Gradu-aldens! +Review/Pics!

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:39 pm

So I'm graduating high school this coming Thursday and my parents offered me the choice of what gift I wanted, within their price restrictions. Well the Aldens fit the bill, and I quickly picked them over a new cell phone (because my RAZR is @#$%). Today or tomorrow I'm going to get measured at a shop that sells orthopedic shoes. I'm thinking I also want to do one of those, "trace-your-foot and measure-this" guides online and see if it was close to the ortho measurement, just for fun. Obviously I'll go with the measurement, but we'll see how these online things compare, and how big a mistake I'd have made if I went with one of those.

How long does shipping take? From San Francisco to the LA Area...?

Is there a wait for shipping - ie. "they'll ship in like 4 months"?

In Christ,
Shane

Herr Jones · Post by **Herr Jones** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:49 pm

Less than five days, three if you're lucky.

I'm 20 min out of L.A.

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:53 pm

Congratulations, Shane! You're going to love the Aldens, just remember to rotate them around with whatever other shoes you have regularly, and that they are not really "adventure" boots, per se. Enjoy!

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:04 pm

Shane, Congrats on your GED!

Seriously, congrats on surviving high school. I think you're smart getting measured up for your Aldens. Ask the orthopedic shoe store you're going to if they can order Aldens. It may make things easier. Are you going for pink Aldens to match your bag?

Bogie1943 · Post by **Bogie1943** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm

Barely out of high school and already a scoundrel, well done. My first Aldens were a birthday gift and they are a great one at that. I have a Razor as well.... yuck but I would take the Aldens over a new cell any day. Aldens are a much better choice anyway!

Congrads!

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:35 am

binkmeisterRick wrote:Shane, Congrats on your GED! Seriously, congrats on surviving high school. I think you're smart getting measured up for your Aldens. Ask the orthopedic shoe store you're going to if they can order Aldens. It may make things easier. Are you going for pink Aldens to match your bag?

Ask if they can order them? Maybe I will... I was going to just order them online with the 2 day shipping. We'll see when I go there. Maybe just regular color Aldens, with pink insides. Like Jerry's Wested.

Bogie - thanks man! Yeah I hate my Razr... it doesn't work very well and can't hold a charge. Oh well. I am really looking forward to the shoes though. I'm pumped!

In Christ,
Shane

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:37 am

IndyMcFly wrote:Ask if they can order them? Maybe I will... I was going to just order them online with the 2 day shipping. We'll see when I go there. Maybe just regular color Aldens, with pink insides. Like Jerry's Wested.

The reason I suggest you getting them through the shoe store is that they should make sure the shoes fit you right before leaving the store with them. (That's how I got my Aldens.) If for some reason they don't fit right (which they should if they measured you properly for them) then the store should take care of getting a replacement pair at no extra cost to you. I'm sure they could get you the pink ones, too.

As for the razor, I've had great luck with the desposable Bic ones and a good shaving brush. Our Shane is growing up. *sniff*

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:45 pm

IndyMcFly wrote:Maybe just regular color Aldens, with pink insides. Like Jerry's Wested.

Congratulation, Shane! And yeah, having a middle man seems counter-intuitive, but in this case the orthopedic store can MAKE SURE they are a good fit, and exchange them for you if there's a problem.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:51 pm

Indiana Jerry wrote:Congratulation, Shane!

What, just one congratulation? I gave him two, giving him congratulations.

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:20 pm

Maybe he meant congraduation...? I usually say "conflatulations" to people, and see if they catch it.

I'm going today to get measured and all that. I'm not sure if they will sell Aldens - it's just a shoe store in a mall nearby that does orthopedic shoes, as well as... regular.... shoes?

In Christ,
Shane

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:00 pm

No, no, I meant conflagration. My bad, sorry about the typo.

(Flame on!)

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:03 pm

usually say "conflatulations" to people, and see if they catch it.

Ha ! I like that, Ill have to remember that one ! Congrats by the way !

Perceval · Post by **Perceval** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:12 pm

Congrats Shane!!

Did you buy your Aldens yet?

Be sure to post pics when you get them!

~Perceval

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:53 pm

Ordered them today! Went and got measured and came home to order them. Had a difficult time getting the width letter out of the measurer. She just kept saying, "Yeah... you're wide." Then I'd say, "Oh... okay... what letter? Like A, B, C, D? EE?" and she'd go "W." (That's HUGE.

) And I said "So like a C?" And she said, "Yeah. Just tell him you're wide and he'll do it all." So I said, "Okay... a C." "Yeah. Wide." "Okay."

lol I told her I was getting Aldens and the old woman said, "Oh my God!" and said that she couldn't order them there because they don't carry them.

