Orange is (Once Again) the New Brown

[Cajunkraut]

Just received from ShoeMart today. Looks like we're on the Alden pumpkin roller coaster yet again. I'm done.

[Jeremiah]

Really? That looks to be the color of the ones I got. I am seeing more a brick red. Maybe it's my iPhone.

[Michaelson]

Wow, shades of the late 90's!

Actually, Meletonian 'brick' tones that down pretty well, but yep, that's definitely a familiar sight!

Regard! Michaelson

[Jeremiah]

These are my 5 month old pair. They the pumpkin color in question?

[Cajunkraut]

Really? That looks to be the color of the ones I got. I am seeing more a brick red. Maybe it's my iPhone.

Brick orange maybe. The first impression when I opened the box is the lasting one. It's more orange than red. I promise.

[Michaelson]

Agreed. We've had brown, red, AND orange 405's come off the production line over the past 30 years.

These kind of fall between the red and orange, leaning more toward the orange side of the spectrum...at least on MY monitor.

Regard! M

[Cajunkraut]

Yep. Just hung up with Alden of SF, and the gentleman confirmed that the 405 is indeed undergoing another color transition to the orange side.

[Michaelson]

[Tennessee Smith]

Dude... I hate that for you.


Are you going to keep them? I know Hollowpond used a leather die on one of Wade Egan's holsters and turned it from brown to a perfect brown. I can't imagine wanting to do that after spending $500+ though.

If you haven't worn them will they take them back? If they will and your fine with that you can always pick up a pair used. Man, that's just a cr@p situation

[Jeremiah]

Here are mine new. Next to the chromexcel pair.
So are you all seeing the same color as on Cajuns?


If so I got that pair from the SF shop back in late October.

[whipwarrior]

Buy chromexcels. No regrets.

[Cajunkraut]

Dude... I hate that for you.


Are you going to keep them? I know Hollowpond used a leather die on one of Wade Egan's holsters and turned it from brown to a perfect brown. I can't imagine wanting to do that after spending $500+ though.

If you haven't worn them will they take them back? If they will and your fine with that you can always pick up a pair used. Man, that's just a cr@p situation

Thanks, TS. They're already on their way back to ShoeMart. If a camera could've caught my expression when I opened the box. I promptly called SM to advise them that I didn't feel that I should even absorb the return shipping given that the shoes no longer resemble the pic on their site. The lady seemd to agree and stated that the returns dept. would take it into consideration. Shipping was less than ten bucks, it's just the principle of the thing.

[Cajunkraut]

Here are mine new. Next to the chromexcel pair.
So are you all seeing the same color as on Cajuns? If so I got that pair from the SF shop back in late October.

Your 405s are from the now extinct brick red run, Jeremiah. Hang onto 'em!

[Tennessee Smith]

I still cannot believe that they are going in that color direction.

[Cajunkraut]

Buy chromexcels. No regrets.

I had 403s, but wasn't satisfied with the much softer, more pliable leather. They do look the best straight out of the box and even years later though IMO.

[Jeremiah]

Ok. Well that the s good news. Thats too bad about the color. Why is Alden making these decisions? I know dyes take to different types of leather differently. Could the source be different?

[Cajunkraut]

Jeremiah, Alden's color choices have been the topic of many a discussion here. Sources say that that Alden claims that the original Raiders brown leather is no longer available. Yet, they often do custom color and leather runs for certain distributors. My guess is that they could do whatever they really wanted to as long as it's not considered too cost and/or effort inefficient.

[Michaelson]

The old excuse to me has always been they are subject to what ever hide they're sent by their supplier, and have to make the 405's with that material until it runs out, unlike their custom orders where they ORDER a specific hide for a job. That's why those boots cost more.



Regard! M

[whipwarrior]

Yeah, and I thought the $550 natural chromexcels broke the bank. You gotta have REALLY deep pockets to join the AB Alden club!

[Cajunkraut]

The old excuse to me has always been they are subject to what ever hide they're sent by their supplier, and have to make the 405's with that material until it runs out, unlike their custom orders where they ORDER a specific hide for a job. That's why those boots cost more.



