Club Obi Wan

I have only had my Aldens for a good 2 weeks now but I am noticing a tendancy in the tongue of the left boot to slide down the side of the boot. Is there anything that can be done about this? It doesnt seem to matter how tightly I tie the laces. Is it an indication I need an insole (my feet are slightly different sizes apparantly)?

Cheers

Ken

Ken,

The insole may do the trick - It sounds more like your foot is a bit narrow -the tongue slip will happen if that is the case.

Mo

Yeah thats what I was afraid of. They do fit so comfortably and thats the only thing slightly awry.

Ken

I had it with the first pair of Aldens I had. After a year or more of messing with them, I finally found out that it was, indeed, because I had boots that were too wide...I had an E width, then a D width, only to find out I needed a C width. So....it's a problem that will only be fixed by making less space inside that boot...and an insole will do that. Or you could always stitch the tongue in place...I had that done once and it worked....of course, it didn't help the fit of a boot that was too big....

Later!
Indydawg

I've always believed that my feet were wide and have purchased my shoes accordingly ... UNTIL I went into an Alden's shop and was measured for my first pair. To my surprise, I wear a C width in Aldens. I had experienced the slipping phenomenon with other boots but not these. The tongue stays just where it should be. Enough cannot be said about getting your feet measured by someone who knows what they are doing.

I say get them stitched and get your dogs measured up for a new pair of Mary Janes. That way your old pair can be your backup.

At least Alden comes in various widths - more often than not, shoes only come standard D width. I agree with Chamorro - If your going to spend $250 (us) on shoes you better be fitted - you owe your wallet and feet that much!

Mike

Indydawg wrote:I had it with the first pair of Aldens I had. After a year or more of messing with them, I finally found out that it was, indeed, because I had boots that were too wide...I had an E width, then a D width, only to find out I needed a C width.

Indydawg, so where can I go around here to get my feet correctly measured?

And to really throw a wrench into it----I know that my feet are two differnt sizes! So, can a person order a pair of Aldens with one boot being one size (say, 10) and the other being a different size (say, 9 1/2)?

Just curious. Not to mention a special order for the brown boots instead of pumpkin orange....

For getting your foot measured, go to a foot doctor for a proper measurement.

As to the other....well, I don't think so. You generally have to fit your smaller fit and the other boot you "stretch" into submission and fitting....I'm guessing that's the way it's done....always has with me.

Anywho....hope that helps.
Indydawg

How exactly do you go about stitching it? Sorry but I can sow on a button but thats about the height of it. I am guessing we are talking more than a normal needle and thread though. I will try an insole first but I suppose stitching sounds a better idea failing that - how much do you stitch.

Thanks guys

Ken

You'd better take it to a local shoe repair shop and have them do it....it will only cost about 5 bucks and be done professionally, so there will be no messups. They'll stitch it in place at the top of the boot ankle...

Later!
Indydawg

Ah thats a good idea. Thanks Indydawg! What would I do without you people?

Ken

Thanx for the advice everyone, I have been having the same problem with the tongue of my right boot. The strange thing is that I broke my right ankle when I was 14 and my right foot when I was 21 so my right foot is slightly larger than my left. Following the logic of the shoe being too large, the tongue of my left boot should be slipping, not my right!
PBG

I've been having this same problem with my Alden's. The fit feels just fine but both tongues tend to migrate toward the lateral aspect after walking (the right one does it quicker than the left). I tried some Dr. Scholl's gel insoles (which feel great by the way) but they really didn't stop the wandering tongue syndrome. I think I'm going to take them to the shoe hospital and have them stitched. I'll post the results.

Nemo1
_______________________

"Read 'em and weep!" -Florentine Pogen

Yeah me too.

Well mine only slips laterally on the right shoe.
I had to get a size wider because of my orthodics (#### flat feet).
But they fit perfect.

something about it, right when I place my foot in, it slips to the side...
hmmm

CJ

Learn to live with it, lol.

