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

[mcarthur]



A stranger sitting next to me this morning at starbucks covertly snagged a pic of my alden boots. I dont see any post here so here they are in their parking lot glory

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

nephew,
your wt boots are worthy of a picture. enjoy wearing

 

[mcarthur]



Tankers today.

nephew,
you wear them well

 

[mcarthur]



It's been a while since I've purchased new Aldens. My pre-order Leffot Greenwich boot in reverse chamois finally arrived today. Not sure if I ever knew they were all eyelets so need to start getting use to no speedhooks!

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

nephew,
wear only in good health

 

[budapest12]

TSA is such a joke. They're worried about travelers taking their shoes off, while in a GSA test over the Summer they had an 80% fail rate when they sent test through the screening points with explosives. 80% fail rate. Think about that next time they want you to take your shoes off, the guy behind you may have C4 in his bag... but they won't find it! Of course, they probably missed the explosives because they were too busy rummaging through your luggage looking for electronics they could swipe.

Sorry for the rant, just the uselessness of the TSA makes me mad. Good tax money down the drain.

Couldn't agree more. That said, I don't look to antagonize, or be perceived as antagonizing, these guys. They've got enough trouble doing their jobs without being distracted by guys with nice shoes predicting what will set off the metal detectors.

 

[mcarthur]



Epaulet Alt Wein from 2013

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

nephew,
looking good

 

[mcarthur]



Color 8 Leathersoul wingtip
Bresciani OTC

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

The airport is interesting. I have to remove my Aldens every time through TSA pre. First world problems

nephew,
looking well in your wt

 

[mcarthur]

cigar st
argyles otc

 

[z8k1n]

cigar st
argyles otc

Beautiful shoes and incredible shine Uncle

 

[Alpina]

Couldn't agree more. That said, I don't look to antagonize, or be perceived as antagonizing, these guys. They've got enough trouble doing their jobs without being distracted by guys with nice shoes predicting what will set off the metal detectors.

Right. Let's keep in mind the guy with the shoes didn't start the issue. He's taking his shoes off because he knows he will have to. This makes everyone's day smoother. He's not trying to be elitist, or say anything about the quality of his shoes. The TSA "agent" is blowing up because he's spotted what he thinks is another out of touch traveler that must be put in line. Let's assume it's the not the first day on the job for the aforementioned "agent". Can we then also assume he hasn't seen at least one other Pre-check person's shoes trip the metal detector before? Why is he then basically antagonizing himself? Because he sucks at his job.

 

[MT1982]

Thank you for the tip! I'll do some investigating!

I have a couple random questions:

1. On the Leffot cap toe boots I originally posted, the cap has the row of circular cutouts, what is this called? Another shoe styling term I'm not sure of is the zig-zag cut edges such as on Alden's LWBs, what is that called?
2. My 403 indy boots are in need of a resoling (the black heal has worn through to show the nail heads), however there are several places where the sole is detaching from the leather uppers, is this also fixed in the resoling process? These boots have been worn extremely hard for 4-5 years. What's the correct way to go about getting these resoled/repaired from Alden?
3. My 403s have been extremely versatile, through regular use and cleaning they have become almost like a color #8 chromexcel. The color and shine of them made it very easy for me to dress them up (with some nice chinos and a button down) or wear them casually. In the absence of natty chromexcel cap toe boots I'm thinking about picking up the natural chromexcel indy boots. Will these be as versatile?

1. Another person answered already
2. Should be, but we'd probably need pics. You can usually just get a new heel cap put on if that's the only part worn down, but it sounds like you need a full resole. If you want it done by Alden then you can go here - http://www.aldenshoe.com/DrawOnePage.aspx?PageID=12 and request information. Some folks on the forum can probably provide other reputable cobblers that can do it as well if you wanted to go that route.
3. Yeah, I think natty CXL Indy's would work with chino's and a button down (to me that's a casual look, so the casual boots work fine). Another option would be a plain toe like this one - https://aldenshop.com/Store/DrawProducts.aspx?CategoryID=176&ParentID=4&PageID=&Action=

 

[mcarthur]



Beautiful shoes and incredible shine Uncle

nephew,
thank you
use the mac method it works

 

[smmrfld]

No need at all to take off your Aldens if you have TSA Pre. Just keep them on, point at the other scanner (not the metal detector) and go through when told. I fly weekly and haven't taken off my Aldens in at least a year...maybe two.

 

[aldennoob]

They require me to take off the Leffot naval boot yesterday @JFK....also at the statue of liberty

 

[aldennoob]

duplicated

 

[SouthNarc]



Right.  Let's keep in mind the guy with the shoes didn't start the issue.  He's taking his shoes off because he knows he will have to.  This makes everyone's day smoother.  He's not trying to be elitist, or say anything about the quality of his shoes.  The TSA "agent" is blowing up because he's spotted what he thinks is another out of touch traveler that must be put in line.  Let's assume it's the not the first day on the job for the aforementioned "agent".  Can we then also assume he hasn't seen at least one other Pre-check person's shoes trip the metal detector before?  Why is he then basically antagonizing himself?  Because he sucks at his job.  

This. I'm not going to antagonize anybody. I'm also not going to put up with being bullied by anyone and that includes TSA.