Regard! M

I'm sure there are a few gearheads who'd gladly pay a premium for a 100% SA Raiders boot knowing it might be the last pair they'd ever buy. Aside from Adventurebilt's best effort, why a vendor hasn't made it happen for even a single custom run is curious.

[whipwarrior]

The only custom Aldens more expensive than AB are the ones from Leather Soul Hawaii. For that much $$$ you can make a down payment on a car!

[Michaelson]

Agreed, and what I find interesting is AB AND Leather Soul BOTH were after the 'authentic' brown for the gearheads, and no one seems to totally agree either one got it right, so the search continues for many individuals.

Regards! M

[whipwarrior]

It might be a delightful conundrum if it wasn't so maddening. Glad I settled for the chromexcels, because I'm never buying Indy boots again.

[Michaelson]

Understood there, whip!

In my case, I have always been happy with owning a pair of 405's. Color wasn't that big a deal to me, with the exception of the REALLY orange version they had back 'in the day'. I worked hard on them to tone THEM down, as it was like wearing two pumpkins on your feet.

Otherwise, I've been easy to please in that regard as I'm more function over form anymore.

Regard! M

[Indiego Jones]

Here are mine new. Next to the chromexcel pair.
So are you all seeing the same color as on Cajuns?


If so I got that pair from the SF shop back in late October.

That chromexcel boot on the right it is THE Raiders s.a. color.
It's natural color?

[whipwarrior]

That's the shade that the chromexcels eventually become with regular wear and leather dressing. Mine are still the light bronze hue of seldom worn boots because I only use them occasionally. They'll become that nice shade of Raiders brown in a few years.

[Indiego Jones]

Great!
I want a pair oof those!
Thanks.-

[Cajunkraut]

Indiego,

I think it's safe to say that many gearheads perceive the 70s deadstock 405s to be the same model and color as the Raiders boot. Related threads are linked below for the benefit of our newer members...

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f ... iders+boot" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f ... iders+boot" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JohnnyD97]

So what I want to know is if any of these boots are even comfortable or not...?

[Holt]

I was thinking of getting a pair but yo, whats up witht he carrot boots?

[Cajunkraut]

So what I want to know is if any of these boots are even comfortable or not...?

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f ... it=+aldens" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dorian.jedi.master]

Just received from ShoeMart today. Looks like we're on the Alden pumpkin roller coaster yet again. I'm done.

Just curious if this is the result of Alden selling factory seconds to ShoeMart? I saw a review on youtube that had the same "issue"

https://youtu.be/3zy6Ugsf9Ig" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now saying that, I just bought my 405's straight from The San Francisco shop and they came in a dark brick red, but depending on the lighting looks like a dark caramel brown

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h32 ... wl6o7q.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h32 ... euuydx.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can see that the color is inconsistent on Cajunkraut... I had worked retail for a couple of years in a music store and whenever a major company offered us factory seconds, we would stock up! Some of these guitars had finish flaws, even a few scratches, But we wouldn't sell these at full price! I guess Jeremiah and I got lucky with our brick red Aldens, but who knows?!

[Cajunkraut]

Dorian,

Interesting video, thanks for sharing. The shoes in it are nearly identical to mine, down to the toe color variation. I promptly returned the boots and found a brick red pair at Alden of DC.

[dorian.jedi.master]

Dorian,

Interesting video, thanks for sharing. The shoes in it are nearly identical to mine, down to the toe color variation. I promptly returned the boots and found a brick red pair at Alden of DC.

Great to hear! I have found that dealing directly with Alden of San Francisco has been very advantageous...I asked for some spare laces and they mailed an extra pair. They were also quick to adress an issue I had, through emails, never tried calling directly, so i have no input on that. So now I wonder how many of these off-color boots are not actually from Alden of SF or DC?

Dorian

[Cajunkraut]

Not sure, but the rep at Alden of SF confirmed that the orange color is a characteristic of the newest runs.