So I did the 2 day air shipping. Hopefully I'll have these by Thursday. *crosses fingers*

Excited!!

In Christ,
Shane

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:07 pm

Good luck, Shane!

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:12 pm

Thanks! I'm gonna need it! I just looked at the Alden width guide and "wide" is like D through E! But she did say C... so... I'll post pics when they show up!

In Christ,
Shane

Falcon · Post by **Falcon** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:11 pm

I wear a "D". I tried a "C" size years ago, and it was too narrow. To my understanding, anything below a "D" is narrow, and anything above is wide.

Indiana Kev · Post by **Indiana Kev** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:25 pm

Shane - Congrats on graduating! I hope the aldens work out for you!

So are you debating on what gear to get when you finish college? Then you can get your masters and get another piece of gear...then PHD...then law school...then Medical school.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:29 am

Falcon wrote:I wear a "D". I tried a "C" size years ago, and it was too narrow. To my understanding, anything below a "D" is narrow, and anything above is wide.

See, I wear a D, but I noticed when I squeeze them into a C, I get way more attention.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:02 am

Yeah, but not GOOD attention.

Falcon · Post by **Falcon** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:40 pm

Indiana Jerry wrote:
Falcon wrote:I wear a "D". I tried a "C" size years ago, and it was too narrow. To my understanding, anything below a "D" is narrow, and anything above is wide.
See, I wear a D, but I noticed when I squeeze them into a C, I get way more attention.

I'll just take your word for it. No pics please.

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:04 pm

Shipped today! UPS 2nd Day Air. Should be here Thursday afternoon, if not earlier.

In Christ,
Shane

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:20 am

Falcon wrote:
Indiana Jerry wrote:
Falcon wrote:I wear a "D". I tried a "C" size years ago, and it was too narrow. To my understanding, anything below a "D" is narrow, and anything above is wide.
See, I wear a D, but I noticed when I squeeze them into a C, I get way more attention.
I'll just take your word for it. No pics please.

hahaha...no, I wouldn't take the joke that far. We've already corrupted young McFly much to much...(far too far?)

IndyBlues · Post by **IndyBlues** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:43 am

Can't wait to see your new Aldens, McFly. I'm curious about the heel construction of the new ones. I recently scored a used pair on Ebay, and the heel is slightly different than on my other pair of Aldens.
The first pair had would shims between the heel and sole, and the more recent(used) pair have a hard rubber spacer between the heel and sole.
'Blues

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:42 pm

A rubber spacer? Does it look at all rebuilt, or as originally manufactured?

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:44 pm

Sounds like they have definitely been reheeled by a cobbler before you purchased them, Blues. Even rebuilt by Aldens, they use the wood inserts between the rubber heel and the sole.

Regards! Michaelson

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:15 pm

They're here!! I have them on now, and I'm pretty sure they fit. I have on socks that are kind of thick, and the shoes feel snug. They're not *tight* like I can't move around in them, but they're not loose. They feel pretty comfortable, and I really like the color. It's not orange... it's like a medium brown with some red. I would say... burnt umber + russet.

Interesting... the bottom of the shoe looks (and feels) like it's rubber, and not leather. Maybe I'll have a little more traction than with older shoes? (Hey! They look like they're already shaping to my foot...!) It has a sort of dark brown cork pattern on it. It's definitely not slippery at all. I'll post pics later.

These shoes don't look good with shorts at all... tonight I'm wearing them to Graduation and Grad Nite and I'll take pics before I leave. I'll have Magnoli pants on.

$\:D/$

I think I made a nice investment.

Oh, also, I noticed the tongue slides on my right shoe. Guess they haven't fixed that one yet. *sniff sniff*

Mmmm... leather. I love the smell of new gear in the morning.

In Christ,
Shane

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:16 pm

GOOD for you, Shane! I'm pleased for you. Congratulations for making it through to graduation!

It takes a lot of guts these days to stay the course. I'm proud of you!

Regards! Michaelson

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:16 pm

....so......are you saying you like them ?

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:19 pm

No, but they won't come off my feet...

In Christ,
Shane

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:23 pm

butter...lots and lots of butter ! They will just slide off !
Im glad you like them young man !

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:27 pm

Ripper wrote:butter...lots and lots of butter ! They will just slide off !

Pecards is better, but hey, use what you like in leather dressing.

Regards! Michaelson

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:35 pm

I think I need some more dark brown socks.

Hmmm...

These shoes rock! Ok I'm off the computer now to do some... field... work... I'll post a review tomorrow after a day in them. Would you guys recommend thin socks with these, or thick ones?

