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Ok, Ok, Which Red Wing is the best next to Alden's?

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:45 am
by Prof. Ed
In the US there are many Red Wing stores. Even in St. Louis! Before I go there to browse, which boot have y'all decided is the closest of the close enoughs.

I've read so many previous posts that I'm all "fimished"! Another of Zeyda Moshe's terms meaning confused.

Please give me a link to your best choice.

Thanks,

Prof. Ed ( actually I was a shoe salesman as a new teacher)

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 3:34 pm
by Indiana Jerry
Ed, I'm glad you asked this. I don't know either.

But you're gonna have to get TWO answers...which is the best overall, and which is the best that you can actually buy in a RedWings store in the US, since pretty much all the closest lookalikes appear to be UK-Only.

J

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:06 pm
by Kt Templar
Yeah, dont bother with the ones in the UK, they come in at least £140/$245!

Again might as well go for Aldens, unless you can find sale or seconds!

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:11 pm
by Captain D
It's ashame that the #8249 boot is so difficult to get here in the United States...They are awesome, and virtually dead-ringers for the Aldens, if you can get your hands on em.'

As far as other styles, hmmm, I'm not really sure. Awhile back there was another post, which I believe was also a RedWing boot, that was very impressive. I'll search around and see if I can find that link and that maker of the boot....

Kindest Regards,
Capt. D

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:42 pm
by Alabama Jones
In my opinion, its the 1908 "100 Year Classic" that most resembles the Aldens.

Image

Those belong to Indydoc, I believe, btw.

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:34 pm
by Indiana Jerry
Those are pretty close to my RedWing 202's, but the 202 has a small bit of padded comfort cuff around the ankle, so it's not even in the running. (But unless I take them off, you can't tell.)

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:37 pm
by Ark Hunter
Yep, those are mine. :D They are the only look a likes I'm keeping. (selling my 2 pairs of JCrews in For Sale section) I found those on ebay but they soon disapeared off there. Here's my boot comparison page with all I own.
http://home.comcast.net/~jayhuron/bootCompair/

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:52 pm
by Prof. Ed
IndyDoc wrote:Yep, those are mine. :D They are the only look a likes I'm keeping. (selling my 2 pairs of JCrews in For Sale section) I found those on ebay but they soon disapeared off there. Here's my boot comparison page with all I own.
http://home.comcast.net/~jayhuron/bootCompair/
Hi Doc,

Your page was quite interesting. Does J. Crew still handle the Deckers?


Best,

Prof. Ed

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:05 pm
by Ark Hunter
No, not for a long time as far as I know. I got mine from another COW member a year or so ago. They are by far the best if you can darken them some how. (and get the quick lace hooks added as mine have)

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:07 pm
by Feraud
Prof. Ed wrote:Does J. Crew still handle the Deckers?


Best,

Prof. Ed
No they do not. I have a pair of the JCrew Deckers (on the left) and the JCrew Ruggeds (right). Very nice boots.
Image

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:06 pm
by Captain D
Dang! Those "1908 100 year Classics" look sweet! :D How difficult are they to get in the U.S. just out of curiosity?

Here is the link, that Texas Raider posted awhile back, showing another Alden alternative (not RedWing though):

viewtopic.php?t=13049

I hope this helps!
Kindest Regards,
Captain D

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 7:50 pm
by Ark Hunter
I would say nearly as hard as the J Crew Deckers because there don't seem to be any more on ebay and I don't think they sell them in stores here. (might be wrong about that)

Decker's Brown Wax

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:55 am
by RIKRAK
Although Zappa said "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" when I got my Deckers from J Crews I used plain dark brown shoe polish to both darken the leather and (mostly) the white stitching on the shoes. It did not darken evenly as I gooped it on more so on the seams. However, I thought this gave a nice "used" affect. Other than that I just use Piccards to treat the leather every now and then and they have stayed a nice "almost" brown. I've not found these shoes since the close out at J Crews which is sad because they are a nice soft leather boot. Hmmmm a gear head in St louis who would ever have thunk it :roll: :roll: :roll:

Re: Decker's Brown Wax

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 7:00 am
by Prof. Ed
RIKRAK wrote:Although Zappa said "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" when I got my Deckers from J Crews I used plain dark brown shoe polish to both darken the leather and (mostly) the white stitching on the shoes. It did not darken evenly as I gooped it on more so on the seams. However, I thought this gave a nice "used" affect. Other than that I just use Piccards to treat the leather every now and then and they have stayed a nice "almost" brown. I've not found these shoes since the close out at J Crews which is sad because they are a nice soft leather boot. Hmmmm a gear head in St louis who would ever have thunk it :roll: :roll: :roll:
I'm " a gear head in St. Louis" give me a shout :)