Club Obi Wan

Have any of you noticed a clicking sound when you are walking around in your Aldens?
It's only in my right boot (when I walk on hard floors), but it has started to get progressively louder.
The clicking sound is directly related to a very light 'snapping' sensation which I can feel on the sole of my foot as my right boot heel extends upward (while walking).

I plan to take it to a shoe repair company tomorrow.
(tired of listening to the clicking - and I wouldn't be able to sneak up on Thuggees ... ).

I've only had them 3 months, and the clicking started right out of the box ... I just figured it would go away as I broke them in.
Just curious if any of you have experienced this - I never have with any of my other shoes or boots.

Best Regards,

Does it kinda go - CLICKETY, CLICK,SQUEAK step CLICKETY, CLICK,SQUEEEK step - ?


have a nice day.

No, just: Click, Click, Click.

Utinam barbari spatioum proprium tuum invadant

LOL!! guess we have different 'click' problems. (darn it, he didn't fall for that one!)



have a nice day.

mine don't click. It's maybe because i'm unijambist...

Mine have the same problem. And it also started out of the box.

First I thought I had stepped into some chewinggum or such, as the
right boot made a little "click" when presure was released.

Strange indeed.

It has become less noticesable, but it is still there...

...cheap crab..

Best regards

JAN

Have you checked them for crickets?

It sounds like the heel might be loose to mee though.
It will be interesting to see what the cobbler comes up with, Spooky.

Regards,
Swindiana

we maybe should post a pics of our sole. Could it a be a differnce between materials they used ?

JAN wrote:
...cheap crab..

Well that's one "wanted" item of my list
-K

[quote="JAN"]Mine have the same problem. And it also started out of the box.
First I thought I had stepped into some chewinggum or such, as the right boot made a little "click" when presure was released.
Strange indeed.
It has become less noticesable, but it is still there...
...cheap crab..
Best regards
JAN[/quote]
Jan,
Well, at least I'm not the only one.
The village cobbler () is working on it ... I keep you posted on what he finds out.

Best Regards,

The village cobbler: "Well, here's your problem, son. You ordered one tap shoe!"

Mine are a few weeks old and feel fine except that they squeak (for now, until they're broken in.) They do however rub hard on my right ankle (just above the ankle bone on a tendon.) Someone mentioned to me that I should not tie the top quicklace up and it worked. They feel pretty good and no other problems except for the mice.

binkmeisterRick wrote:The village cobbler: "Well, here's your problem, son. You ordered one tap shoe!"

OK, now I've got a mental image of Indy tap dancing ...
Thanks a lot, Bink

Best Regards,

Singing in the TempleOfDoom
Just singing in the TempleOfDoom
What a curious feeling
I'm filled up with gloom
No smile on my face
Just feel my pulse race
I'm singing, and ringing, in his room...

(Insert Thugee Tap review here)

Now THAT'S a musical I'd like to watch! Or not, depending on how you look at it.

"Thugees and bug food and children in chains, mine carts and hearts ripped and screaming in pain... These AREN'T a few of my favorite things"

Regards,
Swindiana

OK, my Village Cobbler took apart the sole of my right Alden boot and found; the metal shank was loose.
He then re-glued the metal shank to the 'mid-sole.'
I'll let y'all know if it works or not - so far so good.

Jan, you may want to get it fixed - that clicking won't be going away by itself ...
(P.S.> Only cost me $15 )

Best Regards,

Hey Everyone,

I read through the posts and it seemed like the laundry list of problems that I had with mine. When I first got mine, they squeaked, and I sent them back. I was sent a new pair of shoes. These did alright for awhile, but the started clicking. I knew it to be a shank problem, and sent them back. I received a new pair of shoes. Had these for about a year, and the heel clicked, as well. Sent them back and received a new pair of shoes. Then, after about 3 years total, of having these shoes, the shoe started coming loose from the base, which I think is called the welt, just at the heel of one shoe. Sent them back, and received new heels on both shoes, and the problem(s) were fixed.

I figured that for a shoe this expensive, I was going to make them stand by their product. By God, they did! I dealt with the fellow from their San Francisco office, and he was very pleasant to deal with.

So, my two cents is that these shoes are comfortable, and if for nothing else, the price is worth that level of customer service to me.

So what did all this cost me? Shipping costs only. Never paid a dime for the shoe repair. At one point, I even asked them to stop giving me new shoes, because I didn't want to have to break in anymore!

