Club Obi Wan

Hi!
Just posting a review of the Aliexpress Wolverine boot I posted here recently, highlighting some of the wear and tear of a couple of months. They have been used mostly for hiking and walking dry riverbeds. I have to say that they have held up surprisingly good. Walked in them for miles on end ( not quite 1000) and they were comfortable and no callouses or any other problems were encountered. I really got my money's worth here. This is the original post on this thread: viewtopic.php?p=953554#p953554

This is what they look like now:

Thank you for posting the update. It really seems like a great pair of boots. And they way the leather looks after use indicates good quality stuff. Really impressed by them! Congrats on choosing wisely.

Cheers,
Bear

Thanks Bear, I'm gonna get me another pair just to have it as a replacement while they are still available and priced well!
Cheers
Bravo

That's a brilliant idea. I also got two additional Wested pairs, additional to my original one, just to have in case they run out.

Cheers,
Bear

Must admit you've persuaded me, at that price they look good. I find boots sizing tricky though: I take a US10/44 in Nikes, but other boots I have I wear a 43, one pair is even 42. Fingers crossed I've got the right size!

Must be nice to have the size feet that people actually make boots for. Lol

Parttimeteacher wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 8:46 pm Must be nice to have the size feet that people actually make boots for. Lol

I felt this. My size is usually in the middle. ~42.5

bearbeast wrote: ↑Fri Aug 25, 2023 2:47 am

Parttimeteacher wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 8:46 pm Must be nice to have the size feet that people actually make boots for. Lol

I felt this. My size is usually in the middle. ~42.5

I wear a 15 in most shoes and boots. I can get by with a 14 in a few boots that run large.

I saw these at the C&J local to me… they were very, very nice…

https://www.crockettandjones.com/produc ... ghoutsuede

FirstFormula wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 4:31 pm I saw these at the C&J local to me… they were very, very nice…

https://www.crockettandjones.com/produc ... ghoutsuede

'Rough out suede'; I'm not sure I've come across that but they look very cool.
I wonder how they possibly came up with their name for that boot design?

I've seen those C & J and wondered about them. Wish they didn't have the split toe but I'm sure the leather is great. Cool you put eyes them...

So my cheeky Chinese Wolverine ripoffs as recommended by IndianaBravo just arrived and... erm.. they're great? They fit well, they're comfortable straight out of the box (I would even say unusually comfortable: I recently bought some well-reviewed Italian boots and they're not as good as this), and they actually seem to be made really well. As I said: I wear a 44 in Nikes, but I went with 43 for these, and it seems the right choice: still a good amount of room for the toes but no slipping.
Maybe they'll fall apart in a few months, it's hard to be sure, but initial response is: they're rather fantastic value.

Parkhurst Boots, based in Buffalo, NY, just dropped some new styles including some new leathers for their Niagara boot which looks like Aldens. They have a pretty good reputation and are way cheaper than Aldens.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... 0871e425ae

IndianaJustin wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 10:58 am Parkhurst Boots, based in Buffalo, NY, just dropped some new styles including some new leathers for their Niagara boot which looks like Aldens. They have a pretty good reputation and are way cheaper than Aldens.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... 0871e425ae

Those are some beautiful models. Gorgeous looking boots!

IndianaJustin wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 10:58 am Parkhurst Boots, based in Buffalo, NY, just dropped some new styles including some new leathers for their Niagara boot which looks like Aldens. They have a pretty good reputation and are way cheaper than Aldens.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... 0871e425ae

Those look good, but, yet again, a company that doesn't make boots bigger than size 13. Oh well.

If anybody's been waiting for a good J. Crew sale to grab a pair of their very-close-enough Kenton Pacer boots at a much better price, they're giving 40% off until 11:59 PM tonite (Monday). So they go down from $300 to $180. http://tinyurl.com/mb9hev74

Just got a new pair of Parkhurst Niagara boots, they’d made a great Alden Indy alternative if you’re looking to wear them regularly as well as for cosplay.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... -winter-23


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Thunderspy wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2023 2:15 pm So my cheeky Chinese Wolverine ripoffs as recommended by IndianaBravo just arrived and... erm.. they're great? They fit well, they're comfortable straight out of the box (I would even say unusually comfortable: I recently bought some well-reviewed Italian boots and they're not as good as this), and they actually seem to be made really well. As I said: I wear a 44 in Nikes, but I went with 43 for these, and it seems the right choice: still a good amount of room for the toes but no slipping.
Maybe they'll fall apart in a few months, it's hard to be sure, but initial response is: they're rather fantastic value.

Glad you like them, I´ve put mine through their paces and they keep on tickin!

KhanVader wrote: ↑Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:06 pm Just got a new pair of Parkhurst Niagara boots, they’d made a great Alden Indy alternative if you’re looking to wear them regularly as well as for cosplay.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... -winter-23


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Those look fantastic!

