Club Obi Wan

Need some advise here. I have read most all the posts on both types of boots but am still confused as to which to get...Positives and negatives on both...

As much as I would love a pair of Aldens, that is just not going to happen at around $400. Just can't justify it...

However, at around $100 there are the Aldo Rodiguez boots (don't know what happened to the Jeremyah boots from Aldo, they just disappeared off their site) and the Todd's boots. From those of you with experience with either of these, which would you lean more toward (quality and longevity wise). Esthetically, they are both appealing and very Indy'ish. I would just hate to get a pair of boots only to find that they will fall apart quickly or the material is not very good quality. I am more into the quality/comfort than spot on SA.

Basically, just curious as to if you had only around $100-$150 to spend, which boots would you opt to buy?

Thanks all!

AZ Pete

There is another pair of boots that Aldo makes, that is seriously, a dead ringer for the Alden's. I was there on the weekend, but can't remember the name of the boot. It was in a dark dark brown very close if not darker then the AB Aldens and another in black. The only difference was the way the back upper was constructed, everything else was the same even the heel construction. Looks for those, they aren't online though for some reason.

The Jeremyah was last year's boot, I think, with only a couple sizes left. They were on clearance. Customer service didn't know whether they'd be available in the future or not. I find it hard to believe no one on the forum found these until it was too late! But at the original price of some of these boots, you may as well pop for Aldens. The have a real welt, so they're re-soleable, and a steel shank, which is where the support comes from. And now they're leather-lined.

You could probably have Alden's restored two or three times. A lot of money, but a fine product. I'll go cheap in a pinch on anything I wear, except shoes (and now, hats). I learned the hard way!

That said, I'd have been all over the Jeremyahs if they'd had my size. At this point, I'd say try the Todd's, if you want boots that really look the part. Most folks here have had great luck with the Todd's, and a few have had problems. Wait and see what people say about the Aldo's if you really want quality and longevity.

I can tell you if you get Todd's, I'd recommend having the heels nailed on and having sole protectors installed, judging from the problems people have mentioned and I've had myself. Mine are fine now.

For what its worth Todd's boots are all but out of stock on all but a few sizes
The good news is that there is talk of a new run with a goodyear welt sole

I've been waiting for the Jeremyah to turn up on the Aldo UK website.Customer service could give me no info as to if and when they would have them. Looks like it could be a big no if they were last years US stock.

Thanks all!

Sounds like I have to wait a while unless the Rodiguez's are an option... Not sure I want to risk it...Might just have to save my pennies and splurge on a pair of Alden's in the very distant future...

I'm keeping a eye on the Rodiguez boots until ther is word of anything from Todd's.
If they get to a close out item I'll be on them if no Todd's boots are available.
Keep a eye out in the shops,I've seen a few moc toe boots of late.It may well be that they are comeing into fashion!!!

As for Aldens.......never going to happen,way to much money for me

Yup, the Rodriguez are in the UK aldo store for £75. Good range of sizes too.

http://www.aldoshoes.com/uk/sale/men/sa ... odiguez/22

It's good that we can get them in the UK,no import problems . Aldo in the US don't even do overseas orders.

I realy like the look of the leather on them...kind of well worn from the get go.

I'd like to give Todd my business on another pair of his boots. I'm looking forward to the 'improved' boots he's working on.

With the clearance Aldo's, sometimes sizes are almost sold out as soon as they hit clearance, so don't be too greedy! You're probably not the only one waiting for the sale.

If you need a work boot and can't afford Alden's, get Redwings, Wolverines, or something with a steel shank. Otherwise, you're just buying tall shoes, and they won't hold up for anything more than street wear.

I can speak for the awesomeness of the Redwings. I have two pair: a pair in the dark wood and a pair in the wheat.
http://www.jcrew.com/browse/single_prod ... 4302023775
This is just an example. Look around online. I found mine for around $160.00.

Good luck,
J-

Illinois James wrote:I'd like to give Todd my business on another pair of his boots. I'm looking forward to the 'improved' boots he's working on.

With the clearance Aldo's, sometimes sizes are almost sold out as soon as they hit clearance, so don't be too greedy! You're probably not the only one waiting for the sale.

If you need a work boot and can't afford Alden's, get Redwings, Wolverines, or something with a steel shank. Otherwise, you're just buying tall shoes, and they won't hold up for anything more than street wear.

I agree. Can't wait to see the new Todds. My old ones were great for the price.

I have the Jeremyahs. A bit uncomfortable...

But alas, I agree...SAVE YOUR PENNIES and get the Aldens. Like my grandpa always said, "The scrooge always pays twice," and " only a rich man can afford to buy cheap things"

Try to scrimpt and you will have to buy again and again...cheap tools break, cheap shoes fall apart and/or are uncomfortable...
I guess we really do get what we pay for...

I'm just now hearing about new boots from Todd Coyle - what improvements are being made and do we have a rough price range? If you have read another thread of mine, I am going to need to have my Todd's boots resoled. I've been wearing them on stage for a show I am in right now and the toe on the right boot took a hit against something on stage and now there is a chunk of rubber missing. I can still walk in them fine - still comfortable, but I'm nervous about further damage being done.
I just looked at the Aldo boots. The heel looks rather high for Indy boots - or am I just going crazy? The color looks fantastic though! Thats how dark I eventually want my Coyle boots to look. The tread on the Aldo boots look a lot better for real-world adventuring as well, especially hikes.

Got my aldos yesterday and have worn them all day yesterday and todaynd they have been very comfy so far. Out of they box they looked "off" but once I put them on they took on a total Alden look....with jeans and even more so with my NH pants. Obviously not as high quality as the Aldens but just about clones of my Todds......comfy, close enough SA, well made, great color, little lighter then Todds but just as clunky feeling....
For the price, they are a great buy. I think in the end, I would rather give Todd my business but since I already have his, I decided to try these.

Here they are, I found them under shoes. These are almost a dead ringer for the Aldens. These Aldo shoes/boots looked almost IDENTICAL when I compared them to my Aldens.
http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/sale/me ... iangelo/22

Here they are in black, but they have them in dark brown. The dark brown is really nice.

I feel the Aldens are a bit taller in the ankle and that is what majorly sets them apart from dress shoes....makes them very vintage looking. That`s what I look for in Indy boot look-a-likes...silly cuz that`s what is under your pants,huh?

The Aldo boots look to tall to me, and have too tall of a heel as well.

I'll second (third?) the comments about Tod's. They LOOK phenomenal, the price is great, but the current run of soles is a MAJOR issue if you want to do any adventuring in them. To be fair, Tod's warned me that in so many words before I purchased, and offered $15 to repair the separation, but for $75 I figured, what the ####. Not only is the sole separating an issue, but despite the weight of whatever has been used, I've got chunks ripped out of the sides of the soles just from a mild hike. (I hadn't heard that the new run was potentially goingto be welted, that would be AWESOME!). Hadn't tried sole protectors or nailing, but was told by my local cobler that it'll be more expensive to replace the soles than buy a new pair.
Don't know about the quality of the Aldo's, but something looks...seriously off...about the Rodriguez. Have you looked at Red Wings? Pricey, but don't have quite the cost of a pair of Aldens, and seriously well-made boots.