New Aldens owner, fitting question

DanoSaurus · Post by **DanoSaurus** » Sun May 16, 2004 9:30 am

Well just got my new 405s from shoecentral.com on Friday, great service I must say considering they had them shipped from the factory to their shop, then sent them to me Priority Mail no charge.

First of all, these have got to be the best made shoes I've ever owned. Top notch construction all around, they fully live up to their reputation.

I do have a bit of a sizing problem though. I guess my feet are kinda weird shaped because they're more squared off than pointed, very wide with a high instep. My foot measures a size 10 but in regular sneakers I wear a size 10 1/2 or 11 wide in order to get a little extra room. I have a pair of workboots that are 10 extra wide that fit great. I figured since the Aldens come in EEE I'd try a 10, and it turns out the length is a little long...my big toe ends just under the stitching.

The width however is a little snug, as is the top and ankle.

So the problem is, I can't go down a size to lessen the toe space, because then I'd loose some width and they'd be even tighter. And if I go up a size for a little more width, then there's even more toe room.

So if I just wear the 10s, will they eventually stretch a little around the sides and top?

IndyBlues · Post by **IndyBlues** » Sun May 16, 2004 11:42 am

You sound like you are in the same boat as me. I have a pair of 10Ds. and I fit in regular shoes the ame way as you stated. Mine are a tad snug in the sides, but they have loosened up tremendously over the last month I've been wearing them. Also, my toes end up right under the stitching too, and I've talked to several other 405 owners, and they said the same thing. It's the style of shoe, I guess.
You also said you ordered a EEE? Could you give me the measurement across the widest part of the sole? I'm curious, because I may try the size down, width up method on my next pair.

IndianaJames · Post by **IndianaJames** » Sun May 16, 2004 12:04 pm

Dano,
My opinion says you should keep those, they will loosen up around your instep and form to your feet a little. Also dont worry about the fact that your toes are just under the stitching - you want to have enough room to "play the piano" with your toes so to speak.
Im curious to know what color leather you recieved? Orangy, maroon, or brown?

I J

DanoSaurus · Post by **DanoSaurus** » Sun May 16, 2004 12:37 pm

IndyBlues wrote:You also said you ordered a EEE? Could you give me the measurement across the widest part of the sole? I'm curious, because I may try the size down, width up method on my next pair.

Across the widest part of the sole, edge to edge, measures 4 3/4". Stitch to stitch measures 4 3/8". Kinda narrow for a EEE according to some charts I've seen for other boots. One said an EEE width would fit a 4.6 inch wide foot.

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Sun May 16, 2004 7:42 pm

Danosaurus -
the main question is - are the boots just snug, or do they in fact squeeze and hurt? I have size 10 most of the time, and when the opportunity came to get a pair from the COW classifieds, I went for them, knowing that buying shoes without trying them on could be hazardous. My Aldens are size 10D and they fit extremely well. They are snug, mind you - without being uncomfortable. As a matter of fact, I don't think I could wear them, were they even a fraction smaller.
In my book, as long as the shoes do not cause pain, they're cool. A slight discomfort could be expected from new, stiff shoes, but that will eventually disappear.
I discovered something else, though - the main problem with Aldens is that they will make all your other shoes to feel weird and uncomfortable. After wearing my 405's for several days in a row, I put on my work shoes today, a pair of soft orthopedic dress shoes (I walk and stand a lot on the job)... my feet felt miserable! The Aldens are too good for your feet...

/SJ

Post by **Ken** » Sun May 16, 2004 8:14 pm

I know that this issue of sizing has been brought up int he past before and Fritz himself commented on it saying that Aldens are designed to be a large foot, in the length when fitted properly.

As to the width I cant help there since I am fortuante enough to have absolute perfection with my Aldens. I can say though that they will after time mould themselves to the shape of your individual foot.

Ken

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Mon May 17, 2004 4:51 am

My foot is 4 1/3" at the widest part and I wear an 11.5 with Converse All Stars. (I know these were brought up as a comparison shoe for size in one of the threads.) I can't find a chart for the width of Aldens and would like to have some hints on what to get. My guess would be 11.5 E or even EE?

Any help would be great as I can't stop drooling over a certain other pair of these babies now in Sweden.

Regards,
Swindiana

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Mon May 17, 2004 4:58 am

Check out this page. You'll find both size conversions and width explanations.
http://www.aldenshop.com/fitting.asp
So, you've found a pair? Excellent! Hope they'll fit!

/SJ

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Mon May 17, 2004 5:06 am

Scandinavia Jones wrote:Check out this page. You'll find both size conversions and width explanations.
http://www.aldenshop.com/fitting.asp
So, you've found a pair? Excellent! Hope they'll fit!

/SJ

Yes, I did found that one before. I'm not experienced in the art of buying shoes with different widths though, and I'm not exactly certain on how wide... wide is.

And no, no pair yet. Pecard your boots well SJ, yours are the ones I'm drooling over.

Yours would be marked with the heel size too?

Regards,
Swindiana

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Mon May 17, 2004 5:21 am

Ah-ha! I was wondering where the excess moisture on my Aldens came from... I'd better Scotch-Guard them as well...

Oh, yeah, heel size, right...

actually, I had no clue whatsoever. After a peek down the boots, I found them to be 10 B/D - a textbook example of 10D, that is.

My guess is, if you haven't had any issues with broad lasts before in your life, go for the broader medium, that is, the "E" or 11.5 C/E. I thought about going for the "E", but it turned out the "D" last is quite sufficient.
Subjective opinions, these are. Yours is the final word... (don't know why the Yoda-talk - sounded wiser in some way)

/SJ

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Mon May 17, 2004 5:28 am

Thanks!

Always in motion is the sizes of gear.

It does sound like yours are your common size and I think I might go for the 11.5 C/E, or even standard 12 in case I find a pair.

Regards,
Swindiana

DanoSaurus · Post by **DanoSaurus** » Mon May 17, 2004 11:55 am

Well a new wrinkle has developed, I contacted shoecentral to find out about going up a half size and it turns out there's a 4-6 week wait on 10 1/2 EEEs from the factory. Looks like I'll probably keep the 10s and hope they break in nicely.

IndianaJames wrote:Im curious to know what color leather you recieved? Orangy, maroon, or brown?

They are a maroon color, brick reddish brown, definitely NOT orange. I would say the color is very close to the picture on aldenshop.com.