Yeah, I have to agree. They look great!

KhanVader wrote: ↑Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:06 pm Just got a new pair of Parkhurst Niagara boots, they’d made a great Alden Indy alternative if you’re looking to wear them regularly as well as for cosplay.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... -winter-23


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They look really beautiful! Congrats on the new boots!

Those Parkhurst Niagara boots DO look great. But at $400, they're still pretty pricey.

Howard Weinstein wrote:Those Parkhurst Niagara boots DO look great. But at $400, they're still pretty pricey.

Definitely still a nice chunk of change, but a pair of Alden Indys in Chromexel, with a similar outsole, will set you back between $650-700. I’m also local to western New York where parkhurst originated, so for me it was an easy choice between these and Alden.

bearbeast wrote:

KhanVader wrote: ↑Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:06 pm Just got a new pair of Parkhurst Niagara boots, they’d made a great Alden Indy alternative if you’re looking to wear them regularly as well as for cosplay.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... -winter-23


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They look really beautiful! Congrats on the new boots!

Thanks fellas! I’ve been wearing em’ steady over the past week and they’re already breaking in beautifully!


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KhanVader wrote: ↑Fri Sep 15, 2023 3:10 pm

bearbeast wrote:

KhanVader wrote: ↑Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:06 pm Just got a new pair of Parkhurst Niagara boots, they’d made a great Alden Indy alternative if you’re looking to wear them regularly as well as for cosplay.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... -winter-23


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They look really beautiful! Congrats on the new boots!

Thanks fellas! I’ve been wearing em’ steady over the past week and they’re already breaking in beautifully!


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Those Niagaras are nice, I've been thinking about them for awhile

Swap the laces out with some of these and that's some awesome close-enoughs...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WZ ... th=1&psc=1

(I use those for replacements in my Aldens)

Hollowpond wrote:Swap the laces out with some of these and that's some awesome close-enoughs...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WZ ... th=1&psc=1

(I use those for replacements in my Aldens)

Yep! They came with a set of flat laces which I swapped right out when I got home that day.


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Gotta be honest, but "shoe-wise"? Those Parkhurst do look like just, "better Alden" shoes....The 360 Goodyear welt would improve the shoe in the elements, and the leather selections look superb too..All the way through, for a fair chunk less than the Alden are too? I'd probably recommend those over the Alden to anyone who wanted shoes over the brand name....They look superb...

Great choice.

I agree. If I had not won the lottery with my recent Alden purchase, I would be all over these.

Yeah TBH those Parkhursts do look like they're superior to Aldens in pure materials and cobbler terms. It kills me to say it too as a natural-born Chicagoan and Horween aficionado, but honestly I think Alden has been using a lot of the cheapest CXL they could get, sort of like factory seconds, which Horween does make. I got a pair of the J Crew CXLs last year and the leather was a step above the Aldens I've seen lately, especially since 2020. And that 360 welt is stronger than the 270, not to mention the veg tanned welt and midsole and heel stack.

Admittedly I'm not a cosplayer and I concentrate on quality and durability over "screen accuracy" but those Parkhursts are a better boot, especially at 30% cheaper.

I agree with everyone else, those Parkhursts look like lovely quality boots.

Now y'all got me eyeballing those in the weathered henna.

This place is heck on a wallet!!!

Thunderspy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 5:35 pm

FirstFormula wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 4:31 pm I saw these at the C&J local to me… they were very, very nice…

https://www.crockettandjones.com/produc ... ghoutsuede

'Rough out suede'; I'm not sure I've come across that but they look very cool.
I wonder how they possibly came up with their name for that boot design?

It’s a mystery. I have a pair of C&J Molton boots in rough out suede. It’s suede effectively made up inside out. The upper looks amazing for the scrapes and nicks and bumps of day to day wear. There’s no polishing it, just putting neutral cream into the leather to maintain it - it forces you to wear the miles. It isn’t for everyone but I love how rugged it looks. I’d recommend it as a material for an upper.

Top grain (smooth side of the leather) on the inside and the rear (rough side) on the outside - reverse of usual for footwear but the rough side will absorb a lot more waterproofing than the top grain.

Sorry if this was already covered:

https://www.luosjiet.com/collections/belts

Made in China but maybe?... They're a lot cheaper.

Here's one YouTube review:

https://youtu.be/pKXSw98voEo?feature=shared

Looks like a pretty good alternative to me however there's so many different colors, which color best represents Raiders? I'm thinking either the brown grain cowhide or the Terracotta cowhide?

Big selection of decent colours there...I'd go for the Terracotta in brown or wine, I think...Although, the heel stack on those looks very, very similar to the Wested one, just a chunk of rubber...While the price is still much higher, so it might be worth waiting to see how they break in or wear out...Just a touch of warning......Colour wise they look decent...Leather wise? Hard to judge, but that sole is a small problem (IF, and it's a big IF, if you care about getting decent shoes over just the look...)

