Club Obi Wan

Hey guys, just wanted to give you an update on those Aldens I've been wearing to work on a daily basis, since I modified them back in June with a set of Vibram soles. When I first put the Vibram soles on, the heels were in like new condition, and the boots themselves were in perfect shape as well.

Here's the pics, tell me what you think:

http://public.fotki.com/IndyBlues612/work_aldens/

Now, I've been treating them on a regular basis with Pecards, and brown Kiwi, but as you can see, the leather is taking a beating, the Vibram soles are already wearing thin, and the heels are nearly worn down to the wood shims in the back.

I may just get another set of Vibram soles, and order a new set of Alden heels, to let my local cobbler repair them.
OR
Send them back to Aldens to have them restore them to like new condition.

Anyway, what do you folks think?? Am I crazy to do this to these shoes,
or do you think it's best to just wear 'em and enjoy 'em??
'Blues

to me,
the leather looks fine, just normal wear and tear.
Id have new soles put on though.
Adam

Awesome Blues! Well done. I think they look great. I would stay with the Vibram soles for safety reasons.

Their shoes man, ya just have to wear them in, they look great Blues! Keep it up, looking great!

Hey, Blues, the heels of my Aldens are starting to look a little like that in the back, but I think I'm going to let it go until they really start getting into the wood shims. What I plan on doing is seeing if I can order the Alden replacement heels from the place I got my shoes and let the cobbler at my shoe store replace them when the time comes.

As for the rest of your Aldens, I think they look well loved and ready for more action! I wear mine to work nearly every day and I try to keep them decent looking, but they're showing their character the more I wear them. No matter, they'll still look good when tey're beat up and I think your shoes have a long way to go before that happens!

bink

Blues, they look great. You must be happy with them.
I haven't polished mine at all yet. I seem to remember someone saying 'don't use that Kiwi @#$% on your Aldens!' just as I had a brush with the stuff poised ready to apply- I've been using Kiwi since I can remember on other shoes, but I was put off by whoever it was that posted that so long ago... looks like I've had a superstition for no reason, cause your shoes look really good.

Hey, Blues, the heels of my Aldens are starting to look a little like that in the back

Mine are too... the heels tend to wear down quickly?
Or is it just me and the way I walk?

If it were me, I'd get a new set of Alden heels and have your local man do it, but that's just me...

Neolithic, the Kiwi seems to be fine. I've only used that, and Pecards on these boots since I got them. I've heard that Meltonian is a better choice, becasue it doesn't build up as much as Kiwi can over time.
I know that a good rubdown with some alcohol will remove any Kiwi buildup if that happens. Worked for me on my Army boots back in the day. I tend not to over use the Kiwi, so I haven't had a problem with wax buildup.....yet.

As far as the heels, they do seem to wear out awful fast, but I think their design adds to the boots comfort. They are relatively inexpensive to purchase replacements as well. I think I was quoted about $9.00 for a set.
'Blues

Again, shoes are to be worn, to protect our feet, thats their purpose, those people that keep their shoes, sneakers, boots, or whatever nice and clean and freak out when they get dirt or a lil scuff on them kind of get on my nerves. I've only had my aldens for a year and a half, maybe a little longer, and they've been threw alot and i'm gonna keep wearing them, if they are no longer wearable, i'll get another pair. It could be worse, could have spent an extra $125 to get them made in brown leather instead of just having them dyed for $20.




Dan

Yikes!

Those Aldens really look like they've been throught the mill!

Oh yeah, they're supposed to.

IndyBlues wrote:Hey guys, just wanted to give you an update on those Aldens I've been wearing to work on a daily basis, since I modified them back in June with a set of Vibram soles. When I first put the Vibram soles on, the heels were in like new condition, and the boots themselves were in perfect shape as well.

Here's the pics, tell me what you think:

http://public.fotki.com/IndyBlues612/work_aldens/

Now, I've been treating them on a regular basis with Pecards, and brown Kiwi, but as you can see, the leather is taking a beating, the Vibram soles are already wearing thin, and the heels are nearly worn down to the wood shims in the back.

I may just get another set of Vibram soles, and order a new set of Alden heels, to let my local cobbler repair them.
OR
Send them back to Aldens to have them restore them to like new condition.

Anyway, what do you folks think?? Am I crazy to do this to these shoes,
or do you think it's best to just wear 'em and enjoy 'em??
'Blues

This is worn ?

Mine look only slightly better and I consider them now well broken in. Use them and care for them and if you desire have Alden rebuild them for $75.00.

Ken

Since when are they doing $75 rebuilds? Last price I was quoted was $125 last summer. Regards. Michaelson

Aldens are looking good.....but not as good as mine!!
I have a second pair of Aldens that I like to wear on special dress-up occasions so I don't like to see them get very dirty of scuffed. Wouldn't want the high-brow's at the University of Chicago to think that I'm any less uncouth than I actually am....or is it more?


-James

Michaelson wrote:Since when are they doing $75 rebuilds? Last price I was quoted was $125 last summer. Regards. Michaelson

Really, now I've got to remember who I talked to.

Even so.. that's a good deal for a full rebuild by thems that built it !

Ken

Boy you guys need to see pictures of my Aldens... anyone know a good site for hosting pictures? The one I used mysteriously lost my page and all the photos I had up there.

Ken

PM'ed ya, Ken...

Hosting courtesy of the ever-wonderful Scandy (thanks!):





These I bought from a legend at the 2nd QM summit (no prizes for guessing who). This is the condition they were in when I got them so all the effort of distressing was done for me - actually since I have subsequently used them for filming my aim is to keep them together! I have had to glue the soles abck on 2 or 3 times. If they last to the end of the movie it will be a miracle

Ken

Great pics, Ken! These shoes look great brand new or beat to heck and back!

bink

Hey Bink, you can order just the parts for the sole and heel from Alden and have your cobbler do the work. This is exactly what I did. The parts were $35 from Alden.

http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic ... eplacement

Hey - who's signature is that on your shoe? If I was there I'd know...

Looks like it says Lee Keppler, but I can't be sure.

I'm loving your shoes, guys... I'm a bit worried about getting a pair during my senior year (that's 2 years from now) because I don't want to grow out of them. Can you have them rebuilt into a different size?

In Christ,
Shane