New Alden 405 with darker brown leather.

[IndianaChris711]

Yes I just noticed that the price has increased once again for the Alden 405's to $435. I think I am glad I got my Aldens when they were just $300, the price has increased $135 since I got those. It makes the AB Aldens I got from Marc even though they were expensive when i got them are now a reasonable price. If the Euro is still low I may consider just getting another pair of the AB. I bet Marc is going to get a lot of orders next time around if the Euro is as low as it is now.

IndianaChris

[Daniel Jackson]

Yes I just noticed that the price has increased once again for the Alden 405's to $435. I think I am glad I got my Aldens when they were just $300, the price has increased $135 since I got those. It makes the AB Aldens I got from Marc even though they were expensive when i got them are now a reasonable price. If the Euro is still low I may consider just getting another pair of the AB. I bet Marc is going to get a lot of orders next time around if the Euro is as low as it is now.

IndianaChris

How can I find pricing, etc on the AB website?

[tgalahad]

My 403 Aldens are on the way.
I will post pictures soon.
tgalahad

[IndianaChris711]

How can I find pricing, etc on the AB website?

The AB Aldens are under Marc's Adventurebilt Deluxe website, however he only takes runs of his AB Alden shoes, the last one I think ended in March so it might be around September before you can order a pair. He needs at least 12 orders to put in an order with Alden. Should not be a problem next time around if the euro stays like it is. The shoes are 450 euros for a pair, I believe that is still the price.

IndianaChris

[tgalahad]

My 403 Aldens are on the way.
I will post pictures soon.
tgalahad

A box was on the porch today. My Alden 403 boots have arrived and they fit great
Have a look. All photographed with afternoon sunlight and some fill flash.

[DarenHenryW]

My normal size (10.5D) works great for me. And my shoe salesman (when I was first fitted for my original pair) never told me to get a smaller size.

Great looking boots!

DHW

[tgalahad]

Nice pics, as usual, Tim! The boots look great. Sorry if you already mentioned it, but did you order your true size or 1/2 size smaller as Alden recommends?

Thanks Michael. I was inspired by the light and thrilled to finally receive my boots.
I am a lucky guy who received them for my B-day from my thoughtful, generous and lovely wife. Fortunately she ordered my true size and they are quite comfortable.
So, time to apply the Pecards and get out into the woods on there first adventure!
(funny, never thought I would talk about a pair of boots this way)
Hope all is well and good in your world.

Tim

Great looking boots!

Thanks for nice comment Daren
Tim (tgalahad)

[Indiana MarkVII]

My dad was a shoe salesman as part of his career at one point in life. I recall that he told me that a shoe salesman's trick that he told me to watch out for was to put a shorter shoe with a wider width on the customer, making them think they felt lots of room in the toe bed, but leaving too little room for the toe length. Always get fitted for your feet and use the Brannick device as a guide, not law when trying on shoes. Always wear them on carpeted surfaces once home, so that if you have to return them, you still can. With Aldens' special orders, though, I doubt those can be returned if you get the wrong size. I've ordered Aldens in my known dress shoe size and width and they fit just fine.

[PsychicsAndSwords]

I've been looking at the 403's for awhile now and i just have to ask, are they worth it? Yes, I'm a fan, probably more so than average, like most of us here but, are they worth it? $425 for a pair of boots.

My Mom flipped out when I was a freshman in high school for $125 for a pair of Jordans. Before that it was $50 for a pair of Reebok high tops... This was the eighties but $425 guys.... man, it's a lot for me to consider for a pair of boots (which I wear a pair everyday, anyways).

I do have planters' heal and I hear they're great for that but would someone "sell" me the boot? Tell me how great they are? Or be honest and say they're over-rated?

-E

Well, one thing you have to remember is that with Jordans/Reeboks/etc, you're lucky if they last more than a year before completely disintegrating (or at least, that was always my experience, back in the day). I have a pair of Alden 405s that I bought back in '99, have worn every year for at least 2/3 of the year (too warm for hot summer days, at least for me) through every kind of weather (snow, rain, mud, etc). And aside from one resoling, they're still in GREAT condition. That's 10+ years. Do the math, it's worth the price (plus they're pretty much the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn).

Now, my only problem is that I would much MUCH prefer the lug soles on the 404, but I don't like the super-dark brown. I've seen mentions of Alden doing "custom" shoes. Does anyone know if they would do a 403 with the 404 soles?

[Tibor]

I love the upper right pic ... it's like the Holy Grail of shoe-dom

[Illinois James]

First, all these new boots you guys have really look fantastic.

I guess I have eight pairs of these 405's and variants, none of which are 403's or 404's, in three sizes. As far as ordering the correct size, in my experience anyway, if ALL you are going to wear is a thin dress sock with these boots, try the 1/2 size smaller. I found that with a thicker work sock or crew sock, 1/2 size smaller was too snug.

Sizing down is going to decrease overall volume of the boot far more than just shorten it. There's little difference in length between a 11.5 and a 12, but with a thin sock, I swim in 12's. Again, just my experience.

I'm lusting after a pair of the lug soled boots in 12's!

[Dana Powers]

I went to the local shoe store and measured my foot.
I am a size 10 1/2 D.
I ordered a set of the 405 boots at 10 1/2 D.
I was in the military and still have black military socks that I never used.
The shoe fits perfect and the sock works great with the boot.
I ordered another set of the 403 boots at 10 1/2 D and it fits perfect with the socks.
I really recommend using the black military issue socks and the new 403 style boot.
The darker color is great. I have been wearing mine to work for the past two weeks to weather them in. A thicker sock works better with a boot in my opinion. You don't wear dress socks on an adventure.

-Dana Powers
Tilton, NH R2-D2 Builder
http://www.R2-D2Builder.com

[tgalahad]

Yee-Hawww!!!!!

Hello Michael!
That is great news. I look forward to hearing your opinion and more importantly seeing you photographs.
Wow you only had to wait a few days.
best,
Tim

[tgalahad]

You don't wear dress socks on an adventure.

Hi Dana, you make a very good observation
Tim

[Illinois James]

I agree that dress socks don't seem right for adventure boots! I think the 1/2 size smaller suggestion might come from these boots being more a more generous fit than other Alden shoes/lasts. And some people really prefer snug shoes.

But some folks only get time for adventures to Starbucks! Out of eight pairs, three of mine are 11.5's, the rest being 12's. I'll wear the 11.5's with a thin sock to church or something. I prefer 12's otherwise.

Generally, measure BOTH feet with a Brannock (the left foot is usually larger, for nearly everyone), and order the larger size.