Club Obi Wan

Ok so I am Finally going to upgrade the boots to a pair of Aldens. Close enough just isn't good enough for me anymore. Since I don't live near an Alden dealer I will have to put my trust in my fellow COWers. I have read so many things (I'm not to lazy to use the search function) And was hoping to get more concentrated and current info. As always your help is appreciated!

Hi gmarthe,

I marked that they run 1/2 size small, and I figured I should explain why I did.

I have been wearing skateboarding shoes for over the past 13 years, as they were the most comfortable type of shoes I had found up to that point. I have always worn a size 11 in the skate shoes. When I was ready to order my Alden's I found that I needed a width size, so I went to a local shoe store, and measured myself with one of those metal foot measuring things. The size I read (having no foot measuring experience) was 10.5 C. Since I wasn't sure if I measured it correctly, I went to a local shoe repair store that has been in this town for over 30 or 40 years, and I figured he would know what he was doing. He measured me at a 11.5 D, with some wooden foot measurer thing. I assumed because of my lack of experience that I should go with what the shoe repair guy measured me at, I figured he should know better than I.

So I called up Schmidty, told him the story, and he had some 11.5 D's in stock. He shipped them out, and when I got them in a couple of days later I tried them on, and they felt pretty big. I called him up, and he asked me where my toe ended, and how much extra space I had width wise, and from there he said that a 10.5 D would be the correct size. So I shipped the 11.5 D's back that same day, and a little less than a week later I had a pair of 10.5 D's in, and they fit PERFECTLY!

The best advice I could give from what I learned from this experience is to get yourself measured with one of those metal foot measuring thing-y's (I feel stupid calling them that, but I have no idea what they are called). Then give Schmidty a call, and talk to him about it, and he can help you work out the size. Plus he is great to talk to, and an Indy gear nut as well, and his store has the best price on Alden 405's that I have found. I'm a bargain shopper, and I looked around, A-LOT!

Also, check out the thread regarding Schmidty in the Vendors section, it's only one or two down from the top of the page.

I am a fairly new Alden 405 owner (since April). I LOVE them, and I'm wearing them right now actually. I've worn them every day except the last two days that I've worn shorts, because the 405's looked a little silly with the one pair of shorts I currently own. They felt more comfortable than my normal skate shoes(though different) when I first put them on, and I quickly got used to them. When I wore my skate shoes again the other day, I couldn't wait to get back to the Aldens, I couldn't believe how much more I like them than the skate shoes! They feel great, and I've found myself walking a lot more since I've gotten them. They also get even more comfortable as they get worn into your feet.

I hope this helped at least a little. Schmidty will help you out, and you'll soon have your own pair. ) Please post when you do get them, I'd love to hear how it worked out.

Regards,

Paul Nolan
www.midwestwhips.com

The only problems with sizing that I "discovered" was that my feet were too wide for the "D" width. All these years prior to buying the Aldens, I had been squeezing my feet into shoes that were too narrow. When I bought the Aldens in what I thought was the correct size and width, my feet hurt. After several exchange pairs it was determined that I need "EE" width. Haven't had any problems since.

It's always a good thing to get your feet measured by someone who knows what they are doing. The Brannoc (sp?) device is used to get a good guestimate of your size, and anyone worth their salt will tell you that is is a good starting point, but not a guarrantee of your proper size. You do need both length and width in selecting shoes for a proper fit.

My long lost father (once a shoe salesman himself) educated me that his foot/shoe size changed over time. His did, but so far, and I'm not a spring chicken, mine have not for the past 25+ years. I've been wearing higher end men's shoes for over 24 year, since I have an extremely narrow foot and there are very few shoe makers who bother with my size anymore. I am actually between widths (A and AA) so I MUST try on a new pair of shoes, especially if I'm going to a new last (the form that shoes are made on) as each shoe maker, and each shoe style, uses different lasts to make their shoes.

I wear a 1/2 size longer in a walking/running or tennis shoe than in my dress shoes. I first ordered my Alden 405s in my dress shoe length and an A width and then a little later in the AA width, which sometimes can be too narrow for me. The A was a little wide, but not to the point where I developed blisters from an ill fit, but the AA width is a perfect fit. The AAs are my first choice when selecting which pair of 405s to wear. As a point of reference, I had my feet measured at one of the two Alden retailers in town before I ordered my first pair or 405s, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that the salesman who "assisted" me didn't know much about shoe fitting. He read a width of C for me and advised that I order my 405s with a C width (they didnt' carry the 405, so he had no problem with me ordering them). I did not take his advise and went with the size I've been wearing in dress and casual shoes from Allen-Edmonds. I couldn't be happier than first, Alden carries my size, and secondly, that for a change, I could order something online that wasn't a D width in footwear. You can't measure your own foot. You need to be standing straight up when the measurement is taken, with your weight equal on both feet. It's an urban myth that you should have shoe or boot fittings in the afternoon. The boots that fit in the morning will fit at the end of the day, even if you've been hiking with a 45 lbs pack for 10 hours.

Athelic shoes and that includes skateboard shoes, are typically going to run 1/2 size larger than your dress shoe size. I still need the narrow width and so far, have found only two manufacturers who make athletic shoes in narrow widths. What Red Wings calls narrow, by comparison, is a C width, as the averge US male is a D. Everybody is unique, though, so a good measuring job and a fitting try on are essential for a good fit. Improper fitting shoes or boots will only lead to discomfort at the least, and much pain if continued for years on end.

I voted order your known size, not larger or smaller.

Indiana MarkVII wrote:It's always a good thing to get your feet measured by someone who knows what they are doing. .

That's it, plain, simple, and bottom line. You should add that to your poll, as that's what I would vote for...and will always recommend. GOod call, IMVII.

Regards! Michaelson

They fit true to size for me.

The only issue I've found with them is the stitching on the toe rubs against my smaller toes, but this is easily remedied with a cushion-toe or thick sock. I could have probably gotten a half-size larger and eliminated this, but I'm not sure the half-size would have been as comfortable as my actual size.

Go to a shoe store and get your feet measured. Works every time.

I appreciate all the help guys. I DO know my shoe size however. It's just that like some jeans I'm a 32 and some a 30. My measurement is still the same - it's just that size changes depending on the manufacturer. I could go to the Red Wing store and get measured to be 100% sure but what I'm saying is is a 10 1/2 in a red wings a 10 1/2 in an Alden?

I went with the size I wear with all other shoes (8) and used the chart on the Alden site for the width. The width was a bit of an estimate, but I figured since I don't normally have difficulty with shoes fitting that I'd be OK and lucked out with a great fit.

Michaelson wrote:

Indiana MarkVII wrote:It's always a good thing to get your feet measured by someone who knows what they are doing. .

That's it, plain, simple, and bottom line. You should add that to your poll, as that's what I would vote for...and will always recommend. GOod call, IMVII.

Regards! Michaelson

Absolutely. I did the same thing here. That's the best, best way to go.

Shane