ALDEN

[summ3rhays]

Thanks everyone!

[Chris]

Using shoe trees will reduce creases and wrinkles.  Put them in at the end of the day after you take them off and give the shoes a quick wipe down with a damp cloth to remove the day's grime.  Takes only a few minutes and will help keep them looking good and lasting longer.  Trees also help your footwear hold their shape and allow the interior to dry out faster, which keeps the leather from breaking down as quickly over time.

We pay hundreds of dollars for nice shoes and boots, why not spend an extra $20 to preserve them?

[tigerpac]

mac method for shell care is amazingly effective.

http://theagatineeyelet.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/the-mac-method/

[Finn666]

^dope, going to try this pretty soon…only need a horsehair brush!

[tigerpac]

Before I tried it I thought there was no way to make em shine like all the posts without any product, but man its crazy how well it works.

I found a little bit of a more abrasive cloth at the end works best too - I use the tricker's clothes but whatever would work

[grandmasterben]

I don't think ill ever tire of looking at shell cordovan boots. I really like seeing the creases too, it seriously looks out of this world.

[madmonday]

preach Chris, shoe trees & routine maintenance are so under-rated.  protect your investment, unless of course your goal is to wreck your goods.

[joona]

Personally I don't feel that there is a need to apply any wax/polish to shell cordovan after every 15 wear or so. I much prefer the color to age naturally. But then again, I'm not after highest possible shine. I only apply a thin coat of venetian creme once in a year or two. Other than that, I just brush dust / wipe dirt of after use (and keep the shoes in shoetrees when not using them).

[madmonday]

joona, i don't think any leather requires wax/polish after 15 or so wears. shoetrees or letting your shoes "air out" & cleaning your shoes/boots works wonders.

i clean with a shoebrush, but that's just cause old habits die hard & it's just easy to give my shoes a dusting off at the end of a day & then leaving them out to air out & them put them away in their boxes in a day or so after letting them "dry".  just my process sure for every guy there is a different process

[louisbosco]

honestly i find shell cordovan one of the easiest leather to take care of. because of how they're being processed, there's so much oil in the leather already, so care would be reduced to the minimal. for me it's just maybe biannual polishing and waxing, saphir reno, wax, and deer bone and buffing after..

[tigerpac]

Yeah I keep delaying using any polish, want them to lighten up anyway.

[Finn666]

Alden Black Shell Cordovan…

[Cutlasshound]

Very nice old chap!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tigerpac]

See, no need to wear boots ALL the time

[wariosss]

Was wondering if someone can help with sizing issues. I should start by saying that I have fairly wide feet.
Generally I wear a 42 in european size (equivalent to 8.5/9 US).
I recently bought a pair of Viberg Boots in size 8 in the 110 last that fit well.
I am planning to buy a pair of Alden and decided to go for a model in the Barrie last.
Was thinking of taking a size 8.5D.
Anyone has any similar expirience? or advice?

[Giles]

D will not be wide enough, go E

[seawolf]

I have fairly wide feet and D in Barrie last is perfect for me. YMMV though. The D in Trubalance last is actually a bit too wide for me. It's a sloppy last shape for my foot type. Barrie is my preferred last. In Grant last, I wear an E and it works pretty well for me.

[Giles]

OK, let me elaborate.  I have wide feet.  When I used to wear Alden, I always had to go at E whatever the last.

[wunnaz]

How about the alden size for 8.5E Redwing & 8-fitting 5 trickers?

[tigerpac]

^Which last wunnaz?  They can vary a lot