In Christ,
Shane

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:39 pm

Alright, Shane! Sounds like you've got a good fitting pair of shoes!

If you wear thicker socks with them, the will feel a bit more snug. I usually wear dress socks or a medium weight sock with mine.

As for the tongue slippage (as far as your shies are concerned) you can take them to an experienced cobbler and have him tack them in place. I've done so on both my Aldens and it works like a charm. Essentially, a quick couple of stiches along the top seam of the shoe along the ankle does the trick, and stiching on top of the existing stitch makes it unnoticeable.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:39 pm

Regular.

Regards,
Swindiana

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:49 pm

Shane, the yellow is where I had the tongue of my Aldens stiched. (I stole someone's Alden pic, sorry.

) It's right on an existing seam, so it blends in, especially when you start polishing your shoes. The only difference is that mine are stitched on the INSIDE part of the shoe, not the outside as shown here.

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:54 pm

Doesnt that make them hard to put on ?

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:14 pm

Nope. All you're doing is tacking in the top corner of the tongue to the top of the boot. You're not sewing up the entire tongue. It's only stiched on the one side/corner, so you can easily pull it back to slip your foot in. No problemo.

Perceval · Post by **Perceval** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:43 am

Good to hear that you got your Aldens Shane!
Maybe you could post a few pics

~Perceval

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:16 pm

So I wore them Thursday night to graduation, and all through "Grad Nite" at Disneyland. Grad night went from 12:00 am - 5:30 am. (I don't normally stay up that late, ever.) But our bus left without anybody on the bus and the principal had to call in a new one, so we ended up getting home around 8, instead of 6. So I wore the Aldens from 6:00 pm Thursday until 8:00 am Friday.

My feet did hurt at the end of the whole thing, but not badly - I think they just hurt from a combination of me being tired, and having walked around all day in new shoes. I wore them last night too and they didn't hurt as bad. Is the heel supposed to be taller than the front of the shoe? I can lean back and stand on just the heel, or lean forward and be on the heel and the front of the shoe, but have the heel off the ground in the back. Is that normal? Kinda weird. For now, they kind of irritate the tops of my feet near my toes, but I think that's because they don't bend much yet.

Also, I got plenty of compliments on them, which was nice to hear, and I'm getting used to the color.

In Christ,
Shane

EDIT: Pics!
Inside, w/ flash
Outside, in shade
Outside, in sunlight

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 4:02 pm

Those look great! My feet hurt too when I initially got mine, but once I broke the shoes in, they were some of the most comfy shoes I've ever worn. Over time, everything will work out with them comfort wise. Just remember to rotate 'em around with other shoes you own, or you'll be sending them away for a re-heel before you know it.

Canyon · Post by **Canyon** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:14 pm

IndyMcFly, congrats on the new boots.

They look wonderful.

Perceval · Post by **Perceval** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:34 pm

Great looking boots Shane!
The color looks great, I'm sure they will become darker with use.

~Perceval

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:57 pm

Somtimes. I found that mine got darker after I gave them a rubbing down with shoe MGK and brown Pecards.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:00 am

IndyMcFly wrote:So I wore the Aldens from 6:00 pm Thursday until 8:00 am Friday.

Well, that's a good way to break in your feet, anyway.

Glad you survived!

Now that you've worn them all night...did they feel heavy to you? And in a couple weeks...did you get used to that?

They ARE heavier than anything aside from some work boots I used to have.

Separate 'new Alden owner' question...did they COME WITH extra laces? I tend to 'saw' the laces against the speed hooks when I lace up, and it EATS the laces. If you do the same, keep an eye on the laces so you'll know in advance when to call Aldens for replacements.

Wear them in good health, Graduate!

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:14 am

Yeah, they did come with spare laces! AND I have another spare pair... don't ask how I got them.

Oh, and yes they did feel heavy, but only the next morning when I realized how sore my thighs were.

In Christ,
Shane

mufflowne · Post by **mufflowne** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:27 am

Hey! Congrats McFly bro, those boots make a man.

Hey, this is kind of a stupid question, but is there a pic of Jerry's pink-lined wested?...haha

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:41 am

I have glossy photos of it, but they will cost you $20 each.

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:44 am

I have free ones... here ya go.

It's a nice Miami Vice pink - hard to see in the shadows though. We gave him trouble for not taking pics in natural light. In some pics it even looks gray! You should see the turqoise liner in his AB.

In Christ,
Shane

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:04 am

Ohhh...that was evil. :evil: Well done, but evil. Your journey to the darkside is nearly complete...