ALDEN

[louisbosco]

@seawolf:

Thanks for your service! Where did you serve?

i did my stint in the singapore armed forces. conscript army but nonetheless a meaningful experience. would've done an bilateral with the marines but unfortunately wasn't my unit.

[arrow]

Nice collection Bl@ster!  Where did you get the captoes from?

Here's a George boot…

[Ragehaver]

Here are my wrecked-to-shit worn-to-death Roy boots:

After a 2 month trip to Alden:

[veloaudio]

Will Alden re-last boots? As in change from a Tribalance last to a narrower last?

^those look great by the way

[madmonday]

^ true story.

thanks for sharing those images.  they look awesome, what leather are they?

[Ragehaver]

@veloaudio:

Will Alden re-last boots? As in change from a Tribalance last to a narrower last?

^those look great by the way

I've heard it's even hard to get them to do basic changes like using a slightly different sole. A last change might be a big ask, but you never know.

@madmonday:

^ true story.

thanks for sharing those images.  they look awesome, what leather are they?

Yeah, I was happy with the results. They're Color 8 Chromexcel, if I remember correctly. The color might be a little off because they've had a hard life and I have no idea how to take good pictures.

[Chris]

How old are those?  I'm curious how long those plantation crepe soles last, and you clearly scraped every last mile out of them before the resole.  I admire that.

[madmonday]

@Ragehaver , i think you just stopped me from selling a pair of these.  I will now attempt to wear them & be half as awesome as you.

[Ragehaver]

@Chris:

How old are those?  I'm curious how long those plantation crepe soles last, and you clearly scraped every last mile out of them before the resole.  I admire that.

I bought them in 2010. I probably wore them 3-4 times a week (or more) for about 2 years and then on occation after that. I'd say the crepe sole held up longer than I expected, and the flexibility and comfort is worth the reduction in lifespan. They're dangerous as hell in the rain though.

I was alternating wears with a pair of wolverine 1kms. Those leather souls gave out long before the Roys, but throwing on some vibram pads is a bit easier than a full Alden restoration.

@madmonday:

@Ragehaver , i think you just stopped me from selling a pair of these.  I will now attempt to wear them & be half as awesome as you.

Roys out of retirement!

Found a couple older pics.

Pretty beat:

Actual hobo shoes, and this was probably a year or two before I sent them in.

[Broark]

Nice to see some images of the restoration service, I've got a pair of Indy boots that I'm going to drop off when I'm in DC for the same service. I've worn them pretty hard for a few years now, some stitching is starting to come loose actually.

[madmonday]

So you saved these for a day or two

Have to be honest & say I'm itching for a pair of White's classic work boots

[Ragehaver]

@madmonday:

Have to be honest & say I'm itching for a pair of White's classic work boots

Yeah whites classics are awesome but you can't deny the comfort on those Roys. Totally different look, so it makes sense if you want something more rugged.

[madmonday]

true, true . . . I should of grabbed these

http://epauletnewyork.com/products/blackjack-plain-toe-boot-in-black-lady-calfskin

or

http://www.alden-of-carmel.com/Shoes-Brown_High_Boot_213.htm

or

http://www.alden-of-carmel.com/Shoes-Black_High_Boot_214.htm

will put images tonight, maybe

[superfuzz]

@madmonday You might want to check out Nick's Boots. They are going to start making a line of low heeled boots that remind me a lot of Alden, but I bet the quality will be way better. From everything I've heard Alden QC has gone way done, while the price keeps going up.

[madmonday]

thanks for the recommendation.

I actually think I'm going to go another route & grab a pair of White's come this summer.

[superfuzz]

Check out Nick's before you go the White's route. I've only heard good things…

[tigerpac]

The death of Alden qc is a bit overplayed imo.  Not that they're aren't issues.  But they still make some very high quality models.

[seawolf]

Having owned both White's and Wesco's, there's no comparison. Wesco, to me, is a better boot in every way.

Also, this….

@tigerpac:

The death of Alden qc is a bit overplayed imo.  Not that they're aren't issues.  But they still make some very high quality models.

[superfuzz]

I actually haven't had any problems with Alden QC issues on any of my pairs, so I shouldn't spread that rumor. I haven't bought a pair in a few years tho.

[rocket]