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

PS. Just got the 1908 Red Wing knockoffs and can say they are very well built. More narrower and tall looking than the Aldens sleek and low design. But I have had a pair of Red Wing steel toed boots for work, and have kicked them around waste rock on open pit mines for work, and can tell you that they are very well built, and Red Wing uses some of the toughest cowhide going for their shoes. I've kicked sharp, angular waste rock with these steel toed boots, and any other shoe, it would have gone through the leather. These just have a few scratches on the toes. So, I'd recommend these.

P.P.S. Sorry to hijack the post somewhat, just too lazy to click the 'New Post' button. Besides, this is shoe related.

No worries, Paul.
Thanks for the info. on your Aldens.

Q1: How long did it take to repair your Aldens?
(From the time you sent them until they returned [repaired])

Q2: How much were your Redwings?
(I'll have to check those out)

Best Regards,

Hi Spooky,

It usually took about 3 weeks to get them repaired, but when I sent them back the first few times, it was shorter, because I was sent a new pair.

The 1908 Red Wings I got off that auction site that must not be named cost me about $90 when it was all said and done. The auction ended at $77 and I won them. The are listed as factory seconds, but I don't see how. These shoes are well built, and of a very stiff leather. Wore them yesterday with the top holes undone, because the upper is so stiff. But, a good looking, rugged boot all around. Since these are only available in Europe, the auction site looks to be the best bet. The seller, Nokomisonline, shipped them very quickly. I won the auction on Monday, and had them on Friday.

If you've been to a Red Wing store, you know that you can't buy a shoe like this for under $150. Most likely $200 or better.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Hi Paul,

How good were your communications with Nokomisonline? I emailed them with a simple question and they didn't have the courtesy to reply. Lost sale in my book.

Sigh, Red Wings cost about £140/US$250 here. At the current exhange rate Aldens are £155. No brainer I guess!

That's why they sell them here and not back home: Muchos Muchos Profitos. :evil:

I had a clicking sound before - turned out to be a drawing pin/ thumb tac stuck on the bottom

Ken

I didn't hear anything from that seller either. In fact, I wrote them e-mail to tell them I just wanted to have them check on the pair on which I was bidding (it states in their sale description that they won't check every item that goes out the door). Heard nothing.

But, I know Red Wings are expensive, and figured that I could take them to a local shoe shop, have any repairs done, and still come under the cost of buying them new.

I'd compare these to work boots, whereas the Aldens would be more like a dress shoe.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Plus, I figured if they sold a terrible pair of shoes, I'd do what I could to get them negative press.

Indiana Ken wrote:I had a clicking sound before - turned out to be a drawing pin/ thumb tac stuck on the bottom

Ken

You mean, you IMPROVISED a tap shoe out of them? Now I can't WAIT to see Treasure Of The Templars!

The click occurs when the layered wood in the platform above the rubber heel has slippage in the platform itself. The very first pair I owned did this same thing. It disappeared when I finally had the boot reheeled, and the loose bit of wood found and reglued. It has not made a sound since.

Regards! Michaelson

How many people have had this problem?
Ill be ordering my boots in the next month or so and was wondering,
how worried should i be about getting a clicking boot?



Adam

Now that we're talking about our problems with Aldens; I've heard someone mention somewhere that their laces are not the best. I believe them. I broke a lace after having them for less than a month. And since I'm still breaking them in I haven't been tying them too tight. Anybody else have this problem?
-Great boot
-Still warming up to the colour
-Taking some time to break in
-Cheap laces
-No regrets buying them though

ok i admit too :

I have a seam out at the top of the heel : The leather is torn between two points. But it's very very very minimal, not visible except by the eye of the buyer !

By the way, the laces are very bad : too long and not strong ! :evil:

But i say : it's the most confortable shoe i wear !

I love my Aldens, and have no complaints. When my boots were new the did "click" on occasion, but it stoped totally one I began wearing my boots daily. I never had anytrouble with breaking them in. However, I wear boots most of the time, so maybe my feet are a bit more accustomed to them. Their an all around great boot.

Guys, the click is so you can keep a rhythm when you walk..dahhhhh

George

Its interesting to read about the "clicking" problem you guys are having. so far my aldens havent made any noises, but then again ive only had them a few days.overall these are awesome boots though, they are also extreamly comfortable. my only problem is the laces, every time I tie them I feel like there going to break.luckily mine came with an extra set of laces.
Best regards,
Joe

indiana Williams

every time I tie them I feel like there going to break

So do I. I think the laces are too thin for such boots... and too long

My Right boot just started clicking a few days ago. Also the stiching on the moc toe is becoming frayed for some reason and a stich at the top of the boot has come out of its hole. Other then that the aldens are the most comfortably shoe I have ever worn.


Brendon