Well, I got my Aldens back from the Shoe Hospital so I don't have to live with it........it's fixed! He stitched the tongue, hiding the stitches along the stitching just inside of the hooks. The cost? $6.50.

____________________

"Read 'em 'n weep!" -Florentine Pogen

I took mine into town today but their stitching machine as they called it was broken so should be getting it done during the week. Its not a disaster just one of those irratating little things its nicer to have put right.

Ken

Tongue slippage on the Aldens can occur even with a perfect fit. Mine were fitted by the man that fitted Harrison Ford. I know that they are the perfect size. However, if I don't tie the laces tight enough, the tongues slip. I believe that the Alden 405's were originally designed with a thinner leather tongue in mind. I have a pair of original brown 405's. The tongue leather is much thinner on this pair than the rest of the boot. On the new Alden's the tongue leather thickness is the same as the rest of the boot. The leather doesn't bend and shape to your foot, causing the tongues to slip. The slipping tongues are my only grip with the 405's. Unfortunately though, if you have the wrong size Alden's (and I'm not saying you do), you're best off getting a pair that fit properly. Insoles defeat the purpose of the boot. Cheers

Rundquist wrote:On the new Alden's the tongue leather thickness is the same as the rest of the boot. The leather doesn't bend and shape to your foot, causing the tongues to slip.

This is interesting info. I posted lasted week in this thread about the tongue on my right boot slipping. What I didn't know then was that the stitching holding the tongue to the boot was partially ripped! I brought the Aldens in to be repaired and while I was there I asked them to dye them a medium brown (mine are the russet-red color). I'll report on how they turned out next week when I pick them up.
PBG

prettybigguy,

How much for the dye job? Less than the $75 special order for new 405's?

Indy

I'm not exactly sure because in addition to the tongue repair and the dye job, I'm also having another pair of shoes re-soled with a Vibram lug sole. Both pairs are then being shined. All of this work is being done for $86.00.
PBG

Okay, I picked up my newly dyed Aldens on Monday and they look terrific! MK has a pair in the "correct" brown color and if my memory serves me correctly mine are now really close. I hope to meet with him this week to compare and hopefully we can take some pictures to post.
PBG

prettybigguy wrote:Okay, I picked up my newly dyed Aldens on Monday and they look terrific! MK has a pair in the "correct" brown color and if my memory serves me correctly mine are now really close. I hope to meet with him this week to compare and hopefully we can take some pictures to post.
PBG

That's very interesting news. I am anxious to see some pics.

Anyone got any ideas how to fix this?

http://www.indygear.com/community/forum ... php?t=3040

Rundquist wrote: Insoles defeat the purpose of the boot. Cheers

correction....
Alden 405 are made to incorporate orthopedic inserts.
One reason why they call it the orthopedic shoe.

from Alden's site:

The Trubalance Last was designed to fit from the normal foot shape to the extremely pronated heavy foot with square forefoot or splay foot. The Trubalance has a wide ball tread, straight inner border and broad outer border with much lateral displacement. It is our highest and widest toe last with very roomy walled inner and outer borders. It is our most commodious last for foot deformities such as hammer toes, overlapping toes, enlarged joints, etc. At the same time it is the best last to accommodate prescribed corrections, particularly full plantar inserts. In spite of these accommodation features, the Trubalance will retain control at the heel so that the foot remains in balance on the correction and will not rotate or slide forward within the shoe.
The Trubalance will also fit a Pes Cavus type foot well and particularly well when plantar inserts are prescribed; this in the past has always been a problem.
With or without prescribed corrections, the Trubalance.Last will offer the fitter the most commodious forepart, plentiful depth and shank width while retaining a snug heel control. It is a must for the congenital square shaped Pes Planus.
With precise fitting, the Trubalance Last will produce the most gratifying results. It is most dependable and versatile in its uses.

http://www.aldenshoe.com/cat_ortho_trub_facts.htm