Yeah the heel looks like a solid piece of rubber but it appears to be nailed on, ie simple to replace. And it does -look- like a true goodyear welt, so when the sole goes it should be easy to replace with a Vibram or whatever you choose. It's not as if Alden's cork-infused rubber compound is all that durable anyway. But if it's not a true goodyear welt and more of that pseudo-goodyear the Wested's are then I'd say they're not worth that price.

I'm going through the thread now to find my next pair of boots. My ~5 year old Aldens are falling apart, literally. I only wear these things late fall to spring on the evenings and weekends. The sole on the right boot has pulled away from the boot 2/3 around. I might see if a local shoe repair place can work on them- I'll never send a pair back to Alden for a resole after my last experience, and the new ALdens are just too spendy for me.

Kokopelli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:47 pm I'm going through the thread now to find my next pair of boots. My ~5 year old Aldens are falling apart, literally. I only wear these things late fall to spring on the evenings and weekends. The sole on the right boot has pulled away from the boot 2/3 around. I might see if a local shoe repair place can work on them- I'll never send a pair back to Alden for a resole after my last experience, and the new ALdens are just too spendy for me.

I wouldn’t call it cheap, but I’m gonna send my Alden’s here come summer time. I had them put a wedge sole on my iron rangers and they did a GREAT job.

https://wyattanddad.com/products/the-alden-indy

IndianaBravo wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:35 am Thanks Bear, I'm gonna get me another pair just to have it as a replacement while they are still available and priced well!
Cheers
Bravo

These still available? If so, you got a link?…


Never mind, I found them but they don’t have them in my size. I’m a 12 US and they don’t have anything close that I’m seeing.

Hollowpond wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:55 pm

Kokopelli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:47 pm I'm going through the thread now to find my next pair of boots. My ~5 year old Aldens are falling apart, literally. I only wear these things late fall to spring on the evenings and weekends. The sole on the right boot has pulled away from the boot 2/3 around. I might see if a local shoe repair place can work on them- I'll never send a pair back to Alden for a resole after my last experience, and the new ALdens are just too spendy for me.

I wouldn’t call it cheap, but I’m gonna send my Alden’s here come summer time. I had them put a wedge sole on my iron rangers and they did a GREAT job.

https://wyattanddad.com/products/the-alden-indy

Dang. That is spendy, but still half of the cost of a new pair!

That’s my thoughts.

405s are $680 now. I see why many people are looking for alternatives.

Alas the Jcrew Kenton Pacers aren’t listed anymore on the site, but if they come back I’d highly recommend it and they feel tougher than my Aldens. Their last batch was of a higher quality than videos I’ve seen of their older versions and match the more recent Rose Anvil cutaway:


Last 2023 batch:
https://youtu.be/TAG1KSboXYM?si=HXSqvOAR9svhol01

Vs.

9 years ago:
https://youtu.be/8m2VoBBEeXw?si=pDwvwbSkKJhmA13s


If they come back I’d suggest them!

These just dropped:

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... ander-602m

IndianaJustin wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 10:58 am Parkhurst Boots, based in Buffalo, NY, just dropped some new styles including some new leathers for their Niagara boot which looks like Aldens. They have a pretty good reputation and are way cheaper than Aldens.

https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/collecti ... 0871e425ae

I’ll have to check these out… I live about an hour from Buffalo (still consider it my “home city” though.) I’m there probably 3 or more times a week and had no idea that this place existed. Seems like a really nice Alden alternative.

-WNY Indy

ChrisW wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2024 1:36 am Alas the Jcrew Kenton Pacers aren’t listed anymore on the site, but if they come back I’d highly recommend it and they feel tougher than my Aldens. Their last batch was of a higher quality than videos I’ve seen of their older versions and match the more recent Rose Anvil cutaway:


Last 2023 batch:
https://youtu.be/TAG1KSboXYM?si=HXSqvOAR9svhol01

Vs.

9 years ago:
https://youtu.be/8m2VoBBEeXw?si=pDwvwbSkKJhmA13s


If they come back I’d suggest them!

Yes, I was surprised to suddenly see that the Kenton Pacer Boots have disappeared from J Crew's website. But depending on your size, it's quite possible to find gently used Pacers on eBay, Poshmark.com and Mercari.com at some very appealing prices in the $100-150 range.

I did email J Crew to ask if the Kenton Pacers would be returning to their product lineup. They replied: "Thank you for loving our Kenton pacer boots. As of the moment, we don't have any information as to when we will restock this item. I recommend checking the website from time to time, since our inventory is very dynamic."

I imagine the J Crews will come back at some point the next few months. They have improved them lately the past few iterations with Vibram soles and the release before last was CXL. We'll see what's in store. I bet they're trying to play catch up with all of the heritage boots going on right now.