Club Obi Wan

Would this shoe be worth the money if they were not screen accurate? Are they comfortable? Would you wear them hiking or walking for long periods? I’m trying to decide if I should shell out the money for a screen accurate pair or just get some close enough’s for much cheaper.

It really depends on your desire and budget. I understand that many folks on COW have gotten "close enough" boots, many with a more rugged sole than the Alden 405 Indy boot and at a cheaper price. The 405 has a flat (smooth) sole, so it is not my first choice to do some out of the city hiking. In town on dry concrete and pavement, it is just fine. If you live where there is ice and snow in the winter, you might want to look into the Alden AF64 from Aldens of Carmel, or any one of the number of cheaper 'close-enough' work boots.

Correct size was a major factor for me. I wear a AA width in Alden boots, and the 'close-enoughs' don't come in my size. Alden does, so it was an easy choice for me. If I'm doing some desert mountain hiking, though, my first choice will be for my Vasque light weight hiking boots.

Two great alternatives I recommend are the Rockport Farnums and Orvis Chukkas......much cheaper than Aldens and more functional....you can wear them for hiking, in snow, etc. (Rockport is also waterproof)......and they both look quite similar to the Aldens.

I've actually been hoping to ask if anyone has the Orvis Chukkas. How do they feel, and do you know anyone who needs one for their left foot?

After deciding that the 405s were probably not best suited to the Scottish climate I bought a pair of AF64s a couple of months ago and have no regrets. I had some foot surgery a few years ago and need a strong, protective shoe with a firm sole and they certainly provide that. They’re probably the best fitting, best made footwear I’ve ever owned. They’re not all weather, all terrain boots (at least not for Scotland anyway) but they’re not sold as that. They’re rugged, good looking, extremely well made general purpose boots. Are they better value than, say, the Rockports? Only you can make that judgement.

PSBIndy wrote:Two great alternatives I recommend are the Rockport Farnums and Orvis Chukkas......much cheaper than Aldens and more functional....you can wear them for hiking, in snow, etc. (Rockport is also waterproof)......and they both look quite similar to the Aldens.

The Farnums look very similar to the Aldens and are only 99.00 on onlineshoes.com. Im thinking about picking up a pair. Thanks for the info... I think the dark tan are the closest, but the dark chocolate don't look bad either.

I bought a pair of Aldens 7 years ago. I treat them with Pecards once a year. They are the most comfortable shoes I have. I have worn out 7 pair of Cole-Haan shoes in the same time frame, but the Aldens keep on going. One thing I have done is to put those “heal savers” on to keep them from wearing out; this helps a lot.
If you can afford a pair, get them; if not save till you can. I don’t think you’ll be sorry.
Regards,
Forrestal

I agree with Forrestal on this one. IMO Aldens really are worth the money - both in terms of comfort and in terms of how long they last.

I agree if you want the real thing, nothing beats an Aldens....however, it's not a 4-season shoe or a hiking shoe for that matter.........great thing about my Rockport Farnums is that it's light, has a cushioned insole, is waterproof, has an all-terrain out-sole, looks very close to the Aldens, and can be had for under $100.

the current batch of 405's is far from screen accurate as far as the stitching colour, welt colour, and colour of the boot itself. that's why AB is offering a screen accurate versioin for a premium cost (do a search).

i'm quite happy with my AF64's but the sole an upgraded lug/police sole. i'm talking to schmidty now to see if he can remedy the situation. if i manage to get the standard alden 405 sole put on, i think she'll be pretty #### close

I first tried the close enoughs. I bought the Farnums. Then I was reading about everyone buying Aldens from Schmidty. I saved up the money and ordered a pair. They are a lot more comfortable than I expected them to be. Plus they are well made and will most likely long outlive the Farnums. And they are like wine. They get better as they age.

DOHERTYJAX wrote:I first tried the close enoughs. I bought the Farnums. Then I was reading about everyone buying Aldens from Schmidty. I saved up the money and ordered a pair. They are a lot more comfortable than I expected them to be. Plus they are well made and will most likely long outlive the Farnums. And they are like wine. They get better as they age.

You're lucky you live in Florida......my Aldens won't last 1 chicago winter if I wear them all-year round. My Farnums on the other hand...

Here's my problem with the Alden... It doesn't appear to have any of the functions I need from a boot but it's too much of a boot to wear to the office. So aside from when im wearing all my gear, I can't come up with a use for it. It just seems a bit expensive for an item that most people won't notice and will be rarely used.

PSBIndy wrote:

DOHERTYJAX wrote:I first tried the close enoughs. I bought the Farnums. Then I was reading about everyone buying Aldens from Schmidty. I saved up the money and ordered a pair. They are a lot more comfortable than I expected them to be. Plus they are well made and will most likely long outlive the Farnums. And they are like wine. They get better as they age.

You're lucky you live in Florida......my Aldens won't last 1 chicago winter if I wear them all-year round. My Farnums on the other hand...

Well I'll see your Chicago winter and raise you a Winnipeg winter.

Even the Jets had to move south!

With their flat soles, you won't dare wear Aldens in the snow. They're extremely slippery.

winters in winnipeg....never been nor do i ever wanna go...yikes!!!!

i'll stay in calgary thanks

Tron7960 wrote:

PSBIndy wrote:

DOHERTYJAX wrote:I first tried the close enoughs. I bought the Farnums. Then I was reading about everyone buying Aldens from Schmidty. I saved up the money and ordered a pair. They are a lot more comfortable than I expected them to be. Plus they are well made and will most likely long outlive the Farnums. And they are like wine. They get better as they age.

You're lucky you live in Florida......my Aldens won't last 1 chicago winter if I wear them all-year round. My Farnums on the other hand...

Well I'll see your Chicago winter and raise you a Winnipeg winter.

Even the Jets had to move south!

Here in Scotland we may not have the extreme cold some of you guys get but for a combination of cold, wet, windy, abrasive winter weather we're hard to beat. I used to work for a multinational whose WHQ were in Detroit and visitors from there reckoned our winters were much more unpleasant than in Detroit.

Indiana G wrote:the current batch of 405's is far from screen accurate as far as the stitching colour, welt colour, and colour of the boot itself. that's why AB is offering a screen accurate versioin for a premium cost (do a search).

That's true, but if you think about it this way, the current batch (or the last batch) of 405's was probably 100% screen accurate for KotCS!

I bought my Aldens roughly 90 days ago. I would estimate I've worn mine at least 80 of those days. Extremely comfortable.

Tony

I've been wearing Aldens since 1991. Granted, I bought my first pair through Lee Keppler because it was Indy's boot, but know I wear them because of the level of comfort.

I have gone through probably three pairs in the past 17 years due to having heels and soles replaced so many times that the uppers wore out. This may seem like a negative point but it really isn't.

I used to wear them daily to work where I was on my feet all day long and I was on a concrete floor as opposed to a carpeted floor. My feet seldom if ever hurt and if they did, it wasn't because of the boots but because I was on my feet too long. I would clean the once a week using Saddle Soap. I have never aged the boots artifically. Wearing daily is enough.

I currently have 4 pairs: one that is worn and the others that are back-ups for when the shoes get re-soled or re-heeled.

I have been off the beaten path and I have no complaints. I will probably never buy anything else for my feet in the way of a work boot.

ij1936:

I agree with you 100%...I will never buy another work / leisure boot after wearing the 405's...

I have taken my oldest pair out on a couple day hikes through a desert canyon as well as 2 camping trips to to a forest area and had no problems...

I can imagine however that they would be a problem in a snow and ice situation due to the flat sole...But for dry, and rainy conditions (In a forest) they have done me no wrong...