Wearing in new Aldens

[Eiti]

Hi

I just received my new Aldens . They fitt perfect and look great . Now I´m planning to wear them in so that the leather can breaks in and gets softer. I still picarded them but what should i do next to avoid blisters and pain. I ask that because in some shoes
i have bad problems whit me heels because the are a bit thiker than normal . Any good tips ?

[Eiti]

Does nobody know something about boot care ???
Picard+Shoetree and let them dry out for 24 hours is all i know.

[Kentucky Blues]

Well....I can't really help you, but they shouldn't hurt you....Aldens are supposed to be very good boots.

Regards, Daryl.

[IndyBlues]

I've heard that they are very stiff when you first get them, and you have to just wear them to break them in a bit. I've also heard that the uncomfort you feel at first is worth the wait, for the very comfortable shoe that I hear they are.
Don't know if there is a real good way to rush the break in period.

[Ken]

When I bought new Aldens I was lucky and they were comfortable from the moment I bought them. When I bought another pair from someone else, they took a bit of time to break in as they had moulded to the shape of the previous owner's feet - basically if you wear them all the time for a week or two they should become comfortable if they are the right size.

My only advice would be to wear two pairs of socks when breaking them in if you find yourself getting blisters.

Good luck!

Ken

[Indiana Jess]

You might also want to wear a socks that are just a little heavier than dress socks when you first start wearing them. that will help with your feet from slipping around too much.

[binkmeisterRick]

Indiana Jess wrote:

You might also want to wear a socks that are just a little heavier than dress socks when you first start wearing them. that will help with your feet from slipping around too much.

I just went to a local orthopedic shoe store yesterday to get my feet measured (they don't carry Aldens, but they can order them). The man who took care of me recommended wearing heavier socks with the 405's.

[Lord Summerisle]

You might also want to wear a socks that are just a little heavier than dress socks when you first start wearing them. that will help with your feet from slipping around too much.

I can attest to the comfort-right-out-of-the-box phenomenon. I rung up The Alden Shop and impulsively bought a pair for my equally impulsive excursion to New Zealand late last year. No orthopedic fitting – just ordered the same size I wear in Clarks. I asked for the “405” (as it was my first large Raiders-related purchase and I felt somewhat foolish calling it the ‘Indy Boot’.) As I was backpacking through the North Island I needed one shoe for all situations. I received the shoes two days after hanging up the phone, and 24 hours after they arrived, I boarded a plane.

These shoes were heaven-sent! They instantly fit like a glove (though I’m sure there’s a better simile. Old slipper?) And like all things Indy, they took a beating and just glared back at me: ‘that the best you got, pal?’ About the only negative I’ve found with the Alden’s is a longer airport security screening. About half the time I fly they’re flagged for additional inspection after being x-rayed. As they were swabbed for traces of explosives one security agent remarked: ‘I’ve never seen a steel shank like that in all my days.’

Oh, and as for socks, I just wear Docker crew socks with the 405s. These shoes saved my bacon on numerous occasions. Though as many have said, avoid snow and glaciers if you can.

Scott.

[Mystique]

To commiserate with you, I had to go to traffic court to pay for a fixit ticket. No sooner had I had given up my change, keys, watch, etc I hadn't gone through the detector fully, and my shoes set off the alarm. The two Marshalls were in my face wanding me with the hand-held. I told one of them it might be the boots and I had to take them off to have them searched. I walked through the detector, and no alarm. On my trips to San Francisco, I set off the alarm too. At the traffic court one of the Marshall's quipped "why don't you be like everyone else and wear flip-flops?" I guess fashion and practicality don't go hand in hand...

[Michaelson]

Some folks don't mind the hold up at the metal detectors due to that metal last in the Aldens. As for me, I usually pack my 405's in my bag. I'm not that patient. Regards. Michaelson

[IndianaGuybrush]

The security checks at NY airports make you take your shoes off and run them through the x-ray machine anyway, so I figure, if they're going to be scanning my boots, I might as well give them something to look at... Of course, I tell them ahead of time that part of the boot is made up of a piece of steel (for some reason they don't like the word "shank" )