking twenty years to put on my shoes. It's just life.

 

[ProfilaBinding]

@Shawnc I do the exact same thing to my boot heels but I don't know what causes it. I'm not sure if it's my office chair or my car.

 

[Shawnc]

@Shawnc I do the exact same thing to my boot heels but I don't know what causes it. I'm not sure if it's my office chair or my car.

Never really thought about the office chair. I always assumed it was the car……..

 

[Hisheirness23]

@Hisheirness23, will be curious on what you decide on the Grant splits. For me, I make no distinction between Alden ‘rates’ and flat welt splits. They are equally hard to find.



Yeah this makes sense. I think I took the mention of Indy’s far too literally. For me, while I do love shell boots, I would not go back to all eyes and flat laces as they only add to the hassle. Hooks and round laces work well for me. If that’s not worth the effort, I absolutely agree that chukka’s are a nice alternative.

Speaking of splits, welts and laces, Cigar splits for me today. Outdoor, indoor, and a shot that shows how I like my boots to look……..

View attachment 2293093 View attachment 2293095
View attachment 2293101

And lastly, my 9D 379x shoes from Leffot landed today. Definitely could not have comfortably gone with my Barrie 8.5D. They have a little room but should be good with medium weight socks…….
View attachment 2293103 View attachment 2293111 View attachment 2293109

I’ve been wanting Yenni’s flat welt Dovers for some time and these will fit the bill just fine. Not unlined but I like the 6 exposed eyes. Quite pleased.

Sherman Bros heard back from Alden and they informed him that both conversions can be done with neither being more or less intrusive to perform. Basically, he said Alden claims there won't be any impacts to the boot's construction or future resole integrity if they were to make both flat welt or both reverse welt.

With that said, I'm leaning towards the flat welt since that's how this make-up was originally intended. I think the combination with flat welt and Grant Last gives the boot a sleek toe and the flat welt would help keep the focus on the NST stitches. Plus, I see many NST boots on reverse welt, so having a flat welt would look a little different and also be different enough from an Indy handsewn boot that likely would have a storm or reverse welt.

 

[Mghart]

@Hisheirness23, will be curious on what you decide on the Grant splits. For me, I make no distinction between Alden ‘rates’ and flat welt splits. They are equally hard to find.



Yeah this makes sense. I think I took the mention of Indy’s far too literally. For me, while I do love shell boots, I would not go back to all eyes and flat laces as they only add to the hassle. Hooks and round laces work well for me. If that’s not worth the effort, I absolutely agree that chukka’s are a nice alternative.

Speaking of splits, welts and laces, Cigar splits for me today. Outdoor, indoor, and a shot that shows how I like my boots to look……..

View attachment 2293093 View attachment 2293095
View attachment 2293101

And lastly, my 9D 379x shoes from Leffot landed today. Definitely could not have comfortably gone with my Barrie 8.5D. They have a little room but should be good with medium weight socks…….
View attachment 2293103 View attachment 2293111 View attachment 2293109

I’ve been wanting Yenni’s flat welt Dovers for some time and these will fit the bill just fine. Not unlined but I like the 6 exposed eyes. Quite pleased.

Thanks for the follow up of the military last shoes. Leffot had a black shell captoe version that looked equally nice. So TTS seems to be the ticket. How would you compare the heel and forefoot in relation to the TB last?

 

[ProfilaBinding]

I think it's more unusual for a flat welt to be on a boot, so I would go with that one as well.

 

[tuna roll]

@Hisheirness23, will be curious on what you decide on the Grant splits. For me, I make no distinction between Alden ‘rates’ and flat welt splits. They are equally hard to find.



Yeah this makes sense. I think I took the mention of Indy’s far too literally. For me, while I do love shell boots, I would not go back to all eyes and flat laces as they only add to the hassle. Hooks and round laces work well for me. If that’s not worth the effort, I absolutely agree that chukka’s are a nice alternative.

Speaking of splits, welts and laces, Cigar splits for me today. Outdoor, indoor, and a shot that shows how I like my boots to look……..

View attachment 2293093 View attachment 2293095
View attachment 2293101

And lastly, my 9D 379x shoes from Leffot landed today. Definitely could not have comfortably gone with my Barrie 8.5D. They have a little room but should be good with medium weight socks…….
View attachment 2293103 View attachment 2293111 View attachment 2293109

I’ve been wanting Yenni’s flat welt Dovers for some time and these will fit the bill just fine. Not unlined but I like the 6 exposed eyes. Quite pleased.

Oh I love this make up (the 379x one)! Should look fantastic after a few wears when the rolls start rolling

 

[coolarrow]

Was expecting a snow/rain mix that never happened so I went with the 6 eyelet boots in #8:

 

[Shawnc]

Thanks for the follow up of the military last shoes. Leffot had a black shell captoe version that looked equally nice. So TTS seems to be the ticket. How would you compare the heel and forefoot in relation to the TB last?

It really is a nice shoe. I like exposed eyes on my casual/biz-casual shoes so generally I ship them off to Aram before I even wear them. Saved a hundred or so on that and I really like the six eyes. I can definitely see the Black being pretty cool as well. Heel fit is similar to TB but the toe area actually feels a little more roomy than TB (never thought I’d say that) but it could be apples to oranges with the difference in size. Bottom line is I do think TTS is best but with thin socks, probably could have squeezed into Barrie.

Oh I love this make up (the 379x one)! Should look fantastic after a few wears when the rolls start rolling

Ha. I crease my shoes by looking at them. It won’t take much. Thanks.

Finally legit boot weather in the Burg. Loving the wings. Outdoor, indoor, and well, you know…….







Happy Friday gang. Have a great weekend!

 

[Markintosh]

When I leave the house for a walk with my lady-friend, she jams her feet into an always-tied pair of sneakers and is out the door in 5 seconds. Meanwhile I'll be taking 5 minutes to get on my boots. Loosen the laces to get my feet in, tighten them back up, hook the speed hooks, start all over again because the lace ends are different lengths... I just got my first pair of chelsea boots (Chelsea VIII's from C&J) and I definitely see the appeal. They're not something I'd want to walk long distance in, but for a quick step out they're the cat's meow.

Take up golf, then you can walk in your golf shoes...LOL

 

[Don L]

 

[JTMD]

Back to the V-tips in cigar shell on the Modified last today...