Club Obi Wan

I need help from fellow Alden owners. In a few weeks, I will be going to Navajo country to do some research. I will be doing a great deal of walking in the back country. When I first found out about this opportunity, I bought a pair of rugged Indy boots to replace the hiking boots that bit it in China. I have been wearing my ruggeds to teach in this semester and find them to be really comfortable. That being said, there is a big difference between sitting in an office for 4 hours and then standing in front of a class for 3 hours and a six mile hike through New Mexico back country.

I was hoping that someone could give me an honest report on how aldens really hold up as outdoor shoes. The last thing I want is to get out there and be laid up with bloody feet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dr. Woolley

Hello there, I am a prospective owner of the Alden shoes... I haven't got it yet, but it's coming this week and will have my review up soon. Anyway, I basically had the same question regarding Alden shoes and the answers I got from other members are pretty much.. YES. It is very tough and they will serve you very well for a long time (especially if you take care of them well) I don't know if you meant rugged as in that AF 64, but the regular Alden's only Achilles heel is the flat soles. They don't have any treads on them, so watch out for any slippery surface (rain, snow...etc)... They are NOT waterproof and needs some kind of weatherproof conditioning apparently, so no jumping in the river with these shoes I guess... Anywho, if you are mainly wearing Alden for walking around outback, the general consensus is that you will be fine!! I have a pair of Redwing 1908 indy style shoes and all the members are saying Aldens will outlast Redwings anyday! Can't wait till mine gets here... Well, hope this helps!!

Thanks for the reply. I have the rugged soled ones--the number escapes me. I don't doubt for a minute that they are tough. I guess what I am more concerned with is comfort. When I was an undergrad, I wore Doc Martins on a field trip to the Superstition Mountains. By the end of the day my feet were in pain. I guess I wanted to make sure that Alden's were made for heavy use hiking.

My hunch is that they will be fine. But the dress shoe like apprearance makes me uncertain.

Anyone have direct experience with long term use?

I have a pair of 405s that are about 4 or 5 years old now. I have worn them nearly everyday. Believe me when I say they are looking quite SA.

In that time, I have worn them in the rain, in the snow, hiking in the Sierra Nevadas for several days, hiking around Dizzyland for hours on end, taken them up flying in the Piper Cherokee (yeah I know, they won't take much abuse from the rudder pedals, but to me Indy also means airplanes), and not ONCE EVER have my feet hurt.

My 405s are completely stock. Slick soles and all. I've Pecarded them once every month, had them resoled once by the Alden factory, and had the heels replaced probably twice a year.

You should be absolutely fine. Alden makes great shoes. In fact I ordered a pair of their dress shoes for formal work days and even those I feel like I could hike a hundred miles in them with no problems.

If you're going to be out there for an appreciable amount of time, I'd bring a pair of backup boots just in case, but based on my experiences, the Aldens will work out great.

They are VERY heavy for boots. One thing to consider. You can probably find another pair of boots thats alot lighter and will give you the same amount of comfort.